Raceday focus: Best bets, analysis for Scone and Bathurst meetings

Respected form analyst Shane O’Cass is banking on impressive trial form coming to the fore with his best bet at picturesque Scone. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Gallops head to Scone and Bathurst in NSW on Monday afternoon.

Form analyst Shayne O’Cass runs the rule over the two country meetings as he kick starts the week in search of those elusive winners.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

SCONE

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 1: FRONTLINE

Four-year-old on debut on home off the back of two extremely impressive trials wins — also here — one in May, the other one last Monday.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No. 3: WHATSIN

Kris Lees trained mare who bolted in first-up. Pay to be a bit forgiving of the Mudgee follow-up perhaps.

VALUE BET

Race 8 No. 2: GIN RUNNER

Edward Cummings trained gelding who has won twice already and the best of the two victories was his only visit to Scone before today.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1,3

Race 6: 7,9,12,14

Race 7: 1,8,9,12

Race 8: 2,8,15

BATHURST

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 2: BLACKALL

Gwenda Markwell-trained gelding on debut with Keagan Latham riding. Wasn’t tested in his recent trial.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 8: QUEEN BELLISSIMO

Brad Widdup’s first runner for Gerry Harvey. Can get off on the right note with a win if she brings her trial form with her.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No. 11: NARRATED

Snitzel filly from the Maher/Eustace stable with Sam Clipperton riding. Ought to go well this grade.

Shayne O’Cass has made Blackall (not pictured) his best bet in the third at Bathurst.

INSIDE MAIL FOR SCONE

RACE 5

Whatsin a Kris Lees-trained mare who has raced five times for a (huge) win and two seconds. She also ran fifth one day to 2020 Golden Eagle runner-up Icebath in a race on the Beaumont track. She was super impressive when she won first-up and we have to be a bit forgiving for Mudgee where she drew wide. Underboss had been trialling like a bomb before his first-up ‘fading’ fourth at Newcastle but in a terribly deep Class 1. Fitter for this. From The Hip led throughout when he won at Taree bearing in mind he has barrier 2 and Jeff Penza today.

BET: WHATSIN, QUINELLA 1,3

RACE 6

She’s Never Late came from a mile back to win here two starts ago. Scone has a good, long straight and they can finish off but that was something to behold that day! The locally trained mare was far from disgraced at Randwick eight-days later but back home today is key. Lochita has won three races from only seven starts and notably one of the wins was first-up given she resumes this afternoon. Trials have been good. Hard Lady has drawn wide but she was probably going back anyway to charge home late. Excels fresh!

BET: SHE’S NEVER LATE, BOX TRIFECTA 7,9,12,14

RACE 7

Upside is a lightly-raced four-year-old daughter of Sidestep who was building up to her first win for a while and when it came, at Dubbo 13-days ago, it was narrow but impressive. Well it was certainly enough for ‘Bucko’ to strap on the Bowen family colours and have another dig today. Drawn to win if she is good enough. Baiyka is a local from the in-form Scott Singleton camp and is likewise a last start maiden winner on her way now. Ditto all that for ‘Cav’s’ Water Dove who won at Dubbo on debut in June but not seen since until today.

BET: UPSIDE WIN, QUINELLA 8,12

RACE 8

Edward Cummings has been on fire lately and he could very well keep it going today via Gin Runner who resumes in the ideal race from the ideal barrier with an ideal rider — Dylan Gibbons who kindly takes 2kg off the 61kg. Gin Runner is ‘one for one’ at Scone and the trials were both encouraging. Stellar Blaze is a far, far more talented horse than one that is ‘1 from 15’. She has had a bit of bad luck and things like that at times but she is at home today and could come fast late here at odds. Ohwhata Crumpet is going for three straight!

BET: GIN RUNNER WIN, EXACTA 2 TO BEAT 15, BOX TRIFECTA 1,2,8,15

Scone racetrack is one of the more picturesque racetracks in NSW.

INSIDE MAIL FOR BATHURST

RACE 4

Sam Clipperton makes the trip out to Bathurst today along with some very high profile jockeys and trainers too it must be said. Clipperton dons the Dynamic Syndication colours here to ride the Maher/Eustace trained Narrated who makes her debut off the ‘easiest of lasts’ at Newcastle 17-days ago. Mandalong Belong posted his current P.B with an eye-catching second at Hawkesbury on December 6. Heading towards a win. Ditto for Brad Widdup’s Soldier’s Desire who was beaten a neck at Hawkesbury on the same afternoon.

BET: NARRATED WIN, BOX TRIFECTA 8,10,11,13

RACE 5

Speaking of Brad Widdup, he has four huge chances heading to Bathurst today. In this race he saddles-up Louder, an All Too Hard mare whom Widdup correctly describes as ‘terribly unlucky’. She ran really well at Kembla on November 28 then was the victim of her outside alley there next time. Tick Tock Man was runner-up in the same Kembla race on December 12 crossing the line two-and-a-half lengths in front of Louder. Obviously commands respect here. Moinda and Ma Bella Rosa are both in medal contention.

BET: LOUDER WIN, QUINELLA 2,5

RACE 6

Here’s hoping that Pierata’s trainer Greg Hickman bites the bullet and runs Private Detective here despite the wide draw. The son of Husson went enormous first-up at Nowra. He was $41 to $61 on the 1200m Bm58m coming from near enough to last on straightening to be beaten a diminishing two-and-a-half lengths. Sam Clipperton will wear the famous Macquarie Stud silks here aboard David Baxter’s Hibern who gets back but finishes well, indeed, well enough to win at Dubbo last start. Flight Commander could take running down.

BET: PRIVATE DETECTIVE WIN OR IF SCRATCHED HIBERN WIN, QUINELLA 4,10

RACE 7

Trials can be misleading at times and granted, Buzzoni’s form is more cold than hot but it appears that Dean Mirfin has got the horse flying! Today will be the son of Nicconi’s first run for the local trainer who has him tuned up like a Steinway after a couple of brilliant trial wins at Orange. Showtime Lady is Buzzoni’s big obstacle however. The Brad Widdup trained mare bumped into Marsannay in Canberra before the spell and her trial was also a ripper. Wicked Willy held his own in the race won by the handy Private Eye at Gosford.

BET: BUZZONI WIN, QUINELLA 2,9

Originally published as Raceday focus: Best bets, analysis for Scone and Bathurst meetings