Australian racing tips – Friday 17 May 2024 – Scone

Best Bet: HOW DARE YOU (Race 7)
Value Bet: BALEDON (Race 9)

Jackpot (race 6 – 9)

Cost: R90.00

Race 6

This looks to be a tricky race to open the day’s Jackpot with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. The tentative top pick goes to EMMADELLA who is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she has consistent formlines to her name and followed up her penultimate run victory over 1400M with a fifth-place finish next time out over 1100M, 0.8L back from the winner, when returning from a 20-week break. It should however be noted that she was bumped shortly after the start and came the widest of them all into the home straight, before staying on well over the closing stages. She faces a wide drawn eleven, but she should be suited by the extra ground on offer here.

CODE IN TIME missed out on his hat-trick after victories over 1200M and 1300M when finishing second last time out over 1500M, just under a half-length behind the winner. The gelding tried to go from jump to wire that day, but his jockey dropped his reins, so he can be considered an unlucky loser. From gate six, he is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today and will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today.

BATTLE OF VIENNA won his maiden race last time out over 1100M, albeit by just a short-head, when returning from a 27-week break. That was just his fourth start and he jumped awkwardly, but finished off his race strongly. He takes on stronger here, and faces a wide draw thirteen, but gets the services of non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd and he should be doing her best work late.

Race 7

Two 3-year-old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but the day’s best bet, HOW DARE YOU is taken to lead the field home. She is seldom far off the action, finishing third last time out over 1200M, just under one and a half lengths back from the winner, but she was hampered approaching the home turn and forced the widest of them all into the home straight, before finishing powerfully over the closing stages, suggesting that she should enjoy going the extra ground. The filly returns from a 22-week rest, but has had two barrier trials, finishing second in the latest. From draw six and with Zac Lloyd in the saddle, she could prove hard to topple.

RAPT has consistent formlines to her credit having finished third in her last two outings, the latest over 1300M, just under a half-length off the victor, this after coming three wide into the home stretch. She has her peak run after returning from a 23-week absence and has pulled a handy draw four and could be the biggest threat to the top choice.

SMART ACTION won over 1300M three runs back, finished sixth in his penultimate start over 1600M and then fifth in his latest outing over 1500M, five lengths adrift of the winner, but he overraced in the early and middle stages in that event and had to be steadied off the heels of another runner at the 1100M mark. The gelding has his first run after returning from a 23-week spell, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials and from gate seven, he should be involved in the finish.

Race 8

WATERFORD is a five-time winner from seventeen starts and was returning from a 20-week break when winning his last start over 1500M by 0.8L, despite coming four wide into the home stretch and hanging out over the final 100M. That was also at a stronger centre and notwithstanding a wide gate nine, he could be too good for this line-up.

NUGGET has posted two solid last runs and raced three wide throughout and had to be held up between the 400M and 300M mark when finishing fourth last time out over 1600M, 0.8L behind the winner. The gelding is drawn one inside the former and with better luck in running, he should be a strong contender here.

LIGHT INFANTRY MAN is the stable companion of the latter and was having his first run for his new trainer when finishing eleventh in his latest outing over 1600M, 6.2L back from the winner, but that was in a Group 1 event and he overraced in the early stages, was checked at the 600M pole and crowded in the latter stages, so he had his excuses. He returns from a 30-week spell, but has had three barrier trials to prove his fitness and whilst drawn wide in gate thirteen, he makes a solid back-up for the yard.

Race 9

The day’s value bet, BALEDON had his consistency rewarded with a one-and-a-half victory last time out over 1400M. He raced just behind the frontrunner and then stuck the front at the entrance of the home straight and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The gelding is drawn wideish in gate eight, but he will be looking to chalk up his sixth career win today.

THE DRAMATIST was unlucky in running in his penultimate start and clipped heels dislodging his jockey at the 1000M pole last time out. He is drawn one outside the top pick and should be right up there when they hit the line.

RUSSLEY CROWN won his penultimate start over 1400M and ended up in fifteenth spot last time out over the same journey, 14.3L back from the winner, but he raced three wide without cover on that occasion and had to be steadied off the heels of another runner at the 300M mark. The gelding was also reported to be lame in his off-foreleg, so that effort is best ignored. From his kinder gate three and with 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, he should be included in all bets.