Race-by-race preview and tips for Scone on Friday
By Neil Evans
Selections based on a heavy track
Race 1 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1700m)
6. Relentless Ruby thrives in rain-affected going and can make it two straight having her first run at home. Tracked the speed before careering away for an easy win last time as a hot favourite. Taking on a few better ones here but draws to get the right trail with cover.
Racing returns to Scone on Friday.Credit: Phil Carrick
Dangers: 2. Need A Miracle hasn’t finished further back than second in his last three, and again draws to take up a forward position. 3. Image Of The Sun was allowed to drift too far back second-up before making up tidy ground late, and the extra 100m is a plus.
How to play it: Relentless Ruby to win.
Race 2 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m)
12. Upwardly Mobile can improve enough to break through. Ran home late from the back into a place here on debut after being backed from $9 into $7 but has reportedly trained on well, and advantaged over 100m further with improved fitness on her side.
Dangers: 6. Bold As Love debuts off a smart trial win in soft ground. 1. Whistling Straits on an 11-day back-up.
How to play it: Upwardly Mobile to win.
Race 3 MAIDEN HCP (1200m)
7. Hell Of A Lad can launch his career for the Kris Lees stable with a bang. Has been good through the line in two progressive trials on rain-affected ground up to 1000m, and starts in blinkers.
Dangers:Watch the betting closely on gelded three-year-old 1. Luconi from the Waterhouse-Bott yard. By all-conditions sire Nicconi, and fitted with two trials. 6. Torie’s Rose is right in the mix fourth-up with a fitness edge, while include in exotics resuming 5. Perri Lass, a stablemate of the top selection.
How to play it: Hell Of A Lad to win.
Race 4 MAIDEN HCP (1200m)
Pierro colt 9. Piccaderro debuts for the Ciaron Maher stable in a suitable and now weakened race behind two solid trials, and draws the inside.
Dangers: Well bred 3. Eclair Vitality improves after a fair debut at this track 19 days ago as a well backed favourite, while Lees-trained two-year-old 4. Mr Crowning Moment resumes off two trials. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Piccaderro to win.
Race 5 MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)
13. Sweet Proposal gets her chance to break through after two frustrating placings at city and provincial level, the latest not afforded the best run at Hawkesbury when just behind the placegetters as a heavily backed favourite. Drawn this time to get outside runners early in the straight, and even better placed here over 100m further carrying 1kg less.
Dangers: 3. Homeland has been letting down punters all prep, although did finish hard at his fourth start in a handy country maiden, and the quick back-up is a solid pointer. 1. Balmierro drops back from deeper provincial and metro line-ups and again suited under the set weight conditions.
How to play it: Sweet Proposal to win.
Race 6 CLASS 3 HCP (1100m)
11. Joiselle finds an ideal race lacking depth to kick off her second prep. Showed tactical speed and good acceleration to win both starts at Dubbo earlier in the year, and looked ready to go winning a recent 1000m trial here.
Dangers: 3. Hellova Nature resumes as a gelding with blinkers added off two trials and can run the quinella. At bigger odds, keep safe 4. Consenza who drops in grade third-up from a softer draw. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Joiselle to win.
Race 7 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1400m)
6. Jonny Be Swift resumes off two trials, both over 1200m. Won two straight up to BM58 level late last year in heavy going before reloading for two placings up to this level in February. This looks a nice starting distance given the trial work and the fact he’s bred to relish the wet being by So You Think out of a Street Boss mare.
Dangers: 8. Rasay Factor charged home from the back to win a country BM58 first-up. 9. Big Bay Wolf second-up is over the odds, while 13. Up And Comer is first-up behind two quiet trials.
How to play it: Jonny Be Swift to win.
Race 8 CLASS 1 HCP (1300m)
Local mare 12. Soaring Phoenix is tracking to peak third-up with the blinkers back on, and gets the right run in a race torn apart by scratchings.
Dangers: Promising filly 18. Lights Of Paradise has been given a month since an impressive debut win at this track, while keeping safe 19. The Favorite Son who has been given a month between runs, and relishes rain-affected ground.
How to play it: Soaring Phoenix to win.
BEST BETS: Race 5 (13) SWEET PROPOSAL; Race 8 (12) SOARING PHOENIX
BEST BETS: Race 7 (6) JONNY BE SWIFT
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
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