Queanbeyan, Scone: tips and best bets

Sky Mission is like a pet in Rob Potter’s stables in Canberra but he thrives on racing and will again be fighting out the finish on Monday at his favourite track.

He will be running in his 55th race when he lines up in a Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m) at Queanbeyan and Potter thinks he’s a huge chance to win after finishing third and second since a five-week let-up.

“He’s never been unplaced at the track and he’s going really well,” Potter said.

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“The softer track is what he’s liking as he gets older after he used to like it firm. He had a jumpout last week and he went sensational and ran super time.

“He loves being in work. He’d rather do that than stand in a paddock and he’s been such a great horse to us.”

The nine-year-old has led his past three runs over 900m and 950m but jockey Heni Ede, who rode him last start, will be asked to find a sit this time.

“We space his runs now and the wide gate (8) is better,” Potter said. “He’s not one dimensional either and he can sit where he wants.

“We don’t need to let him rip like last time. We’ll change a few things and ride him a little more conservatively.”

Nature Strip dominates TJ Smith Stakes

Horse Racing: The Chris Waller trained ‘Nature Strip’ proved he is the fastest sprinter in Australia with a dominant win at the TJ Smith Stakes.

Sky Mission may be nearing the end of his career but is well placed against some less-experienced and more out-of-form runners on Monday.

“A few of these are Class 1 horses and he’s won nine races, so he’s well in here,” Potter said.

Potter will have a long wait to see Sky Mission run in the last because he has Attuned in the opening event over 1200m.

Attuned is also in good form but jumping up 300m in trip. That can be a query but Potter has given him three runs this time in and has him rock-hard fit to go with an improving attitude in his second preparation.

“He’s got a wide gate (11) but it’s a good straight run and he’s got good speed,” Potter said. “He’ll come across from out wide and I think he’ll be very competitive.

“We’ve been running him over 900m but we’ve gone up to the 1200m because he’s shown a lot of fight of late and his work has been good.

“They have been going so hard in the 900m runs and I’m confident he’ll go well with less pressure.

“I was originally going to send him to a 1300m race, that’s how confident I am he’ll run out 1200m.”

Potter has been proud to watch Attuned’s development this time in and he’s becoming more adaptable in his races.

“He was four and five wide last start and he just kept coming and coming at them,” he said.

“This will be an easier run for him and he’s close to the mark.

“He doesn’t have to lead. He can switch off so we’ve got plenty of options.

“I think he’ll relish a soft track and I think he can finish in the first few placings.”

Kayla Nisbet is a jockey well worth following at Queanbeyan on Monday.Source:News Corp Australia

BEST BETS WITH SHAYNE O’CASS: QUEANBEYAN

BEST BET:

Race 4 No.3: Eaglehawk

Won by six-lengths here on February 24 prior to his even run at Goulburn a month later. Kayla Nisbet goes back on today.

NEXT BEST:

Race 1 No.5: Rumpshaker

Placed three out of eight, one of those was a second to Big Parade no less at Taree in the Winter. Ripper first-up run and drawn to win if good enough.

VALUE:

Race 5 No.9: Admire Gratzi

Gets back and runs on which is why he has such a low win percentage but if things go his way, he might be better than these.

QUADDIE:

Race 5: 8, 9.

Race 6: 2,3,4

Race 7: 1,2,9,11

Race 8: 10,11

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW:

TAB Jockey Challenge enthusiasts know only too well that ‘Kayla will never fail ya’ – Kayla Nisbet that is. Greet chances again today.

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INSIDE MAIL WITH SHAYNE O’CASS: QUEANBEYAN

RACE 5

Admire Gratzi has won only three times out of 38 starts but has finished runner-up seven times and third on another three occasions. You can bet that a fair few of those placings would be wins had he always got the tempo to suit. When it does – he can be barnstorming. Tribuna has an ever poorer strike-rate of just two out of 42 but she’s placed 10 times. One of those wins was second-up as is the case today. Pierata’s stablemate Kareno saw ‘Heavy’ only once and was runner-up.

Bet: Admire Gratzi each-way

RACE 6

Pecuniary Interest is a Nick Olive trained three-year-old showing talent. This fellow has raced six times for two wins and a second, indeed, he has won two out of his last three including his March 27 visit to the Sapphire Coast. Can keep going through the grades perhaps. Cajetan and Instruments are both by the great Pierro and both have claims. So too does Justice Honour given he was third, some 2.7-lengths behind Pecuniary Interest when they met 10-days ago.

Bet: Pecuniary Interest win, box trifecta 2,3,4,8

Blaike McDougall can ride Judge’s Daughter to the win in race 8.Source:Getty Images

RACE 7

Former World Champion Cyclist turned racehorse trainer Greg McFarlane has Miss Devinci in line for a medal herself here over her pet trip at a track where he she has placed at each time she has been brought down from Gosford. Drawn to be very prominent. Concrete is a locally trained son of Fastnet Rock who is never far away. Go well. Olifants has won twice here and will make sure this is run at lightning speed. Quiano Queen might be a potential ‘swooper’.

