Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Scone, Bathurst

Brett Cavanough is in line for the proverbial big day out at Scone on Friday with Starry Jack chief among the trainer’s numerous chances. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Starry Jack can make it back-to-back wins when he steps out on his home track. Picture: Bradley Photos

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Scone and Bathurst.

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: Starry Jack

Had excuses first-up prior to his emphatic all-the-way win at Tamworth. Home track now.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 20: Our Kiwi Girl

Bound to be improved off a 1000m debut. She wants 1400m now big time.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 2: Very Sharp

Raced at home nine times for four wins and five placings. This looks a target race.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2, 5

Race 6: 2, 11, 14, 20

Race 7: 2, 7, 18

Race 8: 1, 11, 15

Apprentice jockey Braith Nock looks set for a good day at Scone.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Braith Nock could skip out to an early lead in the Scone TAB Jockeys Challenge.

BATHURST

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 2: Feimazou

So much merit in her debut and finds the ideal race here over 1200m with a good alley.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 9: Imezaaki

Not much went his way on debut at Coonamble. He’s a whole lot better than that.

VALUE BET

Race 1 No. 1: Buff In Disguise

Seems to have a little bit more depth to his form than most others. Has won at the track and distance too.

INSIDE MAIL - SCONE

RACE 5

Adelinda has the same owners, trainer and colours as the triple Group 1 winner, Sniper’s Bullet. Has raced at Scone four times for a win and a third. Worth noting that those two runs came either side of a fair but acceptable eighth of 13 at home at Wyong. Drawn favourably again. The Gerry Harvey-bred Pyromania has been on fire lately (pun intended) having come from near last to win a pretty decent quality Class 1 over 1200m; 1400m this time. Touch Of Navy should appreciate a track like Scone.

Bet: Adelinda to win

RACE 6

Our Kiwi Girl will need luck just to secure a run. Take note that she has also accepted for a 1300m maiden at Kembla on Saturday. Long story short in case she is not here; that run at Canberra over 1000m on debut screamed ‘more ground’. Ana Carolina might go to Kembla but seems handy. Invincible Whip is clearly the one to beat given the race experience and what she has done in those races. Noble One bumped into Midnight Opal no less here on debut and ran a super race. Ditto the next time at Kembla behind Pharoah Magic.

Bet: Our Kiwi Girl and/or Ana Carolina and/or Noble One each-way

Very Sharp can add to her strong record at Scone on Friday. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 7

Very Sharp won on debut here at home over 900m with the legendary Robert Thompson riding. Her C.V going into this now reads as 32 starts for six wins and 12 placings. How about her record at Scone? Nine starts for four wins and five placings. Wow. When she lets down, nothing can hold her off. Limited Reality has won three from eight and has been known to catch the eye in the odd Highway. Silver City, the great grandson of Horlicks has won four from 11 and two from four first-up as he is here. Seems wound-up for a big, bold one.

Bet: Very Sharp to win, box trifecta 2, 7, 8, 18

RACE 8

Magnatear has accepted for Beaumont next Monday bearing in mind the wide draw here. That said, we could be looking at a lot of scratching and he ends up here. Whatever happens, it is plain for all to see that he is flying. The trials have been fantastic. Big watch, market and yard, on Filly The Kid who is from a very astute local stable and she sent out some really positive signs in her trial. Ditto all of that for Bruce Mackenzie and Damien Lane’s Oakfield Zena who has Bullock’s services. Any Marg’lldo is better than her trial form reads.

Bet: Magnatear to win and/or Filly The Kid each-way, box trifecta 1, 4, 8, 11

INSIDE MAIL - BATHURST

RACE 5

Ultra White is trained locally by Paul Theobold. This direct descendant of 1945 Melbourne Cup winner Rainbird has raced at Bathurst at 10 of her 25 career starts with a return of three seconds and a third. All in all, she is a highly consistent mare in the right race. Speaking of in-form mares, Laffing Waters is on a hat-trick having won back to back races at Dubbo and both of were of a rather high standard. Xieby led throughout to win by four lengths at her only prior visit here on Sept 24 prior to her Coonamble Cup Day failure. Can bounce back.

Bet: Ultra White to win

RACE 6

Imezaaki was sold for $200,000 at the Melbourne Yearling sale in 2022 to Bjorn Baker. Born at Waikato Stud, this now three-year-old gelding is by Ocean Park out of a High Chaparral mare who won up to 2440m. All of that means that this horse is going to get better with each start and whenever he steps up in trip. He’s got something there. Outlander has finished off with great purpose in those two Kembla 1200m maidens. Is getting so close to a win. Rimbaud has accepted for Scone as well as this.

Bet: Imezaaki to win

Andrew Calder (pictured) rides Imezakki for trainer Bjorm Baker. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 7

Flying Rani is the next foal out of Marji Rani to walk through the Matthew Smith door following the likes of Quantrill, Rebel Miss, Rebel Bro and Cool Lad. The point there is, they can all gallop. As for Flying Rani, she makes her debut here off the back of a comprehensive trial win at home at Warwick Farm. Stockholm, a son of Abba and close relation to Black Caviar, ran well on debut for Bjorn Baker and trialled just as well for new handler Clint Lundholm. Rush Attack and Hachiman have claims.

Bet: Flying Rani to win

RACE 8

Trendy Lass, a Lonhro great granddaughter of the Tait family’s former crack filly Fiancee, has also accepted for a race at Beaumont on Monday. The Dynamic Syndications bolted in on debut at Scone, failed in the Sweet Embrace (heavy 10) and spelled then resumed at Newcastle with a very acceptable fifth of eight at her first run for Maher/Eustace. Bookem has been thereabouts without threatening in his handful of runs since he win at Taree. Gets another chance today. Turnaway, Ferrari Girl and Successful are all players.

Bet: Trendy Lass to win

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