Fillies and mares battle for Jewel
Scone G3 Arrowfield Dark Jewel Classic, $180,000, 1400m
A capacity field of quality fillies and mares compete for valuable black type in what looks an open renewal of the Dark Jewel Classic.
Princess Posh (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) and Siren's Fury (Myboycharlie {Ire}) drop back from Group 1 company and while both have been successful at this level before, this looks a race of considerable depth.
Godolphin's Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}) heads the market having been placed in stakes company her past three starts without winning. In fact she is winless since August, but did score on this day last year.
As did Moss Trip (Mossman), who won the Listed Scone Guineas, but has not prevailed again since and has been given a freshen up after finishing well down the track in the G1 Coolmore Classic. Into the Abyss (Foxwedge) is also busting for a win, finishing runner up at her past two.
The left-field form comes from imported mare Con Te Partiro (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}), who boasts some top stakes form in the USA and Great Britain and begins her Australian career here for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott off a couple of competitive performances at the trials.
Sitting Pretty for first-up win
Scone Listed Emirates Park Denise's Joy S, $140,000, 1100m.
Twelve months after winning the Listed Woodlands S. on this day, Pretty in Pink (Sebring) returns from a spell and looks to have a class edge on her rivals.
She was only 2.6l off the winner in a Group 1 race last time out and her two fresh runs have been top quality, winning easily on debut at Gosford and placing in the G2 Furious S. last time in.
The promising Prophet's Thumb (I Am Invincible) has the fitness advantage with a few runs under her belt. She was out of her depth when beaten 3.5l in the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint but has been freshened up with a trial in the four weeks between runs.
Snow Valley (Snitzel) is unbeaten in three starts and warrants respect. However, she does resume off a spell and has to overcome a wide barrier, so she'll need to be good.
Blue Army target Luskin Star
Scone Listed Tab Luskin Star S. $140,000, 1300m
Godolphin won this race last year with a rising star called Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}) and present another of Street Cry's progeny, Trekking, here off a good win in the G3 Hall Mark S. at Randwick last start. He is building a nice record with six wins, including two at stakes level, in 17 starts and this looks a good race for him.
The horse he beat last time, Brave Song (Your Song), looms as his major rival again and gets a weight advantage on that defeat. The Snowden runner was first-up there so an improvement wouldn’t surprise, but barrier 12 may prove an obstacle for him.
James Cummings also has Resin (Exceed and Excel) and Intuition (Street Cry {Ire}) engaged and both are capable of springing an upset, while Lanciato (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) has lost form but drops significantly in class.
Libertini ready to step up
Scone, Listed Yarraman Park Woodlands S. $140,000, 1100m
Libertini (I Am Invincible) looks a top-quality filly having backed up her strong second in the G3 Kindergarten S. with a 3.3l maiden win at Randwick on ANZAC Day. She possesses a real quality about her and is rightly odds on to break her stakes duck here at her third start.
Just Field (Deep Field) was good winning by a big margin at Muswellbrook and will give the favourite something to catch, although how that class measures up here is the question over her. It's a similar story for Devachan (Exceed and Excel), after her win at Newcastle.
The well-related Egyptian Missile (Smart Missile) could surprise on debut, while million-dollar Snitzel filly Akari impressed while beaten a good margin by Libertini on her debut.
Snowden gelding in the zone
Restricted Listed Inglis 3YO Guineas, $300,000, 1400m.
Military Zone (Epaulette) backs up her off his G1 Hawkesbury Guineas win two weeks' ago and he looks to be the testing material. Also a winner of the Listed Gosford Guineas in December, he is a 3-year-old on the up for the Snowdens.
Signore Fox (Exceed and Excel) returned to form with an emphatic win on that same Hawkesbury card, although at this stage looks a class below his stablemate.
Wild Planet (Animal Kingdom) has been placed his past four in stakes company, including a close-up third in the Listed South Pacific S. last time out. His runs have been spaced this campaign and he should be peaking for this run, where he has the inside barrier.
Viridine aiming to break drought
Listed Coolmore Ortensia S. $140,000, 1100m
Viridine (Poet's Voice {GB}) may not have won since October 2017, but as a dual stakes-winner and having been Group 2 placed in the Challenge S. earlier this campaign, looms as the one to beat.
Victorem (I Am Invincible) made significant progress last campaign, culminating in a stakes win in the Lough Neagh S. and he has won two of his four first-up runs and looked in top shape in recent trials at Taree and Port Macquarie. The ever-consistent From Within (Not a Single Doubt) appears to be the main threat of the others.
Artiste designs on Cup
Rotorua G3 Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup, NZ$75,000, 2200m
Artiste (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is holding her form well and handles all types of tracks so from the minimum she presents as a strong lightweight chance for trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.
Stablemate Zacada (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) hasn’t raced since failing in the G1 Sydney Cup so this represents a major drop back in grade and the third member of the team is Highlad (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who will appreciate the distance.
Jacksstar
Giovanni Canaletto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) should also run a strong 2200 metres while Jacksstar (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) is going well. A Group 3 winner two runs back, he got home strongly for a last-start third.
Flash ambition
Rotorua G3 ISCL Rotorua S., $70,000, 1400m
The lightly-raced Back In A Flash (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}) was an impressive winner on the course in lesser company at her most recent appearance and she can make a bold bid for black type honours.
Pretty To Sea (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) didn’t get the best of runs when fifth at Te Rapa and she’s well up to this while Sleeping Beauty (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) is racing well and a decent chance if she gets early luck from a wide barrier.
Baker and Forsman have three runners with the best of them looking to be Peaceful (NZ) (Savabeel) and Rikki Tikki Tavi (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) is a genuine mare and hard for multiple bettors to overlook.
Moldova seeks Redoute's win
Caulfield Listed Vale Redoute’s Choice S., $140,000, 1200m
The Danny O’Brien-trained Moldova (Snitzel) is unbeaten in two runs despite racing greenly and she should continue to improve. Grand Scholar (Wandjina) has been stakes placed and all the better for her last run while New Zealand trial winner Banquo (Written Tycoon) is highly-regarded and adds plenty of interest.
