Scone, Albury best bets, inside mail for Friday, May 16, 2025

Kris Lees looks set for a memorable Scone carnival with numerous chances across the two days including import Brave Call on Friday. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racenet form analyst Shayne O'Cass previews Scone and Albury.

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass provides his best bets and analysis Scone and best bets for Albury on Friday.

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 5 No. 1: BRAVE CALL

Makes his Australian debut armed with some sound English form.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 5: REFLECTING FAME

Resumes off an impressive trials; did some big things last prep.

VALUE

Race 8 No. 13: LIKE LUKEY

Another first-up, she’s perfectly suited to 1400m on the big track fresh.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 2

Race 6: 5

Race 7: 1, 9, 14, 15, 19

Race 8: 1, 6, 12, 13

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Tommy Berry will pilot Ducasse in the Scone Cup.

Tommy Berry could be in for a good day at Scone on friday. Picture: Getty Images

ALBURY

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 3: HEAVENLY KISS

Yet to run a bad race; she’s getting close to her first win.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No. 10: SANTASIA

One win, 10 placings, seven of them seconds from 16 starts. Deserves this.

VALUE

Race 1 No. 4: LUNAR MOJO

Placed three of five, including in a Super maiden at Wagga last start.

INSIDE MAIL - SCONE

RACE 1: Scone RSL Mdn Hcp 1000m

I AM BRAVE (6) is from a mare who was stakes-placed, her grandam was a dual Group 1 winner in South Africa, the third dam is the great Kiwi filly Kate’s Myth and this filly is herself by I Am Invincible. Got the pedigree, the draw (1) and the trial form. Winning Belle’s grandson FAVOUR THE BOLD (2) is a local and boy just any local. Point being, Rodney Northam has had a footprint at the Scone Cup meeting dating back forever. Nice trials too.

Bet: I Am Brave to win, exacta 6 to beat 2

RACE 2: Pryde’s Country Boosted Mdn Plate 1300m

AFRICAN DIAMOND (10) has trialled well prior to her five length third at Port Macquarie on the Heavy 8. She did well to make up any ground at all from where she was really. Hoping and expecting natural improvement today. BULLANT (14) is a two-year-old taking on older horses but she is a local from a very astute stable and has placed in the Wellington Boot and Romantic Dream at her only two runs. Stablemate ZELESTIAL (17) is a huge watch.

Bet: African Diamond each-way, Zelestial to place

RACE 3: Inglis 2YO Challenge 1100m

CASHBROOK (2) is trained by Todd Smart who won this race last year. Not bad from a bloke who trains miles away in Canberra. Cashbrook was off the map on debut at Wagga and was pretty underwhelming it must be said but he has trialled well since. COSMONAUT (3) is a son of a fast and precocious two-year-old namely Cosmic Force and the last trial suggests he is ready to go. STEFFI ELECTRICA (10) brings with her a Doomben placing.

Bet: Cashbrook to win

RACE 4: Gulliver’s Hcp (C1) 1100m

COCO DREAMING (5) is with Angela Davies who boasts a phenomenal 24 per cent winning strike-rate, 52 per cent when placings are added. She is 25 per cent win and 53 per cent place with Andrew Gibbons who will ride Coco Dreaming as usual. His son Dylan rode him when he was incredibly unlucky (blame barrier 1) on Scone Cup Day last year. As mentioned earlier, one really has to mark up the Rodney Northam-trained horses at this carnival with SHROPSHIRE LAD (3) the one here.

Bet: Coco Dreaming to win, box trifecta 1, 3, 5, 9

RACE 5: Kia Ora Hcp (C1) 1600m

BRAVE CALL (1) is a lightly-raced import with a 2000m win and a Newmarket placing from his five starts in England. This is the perfect race for the Kris Lees-trained galloper bearing in mind he is a 68 rater in a Class 1. Trials were good, Tommy Berry on and 1600m. That said, there is an untapped, hugely impressive debut winner for Brave Call to beat namely CALTSAR (2) who was scratched from Hawkesbury on Thursday. PELOSA (3) and ANTILOCAPRA (11) are in the mix.

Bet: Brave Call to win, exacta 1 to beat 2

RACE 6: Newgate Hcp (C2) 1300m

REFLECTING FAME (5) was a $250,000 Inglis Classic Yearling in 2022 who was bought online by Cody Morgan in April 2024 for $16,000. The son of So You Think has raced four times for Morgan, finishing with two close placings followed by two easy wins. Resumes off two trials, won the last one. TASORAAY (4) has a pretty similar record; five starts for a win and three placings but he was also once a close fourth in town behind Raikkonen. Trialling well.

Bet: Reflecting Fame to win, quinella 4, 5, box trifecta 4, 5, 10, 17, DD 1st leg (5), 2nd Leg (13)

RACE 7: Darley Scone Cup 1600m

ROYAL SUPREMACY (19) is a Ciaron Maher, Moss Vale resident who makes his Australian debut in the Cup. His record overseas is very impressive. He was runner-up in the Italian Derby, third in the Group 2 King Edward at Ascot and second in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket. Brilliant trial at Warwick Farm on April 29. PORT LOCKROY (1) is a Group 1 winner at this trip. Barrier 1 and Aaron Bullock are both ticks. KNOW THYSELF (15) is the local and is flying. BOLD MAC (14) has a big win left in him.

Bet: Royal Supremacy each-way

RACE 8: Vinery Country Cup (Bm84) 1400m

LIKE LUKEY (13) has raced 10 times for three wins, one second and four thirds. The daughter of Denman has been to Scone twice, one third and one four length win in a mile Maiden. She will get out to 2000m again this preparation but the Denman’s are a good fresh breed and this being 1400m, it’s well within her range. POWER BEAU (12) is a rather underrated horse. So much so that he could even win the right midweek race on the right day. THE DRAMATIST (1) has a huge task ahead of him on paper but he’s at his most accurate at this track and trip.

Bet: Like Lukey each-way, Power Beau to place

SCONE

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 1: Brave Call

Makes his Australian debut armed with some sound English form.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 5: Reflecting Fame

Resumes off an impressive trials; did some big things last prep.

VALUE

Race 8 No. 13: Like Lukey

Another first-up, she’s perfectly suited to 1400m on the big track fresh.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1,2

Race 6: 5

Race 7: 1,9,14,15,19

Race 8: 1,6,12,13

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Tommy Berry will pilot Ducasse in the Scone Cup.

ALBURY

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 3: Heavenly Kiss

Yet to run a bad race; she’s getting close to her first win.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No. 10: Santasia

One win, 10 placings, seven of them seconds from 16 starts. Deserves this.

VALUE

Race 1 No. 4: Lunar Mojo

Placed three of five, including in a Super maiden at Wagga last start.