Shayne O’Cass’s tips, inside mail for Scone, Lismore on Monday

Racenet form expert Shayne O’Cass analyses the NSW meetings at Scone and Lismore on Monday, presenting his best bets, value selections, quaddie picks and inside mail.

Code In Time, pictured winning at Canberra in April, is one of Shayne O'Cass's best bets on Monday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Racenet form expert Shayne O’Cass analyses the NSW meetings at Scone and Lismore on Monday, presenting his best bets, value selections, quaddie picks and inside mail.

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SCONE TIPS

BEST BET
Race 2 No.7 STAR BLING
Won on debut and surely lost no fans in defeat when runner-up the next time.

NEXT BEST
Race 7 No.6 CODE IN TIME
Placed at five of his eight starts so far and performs exceedingly well fresh.

VALUE
Race 1 No.10 BAKHITA
Top run debut then has genuine excuses for the follow up start here at home.

QUADDIE
Race 4: 1,2
Race 5: 1,3,4
Race 6: 5,6
Race 7: 6

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Alysha Collett can improve her already very healthy 19 per cent win ratio at Scone today.

SCONE INSIDE MAIL

RACE 4: MAIDEN HANDICAP (1600m)
LIKE LUKEY (1) was scratched from Wyong on Saturday. There is no doubt this Kris Lees-trained mare is a lot more suited to Scone (spacious) than Wyong (tight). Been costly, yes, but also been very consistent. Just wants the mile now. ROCKBARTON ISLAND (2) seems to be on an upward trajectory this preparation, suggesting a peak might be imminent. THRILL OF BRAZIL (8) has run some good races and could also peak third-up now.
BET: Like Lukey to win.

RACE 5: CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1100m)
THUNDERING SOUL (1) won on debut here at Scone (her only run at the venue) and followed-up with a very respectable performance in the $2 million Inglis Millennium. Has turned in two fantastic runs ahead of this, just has to carry that big weight. MISS REBEL (4) only needed another inch and she wins at Muswellbrook last time. Runner-up in both Scone starts, well drawn and smallish field suits. PEARLS TREASURE (3) was second in a 900m race here last start in 50.83 seconds!
BET: Thundering Soul to win, exacta 1 to beat 4, Daily Double 1st Leg (1), 2nd Leg (6).

RACE 6: BENCHMARK 58 (1600m)
OPEN PEARLY GATES (5) is ‘221’ after three career starts. The Lou Mary-trained son of Invader was $1.35 at his last two, beaten at one and a narrow winner at the other. All three starts are ‘away’ runs so it is significant to note that he is at home for this one. OUTCAST GIRL (6) has drawn barrier one on Monday. Last start winner at this distance and the same jockey too. Former Ciaron Maher-housed YOTOTSU (8) almost won here on Oct 25 at the first run for Nikki Pollack.
BET: Open Pearly Gates to win.

RACE 7: BENCHMARK 74 (1100m)
CODE IN TIME (6) is a very handsome horse, certainly not unlike his father Encryption and/or the grandfather Lonhro. He has a tidy resume in terms of strike-rate and the manner of the wins. Code In Time was runner-up at Canberra on debut over 1000m so will be strong late but best of all, he won a very, very deep trial here on October 30. LOUNERSE (12) has won three of her six starts including first-up when beating the handy I Am Sugoi. Paul Perry’s trio all have claims, even MON AMORE (15) at 50s.
BET: Code In Time to win.

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LISMORE TIPS

BEST BET
Race 4 No.4 MOON SWEEPER
Hard not to get carried away with that debut win. Eager to see what she does here.

NEXT BEST
Race 1 No.2 LUCKY NEKO
Matthew Dunn again; this one just looks ‘better than the others’.

VALUE
Race 5 No.4 EAGLE’S FIRE
One win, three thirds from 10 starts. Getting close to another one.

LISMORE INSIDE MAIL

RACE 4: BENCHMARK 58 (1310m)
MOON SWEEPER (4) is a Matthew Dunn-trained grey son of the grey racehorse and stallion Puissance De Lune. Moon Sweeper’s fourth dam is the VATC 1000 Guineas/VRC Oaks winner, Arborea. It rarely pays to get carried away with a maiden win but it is hard to not to given the way this guy won here on October 20. KING’S GOLD (5) has won three races and placed eight times from 25 starts so has all the race experience and seasoning on his side compared to the favourite.
BET: Moon Sweeper to win.

RACE 5: CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1210m)
EAGLE’S FIRE (4) has raced 10 times for a win and four thirds, three of those minors were at his last start all over the border. The son of Dracarys will need some luck from the wide alley but he is otherwise easy to like. SOUTH BOAMBEE (5) was scratched from two other races to contest this one as the preference. Can see why given he has barrier three. VOCALS (6) is by a ‘muddie’ and might be just ‘a muddie’. Find out today.
BET: Eagle’s Fire to win, quinella 4,5, Daily Double 1st Leg (2), 2nd Leg (5).

RACE 6: MAIDEN PLATE (1410m)
NICODEMUS (2) is a Gold Coast visitor with the visitors’ draw, 14 of 14 (less any scratchings). Although the son of Impending remains winless after 16 starts, a strong case could be made to argue that he has the best form in the race. RISK FOR REWARD (5) doesn’t have as many convictions as Nicodemus, in fact, you would be a hard-marker to assign a bad run to the horse in all five starts. CANAVASE (6) is in an astute stable and trialled well.
BET: Nicodemus to win.

RACE 7: BENCHMARK 58 (1526m)
MISS UCHITEL (6) is a breeder’s delight – her sixth dam is none other than Dark Jewel. Formerly with Waterhouse/Bott, the daughter of Written Tycoon is ‘161’ Both of the wins were at Lismore, the October 20 Class 1 was as impressive and emphatic as they come. Perhaps her biggest threat comes from within; that is from her Matthew Dunn stablemate DESERT MIST (9) who seems to be working/racing his way up to albeit infrequent win. He’ll be there for a long way from that alley.
BET: Miss Uchitel to win, exacta 5 to beat 9, trifecta 5 (standout), 2,8,9 (boxed).

Originally published as Shayne O’Cass’s tips, inside mail for Scone, Lismore on Monday