Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Scone, Bathurst

A horse bred by The Queen who’s been the talk of the Hunter Valley in recent weeks can notch a maiden victory on her much anticipated debut at Scone on Tuesday.

Clear Thinking parades at Newcastle on May 25 for a race in which she was a late scratching. Picture: Bradley Photos

A horse bred by The Queen who’s been the talk of the Hunter Valley in recent weeks can notch a maiden victory on her much anticipated debut at Scone on Tuesday.

SCONE TIPS

BEST BET
Race 1 No.10 CLEAR THINKING
Has an atomic-sized boom on her and for good reason. Bred to go all the way and could do.

NEXT BEST
Race 7 No. 14 MAGIC PHAROAH
Highway winner who has had excuses at both Highway runs this prep. Back home for this.

VALUE
Race 9 No.16 OFF THE PRESS
Ran well on debut prior to a very impressive win at Gunnedah. Resuming and has talent.

QUADDIE
Race 6: 4,6,10,13
Race 7: 6,7,14
Race 8: 3,16
Race 9: 9,14,16

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Aaron Bullock will take beating (as usual) in the TAB Jockeys Challenge.

SCONE INSIDE MAIL

Race 6: Maiden Handicap (1300m)

PERASTA (13) is one of only 21 foals by his father Perast who was also trained by Paul Perry. Perasta was $101 to $61 on debut in the Star Kingdom at Muswellbrook – he ran 8th of 11, beaten six. Just a hunch but he might be the big improver albeit in a very, very good race! Sadly, he has bumped into MISS CARTEL (4) who has three seconds from five starts including one to Chilli Filly. HOMELAND (6) was the best sixth of 10 you would see when he debuted on Scone Cup day. ROCKBARTON ANGEL (10) ran super over 900m on debut - 1300m is better.

Bet: Perasta each-way, Box trifecta and First 4: 4,6,10,13.

Race 7: Benchmark 66 (1700m)

MAGIC PHAROAH (14) – a Randwick TAB Highway winner in the past – has run in Highways at both runs of the new prep. He was good in the one here at the standalone and so far as the last one goes, he was all at sea on the slop at Rosehill. Total forgive! ARE YOU JOKING (6) is from the local powerhouse Messara/Gavranich camp. Bullock again (of course), last start winner with box two. What’s not to like? IRISH BLISS (7) ticks a few of those same boxes too. Might still be on the up.

Bet: Magic Pharoah each-way, exacta 14 to beat 6.

Race 8: Benchmark 82 (1000m)

BROKEN HILL (3), a son of Mining Tycoon, was sold as a yearling to the China Horse Club for $460,000. He was sold again, this time to Australian Bloodstock for $115,000 online in June 2022. Cody Morgan’s record with him is four starts for three wins and one massive excuse at the other one. Market watch essential. Ditto that for CONSENZA (16) who debuts for Scott Singleton at start 12 of her career. She has won first-up and the trials were both rippers. FLORIDA SKY (10) will find this easier than the Cigar Flick race at Rosehill on June 1.

Bet: Broken Hill to win, Consenza each-way, exacta 3 to beat 16.

Race 9: Class 1 Handicap (1100m)

OFF THE PRESS (16) is a fascinating Cody Morgan/Group One Thoroughbreds galloper pencilled in for a return here on Tuesday although he had no jockey as late as noon on Monday. Let’s assume he is coming, it is worth looking again at his two runs in the summer- they were huge! He’s got something there does this horse. MOVE SHE CAN (9) was $61 out to $81 on debut here on Cup but won like a $3 shot. It’s all hindsight of course, but maybe she should have been $3 given she was second, albeit a distant one, to Clear Thinking in her trial.

Bet: Off The Press to win or if scratched Move She Can each-way

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

BATHURST

BEST BET
Race 1 No. 7 SAN GAVINO
Bred to stay; third run of the career now and up to 2000m.

NEXT BEST
Race 4 No. 11 TREZZAMINI
Well-bred filly who seems to be on an upward trajectory.

VALUE
Race 2 No. 6 LUSKIN VAIN
Winless after 12 starts but hasn’t run many bad ones. Sets up well here.

BATHURST INSIDE MAIL

Race 4: Maiden Plate (1400m)

TREZZAMINA (11) is a valuable filly from a breeding point of view later on given her sixth dam is none other than Eight Carat. The daughter of Written Tycoon has three runs in Victoria which were okay without being great. She’s been with Pat Murphy for the last two and he’s given her a really nice base to try 1400m on Tuesday. Not expecting JAWHARAT DUBAI (8) to be here but have to mention her just in case. REIBY PRINCESS (10) has quite solid provincial form. Her PB was on Heavy.

Bet: Trezzamina to win.

Race 5: Benchmark 66 (1800m)

BINKOU (8) has won two from 17 with five placings. It is not often the son of Outreach runs a bad race either. A lot of the time, he goes back and is giving away head-starts but he is almost always the one finishing best. Has won on Heavy. Hall Of famer Clarry Conners has TIP TOP TIMING (5) nominated for Canberra on Friday. He could win this one or that one. He is very fit and off a midweeker where he ran fifth. WEAVE THAT WEB (6) is a Bathurst winner and a muddie to boot.

Bet: Binkou to win, Daily Double 1st Leg (8), 2nd Leg (4).

Race 6: Class 2 Plate (1200m)

BLISS (6) has serious appeal as a broodmare when she’s all done being by Sebring out of a Snitzel mare and with the great Denise’s Joy as her fifth dam. Bliss has been with Brett Robb for six runs, she won 2 and was runner-up at Parkes when resuming. Easy to like. CUMNOCK (1) has accepted for a very good quality race at Scone and drawn wide there. Assuming then that he races here, keep in mind that he is a Heavy track winner. Drawn 4 and gets in with after the claim. TIMMY (4) is a reliable type and SHIPSHAPE (3) has raced in three consecutive Highways.

Bet: Bliss to win.

Race 7: Benchmark 58 (1100m)

MINNEWATER (4) is trained at Bathurst by Gayna Williams and 12 starts on her CV; four of them are here at home and she has won two and was third at another. Take note that she was a Heavy 9 winner at Gundagai in quite a solid Class 1 and that one of her wins was second-up as she is on Tuesday. The more the track dries out the better the chances of STARANE (1). Not sold on him on a Heavy but if we get into the Soft range, he would almost have to be top pick. BRITISH STATESMAN (2) is two from two here at home.

Bet: Minnewater to win, quinella 1,4.

Originally published as Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Scone, Bathurst