Races

Chris Nelson’s Saturday Scone Preview

Posted on | Posted by Chris Nelson

RACE 1

Monster day of racing at Scone with big fields right across the day. Not a lot of rain activity around however enough to suggest the track will remain in the soft range. The day gets underway with a 1700m Midway where (5) JUMERIAH BEACH has to be the top tip based on his outstanding last start win when coming from a mile back after striking trouble early on. The solid tempo assisted suggesting rising back up in distance to 1700m today should be ideal. (6) GENERAL SOHO holds a very good record on this track & is racing well, he’s up to winning this. (1) NORTHERN EYES in the mix also.

Numbers: 5 – 6 – 1 – 11

Suggested Bet: JUMERIAH BEACH TO WIN.

RACE 2

Extremely open Highway although that’s nothing new! (12) PHAROAHZANO has finished in the placings his past couple beaten small margins, he gets in well at the weights with Molly Bourke’s claim & has placed his only attempt here on his home circuit. The consistent (17) STRAIGHT FIRE should be peaking third run back from a break, Tommy Sherry has options with the draw. (10) DUE CALZINI is consistent however only won the single race to date, concerning.

Numbers: 12 – 17 – 10 – 6

Suggested Bet: HIDDEN ACHIEVEMENT EACH-WAY.

RACE 3

Although drawn widely I can’t tip against (2) AKAYSHA who beat home last week’s dominant Gold Coast winner Beadman on debut at Kembla Grange before running into a smart one at Randwick second time around. Beaten 0.6L there was a further 1.9L back to the third horse which is significant. (3) MISS FREELOVE went down narrowly on debut when heavily backed before quickly making amends at Canterbury when leading throughout, logical danger. (6) STARDOM also comes out of the Kembla Grange race on debut, ran well there before off to Wagga at her second start winning with ease.

Numbers: 4 – 3 – 6 – 15

Suggested Bet: AKAYSHA TO WIN.

RACE 4

(5) OH DIAMOND LIL the top pick in this race. Although yet to win fresh she has placed at both attempts & she’s had a couple of lead up trials to ready her for this winning both. She bumped into the promising Raikkonen fresh last prep & also mixed it with Perfumist who was flying at the time. (1) BLAZING HARRY just missed out on an automatic Stradbroke slot running second in the Gateway late last year, he’ll be ready to go here. (3) GETAFIX can improve sharply without any surprise.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 3 – 14

Suggested Bet: OH DIAMOND LIL TO WIN.

RACE 5

Backing (14) GOOD BANTER at an each-way quote. She’s a mare who showed a bit earlier in her career winning the Group 3 Adrian Knox just over a year ago. She seemed to go off the boil after that however the blinkers were removed 4 starts back & at all runs since she’s found the line with a lot more intent. Yes, she reads as a ‘wet tracker’ & there’s no doubt the loves the give however I think she can run well here no matter what the ground. (15) OUR EMPRESS ZOE comes back from the midweeks & gets weight relief, include. (8) SCALEXTRICS continues to race consistently, loves the damp ground.

Numbers: 14 – 15 – 8 – 12

Suggested Bet: GOOD BANTER EACH-WAY.

RACE 6

(6) ZEALOUSLY ran well first up at the midweeks just missing out. Second-up late last month I thought connections erred in not pushing on after a good start which saw him end up 3 wide without cover. From that position he always faced a task & ended up doing a good job to hold down third. Hoping for a more positive ride this afternoon. (3) TANGLEWOOD is a gun fresh, trial form excellent, ready to go first up. (10) LONHRO’S QUEEN had excuses last start, does have to deal with a wide draw though.

Numbers: 6 – 3 – 10 – 4

Suggested Bet: ZEALOUSLY EACH-WAY.

RACE 7

The Listed Denise’s Joy is the first feature race of the day. I’m with (8) GERRIGONG who resumes having raced well at her initial prep winning her first two starts (Canterbury) before having no luck behind the very highly rated Private Harry at the Sunshine Coast. I liked the way she was able to do it both ends at those wins & the overall time was good on each occasion. (6) SOFT LOVE is flying down south, unbeaten has a fitness edge on the top tip. (2) SHOHISHA won’t be far away, there’s plenty of other winning chances though.

Numbers: 8 – 6 – 2 – 1

Suggested Bet: GERRIGONG EACH-WAY.

RACE 8

The Listed Ortensia brings together a very strong field of sprinters, yet another very open affair. Leaning to (13) CLEAR THINKING who is unbeaten fresh & only really comes off a short break of 9 weeks suggesting she may still hold some residual fitness. Drawn wide I can see her ripping down the outside of this long straight. I’m a (4) CONTEMPORARY fan, he generally races well when fresh, look for a strong return run should he not be a big market drifter. Can find a spot for (10) THE NOVELLIST however there’s plenty more also in that boat.

Numbers: 13 – 4 – 10 – 2

Suggested Bet: CLEAR THINKING EACH-WAY.

RACE 9

The Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic is another hugely competitive affair. (9) WRITTEN IN CODE didn’t shirk her task one bit last start winding up solidly into third placing albeit without threatening the quinella. She’s been a model of consistency this prep & the additional 100m looks to be exactly what she’s looking for. (11) WOOLOWIN was well supported in Group 3 company first up, unfortunately for her backers she was caught 3 deep, back to the trials (won) she can bounce back. (5) KITTY ROSE a market watch, (15) ZEITING just lacked dash last start when the race was there to be won, may be flat, may need a break?

Numbers: 9 – 11 – 5 – 15

Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.

RACE 10

The Listed Luskin Star rounds out a massive day. (7) CHRYSAOR will likely go off big odds & is far from hopeless. He’s a dual first up winner who has had a couple of trials asked for no effort. His runs last prep were in stronger company & this is exactly the sort of race he can bob up in. Back in trip for (1) WELWAL isn’t ideal however he has won second-up & the long run home suits should they run along in front. (11) WHINCHAT right in it just needs luck off the wide alley.

Numbers: 7 – 1 – 11 – 9

Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.

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