By Neil Evans
Track Soft 5 and rail out 3m
Race 1 – 12.45pm: MAIDEN PLATE (1000m)
Home track Supido three-year 9. Super Story can get punters rolling first-up since late January. Hasn’t publicly trialled, but draws to get ideal cover just off the speed.
Racing returns to Scone on Tuesday.
Dangers: Big watch on 2. Freewheeler who reloads 26 days between runs via a quiet recent trial. Was kept fresh for this rather than Tamworth last Friday where he was hard in the market, and best-weighted runner in the race after the junior rider’s 4kg claim. Despite drawing wide, 5. Noci Di Cocco is in the mix third-up, especially getting back on to a bigger track. The market will be a solid guide with 6. Out In Force who resumes for a leading local yard off a 10-month spell; while stablemate to the top selection 12. Storm’s End can improve further third-up and first run on her home circuit. Include debutant Shooting To Win filly 10. Fill A Promise in exotic bets behind two handy trials.
How to play it: Super Story to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 – 1.20pm: CLASS 1 HCP (900m)
Over the short course, and lightly raced metro filly 3. Zippy Zoo is the one to beat fourth-up behind a breakthrough win, although it wouldn’t want to drift too far back from the inside draw.
Dangers: Tough 4. Tennagain is on a nine-day back-up third-up, with blinkers coming off; while 7. Forbidden Gemstone resuming off a handy provincial trial with blinkers on; and 12. Preghero second-up; head the rest.
How to play it: Zippy Zoo to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 – 1.55pm: OPEN HCP (1000m)
Naturally good speed and pressure among the open class sprinters, and keen on another smart Tamworth raider in 1. Ice In Vancouver resuming off an 11-week break behind a dominant trial win. Was terrific winning the BM 91 Skellatar under a big weight before spelling, and crucially a big weight has been offset by a 3kg booking. Comes to hand in a heartbeat, and can run high-class sectionals on his day.
Dangers: Naturally, consistent and hard fit local 4. Comonic is the clear threat after missing by a neck in a CL3 Highway fourth-up. The 10-day turnaround is a strong stable pointer, and last time here beat a handy BM 78 field. Be surprised if anything else wins, but keep safe another home tracker in 3. Rising who led all the way at BM 85 level third-up, and gets a significant drop in weight after a 4kg allowance. Provincial three-year-old 7. Procrastinator resuming off a nice trial; heads the rest.
How to play it: Ice In Vancouver to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 – 2.35pm: MAIDEN HCP (1300m)
Trained on the track, Scissor Kick two-year-old 7. Tapa Kick can break through at his second start. Charged home to miss narrowly on debut over 1400m 16 days ago, and the switch home to a much bigger and more settling course is ideal, with the top country jockey taking over. Clear one to beat.
Dangers: Big watch on metro-based 1. Silent Russian who peaks at third start over 100m further. Don’t dismiss resuming local filly 6. Omians who trialled okay; while 5. Jamaican and 8. Lord Finland both dropping back from provincial company; can run into the minor money.
How to play it: Tapa Kick to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 5 – 3.10pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1700m)
Tough middle distance affair, with plenty of chances. One of those is improving provincial-based four-year-old 3. Tillman who can peak third-up, rising in distance from a soft draw. Has found the line late in consecutive CL2 races, and an extra 300m on a bigger track, suits nicely.
Dangers: There was plenty to like about the fast-finishing first-up maiden win from promising 5. Naval Commission, but that was in heavy ground, and he drew right off the track here. Local mare 2. Keen Contributer will appreciate coming back to this level after consecutive runs in Highway grade, and can park closer in the run from the inside draw. Capable mare 1. Mauricently has a task under a big weight from a wide draw, but still over the odds third-up over more ground; while 8. Dresden heads the rest deep into the current prep.
How to play it: Tillman each way. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 6 – 3.45pm: CLASS 1 HCP (1100m)
Like the value here about progressive provincial filly 5. Bubbles For Me who can go back-to-back deep into her first prep. Tracked the speed before bolting in a country maiden 15 days ago, and this looks a lovely follow-up test over 100m further. Will be strong late given she’s bred to get much further.
Dangers: Home track mare 4. Extra Smart draws to do no work back on the inside, and with any clear room, will be running home hard. Must keep safe metro filly 1. Enzina second-up; while another city raider 2. Golden Fighter first-up for 44 weeks behind two trials; and at bigger odds 8. Talons who chased home a smart CL1 winner when resuming; can both run into the minor money.
How to play it: Bubbles For Me to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 – 4.20pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1300m)
Plenty of chances in the closer as well headed by local seven-year-old 2. Shen Gui who shoots for two straight wins up a fraction in trip. Had been in and around the money in deeper races earlier this prep before sweeping home to win a country BM 58 15 days ago. Has to carry 2kg more, but this is no harder and drawn to get lovely cover just off the speed.
Dangers: Tough mare 5. Hard To Dismiss is a big threat having placed in three of her last four up to superior BM 64 provincial level. Honest 3. Taketheshot is ready to win again from a soft trailing draw, although is weighted right to his best back from a CL3. Improving home track filly 9. Leggy Point can hit the line fourth-up; so too 7. Dolly Jayne fourth-up after charging home to beat all bar the top selection in that Gunnedah race.
How to play it: Shen Gui to winOdds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS
R3 1. ICE IN VANCOUVER
R4 7. TAPA KICK
BEST VALUE
R5 3. TILLMAN
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
