By Neil Evans
A group of promising and returning sprinters will be out to show fresh is best at Tuesday’s feature Gunnedah meeting.
Across big fields on a competitive and open eight-race card just 26 days out from the feature Gunnedah Cup meeting, a trio of Scone-based sprinters look set for a mighty showdown in a good quality Benchmark 58 Hcp over 1000m.
Scone trainer Scott Singleton.Credit: Getty
In particular, the race shapes ideally for progressive four-year-old Shikanic having his first run in 19 weeks for the Scott Singleton stable, and boasting a very useful fresh record.
A speedy son of Nicconi and wearing an alternative Norton Bit for the first time, Shikanic won twice last spring in a go-ahead prep, and will be aimed towards a Highway if he beats this field.
But drawn the fence and right alongside is tough five-year-old Clifton Springs who has been mixing it in deeper company across three runs back from a spell for the rival Brett Cavanough yard.
Completing the third wheel of the Scone battle is talented filly Dolly Jayne who hasn’t started since failing in a Highway in mid-December.
Returning with a stack of gear changes, including blinkers back on, Dolly Jayne is something of a track specialist having won her only two previous starts at Gunnedah.
Meanwhile, earlier promising Scone filly Himorher is set to hit the ground running when she resumes for only her second start in a Maiden Plate (1000m) for the Rodney Northam stable.
And the first-up trend doesn’t stop with those visiting from the Upper Hunter.
Leading Tamworth trainer Cody Morgan hands a first run in 14 weeks to ex-Victorian filly Cannoli in that same maiden against the Scone trio; while all eyes will be on striking Irish-bred provincial filly Akauwheo when she resumes for the Kris Lees yard in a Class 1 Hcp over 1250m to close the program.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
