By Ray Hickson
Selections based on a good track.
Race 1 – 1.04PM YARRAMAN PARK COUNTRY BOOSTED SHOWCASE PLATE (1000 METRES)
7. Lady Olenna looked the part scoring a runaway trial win at Muswellbrook last week in her first public trial since July. Been given some time and this looks a winnable race for her to kick off in. Should be competitive. Dangers: 2. Nation Changing has trials going back a few months, but he impressed sitting off a leader then reeling it in and dashing away at Armidale a few weeks ago. Interesting runner and market a handy guide. 8. Reluctant Diva trialled like she had just won first up at Tamworth, she was well supported to start favourite and led but couldn’t hold them off. Perhaps she’s fitter now and could take running down. 4. Wanavan led and gave some resistance when going down by less than half a length first up at Muswellbrook last week. Not without claims.
How to play it: Lady Olenna to win.
Racing returns to Scone on Friday.Credit: Louie Douvis
Race 2 – 1.44PM COOLMORE BENCHMARK 82 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
5. Lonhro’s Queen is arguably the best horse in this race. It’s just whether 1000m is a touch on the short side for her these days. That said, she has won at the trip and has looked sharp in two trial wins leading in. Expect her to be hard to hold out fresh. Dangers: 8. Pride To Follow won a BM58 at this track at the end of January, then up to city grade and sat handy before boxing on for fifth in a handy form race at Rosehill. Sure to give a good account up on the speed. 6. Super Extreme is a consistent sprinter resuming and he has won two from four when fresh. Two trials leading in have been fine and he will be hitting the line. 2. Just In Reach resumed from a long break at Warwick Farm a couple of weeks ago and the $101 chance sailed down the outside late to run fourth. Can only be fitter and has to be respected.
How to play it: Lonhro’s Queen to win.
Race 3 – 2.24PM VINERY 2YO OPEN SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
1. Splash Of Steel made his debut with a midfield finish behind Wodeton at Rosehill, then solid up near the pace when third at Canterbury almost two months ago. Fresh for this and back to country grade. Draws well and is one of the main chances. Dangers: 4. Fortissimo is a well-bred gelding that has trialled a couple of times recently, reacting to some riding when runner-up at Muswellbrook last week. In top stable and commands respect. 3. Buckeye was a bit plain when the pressure went on on debut at Rosehill in November behind The Playwright. Two Randwick trials, the latest over 1045m. Keep safe. 8. Stormy Reign was beaten three lengths at her only start behind Icarian Dream in October at Warwick Farm. Latest trial was fair, but has gate one and no surprise to see some improvement from her.
How to play it: Splash Of Steel to win.
Race 4 – 2.59PM NEWGATE COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 58 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
8. Antilocapra ran right up to her short price when resuming with a soft win over 1200m on this track two weeks ago. Narrowly beaten at this trip before a spell, and while drawn a bit awkwardly, she looks progressive and with even luck, will be hard to beat. Dangers: 6. Call Me Terry has been solid in two runs back for fourths at Mudgee and Tamworth. In the middle of a three-horse battle up front there last start and battled on OK. Draws soft and no surprise to see him in the finish. 5. Badboy McCoy is an experienced horse with 57 starts to his name and he is an interesting runner after being just denied by Rouge Moulin at Dubbo last time. That horse then ran second to Gallant Star in the WRA Championships. Each-way hopes. 9. Ballinderry Sal has been just behind the placings in three runs back and ran on without threatening at Tamworth over this trip. Again likely to get back and could run into the finish without surprising.
How to play it: Antilocapra to win.
Race 5 – 3.34PM KIA ORA SUPER MAIDEN SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
9. Mount Bona was a small drifter when making her debut with a handy enough effort at Tamworth over 1200m where she got back and stretched out to be beaten a few lengths. Fitter for that and on her home track, from a better gate, she could easily be a big improver. Dangers: 7. Zoomorphic is close to a win after seconds at Wyong and Tamworth. In the latest he was run down late. Pushes forward in his races so can offset the gate and has to be considered. 6. Leovanni has come back in good order with a couple of placings, though he went under as a $1.45 favourite at Bathurst. Goes into the mix. 2. Major Look ran on into third over this course two starts back, then six weeks between runs when close up at Hawkesbury, though he only battled home. Chance to lift back to this company.
How to play it: Mount Bona each way.
Race 6 – 4.14PM ARROWFIELD BM66 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
6. Zucchero knocked over a maiden and a BM58 in this area before starting favourite and finishing sixth at Hawkesbury when up to 1800m. Perhaps had an excuse there, too, to the tune of a length or so. Back to this grade and drawing out might allow him to wind up. Dangers: 11. Upwardly Mobile won a BM58 at this track three starts back, but then was a drifter in betting at Tamworth last time when a fair fifth after having her chance. Can improve back to this track where she’s won both her races. 5. Mon Amore can mix her form, but did hit the line quite well over this course two weeks ago into second. Stays under notice. 10. Alpine Kandy was sent out favourite when resuming at a mile at Dubbo and was solid enough running second. Might want a touch further now but gets weight relief and should be thereabouts.
How to play it: Zucchero to win.
Race 7 – 4.54PM DARLEY CLASS 2 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
2. Dashing Rupert won his first two starts in good style at Goulburn in the spring then in the market but didn’t get into the race up in grade at Warwick Farm before a spell. Had two Sydney trials and the latest was a nice improvement. Every chance to be in the finish fresh. Dangers: 1. Ritzsun is back from a couple of Highways where he ran well at Wyong over this trip then below par behind Clear Thinking at Randwick. Freshened up and back to home track, he’s the logical danger. 7. Show Business arrived in time to score on debut at Kembla Grange a couple of weeks ago suggesting the extra 100m will be in her favour. Sure to run well again. 9. Red Rags To Bulls has shown promise in her six starts to date and resumes since a third in a Rosehill Highway in August. Trialled once and she’s one of the chances for sure.
How to play it: Dashing Rupert each way.
Race 8 – 5.34PM EVERGREEN TURF NORTHERN COUNTRY CHAMPS WILD CARD (1400 METRES)
9. Know Thyself deserves another chance after the race did not work out for him first up at Tamworth. Drew wide and found the fence then couldn’t get momentum in a slowly run race. Bigger track will suit him ideally and he did start $1.90 in that race. Clearly the horse to beat. Dangers: 11. Lubrication had no luck at all with a wide run when third behind Tribeca Star in the Lismore heat a month ago. Draws alongside the favourite and is a definite chance given the strong form around him. 5. Bjorn Ironside won well first up then loomed to win the Port Macquarie heat but had to settle for a close third. Since then tried hard at Tamworth last week. Back-up suits and chance if they’re running on. 14. Tornado Express was huge when fourth at Tamworth after sitting four deep without cover throughout the 1400m. Gets the blinkers on and in a race without a lot of speed should be able to land forward. Definite chance. 8. Dances With Hooves will be better suited at her home track than around Tamworth where she wasn’t disgraced running on from near last into midfield.
How to play it: Know Thyself to win.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
