THE Scone Race Club will stage its third meeting in the past fortnight after the Akubra Quirindi Showcase Cup was transferred to the Bunnan Road track this week.
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A Racing NSW spokesperson said a storm had caused damage to the infrastructure of the Quirindi Racecourse, thus allowing the TAB fixture to go ahead in the Upper Hunter on Friday, February 21.
The track is expected to improve to about a soft 5/6 with the rail out three metres.
Gates open from noon, with the first on the card starting at 1.15pm.
RACE 1 @ 1.15pm 2YO HCP (1000m)
We start with the babies over the sprint course, and I'm with supremely bred debutant Newcastle filly 7. TWO GEMS (Real Impact x The Look by Fastnet Rock for Paul Perry/Grant Buckley) off two forward trials. Draws the inside, and sire won the Group 1 Ryder in 2015, and was 2nd in Kermadec's Doncaster.
Main dangers: Another first starter, Tamworth colt 2. TAKE THE SHOT also looks ready to figure off a dominant home track trial win; while progressive Muswellbrook gelding 1. PEE DEE comes off his front-running debut win here in a handy maiden.
Tempo: Good to strong
My betting attack: TWO GEMS to win and box trifecta 1, 2, 7
RACE 2 @ 1.50pm CLASS 1 HCP (1600m)
Up to the mile now, and it's a competitive test for this grade. Going wide here with improving 4YO Scone mare 5. MORE SPICE (Scott Singleton/Billy Cray) who can peak fourth-up on the limit weight. Charged over the top to win her maiden at Dubbo two runs back before no match for a smart one here last start, but better off drawn outside horses.
Main dangers: Consistent 4YO Newcastle gelding 1. DISCOMBE is entitled to go off clear favourite in this company after a strong all-the-way maiden win as hot fancy at Muswellbrook, but looks a shade under the odds drawn further out and carting biggest weight of his career. Tamworth 4YO gelding 2. ALL TOO DIFFICULT improved to hit the line hard this trip at Dubbo last start, and while the track suits his pattern, still needs to find more. Quirindi 3YO filly 4. OLYMPIC FLAME broke through at Walcha last start, and while this is tougher, drops down to the limit weight.
Tempo: Moderate to good
My betting attack: MORE SPICE each-way and quinella 1 and 5
RACE 3 @ 2.25pm BM 58 HCP (1450m)
Handy race, with a few chances, headed by 3YO Newcastle colt 2. DODECANESE (Paul Perry/Rory Hutchings) who looks well placed back out in trip, and drawn to get early cover. Took care of a stronger BM 58 field here before Xmas, and last start at Muswellbrook beat all but emerging star Free Rider. The one to beat!
Main dangers: Right behind Dodecanese at the 'brook was improving 3YO Scone filly 7. LOVE ME QUIETLY who finished off well third-up at big odds, and also draws to get an economical run back in the field before launching late. Another mare from the Perry yard in Newcastle, 9. Zizania is building nicely towards another win after attacking the line late in her last couple at Taree; while 7YO Taree gelding 5. TOAST gets to his best distance, and can run into the placings.
Tempo: Moderate to good
My betting attack: DODECANESE to win
RACE 4 @ 3.05pm TAB.COM.AU MAIDEN PLATE (1450m)
Wide open affair for the maidens here. Nyngan 4YO gelding 1. ARKAM ASYLUM (Rodney Robb/Clayton Gallagher a0kg) hasn't been far away all prep, and is on the quick back-up after doing his best work late in a handy maiden at Dubbo last start.
Main dangers: Big watch on 3YO Scone gelding and well-named first starter 8. DOUBELL (Olympic Glory x Covertly by Metal Storm for Brett Cavanough/Rory Hutchings) who won the second of two recent trials. Another one trained on the track, 4YO gelding 5. OCEAN VILLA can peak third-up after two fair efforts in deeper races, chasing home smart Holy Sunday last start who then went down by a whisker at Muswellbrook on Tuesday; while 3YO Wyong filly 12. ROCKNESS ANGEL disappointed at Taree after a strong first-up run at Gosford, but should find this a little easier.
Tempo: Moderate to good
My betting attack: ARKAM ASYLUM each-way and box trifecta 1, 5, 8, 12
RACE 5 @ 3.40pm MAIDEN HCP (1250m)
Another big and tricky field, with a stack of hopes. Improving 3YO Pt Macquarie gelding 4. STONECOLD FLEX (Tas Morton/Rory Hutchings) can break through at third start on a track he will appreciate. Hit the line hard on debut when well backed before doing best work late behind Free Rider at Tamworth. Will go back from a wide draw, but capable of running the quickest final 400m.
