Ahh the Scone Cup Carnival. One of these days I am going to get up to partake in the 2-day party of racing that takes the upper hunter by storm, but sadly this year is not that day. We’ve been pretty consistent lately hitting plenty of winners each week, but still no best bet, which continues to be the bane of my existence. Let’s keep the wins coming though!
Track Report: Currently rated a Soft 5, but with plenty of sunshine expect we should be seeing a Good 4 come race day. The rail goes out 3 metres the entire circuit, which means that the leaders will get only the slightest advantage, as Scone often plays pretty fair due to its long straight and wide track.
Race 1 – 1100M Kia Ora Woodlands Stakes
Going with Saltaire here. I think across all of the 2YO form throughout the season so far, I have been the fondest of the Inglis Millennium form and this horse has it. Blanc De Blanc, Facile, Learning To Fly, Lazzago and many more came through that race and then afterwards she had a start where she beat Barber home. This is a drop in class if anything. Top weight is fair enough, but I think she’ll be too classy for them.
Dipsy Doodle is of course the major danger as the favourite and coming off 2 straight wins amongst decent company. Last start came in a Rosehill bog and she handled the wet the best. However, she isn’t set to get wet here, could that bring her undone? I wouldn’t think so.
In My Dreams is the real unknown being the first starter. Drawn ideally and off of her trials she can be a real big player here. She was able to absorb a lot of pressure when they challenged her, but she kicked away unphased when asked for it, which indicates to me that she is a smart type that is ready to go in the races.
Hip Hip Hurrah is 1/1 in her short career so far after a nice debut win where she was able to cross heels and laid out the entire straight to finish strongly and grab a narrow victory. But that was in much easier company. Still remains a knockout chance.
Selections: 1-2-8-4
Suggested Bet: Saltaire
Race 2 – 1600M Tab Highway Hcp (C3)
Wide open field as always so I am looking to go rough and I have landed on What A Peach. Home track advantage can come into play here as she has never missed the placings from 4 starts at Scone. She steps to 1600m for the first time ever, but the way she races I see no queries in it. She is flying as of late and she can certainly get the win at big odds.
Russley Crown is another home tracker here and he has never missed the quinella here in 4 starts with 2 wins and 2 runner-up efforts. 1/1 at the distance and if he doesn’t get trapped wide, he will probably be at the front for most of the way and be the one they have to run down.
Steplee won this race last year going from last to first and doing it the tough way. From the barrier he’s drawn you’d have to think that it will have to be the case again. Undefeated at the track (another Scone home tracker) and his placing in harder company last start areas well for this.
Smooth Esprit is your consistent customer in these sorts of races. You know you’ll get an honest performance and he is much better suited back on a dry deck.
Selections: 4-1-2-9
Suggested Bet: What A Peach Each Way
Race 3 – 1700M Midway (Bm72)
Straight up, Wrathful here. His last run was perhaps the best I have ever seen from a Midway horse. Back a mile, never going to be in it as it was incredibly difficult to make up ground in the bog that was the Rosehill track but somehow he goes last to first in the blink of an eye in the final stages. It impressed the hell out of me. He is better than Midway grade and I look forward to seeing him rise through the grades. He’ll be very hard to beat in my opinion.
Miracle Spin, Decadent Tale and Left Reeling round out the selections.
Selections: 4-6-2-9
Suggested Bet: Wrathful (Best Bet)
Race 4 – 1300M Yarraman Park (Bm72)
I look through the field and I see a few options that stick out to me, but none more so than Altivo. Favourite for good reason after having an undefeated start to the career. Last start was particularly impressive as he went through the motions at Sandown and then proceeded to absolutely smash them in the final stages. Yes, he will get back a fair bit from that gate, but if he has a back to follow going around that bend and Gibbons presses the button at the right time, it is all over.
My next pick is actually another Gibbons-ridden horse, this time it is Dyl Gibbons on Spellcatcher. I don’t see why this horse is marked at $20+, I would have him at half of that if I was in the bookmarker’s chair. Proven second-up, proven at the track and proven at the distance. He’ll launch late and find his way into the money I feel.
Huesca disappointed me as my best bet last time, but to be fair, the rain came down way harder than expected an then when the track was tipped into the Heavy range it was game over. Drier deck and an easier field he can bounce back.
Amathuba is one that I will really kick myself if it wins without me on. Magic Millions form, plus form behind Sunshine In Paris, which certainly sticks out on paper. Should be thereabouts in the finish.
Selections: 7-2-3-11
Suggested Bet: Altivo Win
Race 5 – 1100M Arrowfield Ortensia Stakes
Now this is a race and a half! Plenty of Group level sprinters here going toe to toe and it isn’t even the card’s main event!
Usually, I would be all over Eleven Eleven especially at that price, which I think is downright criminal. But, boy oh boy do I love Quantico when the deck is dry and that is what he gets here. A dry deck and a fresh run is a proven winning combination for this horse and I expect another one to come here.
Malkovich comes off a first-up win that made me look silly for not following my first-up off of a gelding routine. He’s an 1100 specialist and can only see him running well. If he jumps clean he’ll be put right on the speed and prove hard to run down.
Andermatt is another 1100 specialist who will be right in the finish with the right steer. He jumps from the widest gate, but if he can get over and find some cover behind the pace he will certainly have a hot tempo to follow that will suck him into the race come the final stages.
This is all without mentioning Dehorned Unicorn who spent last prep chasing around Spacewalk, Quick Tempo and Mariamia, all of whom are Group level sprinters, Mariamia of course being a Group 1 winner.
