Scone, Coffs Harbour previews: Scott Singleton’s debutant Ritzsun to ring in the new racing season with victory

Scone trainer Scott Singleton can kick off the new season in style when his exciting first starter Ritzsun contests the first race on the opening day of the Scone 2024/25 calendar.

Local trainer Scott Singleton has some good chances at Scone including Ritzsun. Picture: Bradley Photos

Scott Singleton is in the box-seat to ensure he has the honour and distinction of winning Scone’s first race of the new season via the exciting debutant Ritzsun.

The Hawkesbury Guineas-winning trainer has been impressed with what he has seen from Ritzsun, a grandson of Sebring, in his three trials dating back to January and he wasn’t alone.

“I had a couple of little bites from Hong Kong but it wasn’t quite enough so we decided to keep him and give him another prep and see if he improved a bit which he has. We are happy enough to take him to the races now,” Singleton said.

“He is a tough sort of horse. I always thought he would go better at the races than at the trials because he is a bit of a trier so he’ll stick to his task pretty well I think.

“I would expect him to be right around the mark, definitely a top three chance.

Cabral finishes best under @BlakeSpriggs to take Race 2 at Tamworth @_TJC!

A winning double to start the day for trainer Wayne Brown at $272 @tabcomau fixed odds... 💰👏 pic.twitter.com/AnHwZrVVvS

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 19, 2024

“If he gets beat, I don’t think he will get beat far.

“He will put himself up on speed and he is not a weak horse. He won’t stop.”

Singleton’s star apprentice Mitch Stapleford, meanwhile, will take two-off the camp’s newcomer Kantishna when she has her second start under new management in the Coolmore Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1100m).

The daughter of Vinery’s Silver Slipper winner Headwater belied her $21 starting price when a neck second at Tamworth on July 19 at her first run for Singleton.

“We were happy enough with her to take her to the races the other day,” the trainer said.

“I got her mid-prep and for mine at home, she just keeps improving and keeps looking a little bit better all the time as well.

“So I am probably happier with her heading into this race than I was going to Tamworth the other day which should have her running a fairly good race.

“She doesn’t have loads of ability but she seems like a bit of a trier and she will put herself on speed.

“If there are no stars in the race, I would say she’d be right in the thick of it.”

"Here's your winner!"

Prefer To Smile lets down powerfully over the concluding stages to take out Race 7 at @goulburnraces! pic.twitter.com/bq2Sb1CvMc

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 26, 2023

Singleton’s third runner on Day Two of the 2024/25 season comes up in The Gamble Inn Benchmark 58 Handicap (2200m) with Prefer To Smile.

The Kiwi-bred mare has wins at Canberra and Goulburn on her C.V but has been struggling to find her best of late.

“I was a little bit happier with the last run than I had been,” Singleton reported.

“She hit a bit of a flat-spot before the corner but once she got into the straight, she chipped away okay I thought.

“She will definitely want the extra trip but it is a bit of a D-Day for her this week at home.

“She needs to show us something.

“Sometimes mares, when they’re not in form, it is pretty hard to get their head into the game but we’ve chucked the kitchen sink at her so to speak so I am hoping she can show some type of form.”

Prefer To Smile is arguably worth more off the track than on it, given her membership of a New Zealand racing and breeding industry dynasty.

A daughter of four-time Group 1 winner Preferment, Prefer To Smile’s fourth dam is Eustaci whose progeny include Group 1 winners Smiling Like, Sirstaci and Nimue.

REECE JONES AIMING TO BECOME THE KING OF COFFS HARBOUR

Sydney’s in-form jockey Reece Jones makes a 1000km round trip to Coffs Harbour for one of the most important mile races he will ride in this year.

Joe Pride and connections of Kiwi money-spinner King Of The Castle owe a deed of gratitude to Jones who helped secure the horse a run in last year’s The Big Dance (1600m) after steering him to victory in the The Big Dance Wildcard.

He ran fourth on the first Tuesday in November picking up $150,000.

Pride can start planning a longer-range build-up to the 2024 edition should King Of The Castle go one better than his second in last year’s Big Dance Eligible Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m).

King Of The Castle was very good in The Big Dance and Reece Jones did a top job in the saddle for @PrideRacing! pic.twitter.com/MIgWGUqa4v

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 22, 2023

“I like him,” Jones said.

“I probably expected him to do a little bit more last start, I know I ended up winning that race (on Jojo Was Man) so that was great and all, but I am sure he can bounce back and put in a good performance.

“The mile is perfect for him, I think that’s his go and a little bit of give in the track is not going to hurt him either.

“He has drawn a little bit wide but there is a bit of a run coming to that first bend and I am sure he will jump well and if we can cross over and be oi the first half, about midfield, that would be perfect for him.”

Jones stands a tremendous chance of clean sweep of the two features at Coffs Harbour.

He will ride one of the fancies in the Ken Howard Cup (2000m), namely the Marc Quinn-trained Agirlsbestfriend.

“I know she has been to 1800m but I am quite interested to see how she handles the step up to 2000m,” Jones said.

“I just really like how she been finishing her races off, she comes from a mile back and she only been beaten two or three lengths at her last couple.”

Originally published as Scone, Coffs Harbour previews: Scott Singleton’s debutant Ritzsun to ring in the new racing season with victory