Main dangers: Tamworth 3YO gelding 6. CRACKERJACK KENNY has found the line well all prep, including a fast-finishing 2nd to Free Rider two runs back, and can peak here out to this distance fourth-up. Rival Tamworth 3YO 2. FARMER'S FRIEND was well in the market finishing off well on debut here. Drawn to get a soft run just off the speed, with blinkers on for the first time. Muswellbrook 3YO gelding and former Victorian 1. FORBIDDEN PALACE chased home smart debutant Beauty Betty here in his first run for 16 months, but will find it tough up in trip drawn right off the track. Include Muswellbrook filly 9. DAWNSTAR who has been placed in her last two at this track, and senior country rider is back on.
Tempo: Good
My betting attack: STONECOLD FLEX and CRACKERJACK KENNY both to win and trifecta: 2, 4, 6/1, 2, 4, 6, 9/1, 2, 4, 6, 9
RACE 6 @ 4.20pm CLASS 2 PLATE (1250m)
Good quality race with plenty of depth. High class 5YO Tamworth gelding 2. GALAPAGOS (Cody Morgan/Cameron Noble a1.5kg) will be tough to beat for leading country stable off a nine week freshen-up. Charged home to win a Class 3 resuming just before Xmas, and last full prep was beaten only four lengths by Kolding in record time at Randwick before just missing in a Highway at Rosehill.
Main dangers: Talented local 5YO mare 10. MADAME PAULINE is the obvious threat resuming off two forward trials. Burst on to the scene over two years ago winning twice here before beaten a head in a Highway at Randwick last autumn. First run for nine months, but very smart on her day. Big fan of 4YO Scone gelding 4. JOEY'S CHANCE, although after a dominant Class 1 win at Tamworth, was very flat late against stronger at Dubbo when heavily backed. Can bounce back at home, and drawn to sit right behind the speed. Include two 5YO Scone-trained geldings 5. KATGULLY RED, and 6. MY ZEBRINKA in wider exotics.
Tempo: Fair to good
My betting attack: GALAPOGOS to win and quinella 2 and 10
RACE 7 @ 4.55pm QUIRINDI CUP (1600m)
Feature race of the day over the mile, and it's a typically wide market. If lightly weighted 5YO Tamworth gelding 14. RATLER (Melissa Dennett/TBA) can get any sort of cover from the wide barrier, she'll be rattling into the finish. Flew home to just miss in a BM 66 at home two runs back before too strong as a hot favourite in a Class 3 at Walcha fourth-up, and unlike many of these, he's still on an upward career slant for a stable that's under-rated.
Main dangers: Expecting sharp improvement from 4YO Newcastle gelding 5. TIME RAID after failing to finish off in a good quality BM 70 on the Kensington track. Drops 3kg from that, and previously charged over the top for a dominant win on the heavy at Taree. Over the odds! Progressive 4YO Tamworth mare 9. HAMMOON BALLAD came off a good run under a big weight in a BM 66 at home to win the Walcha Cup, and while this is a bit tougher, 54kg from a good draw has her right in the contest. Tamworth 8YO gelding 1. GOLDSTREAM hasn't won for a long time, but races more sparingly now. Looks well in despite the big weight coming back from a BM 88 at Randwick where he was beaten under two lens, and drawing the inside.
Tempo: Moderate to good
My betting attack: RATTLER each-way and box trifecta 1, 5, 9, 14
RACE 8 @5.30pm OPEN HCP (1100m)
Another wide open and good quality sprint to finish. Smart 5YO Newcastle gelding 6. SAUSALITO (Paul Perry/Ms Rachael Murray) gets his chance to win a sixth race down in weight from an ideal trailing draw. Flew home in the stronger BM 81 Sizzler at Muswellbrook before again finishing on late at Canterbury under 2kg more.
Main dangers: Tough front-running 6YO Inverell gelding 1. ALL STAND is proving bullet-proof winning his last three in high benchmark company. Draws to control the race again, and 3kg off form form apprentice keeps him very competitive after handicapper lumped him with 65.5kg. Dubbo 8YO 3. KENNY SUCCEED also likes to scoot forward over this trip, and held on brilliantly to beat a handy BM 82 field in record time at home last start.
Tempo: Good to strong
My betting attack: SAUSALITO each-way
My best bets
R1 7. TWO GEMS** Expect: $4.65 - $4.75; My Early Rating: $3.00
R3 2. DODECANESE** Expect: $3.25 - $3.40; My Early Rating: $2.25
R8 6. SAUSALITO*** Expect: $7.50 - $8.00; My Early Rating: $3.85
My best value
R5 4. STONECOLD FLEX* Expect: $5.25 - $5.50; My Early Rating: $4.05
R5 6. CRACKERJACK KENNY* Expect: $6.50 - $7.00; My Early Rating: $4.80
R7 14. RATLER** Expect: $9.00 - $10.00; My Early Rating: $5.10
R7 9. HAMMOON BALLAD* Expect: $9.50 - $9.00; My Early Rating: $5.85