Selections: 3-2-1-5
Suggested Bet: Quantico Win, 3/2
Race 6 – 1700M Scone Rsl (Bm78)
I’ve got to go with the import Unspoken. Was unlucky not to win on debut as he chased a leader that never gave him a chance. Then he went to Hawkesbury when we were on him and he fell flat. But I forgive him. He was stuck in mammoth traffic and was bumped along the way as well. Think he can bounce back here and really kick home down the straight.
Estadio Mestalla will find itself getting quite a fair way back from that gate and I know he is good and his turn of foot can blow most of this field away, but unsure if he is THAT good. This is the testing material.
Ita is what you see is what you get. Perhaps one of the most honest horses going around. Would shock me if she finishes out of the top 6.
Solar Apex kicked home nicely in the slosh last start but will prefer getting back on dry ground.
Selections: 8-5-6-2
Suggested Bet: Unspoken Each Way
Race 7 – 1100M Coolmore Denise’s Joy Stakes
Opal Ridge is a class above, but I can’t see her getting a start, as she needs 3 more scratchings to get a start, so I am turning my attention to Moonlight Grace at big odds.
She flew home last start to win the Midway for us at a pretty price and I think she can do us well again. Dyl Gibbons jumps off, which hurts, but Jean Van Overmeire is no slouch and he has been flying to kick off his return to the country anyways. She will sit just off of a hectic tempo up front and use that to run over the top of them. To be carrying 53kg back to her own age class after beating the older horses has her excellently placed I feel.
Penthouse is very similar in the sense that last start she was winning the highway against older horses and a bunch of boys as well. So coming here off of that with a great draw and a low weight puts her in strong stead to be winning this.
Once Again My Girl is fast, really fast. She broke Lost And Running’s track record on debut and has started her career 2/2, both of which came at this track. She has drawn well and if she manages to find the front and kick it could be hard to run her down.
Selections: 13-11-16-20
Suggested Bet: Moonlight Grace Each Way, Saver Bet on Opal Ridge to be refunded if she is scratched.
Race 8 – 1300M Scone Equine Hosp. Luskin Star
I’m taking Tamerlane here. I have been following this horse keenly all prep and he has done me very well going 2nd, win, win. Continues to rise through the grades and faces his toughest tasks to date. Drawn the carpark, but I feel like he can get over and find some cover and if he does, he will motor home with his nice turn of foot that’s been displayed this prep.
Waihaha Falls a major danger after the sort of sectionals he put in last start on a bog of a Rosehill track. But to be fair, he has always been better in the wet. He will be fit and firing ready to peak 3rd up and at a distance he is fond of.
Opal Ridge next as she is guaranteed a start here and will carry 5 less kilos compared to Race 7. Best work is done on the dry decks and after a first up win in dominant fashion she had 2 forgive runs. She can bounce back here for sure.
Oscar Zulu is much better over much further, but he is often quite sharp when fresh, so I couldn’t not include him here.
Selections: 4-7-9-2
Suggested Bet: Tamerlane Each Way
Race 9 – 1400m Emirates Pk Dark Jewel Classic
Have to be with Finepoint here. I’ve been on her a couple of times this prep actually and she keeps falling short, this is one last go on her for me. 2 narrow losses behind the likes of Roots and Maotai before never being a chance in the Queen of The Turf behind Atishu. Can bounce back on the dry deck and peaking 4th up, I expect her to be bouncing back.
Expat is a horse that should have more wins than she does. Constantly running into bad luck and horses that are just a touch better. That happened once more last start behind Princess Grace when she was pipped late. Doesn’t love the dry and this is probably her peak distance, but she has that consistent kick and if they switch off behind her for a split second, she’ll make them pay.
Short Shorts is a consistent customer that has risen through the grades nicely this year and she faces her toughest test yet and it wouldn’t shock me if she excelled. 3/5 career wins have come at this distance and she’s undefeated when 4th up, she’ll be there for a long time.
Call me crazy but Seleque at $40+ makes my numbers. She does her best work when fresh and when at this distance. With the low weight, she can fly late and find her way into the money.
Selections: 5-1-13-10
Suggested Bet: Finepoint Each Way
Race 10 – 1100M Muswellbrook Ford (Bm78)
Shalailed may only have a single win on the board, but that’s because he’s been chasing some top 3YO’s around and he’s been running well mind you. He has only missed the top 3 on 2 occasions in all 10 of his career starts. I expect him to be in the finish.
Abuela has the form behind Midnight Grace, one of our earlier picks, so depending on the result of that race the form could read really well for this. She’s a pacey type that should find the front and be the one they have to run down.
Talbragar is the favourite here and fair enough considering the prep he has had. A 2nd in the Country Championships has him as one of the top contenders here, but he still needs scratchings to gain a start.
Tucson Valley is an 1100m specialist with 6/7 wins coming at the distance and only ever missing the top 3 once in 9 starts.
Selections: 2-15-20-10
Suggested Bet: Shalailed Each Way
Top Selections For The Card
Race 1: Saltaire
Race 2: What A Peach
Race 3: Wrathful (Best Bet)
Race 4: Altivo
Race 5: Quantico
Race 6: Unspoken
Race 7: Moonlight Grace
Race 8: Tamerlane
Race 9: Finepoint
Race 10: Shalailed
The Quaddie
Race 7: 2,10,11,13,16,20
Race 8:2,4,7,9
Race 9:1,5,10,13
Race 10:2,10,15,20
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