Race day focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday’s meeting at Scone

Owner, breeder and trainer John Ramsey is looking forward to the return of smart filly Shine Your Light on her home track.

Smart filly Shine Your Light makes her season return at Scone on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Local trainer John Ramsey is pleased to have promising filly Shine Your Light back and ready to make her racetrack return at Scone.

Bred and owned by Ramsey, the daughter of Jukebox has been off the scene since failing on a heavy track behind Kristilli in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick on April 8.

Prior to that, Shine Your Light was good breaking her maiden at Scone from Curl Curl for previous trainer Cassandra Stummer.

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"Steel City's getting stronger!"

A dominant display from Steel City in the Group 3 Magic Night Stakes.

Onwards to the Golden Slipper. @[e-mail]/VZclBTEUmi

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 11, 2023

“She actually has a little (bone) spur on her knee so we had her operated on to take it out,” Ramsey said.

“She did bring her back in during the spring but she hadn’t done as well as I hoped so I turned back out again for a couple more months and she did much better then.

“She has come back a lot stronger this time so it (the extended time off) was a blessing in disguise.”

The three-year-old had a trial at Muswellbrook on January 10 where she finished fifth behind Ollie’s Secret and kicks off her campaign in the Benchmark 58 over 900m.

After jumping slowly, she settled last and was giving the leaders about eight lengths at the 600m, she closed off nicely to be two and a half lengths away.

“She hadn’t had a jump out this time in, I just took her straight to the trials just to help switch her on,” said Ramsey.

“I said to Mitchell (Bell) to make sure she is hitting the line the last furlong.

“She was a bit slow away but she worked home well so I was pleased with how she went.

“I’m sure now that she has had that trial, she will jump better on Sunday.

The filly showed plenty of ability in her two-year-old season where wasn’t far away from some of the best of her age with some handy runs in feature races.

She debuted with a third to Barber in the Kirkham Plate in October 2022 and was fifth behind Steel City in the Group 3 Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill on March 11.

Trainer John Ramsey is looking forward to seeing Shine Your Light resume at Scone on Sunday. Picture: Grant Guy

“I was pretty happy with the way she was racing,” he said.

“We will just get through this race before we look at where we go to next.

“I think she is up to city grade and it would be nice to get to something like a Highway with her but first, I just want her to show me that she has come back.”

Ramsey also saddles up two-year-old Pathelia who makes her debut in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1100m).

“She is a staying type who wants 2000m but I thought there was no point trialling her again, she isn’t going to learn much from another trial, she is better off going to the races.

“The 1100m is going to be too short for her but it will be a good education for her going to the races.

“I don’t expect her to win but I just want to see her hitting the line nicely.”

Ramsey reported that his Victoria Derby runner, Warialda Warrior, is back in work.

“He’s come back well and has grown but he is probably still 12 months away from being fully mature,” he said.

“We weren’t expecting to win but we went down to Melbourne to give him the experience of a trip away from home and to get used to travelling.

“He had eight weeks off but it was the last two or three weeks that he really did well.

“He won’t be ready for the Autumn Carnival but hopefully we can get him up to Queensland for the Winter Carnival.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 4 No. 8: Magnucat

The Bjorn Baker-trained filly as impressive wining her maiden on debut by more three lengths over 900m at Muswellbrook. Will take catching again.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 1: Master Miyagi

Knocking on the door for a win after three second placings this campaign including losing his first-up run on protest. Ready to strike.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 12: Invasive Dreams

Finished strongly from last to win two starts back before coming from a long way back and wide on the bend for a good second last start.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 2 Nos. 3, 5

QUADDIE

Race 4: 5, 8

Race 5: 2, 6, 9, 10

Race 6: 1, 9, 11

Race 7: 3, 8, 12

Alysha Collett looks set for a good day at Scone. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Alysha Collett has a good book of rides and looks a great chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL – SCONE

RACE 1

Madame Fiocca has the advantage of a race start under her belt when a close second over this track and distance on Dec 19. She settled second, about three lengths off the flying Too Darn Lovely, before running her to a half neck. Drawn nicely and is the one to beat. Ride The River is by Headwater from a granddaughter of stakes winner Stoneyfell Road, dam of Group 1 winner Princess Coup. Nice win in his Warwick Farm trial on Dec 22. The Eyes Have It, daughter of Brutal, was slow away but closed strongly for second in her Beaumont trial on Jan 5.

