Pivotal day for injury-plagued mare at Scone

The compass has been pointed in just about every direction, and it’s been a slow and tough wait, but a pivotal day finally arrives for a promising mare at Monday’s feature Scone meeting.

Instantly talented yet injury plagued, Miss Hoff lines up for just her fifth career start since debuting more than two years ago.

Warwick Farm-based trainer Matthew Smith has targeted a Class 1 Hcp over 1100m, importantly on a drying surface, having scratched her from the rain-lashed Canberra meeting on Melbourne Cup day last Tuesday.

Miss Hoff had resumed off a 22-week break and a change of stable in a Benchmark 60 over 1000m at Canberra seven weeks ago on a heavy track.

Her effort was very good, going under by a long neck carrying 59.5kg, and keep in mind the fourth-placed runner then won her next start.

Typical of the stable, she’s been given plenty of time since, via a quiet trial on the synthetic. And now, with most of NSW enjoying a rare week-long run of clear and sunny weather, Miss Hoff finally gets another chance to show off her still untapped wares in a race with good depth.

Given the setbacks, it’s easy to forget Miss Hoff – a powerful sprinting daughter of Group 1 winner Flying Artie – debuted in Group 3 company as a two-year-old for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott yard way back in the Covid-hit spring of 2020.

But she didn’t race again for nearly 18 months, eventually blitzing a handy maiden field on Albury Cup day in March this year. Two weeks later Miss Hoff floundered badly in heavy ground at Newcastle, and was sidelined again before a change of stable.