The Final Word with Ray and Duff
THE Daily Telegraph’s racing editor Ray Thomas and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy discuss the main chances at Scone on Saturday.
THE Daily Telegraph’s racing editor Ray Thomas and Sky Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy discuss the main chances at Scone on Saturday.
RACE 1: WOODLAND STAKES (1100m)
Thomas: I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about the unraced Godolphin filly, Seagrove. She has shaped well in two trials, particularly the most recent at Warwick Farm on Monday. She is drawn well and I feel she can make a winning debut here. Volante is racing well and also is favoured by the draw. Lycia is a stablemate of Seagrove and has the race experience. Miss Antaeus is the other chance. Good race to start the day, Ronnie.
Dufficy: I think this is Godolphin versus the Waller stable. I’ve also liked the look of Seagrove in her two trials. She looks a lovely filly, still inclined to do a few things wrong which is due to her inexperience, but the barrier draw helps her here. She will be hard to beat. Helsingor showed promise when last in work down in Melbourne and she has done very well in two trials leaving up to her return. Miss Antaeus was very good at Warwick Farm on a heavy track and if she can run up to the effort on a firm surface, then she is in the mix, too. Lycia is the other chance.
Thomas: Any opinion of the Fastnet Rock filly Harlem River who has won both her barrier trials?
Dufficy: She looks a typical Gai Waterhouse-trained filly, she is up and running. I’ve got no knock on her and will be watching the market moves closely.
RACE 4: DENISE’S JOY STAKES (1100m)
Thomas: Another competitive race, which is the theme all day. I’m going with Donelle. She has returned in sparkling form, both her wins have been super impressive. She won her maiden effortlessly and I thought there was a lot of merit in her Canterbury midweek win last start. I know this is a big jump in grade to stakes level but I think she can make it a hat-trick of wins. Kris Lees has four runners here, all have a chance, with the talented Onemorezeta the best of his runners. Fine Mist would have just about been my top selection before the barrier draw. She is going to need luck from there in 15.
Dufficy: I can’t believe the odds they are betting Onmorezeta. This is a talented filly who beat Eloping and Tawteen at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. She has been freshened up for this race and is so much better on firmer going. Fine Mist is another very good filly and ran a terrific race behind Avoid Lightning at Randwick. I have the top two dominating this race.
RACE 5: LUSKIN STAR STAKES (1300m)
Thomas: How good was Artlee in the Country Championship Final at Randwick. His acceleration was outstanding and he gapped a very good field. This is another step up for him but he is a young sprinter going places and I feel most of his rivals have probably reached the peak of their careers. Oxford Poet is tough and honest and he comes off a Hawkesbury win to be one of the chances again. Mighty Lucky and Haussmann ran 1-2 in this race last year and they are great chances again. Ryker, on top of the ground, can improve.
Dufficy: I like Mighty Lucky at odds here. He is a good sprinter, well suited in this race. He has been freshened up for this and he rarely runs a bad race. Artlee is very good and his win in the Country Championship against strong opposition was excellent, but he is very well found in the market now. I just can’t back him at his current odds. Oxford Poet did win on a very heavy track at Hawkesbury and will be hard to beat. I could have something on Skip Town at odds in this race. I can see him running a very good race.
RACE 6: DARK JEWEL CLASSIC (1400m)
Thomas: This is a difficult race, Ronnie, because Rose Of Choice goes into the race first-up after having missed Hawkesbury when the meeting was washed out. Her barrier trials have been outstanding and her trainer, Peter Snowden, told me during the week he is confident she is fit enough for this race. This is enough for me to have her on top from your mare, Fine Bubbles, who is racing very well. Diademe needs a firm track and Bound For Earth is another good chance.
Dufficy: I don’t think this race is that hard, Ray, I’ve got this down to two hopes, Rose Of Choice and Fine Bubbles. Rose Of Choice is absolutely “low flying’’ in her trials and she is the one to beat. She has a good first-up record and all she needs is a firm track, which she gets here. Fine Bubbles has been set for this race. I’m hoping she can settle in the front half of the field from her inside draw and she should be very competitive. Diademe, I concede, is a class mare and is one to watch. But the more I look at this race, the more confident I am about Rose Of Choice and Fine Bubbles — I’ll be backing them both.
RACE 7: INGLIS GUINEAS (1400m)
Thomas: Nayeli won the Fireball first-up this preparation but she just can’t go a yard on wet tracks and has struggled at her last two starts. But she showed in a recent barrier trial win at Randwick that she remains in good form — she just needs a dry track and finally gets that at Scone on Saturday. I think she is tremendous value around $10. Ygritte has already beaten the “boys’’ this autumn and is racing well, and Sure And Fast was a stunning winner of the Provincial Championship Final. Loved Up is another very handy filly — good race, mate.
Dufficy: I’m with Sure And Fast and Nayeli. Sure And Fast was brilliant in the Provincial Championship Final and the form out of that race has been outstanding with the second (Electric Power), third (Oxford Poet) and fourth (Darci Magic) placegetters all winning city races at their next starts. Sure And Fast is a very promising horse, he did beat the older horses impressively last start and is back against his own age in the Guineas. I couldn’t believe they bet $15 Nayeli earlier this week. She is a very talented filly who just needs firm tracks. She toyed with Wandjina in that barrier trial so she is going well. This race is between Sure And Fast and Nayeli.
RACE 8: ORTENSIA STAKES (1100m)
Thomas: Speaking of impressive barrier trial winners, Atmospherical looked really good in her trial win on Monday and she has freshened up nicely for this race. I think the key to her is 1100m and a dry track. In an open race, I’ve got her on top from Private Secretary who has been saved specifically for this race. The fast tempo and dry track suits Private Secretary. Dothraki first-up will run a big race but has a shocking draw. Cradle Me is another I expect will be charging home.
Dufficy: I’ve given at least 11 runners a chance in this race. It is just about impossible. I do slightly favour Target In Sight. He is racing well and he’s drawn to get the right run. I also like Atmospherical. This mare is a 1100m specialist and she won at this meeting last year. Dothraki is a class sprinter. I can see Decision Time running an improved race here as he has been too “fat” in his first two runs back after a long spell, and if Fare Well gets a run, then I’ll be having something on her at big odds. She has trialled really well.
DUFF’S SUGGESTED BETS
SCONE
Race 4: Back both Onemorezeta and Fine Mist
Race 6: Back Rose Of Choice and have a saver on Fine Bubbles
Race 7: Back Sure And Fast and Nayeli
BEST VALUE
Race 3: Aroused each way
Originally published as The Final Word with Ray and Duff
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