The second stand alone Saturday meeting in New South Wales will be run and won this weekend at Scone with a ripper of a program assembled. The feature event on the card is the $400,000 Inglis Guineas (1400m), where all eyes will be on Twilight Royale, who will earn a bonus $2.4 Million if she is to be successful. In saying that, she’d need to turn around her form this prep.
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Race One (12:20) : Vinery Stud Handicap (75) 2200m
Back Me: Going for the filly down the bottom, Raunchy Rocker All three of her runs have been good this time in. Bumped into Spy Decoder first up, then was outgunned by Paederos, who placed at Rosehill on the weekend, then was a tragedy to watch last week where she never got out of a pocket and went to the line under a hold, so she barely raised a sweat, which is why Gai has put her in this race. She’ll jump to the front and give them something to chase with no weight on her back.
Big Danger: Black Jag should get the beautiful cart over from Raunchy Rocker and get the gun sit off that filly. He doesn’t have a turn of foot, but he keeps on at the same speed and will run the distance out very strongly. Gets in very well at the weights too after the claim for Serg Lisnyy.
Roughie: Phrases tried very hard last week in the Gunnedah Cup when a game second to Collar. Back up to an ideal trip now, and although he isn’t well in at the weights, he is another who tries very hard and will give a sight for his followers.
Race Two (12:55) : Segenhoe Stud Handicap (75) 1100m
Back Me: Rock Magic was a big winner here first up carrying 60kg, then went to Canterbury and was probably ridden a touch too aggressively and had nothing left for the straight when fifth to Agent. Ichikawa retains the ride, and with his claim, the horse gets in well and from the good draw, he has plenty of options.
Big Danger: I am sure Tarloshan will be kept very safe in betting. This kiwi mare has only had three starts, winning two and running second in the other. Won narrowly on debut at Matamata, then spelled and resumed with a win at Ellerslie in October, beating home Telepathic, the likely QLD Oaks winner, then ran a strong second. Big query here over the 1100m, but she has drawn well and does have her fair share of ability.
Roughie: Big Money was backed as if unbeatable when resuming at Muswellbrook and didn’t give his supporters a moments worry when charging through near the inside to win well, and with something up the sleeve. Drawn terribly here, but is on his home track and gets the claim for boom apprentice Taylor Marshall.
Race Three (13:30) : Yarraman Park- Horsepower Luskin Star Stakes 1300m
Back Me: Tricky race. Haussmann was freshened up after winning the Bert Lillye on Keith Nolan day at Kembla and ran in the Hall Mark where he didn’t look 100% comfy on the wet track and inside horses when running third. He’ll improve off that run here and I’m prepared to give him another chance here.
Big Danger: Former Australian galloper, then Singapore galloper, now Australian galloper Masthead made his Aussie comeback at Hawkesbury and was excellent late, running third. That was his first outing since November, so I’m tipping he’ll strip much fitter for that outing, should appreciate the rise to 1300m and a return to firmer footing.
Roughie: Velrosso is an interesting runner here for Chris Waller. Talented when right, but was quite poor in two runs after his brilliant Magic Millions Cup victory. Trialled last week behind classy import Excess Knowledge and looked solid enough to suggest he can run a race fresh. He’ll get back and charge late.
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Race Four (14:05) : Pryde’s Easifeed Woodlands Stakes 1100m
Back Me: Going for some value in the shape of Uratta Belle. I didn’t mind her in her first prep, where she was quite competitive alongside the likes of Fighting Sun and Peggy Jean, with the latter winning the Sires Produce, so the form does read well for a race like this and will have improved with the campaign under her belt.
Big Danger: Shiguru Sendan might only be pony size, but what she lacks in size, she makes up for with race sense. She was travelling really well behind the speed last time out at Canterbury and was waiting for the gap to appear, then a narrow split opened up and she took it with no issues and burst through to win. The bigger surroundings of Scone looks perfect, as does the good draw, and gets in well at the weights despite being an impressive city winner.
Roughie: La Bella Rouge ran twice during her opening campaign in the Summer, both resulting in fourths to Kumaon and Peggy Jean respectively. Hasn’t trialled publicly, so it is unknown where her fitness levels are, but trainer Grant Allard is having a very good run at the moment, and this filly has drawn beautifully.
Race Five (14:40) : Darley Denise’s Joy Stakes 1100m
Back Me: Atmospherical was backed as if unbeatable when resuming at Canterbury and only just got the job done, but in saying that, she was resuming, had to carry 56kg against the older mares and was exposed to the front a touch early due to circumstances. Her form from the Summer is excellent, behind the likes of Pirandello, Woodbine and Dream Forward, so class will carry her a long way here. Hard to beat.
Big Danger: The Messina Nymph was a dominant first up winner at Wyong, then went to the Darley Crown and gave plenty of cheek before being swamped late and ending up in seventh, beaten just under three lengths. Back to her own age and sex here should see her give this a serious shake.
Roughie: Big watch on this filly for Kris Lees, Danica. Didn’t beat much on debut at Wyong, but the manner in which she disposed of her rivals was highly impressive and her sectionals were excellent. Overall time was a half second slower than the older horses, but in her race, they didn’t go as hard early. I think she has a bright future and why not have a throw at the stumps here.
