Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Scone on Tuesday

A Lou Mary-trained gelding caught the eye when finishing strongly from well back and can break through for his first win at Scone. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Tuesday is at Scone.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Scone.

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 1, No.13: SILVER ONYX

Unplaced in five starts so far but has run well in four of them including last start when warming to the task big time late.

NEXT BEST

Race 3, No.2: NOMARA

Was disappointing when fancied at Nowra first-up but looks to have the talent to go to the city when the time comes.

VALUE BET

Race 5, No.15: ELENI

A Snowden Racing-trained filly whose ability far exceeds what she has done either side of a spell. Expect better on Tuesday.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2,3,4,5

Race 5: 1,11,15

Race 6: 3,4

Race 7: 3,4,5

BEST EXOTIC

Exacta Race 1, No.13 to beat No.8

Trainer Matthew Smith saddles up some good chances at Scone. Picture: Getty Images

TRAINER TO FOLLOW

Matthew Smith has some good chances at Scone on Tuesday led by the above-average filly Nomara.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Blake Spriggs could manage to tally up enough points to win the TAB Jockeys Challenge (bar any scratchings).

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR SCONE

RACE 1

Silver Onyx is unplaced in five starts so far but every run, bar one, has contained merit to varying degrees. Bearing in mind that he has run three fourths, one in town and one here at Scone behind the well above average, Melody Again. The Lou Mary-trained grey was down the order here 11-days ago but closing fast. Will run well. Herne Hill has placed four times in 13 outings but a lot of that, non-winning, has to do with his pattern. Will be strong late as always. Rinnero is third-up on Tuesday and could get into the medals.

Bet: Silver Onyx to win

RACE 2

Unzaga is a son of Giga Kick’s sire Scissor Kick who was, like this horse, trained by Paul Messara. Unzaga is comfortable and competitive from 1400m (fresh) all the way up to ten furlongs and more. He was just better than the others when he roared clear to win at Tamworth. Harder here but it is the perfect race Overice ran 11th of 13 in debut at Muswellbrook on October 11 but proceeded to win his next three thanks to some grand placement by trainer David Pfeiffer. De Valera is a veteran by comparison to those other two but is racing well.

Bet: Unzaga to win, exacta 3 to beat 5

Jockey Aaron Bullock partners Unzaga for trainer Paul Messara.

RACE 3

Nomara was somewhat disappointing first-up at Nowra. That’s putting it mildly given she was $1,35 favourite. She drew barrier 1 and had every chance but if she was able to repeat the level of performance of either one of her first two starts last preparation, she will be in the finish, if not winning. With that said, Nomara has a worthy and formidable rival in Smiling Prophet. This racy chestnut is a throwback to her grandsire Choisir and was out of this world impressive at Newcastle. Her last 600m, 400m and 200m splits would have been quite unbelievable. Iron Hat is consistent but costly at the same time.

Bet: Nomara to win, quinella 1,2

RACE 4

Back To Front did some good things in the autumn when he arrived at Scone from South Australia. The Nikki Pollock-trained gelding trialled rather well in the lead-up to his November 7 return here hence why he was $5 into $3.70 on the day. Long story short, he was never in the race really but he is better than that and his only win so far was second up at this venue. Shikanic is another Scone local only unlike Back To Front, he strikes this race fit and in-form. Couldn’t have asked for a more suitable or favourable draw. Jet Pack bolted in at Mudgee last start.

Bet: Back To Front each-way

RACE 5

Eleni is a Snowden Racing filly by Epaulette whom Peter Snowden won a Golden Rose with back in 2012 beating the stablemate Albrecht. As for Eleni, she has finished down the order in her only two starts so far either side of the spell but she actually wasn’t too bad at Newcastle first-up in a very fast 900m maiden. Step up to 1100m suits, so does the big track. Rubicks Choice makes his debut of a series of four trials dating back to July. Drawn a bit wide but should give a good account of himself. Clovelly has performed admirably in three strong races. Drawn to get every possible opportunity.

Bet: Eleni to win

Reece Jones rides the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Eleni at Scone. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 6

Joey’s Chance has only won four times in 42 starts but you wonder how many of his 17 placings could be wins under the right circumstances. That said, he is a very one-dimensional horse who needs everything to go his way but when it does, there’s always a chance that the big grey does a Chautauqua-job on them. Well, not quite but he can get home fast. Royal Charge is a tried and true customer who has been racing in fantastic form this preparation. More so lately given that he has won two of his last three beating horses like Super Extreme and Aytobe no less. Danza In The Dark was third to Royal Charge last time they met.

Bet: Joey’s Chance each-way, quinella 3,4

RACE 7

Karuta King is a Snowden/Triple Crown gelding by Sebring who has been a bit hold and cold, mostly tepid in his seven starts but he is only a three-year-old and not every Sebring is precocious. Note also that Karuta King is out of a Big Brown mare and he won a Kentucky Derby. Point being, he could improve with racing and ‘distance’. Milingimbi is a big player and so is his sister and stablemate Yirkala who goes around in an earlier race on the card. As for Milingimbi, he is hugely consistent and getting close to another win. Love Rules and Really Serious are both in the mix.

Bet: Karuta King each-way

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