Bet: Miss Devinci each-way, box trifecta 1,2,9,11

RACE 8

Blaike McDougall can reward his legion of fans with a win in the last race via the speedy Sydney filly Judge’s Daughter. The Gary Nickson trained chestnut looked sharp when winning a recent 791m trial at her Warwick Farm base. Gets her chance from the nice alley. Woollahra Lass is a chance to peak now third-up off two creditable runs – the last one much better than it first appears. Always Roses is a Clare Cunningham trained grey who can easily play a role.

Bet: Judge’s Daughter win

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Regally bred mare Strawb has only had the two starts but is on her third trainer, Nathan Doyle, for whom she will make her much-anticipated debut in Monday’s I Think I Can I Think I Can Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m) at Scone.

Strawb, who was bred by John Singleton and raised at his central coast nursery, Strawberry Hills, is out of a half-sister to Singo’s beloved eight-time Group 1 winner More Joyous.

Strawb’s first and only run in the Singo silks was a dramatic one.

Strawb was bred by John Singleton. Picture: Chris Pavlich for The AustralianSource:News Corp Australia

Going around at $41 in a Newcastle maiden in February last year, Strawb missed the start by five lengths and finished close to 20 lengths from the winner.

Six months later, when in Stirling Osland’s yard in Armidale, Strawb was a different horse, powering home late to win a 1000m maiden at Coffs Harbour.

Fast forward 247 days to the present and the Denise’s Joy descendant is aiming to justify Doyle’s faith in the nation’s horse capital this afternoon.

“I have really got a lot of time for this mare,’’ Doyle said.

“She has always shown me a lot from the start. She’s had a few little issues before in her time but she seems to be over them.

“She trialled well at Wyong for us. She was hard held in behind them against a pretty classy trial field — above a Benchmark 58 anyway.

“When she won at Coffs it was only a SKY2 meeting but she’s shown me a lot more than a SKY2 horse, that’s for sure.

“I think she is a mare that will go through her grades in time and will probably get up over a mile or further.

“But it wouldn’t surprise me if she got over the top of them (today).”

Doyle, whose growing tally of winners this year includes recent Muswellbrook Cup winner Petrology, has high hopes for Delchuzy, a recent Tamworth winner by five lengths, in Monday’s Darley Stallions Handicap (1700m).

“She has drawn barrier two and there doesn’t look to be a lot of speed on paper, so hopefully the jockey can roll forward and put her in the first two,’’ Doyle said.

“If the right mare turns up she can do what she did at Tamworth.”

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BEST BETS WITH SHAYNE O’CASS: SCONE

BEST BET:

Race 6 No.17: Strawb John Singleton bred Fastnet Rock mare out of a half to More Joyous. Guessing she has had an issue or two but she has talent. Big watch!

NEXT BEST:
Race 1 No.15: Ginger’s Voice Put away after a reasonable debut run here back in September. Plenty to like about the way this one is trialling.

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INSIDE MAIL WITH SHAYNE O’CASS: SCONE

RACE 4

My Desire seems to have not run the 2000m last start, well, she was last beaten 15-lengths. Point is, back to this grade and back to 1700m, she should hopefully feel a lot more comfortable. Bear in mind, she was only 2-lengths off Animate at Gosford immediately after she beat her main rival Delchuzy at Taree. That said, Delchuzy is very fit and in form and there isn’t much between the pair. Predictable Miss and Roy’s Command are in the mix.

Bet: Quinella 3,4

RACE 5

I’m A Cracker was very impressive winning on debut. The Luke Morgan trained grey led throughout to win that 950m maiden at Gunnedah but 2-lengths. On top of that, the horse drew 10 of 13 that day and has gate 3 for this. Head Spins on the other hand has drawn way out wide but there’s no doubting his abundance of natural talent. Go well. Billy’s Tune is the potential value runner here; his only win was on debut so he goes well fresh it seems.

Bet: I’m A Cracker win, Billy’s Tune place

RACE 6

Strawb is a Fastnet Rock out of a half to his beloved More Joyous. She’s having career start three today for her third trainer – Nathan Doyle, who gave her a good push when we spoke to him (see story, right). Huge watch! The Kris Lees trained Perfect peace was terrific at her first campaign and commands respect more so with the rails draw. Lady Llewellyn’s only win was at this venue and she was a good fourth to Bobbing in a recent trial here.

Bet: Strawb win

RACE 7

War Cat is a Jason Deamer trained three-year-old who was spelled after winning on debut at Port Macquarie in late September but wasn’t seen again until March 27 at Muswellbrook where he ran a very creditable second in a similar race to this. Drawn wide but seems handy. Kris Lees gelding Misterzee made up many lengths when midfield first-up at Muswellbrook. Lightly-raced and has form around stablemate Bombasay. Banff is a local who is better than what we saw from him in the War Cat race last month.

Bet: War Cat win, quinella 7,8

Originally published asQueanbeyan, Scone: tips and best bets

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