By Neil Evans
Track Heavy 10 and rail out 3m from 800m to WP & True the remainder
Race 1 – 1.20pm: COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN HCP (1300m)
We start with the maidens on another likely rain-drenched track. Resuming off a lengthy break for only his second start, home track four-year-old 1. The Hungarian put down a big marker for this with a dominant trial win here in Soft 7 ground. Bred to thrive by Snitzel, and a leading stable has added blinkers.
Scone will host the NSW feature meeting on Friday.Credit:Getty Images
Dangers: Improving Deep Field three-year-old 3. Motion Legend can figure second-up off a five-week break for a high strike rate metropolitan yard. Tough local 6. Dante Alexander rarely runs a bad one, drawn to get a soft trail, and gets a significant 4kg drop in weight for this; while at much bigger odds, watch the betting on 2. Oakfield Warpath first-up off a quiet trial, and has experience on rain-affected ground.
How to play it: The Hungarian to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 2 – 1.55pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2200m)
Out over the long journey now where they often take it in turns, but on the score of timing and progression, this shapes ideally for progressive local six-year-old 3. Thieve third-up stepping out from the mile. Roared home from the back to be beaten under a length in a handy CL1 11 days ago, and getting back on the much bigger track is a further tick.
Dangers: Tough mare 2. Dissenter is a reliable weight carrier, and will also appreciate more ground and a bigger track. Hard fit and a winner here two starts back over this distance, 5. Dunlee sits on the next line; while 1. Cliffs Of Moher completes the trifecta set.
How to play it: Thieve to win and trifecta 2,3/1,2,3,5/1,2,3,5. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 3 – 2.30pm: MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
Tough maiden, with a stack of chances. Like progressive mare 6. Piece Of Turf second-up at good odds. Made up a tonne of ground here, resuming in similar conditions off a four-month spell, and is suited over a furlong further and importantly drawn to come down the middle.
Dangers: Trained on the track, Gold Standard filly 12. Elleanor’s Gold sailed away for a dominant trial win here in soft going. Draws inside and looks well above average starting her career with key gear additions. Must keep safe Dawn Approach filly 13. Leggy Point who also debuts for a home track stable behind a smart trial win; while 10. Divine Sinner and 16. The Hungarian, although more likely to start in the opening race, can both play a part in exotic bets.
How to play it: Piece Of Turf each way. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 4 – 3.05pm: FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN HCP (1300m)
Very keen here on lightly raced Ocean Park filly 4. Loud breaking through at her third start 26 days between runs. Missed narrowly in a handy Fillies & Mares Maiden last start, but bred to thrive in heavy ground on a suitably much bigger circuit where she can get to the middle late.
Dangers: Home track mare 1. Mauricette hit the line impressively on debut down the road at Muswellbrook, and any amount of extra ground is a plus being by Japanese super sire Maurice. Gap to the rest headed by 6. Glowing Gold second-up with blinkers being added, and 9. Oakfield Feather returning behind a quiet trial.
How to play it: Loud to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 – 3.45pm: BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1600m)
Restricted mile battle, with plenty of chances, and tempo will have a big say in these conditions. Progressive home track four-year-old 4. Unzaga is primed to strike second-up. Missed by a whisker motoring home fresh, and was very consistent over much further last prep. Just needs clear air from the 400m to run over them.
Dangers: Doubtful 1. Moorabinda Mick will back up in four days off a storming BM 66 win down the road but still looks well-placed after the jockey’s claim dropping back in grade third-up. Improving mare 5. Rosie Impact did her best work late second-up at Newcastle, and while she cops a sharp 5kg weight rise, much less depth to overcome here. Gap to the rest headed by improving home tracker 6. Second Half who finished best to claim his maiden second-up at Tamworth; while 9. Pippen fourth-up; and honest 10. The Dark Knight deep into the current prep; head the rest.
How to play it: Unzaga to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 – 4.25pm: CLASS 3 HCP (1400m)
Unbeaten from two starts, smart four-year-old 6. Cloudland gets a stronger test here but still looms as the superior heavy tracker over this trip. Ran home well to beat a good Cl1 field first-up, and has a tonne of progression on his side.
Dangers: Metro-based mare 2. Ellenmac might well be the most talented runner and draws to get good cover just off the speed. Comes through a good closing effort in superior BM 78 metro class for fillies and mares, and the winner of that race saluted again at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Plenty of class, but just a doubt on heavy track prowess, especially if the inside pad goes off. Was scratched from Hawkesbury on Thursday to be saved for this. Improving local 4. Silver City steps up from a strong finishing first-up win at CL2 level when defying a betting drift. Included in exotics 7. Lonely Power and 10. Leading Lady who are both very comfortable in heavy ground.
How to play it: Cloudland to win and quinella 2 and 6. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 7 – 5.05pm: CLASS 2 HCP (1100m)
Another very tough and wide affair for the sprinters. Like home track five-year-old 4. Hardy peaking second-up over a little further through a good form line. Powered home off a six-month break to be beaten under a length behind a smart winner, and sneaks down a further 2kg here after the rider’s claim.
Dangers: Progressive five-year-old 1. Mystery Lad comes off a dominant barrier-to-box third-up win, but this is much tougher. Another progressive one is 1. Ticket To Anywhere who swept over them nicely from midfield second-up in a similar graded race, but drawn out here & up to a big weight. Watch the betting on 2. Raoul who resumes for a new stable off a long break and two trials with a stack of gear changes, and has plenty of ability. Include in wider exotics 5. Honour The Crown and 13. Niccourette.
How to play it: Hardy each way. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 – 5.45pm: BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1100m)
Expecting them to be scouting wider by the last, and that augurs well for promising four-year-old 9. Uzziah second-up. Returned in style letting down from well back to beat a handy CL1 field, and is bred to thrive in heavy going on a wide open track where he settles back and gets right to the outside. Watch for a form pointer, with the third-placed runner from that race being the on top selection in the previous.
Dangers: Resuming city mare 8. Euphrates Dream is a real threat behind two solid trials and in going she likes. Both 5. Impact Star who is hard fit and comes off a CL2 win; and 6. Markwell Dreamer who finished hard to win second-up against similar opposition; are capable of running into a place.
How to play it: Uzziah to win. Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS:
R2 3. THIEVE
R5 4. UNZAGA
BEST VALUE:
R3 6. PIECE OF TURF
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
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