Bet: Madame Fiocca to win

RACE 2

Palazzo Prince, four-year-old debutant by Exosphere, has been very impressive winning his three trials. The first two were back in Nov 2022 and Feb 2023 at Scone by nearly three lengths. His latest was at Muswellbrook on Jan 10 when he came from six lengths off the leader on the turn before flying home to win by over four lengths. Super Story closing in on a win after three recent placings. Backing up from a half-length second to Rockbarton Fashion at Muswellbrook on Monday. Taken For Granted placed at big odds first-up at Gosford and battled away for third to Royal Radiance at Taree on Jan 2.

Bet: Palazzo Prince to win

RACE 3

Master Miyagi was first past the post but lost the race on protest behind Is He Out at Moree first-up then was caught right on the line by Ferro Vero here on Nov 20. Was given a let-up after his length and a half second to Somerton Sniper over 1100m. Drops back to 900m and will take catching. Joiselle, is a first starter by Snitzel from the family of Group 1 winner Champagne. Held the inside running and came away to score by nearly three lengths in her Tamworth trial on Dec 13. Swiftwater is first starter by Headwater from the family of Burst and Victory Prince. Sat outside the leader and just pipped in his Muswellbrook trial by Smoke On The Water who has since won on debut.

Bet: Master Miyagi to win

Magnucat is looking to maintain her perfect record when she heads to Scone. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 4

Magnucat pushed up to lead before dashing away in the straight to win with her ears pricked by over three lengths from Maximum Rode over 900m at Muswellbrook on Jan 4. Stays at the 900m and from a good draw, is the one to beat again. Shine Your Light is back from an extended spell but showed good ability in her two-year-old season including a debut third to Barber in the Kirkham Plate at Randwick on debut. Was fifth to Steel City in the Magic Night at Rosehill and won her maiden over 1000m here at her next start. Nice trial at Muswellbrook on Jan 10. Pull The Tail tried hard when second to Wiggles over 1200m at Inverell and will appreciate the drop back to 900m.

Bet: Magnucat to win

RACE 5

Wilshire Boulevard settled last and was ridden along from the 900m but kept grinding away out wide to finish fifth behind California Grass, Supertrail and Xtrarevs over 2100m at Wyong on Jan 6. Third-up, drops in grade and the 2200 will suit. Capaldi settled last and made a move leaving the back straight with a strong run chase down Seahaven at Gilgandra two weeks ago. First time at the trip but he has won over 2000m. Opus scored a big win from Born Conqueror over 1600m on a Heavy 9 track at Taree before a fourth to Big Time Charlie over 1700m at Muswellbrook on Jan 4. Takes a big step up to 2200m but he is out of a mare by Arc de Triomphe winner, Carnegie.

Bet: Wilshire Boulevard to win

RACE 6

Perri Lass didn’t have a lot of luck over the concluding stages when caught behind the leaders on the fence and going to the line under a hold when seventh to Beetson on debut at Tuncurry on Sept 8. Resumes here and has trialled nicely without pressure in her two heats. Cape Size will find this easier than his four runs at metro and provincial level. He did run fourth to subsequent Group 1 winner King Colorado at his second start last May. Lost Illusions has run handy races at her two starts and will appreciate the step up in trip.

Bet: Perri Lass to win

RACE 7

Invasive Dreams broke his maiden when coming from last to grab Bit Of Step on the line over 1200m at Mudgee on Dec 1. He jumped up to a Class 2 at Coonamble and was widest on the bend about four lengths off the leaders before closing strongly for a three-quarter length second to Zedari. Back to a Bm58 here and will need a bit of luck from the wide gate but will be powering home. Night Fighter was knocked down at the start and over raced on debut but was good winning his maiden at Tamworth last start. Will make his presence felt again. Eagledge was just pipped by Frosbie on debut at Tamworth before winning at Dubbo in June. Back from a spell and has strong claims.

Bet: Invasive Dreams to win