By Neil Evans
Track likely Good 4 and rail out 3m from 800m to WP and True the remainder.
Race 1 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1600m)
We start over the mile on a surface that should improve to a Good 4. Like local five-year-old 5. Second Half who is right at his peak now fourth-up, and bred to get further. Finished off well in a smarter field last start, and will be given time to find his feet on the big sweeping circuit and work home strongly.
Racing returns to Scone on Monday with a seven-race card.Credit:Getty
Dangers: Honest 3. Moorabinda Mick didn’t finish it off at the ’brook third-up, but will find this a little easier back at home, despite climbing to 62.5kg. Provincial mare 4. Miss Santorini pushes out sharply in trip third-up, with good weight relief after a 2kg claim. Last start BM 58 winner 8. Lanova fourth-up and 6. Forever Jude back in grade head the rest.
How to play it: Second Half to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 2 MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
The raps are more than handy for home track filly 12. Melody Again who starts her career in blinkers behind an impressive trial win on firm ground.
Dangers: Resuming three-year-old 6. Ollie’s Secret is a big threat first-up from a soft draw with the “Raging Bull” booked to ride. Lightly raced Speith three-year-old 4. Bear’s Best is over the mark second-up from an underrated Tamworth stable. At bigger odds, include in exotics 7. Silver Onyx who finds a more suitable race third-up in his first prep.
How to play it: Melody Again to win and quinella 6 and 12. Odds and Evens: Evens.
Race 3 MAIDEN HCP (1600m)
Very tricky mile battle, with a few of the better fancies drawn out. One of them, progressive metropolitan four-year-old 1. Desert Spring can overcome that draw, and strike at only his third start. Like the way he kept chasing in a deeper provincial maiden 18 days ago, and a 100m further is a plus.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by honest 11. Supra Marnium who showed nice improvement third-up off a very long break at Hawkesbury, although all her notable form is on wet tracks. No doubting metro mare 2. Savanaci has the scope and progression to win this at fourth start in her first prep, but will be forced a long way back from the draw in a race that will likely be only moderately run. Keep safe 12. Yamba’s Award who draws to get a good run off-speed at third start; while big watch on 7. Righteous Feeling improving second-up over more ground.
How to play it: Desert Spring to win. Odds and Evens: Odds.
Race 4 CLASS 3 HCP (1400m)
Competitive race, with three runners in a good fight for favouritism. One of them, progressive Scissor Kick mare 7. Ella Te Ama can return off a 22-week break with a bang. Took big strides winning two from five in her first prep, including a dominant heavy track win at the provincials before spelling. First time she’s seen a firm track, but the breed normally handles all conditions, and she was good through the line at this track in the second of two recent trials, forced to close off in a slow lane through ultra chopped up ground.
Dangers: Resuming mare 1. African Daisy has plenty of class, and fitted with two trials to run this trip out hard. Watch too tough four-year-old 2. Transformation who has been battling away well enough in city company, closing off nicely in a deeper Highway only nine days ago. Stablemate of the top selection 5. Lonely Power with a key jockey change, and 6. Just Jacky third-up from a better draw and down in weight, are both in the each-way mix.
How to play it: Ella Te Ama to win and box exacta 1,2,7. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 5 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m)
Back to the sprint trip, and improving five-year-old 3. Extra Flash is well-placed from a soft draw second-up. Held his ground chasing when fresh, but much better off with a run under his belt and especially getting to the bigger circuit. Was scratched from Warren on Sunday to run here.
Dangers: Home tracker 4. Lightfast has plenty of ability, and was dominant on debut for the stable back in late April. Has trialled OK, but still has a task from a wide draw under a hefty weight. Watch the betting on locally trained 2. Unpredicted fifth-up, while 5. Back To Front resuming, 6. Shikanic second-up and 8. Apollo Star also second-up and a stablemate of the top selection, all go into exotic bets.
How to play it: Extra Flash each way. Odds and Evens: Split.
Race 6 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1200m)
Toughest and widest race on the program, with a stack of chances. Got plenty of time for progressive country mare 10. Tandem who can go back-to-back deep into her first prep. Has pushed on nicely since winning her maiden three runs ago, and freshened up since bolting in a weak CL2 field five weeks back. Pattern suggests she will thrive on the bigger track and long run home, and a leading country rider taking over is a further show of confidence.
Dangers: The betting will be a solid indicator for emerging three-year-old 2. Bat Out Of Hell who did best to win on debut at the provincials, although up sharply in weight from a wide barrier, and first time on dry ground. Consistent local mare 4. Hard To Dismiss shapes well over the odds from a nice trailing draw, and dropping in class. Must include 5. Titration fourth-up from a wide gate and home track filly 13. Dolly Jayne second-up with blinkers back on.
How to play it: Tandem to win. Odds and Evens: Evens.
Race 7 CLASS 1 HCP (1100m)
The restricted sprinters close us out, and in another wide affair it shapes nicely for progressive and lightly raced metro mare 3. Miss Hoff second-up. Resumed off a long break and a change of stable in a BM 60 at Canberra on a Heavy 9, and her effort was very good going under by a long neck. Typical of the stable, she’s been given plenty of time and trialled quietly a month back on the synthetic. Likes dry ground, and capable of stringing wins together.
Dangers: Plenty of them starting with well-bred filly 13. Quilting who launched her career with a narrow win in mid-June, and looks well-fitted, winning the second of two trials in smart fashion. Keep very safe 2. Lambdoma Energy back in class second-up for a provincial stable having an excellent run. Improving 8. Iron Hat is a knock-out chance from a soft draw, with blinkers being added, while 1. Lovemetender third-up with blinkers back on, 4. Selfie Time resuming, and 12. Deep Opinions also first-up behind a quiet trial, go through trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Miss Hoff each way. Odds and Evens: Odds.
BEST BETS: R1 5. SECOND HALF
R2 12. MELODY AGAIN
BEST VALUE: R5 3. EXTRA FLASH
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
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