Australian Racing – Tuesday 24 August 2021 – Scone

 Race 5

CICCINA has only had the two runs to date, but she showed the expected improvement to win by 2.3L over six furlongs at the second time of asking when returning from a 27 week break. She finished well that day suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to her liking. She is drawn wideish in gate nine, but nevertheless is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.

STELLAR BLAZE has posted two solid efforts after returning from a 12 week rest, the latest when fourth over five furlongs, 1.8L behind the winner. She stayed on well that day and from a kinder draw three, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

ALL THAT SASS has her first run for her new trainer and drops in trip after finishing fourth last time out over seven furlongs, 6.7L back from the victor. She likes to race up with the pace and is sure to put her pole position to good use. She will also have 4kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice to aid her cause.

Race 6

With the late scratching of one of his main rivals, the door may have opened for today’s best bet, FREEDOM SQUARE to chalk up his second career victory. He won by 2.3L over 1100M at this track when making his debut and then finished second last time out when stepping up to today’s distance, just a head behind the winner and was immediately rested for 47 week. The form of that last race has stood up well with eight runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He returns here after recording two encouraging barrier trials and the fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that he still has something more to offer them. He will have to negotiate a wide draw fourteen, but may still prove to be difficult to topple in this line-up.

HEREDERO followed up his penultimate run victory over this c&d with a sixth place finish last time out over 1300M, three lengths adrift of the winner. He came the widest of them all into the home straight that day, but still made good late progress over the latter stages of the race. He has pulled gate ten and could emerge as the biggest to the top choice.

HARLEM GROOVE has finished fourth and then second in his last two outings over six furlongs, the latest when failing by just a half length, this despite being slow away and racing green over the final 150M. He has a very wide draw seventeen, but he should be doing his best work late.

Race 7

Two 4yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and secure the exacta, but PERLANT might be the one to lead the pack home. She won her penultimate start over five furlongs and then had nothing go her way next time out when ending up in seventh spot over the same c&d, 2.8L behind the winner. She had to be steadied off the heels of other runners shortly after the start and then started hanging out from the 700M mark, before coming the widest of them all into the home stretch. She jumps from a handy draw three and has her peak run after returning from a 30 week absence.

ASHRA JAHRE showed marked improvement to win her last start over five furlongs by one length. She went from jump to wire that day and from draw five and with having 3kgs removed from her allocated weight for the services of her claiming apprentice, she should keep the top pick honest.

BALLISTIC MOON won his latest outing over this c&d by 1.8L despite jumping awkwardly and coming five wide into the home straight. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate seventeen, but is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and should then start picking off the frontrunner over the closing stages.

Race 8

TINKA’S LAD goes for his hat-trick after victories over six furlongs and the latest over 1500M by a head. He is clearly a versatile sort who is likely to appreciate the extra distance of today’s race. The went from gun to tape in that last win and did have to survive an objection after shifting about in the closing stages, but he has drawn well in gate four and is likely to adopt similar tactics today.

EIGER has consistent formlines to his name and raced up with the leaders before ending up in third spot last time out over seven furlongs, just a neck off the winner. He has an even better draw two and will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, making him a big runner here.

SUPER SOLAR battled all the way down to the wire to win his last start over this c&d by a short-head. He has cracked pole position and if showing the same determination here, he should be involved in the finish.