Sir Remlap looms as cream of the crop at Scone
By Neil Evans
One of the real powerhouse sprinters of country NSW is out to lay down a big marker for Country Championship honours when he returns in the feature sprint at Monday’s Scone meeting.
Sir Remlap, a big finishing and lightly raced four-year-old in the home track Scott Singleton stable, hasn’t raced since a spectacular Class 3 Highway win at Randwick over 1200m to close out 2024.
Sir Remlap, centre, carrying the maroon and yellow silks, wins the Highway Handicap at Randwick on December 28.Credit: Getty Images
That came only 10 days after a similar style flashing win in a BM 58 at Scone, signalling his pathway to bigger riches through early 2025.
Unbeaten at home from two starts, the gelded son of Rubick has always shown a huge ability to sprint well fresh, although there’ll be little room for error in this high quality 1200m field.
In fact, it’s hard to remember a more dynamic line-up at only the CL4 Preview level in the still blossoming history of the Country Championship series.
Right behind Sir Remlap ($2.90) in early betting was exciting Tamworth mare Tornado Express ($3.20) who resumes off an eight-week break and dominant back-to-back wins up to Class 3 country level.
Throw in another smart local in Giving Delight ($7.50) who flashed home to win first-up in a provincial BM 58, as well as resuming mare Hellcibell, and even at bigger odds Newcastle three-year-old Puerto Banus ($13.50) who has won two of his last three, and it’s easy to see why this race should have an immediate impact on overall Country Championship betting.
Sir Remlap was around $9 in all-in betting for the Championship title – run at Randwick on April 5 – well behind Clear Thinking on the $4 line, with Tornado Express around $16. Watch this space.
Meanwhile, the powerful Annabel Neasham-Rob Archibald stable is set to resume and unveil another group of exciting youngsters at Scone.
Heading the list is debutant three-year-old Call Me Magnifique, a son of The Autumn Sun, who kicks off in a Maiden Plate over 1400m behind two progressive trials. The stable had accepted four runners in that race, including the returning Phazed.
Earlier, both Longinus, first-up since early last spring, and well bred Clubman, not seen since a dominant debut win in Canberra 10 months ago, are expected to take a big hand in a Class 1 handicap over 1400m.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
Careless Roper tied up for next three weeks
Craig Kerry
Jockey Anna Roper will be sidelined for the next three weeks after a rollercoaster day at Randwick.
The three-kilogram claiming apprentice from the Central Coast rode Yorkshire to victory and gained high praise from trainer John O’Shea on Saturday. It continued a fine run from Roper, who has a 24 per cent winning strike rate from her past 50 rides.
Anna Roper received a careless riding suspension.Credit: Getty Images
However, Roper was suspended for careless riding on Yorkshire, when shifting in on another runner while crossing from a wide gate after the start. She was suspended for an identical offence earlier in the Highway Handicap when aboard Dale.
The overall two-week suspension was added to a week’s penalty starting on Sunday from a careless riding offence at Scone, meaning she will be out until March 8.
Sumo Fish, McKeon book Championships spots
Craig Kerry
Sumo Fish and 100-1 chance McKeon are the first horses through to the $1 million Country Championships final at Randwick on April 5 after finishing one-two in the opening heat at Port Macquarie on Sunday.
Wayne Wilkes-trained Sumo Fish ($6.50), ridden by Wilkes’ daughter and apprentice, Shae, came down the outside with Joseph Burgess-prepared, Siena Grima-ridden McKeon and finished a head clear in the Mid North Coast qualifier. Bjorn Ironside was third.
The next qualifiers will be the Northern Rivers heat on Saturday at Lismore and the South East race at Nowra on Sunday.
The top two from Orange (Central Districts) on February 28, Wagga Wagga (Southern Districts) on March 1, Tamworth (Hunter and North-West) on March 9 and Coonamble (Western) on March 16 also qualify. The winners of the northern wildcard at Scone on March 21 and southern wildcard at Goulburn on March 23 make the final.