By Neil Evans
Track Good 4 and rail True
Race 1 – 12.45pm: CLASS 1 HCP (1100m)
We start over the sprint trip and on a track to remain in the firm range. All aboard promising home track Star Turn filly 4. Once Again My Girl who strolled home on debut here nearly four weeks back, running a record 55.75 secs for the five furlongs.
Racing returns to Scone on Monday.
Dangers: Doubt there are any if the hot-pot jumps, but metro three-year-old 3. Pyromania can run the quinella after a debut win, then finishing close-up in a handy CL1 on a horrible shifty track. Fellow locals 2. Epic Time dropping in class second-up; and 7. Leggy Point resuming; fight for the minor money.
How to play it: Once Again My Girl to win and quinella 3 and 4. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 – 1.20pm: MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
Same trip for the maidens augurs well for improving three-year-old 2. Divine Sinner third-up. Has worked home okay in two runs this prep, but finally gets on a firm surface, with the leading country jockey taking over.
Dangers: Big watch on home track Shamus Award filly 8. Insightful Award who debuts behind a dominant recent trial win here. Expect 1. Aquarter to continue improving fourth-up after leading and boxing on for a long way last time. Both 4. The Hanger Cat with a 3kg weight claim; and 9. Mischievous Molly resuming off a heavy track trial win; go in wider exotic plays.
How to play it: Divine Sinner to win. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 3 – 1.55pm: CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2200m)
Out to the staying trip now in races that often become very strung out fields from first to last, and changing tactics and tempo around the half-mile usually have a big say. Dropping back a mile from Group company and fifth-up, metro-based three-year-old 4. Cheval Savant will run a short-priced favourite, and is the clear one to beat from the inside draw. Before being totally outclassed in the Australian Derby on heavy ground, had come through strong maiden formines both here and in Victoria, and a return to firm going is a further plus.
Dangers: Gap to the rest, with consistent 3. Tiva Bay hard fit and blinkers back on; 5. Xtrarevz who drops in class second-up with blinkers removed; and 10. Iberian Ruler fourth-up in a thinner face; fighting for the minor money.
How to play it: Cheval Savant to win. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 4 – 2.35pm: MAIDEN HCP (900m)
Right back to the short course we come, and it shapes ideally for speedy home track filly 4. Elleanor’s Gold to break through at just her second start and off a near six-month spell. Was run down late by a smart one in heavy ground on debut, and rebooting over this shorter trip is a big pointer. Has the speed to off-set a wider draw.
Dangers: Big watch on Tamworth-based Exosphere debutant three-year-old 3. Who Goes There after blowing away rivals by more than six lengths in a trial. Include another first starter, Caravaggio filly 8. Samita off a trial win here; and 10. Zippy Zoo resuming off a six-month break from the inside barrier; in trifecta plays.
How to play it: Elleanor’s Gold to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 – 3.15pm: MAIDEN HCP (1400m)
Tough and very wide affair. Like progressive and provincial-based three-year-old 1. La Vesuvius who is primed to peak third-up on a bigger track over 150m further. Charged home to miss by a whisker in heavy ground 16 days ago, and jockey change is very significant.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by 5. Tot Of Rum who continues to find the line, and gets a soft run fourth-up. Keep safe 10. We’ve Gotta Deel who is hard fit, finds a handy trail from the draw, and blinkers go on. Included in trifecta and first fours, gelded 2. Aussie Pharoah on debut in blinkers; lightly raced 3. Capitamy second-up and drawn inside; and 9. Starice also on debut in blinkers behind a string of improving trials.
How to play it: La Vesuvius to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 6 – 3.50pm: BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1600m)
Always plenty of chances at this level, especially when you get out to a middle distance. Like the value around underrated four-year-old 8. Rebel’s Edge who can break through fifth-up getting to this journey. Worked home late in good quality CL3 15 days ago, and being by Rebel Dane and naturally a big track horse.
Dangers: Iron-like and versatile home tracker 2. Rhythm Is A Dancer has put three wins together in firm or soft going, from the front of from midfield. A query now getting to this distance, up in weight and drawn off the track. Watch the betting on locally trained 1. Reach Beyond dropping in class second-up. Include 4. Zoffany’s Gaze fourth-up with a gear change; and last start BM 58 winner 6. Sound And Vision who draws to roll forward; in exotic plays.
How to play it: Rebel’s Edge to win. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 7 – 4.25pm: CLASS 3 HCP (1400m)
It doesn’t get much easier here, although with the early favourite under the odds, home track mare 8. What A Peach represents great value fourth-up. Like the way she has kept charging home from well back as the distances have risen, and she’s at her best on firmer ground.
Dangers: Ultra-consistent 4. Dimension ran a bag of close-up second placings before sweeping home for a dominant CL1 win. Draws to get a good trail, although this is a sharp rise in grade, and threatens to go around under the mark. Metro four-year-old 2. Jumeirah Beach can bounce back sharply on firm ground fourth-up after dropping right out in very heavy going at the provincials 16 days ago. Improving 7. Osman second-up; and 11. Keen Contributor resuming off a long break and quiet trial; are both well capable of running into the money.
How to play it: What A Peach each way. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 8 – 5.05pm: BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1000m)
Same graded galloper over the sprint trip to finish, and again there are many chances. Keen on 9. Warrah Flash third-up. Roared home to win a deeper race at the provincials over further, and the drop in distance offset by a 27-day gap in between.
Dangers: Progressive five-year-old 2. Defiant Honour is building a solid record, and can figure third-up. Include in all exotics 4. Zoom Outcome resuming from the inside gate off a steady trial; 10. Clifton Springs who can also peak third-up; and at bigger odds 5. Per Ivy back in class second-up.
How to play it: Warrah Flash to win. Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS
R4 4. ELLEANOR’S GOLD
R5 1. LA VESUVIUS
BEST VALUE
R7 8. WHAT A PEACH
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