Race Six (15:15) : Coolmore Dark Jewel Classic 1400m
Back Me: Seaside closed off her race quite well late in the Darley Crown behind stablemate and race rival here, Aerobatics. Given she has more upside, I think she is the pick of the Darley runners here and her closing sectionals at Hawkesbury were excellent. Given she is heading towards Brisbane, just how forward she is here will be the query, but she has loads of talent.
Big Danger: I was keen on Two Blue first up at Randwick and she didn’t let me down when nailing her rivals late at good odds to record a strong victory. Normally she takes a run to find her best, but she was very impressive there, so I’m tipping her to improve sharply off that and she rates as a great outside chance.
Roughie: I was also keen on Aerobatics in the Darley Crown, and aided by a gun ride from Christian Reith, she proved too good for her rivals. Given that was her grand final, I do tend to worry about how much is left in the tank for her, but she is a last start stakes winner and isn’t badly in at the weights.
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Race Seven (15:50) : Inglis Guineas 1400m
Back Me: Chautauqua was a most impressive winner of the Hawkesbury Guineas last time out, aided by a gun ride from McDonald, who saved all the ground by hugging the rail and sprinting hard late for victory. That was only his third run back from a break, so I’d like to think he has a little bit left in the tank and the big, spacious surroundings of Scone look ideal.
Big Danger: Woodbine was freshened up after failing in the Pharlap and was outclassed when down the track in the All Aged behind Hana’s Goal. He was ridden on the speed in the All Aged and I don’t think being ridden that way is his go. I think the big field should ensure he gets ridden with cover and rates as a definite threat.
Roughie: Cosmic Endeavour has been up for a while but continues to race quite well, as she did in the Darley Crown when a strong third against the older mares after settling off the speed, which isn’t her go. Back to her own age now and that run at Hawkesbury gave the indication that 1400m will pose no concerns.
Race Eight (16:30) : Arrowfield Ortensia Stakes 1100m
Back Me: Going for some value in the old marvel Zaratone. Was nominated to run in the sprint race at Hawkesbury a couple of weeks back but instead resumes here. I liked him in that Hawkesbury race because he has looked very slick in a couple of barrier trial wins. He is a very fast horse anyway, but even for him, he has caught the eye. He will have company on the speed here, but I’ll take the gamble on the fact he is a very tough campaigner who can cop pressure.
Big Danger: Aeronautical ran an encouraging third in the Hall Mark behind Hot Snitzel despite running on a slow track, and it is well known that Aeronautical doesn’t like getting his feet wet. Ratings wise, he is clearly the best horse in the race and will love a hot tempo in front, which will allow him to use his brilliant finishing burst. Hard to beat.
Roughie: Agent was ridden rather oddly in that Hawkesbury sprint race, sitting midfield and wide with no cover. In saying that, he did stick to the task well under the circumstances and ran a credible seventh. Forget he went around there and go back to his sharp win at Canterbury two back when ridden a treat by boom apprentice Taylor Marshall. Like Aeronautical, he’ll appreciate a fast run 1100m and only needs normal luck to be in the mix.
Best Bet: Chautauqua
Next Best: Atmospherical
Best Roughie: Zaratone
Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):
Leg One: 3, 6, 10
Leg Two: 1, 4, 6, 8, 11
Leg Three: 1, 2, 3, 13, 14
Leg Four: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10
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News:
Craig Newitt has found the key to Danger Close but trainer Jason Warren is confident the sprinter’s winning run can continue at Caulfield with a new jockey.
With Newitt riding in Brisbane on Saturday, Steven King takes over on Danger Close as the gelding steps to open company aiming for his fourth-straight win.
Danger Close and Bel Sprinter’s younger brother Bel Rain were both scratched from races at Flemington last Saturday when the track was downgraded to slow, with Warren preferring to wait to get the pair on firmer footing.
King rode a winning double at Flemington last Saturday, including Longchamp Belle for Warren which led to him getting the ride on Danger Close in Saturday’s 1000m handicap.
“Steven rode Longchamp Belle to victory for us at Flemington so we’ll repay him with another nice ride,” Warren said.
Newitt, who rides Moriarty in Saturday’s Group One Doomben Cup, has ridden Danger Close seven times for four wins including his past three in restricted city races over 1000m.
“We needed to find a replacement and I don’t think we’ll lose much with Steven King,” Warren said.
Danger Close, who has been finishing strongly to win his recent races, has to contend with a wide gate and is a $10 chance with three-year-old Lord Of The Sky, who Danger Close narrowly beat at Flemington on Anzac Day, the clear-cut $2.60 favourite.
Bel Rain won a Geelong maiden in comfortable fashion on debut and is set to make his first city appearance in the Taralye Get Deaf Kids Talking Plate (1200m).
Warren wants to increase Bel Rain’s rating during the off-season to give him the chance to contest better races next season.
“Hopefully he can do that on Saturday and take that next step,” Warren said.
“He’s in good order.
“Ideally I would have liked to have had him in that 1400-metre race last Saturday but it wasn’t to be.”
Daniel Stackhouse rode three-year-old Bel Rain to his debut victory and believes the colt will keep improving.
“He was still very raw (when he won at Geelong),” Stackhouse said.
“That was the third time I had ridden him and from the first time to that time he was a different horse.
“He had just improved so much. He’s just such a green, raw type. With time he’s just going to get better and better.”