NSW racing will move to Scone for the traditional May Scone Cup Carnival this weekend. The track was rated a Good 3 on Thursday and with fine weather forecast, the track will stay in the Good range on raceday.
The Brisbane Carnival continues on Saturday with the running of the Group 1 Doomben Cup. The Doomben track was rated a Slow 7 on Thursday and with overcast weather in Brisbane, the track probably will stay in the Slow range on raceday.
In the Arrowfield Denise Joy’s Stakes (Scone Race 4, 1100m), the class runner is the top weight No Looking Back. This Waterhouse-trained filly has been racing against the like of Pierro, Driefontein and Samaready. And she is unbeaten 1st up winning 2 from 2. However she does have 59kg and the widest barrier (15 into 13 after scratchings) to contend with. She will look like a winner in the straight but I think her weight could take its toll late in the race. I like the Angela Davies-trained She’s A Stalker. Matter of fact, I’ve been impressed with her ever since she won the Wyong Classic last December. Her 1st up second at Warwick Farm was a good effort and she is unbeaten 2nd up. Tim Clark, who recently returns from Hong Kong has taken the ride. From barrier 8 (after scratching), Clark would settle She’s A Stalker just behind the pace one off the fence and be too strong at the finish.
In the Luskin Star Stakes (Scone Race 5, 1300m), last year’s winner Riva de lago could make it two in a row. He was in great form before a freshen up and back to 1300m looks perfect for him. Chris Waller has indicated that Riva de Lago will go to Queensland for the Winter Carnival after Saturday’s run so the trainer has obviously rated the 5YO highly. From barrier 3 and with form jockey Hugh Bowman on board, Riva de Lago looks the horse to beat.
In the feature race of the meeting, the $500,000 Inglis Guineas (Scone Race 7, 1400m), I have been tempting to tip Ashokan. He’s a good colt and has been racing very consistently. However, he has developed into somewhat a non-winner having only won once in 14 starts. For that reason, I am tipping the up-and-coming filly Missy Cummings. This unbeaten filly won well at Randwick over 1400m last start. And regular rider Peter Robl will stay on the filly and no doubt with booming confidence after winning the Group 1 BTC Cup on stablemate Your Song last Saturday. From barrier 3, Robl will have plenty of options on where he wants to settle Missy Cummings.
The Group 1 feature in Brisbane on Saturday will be the Doomben Cup (Brisbane Race 7, 2000m). The race favourite is last year’s runner-up Lights Of Heaven. The mare can handle the wet condition, loves 2000m and has been in good form winning her past 2 starts. Lights Of Heaven is a deserved favourite. But I believe Foreteller can turn the table on the mare. He was a bit unlucky in the Hollindale Cup last start having just got beaten by Lights Of Heaven. Foreteller has strong form in the weight-for-age races during Autumn, having beaten Fiveandahalfstar in winning the Ranvet Stakes (2000m). And I believe the form around Fiveandahalfstar has been particularly strong. Foreteller can also handle the wet condition and currently at $3.80 fixed odds, he’s my tip for the Doomben Cup.
By Owens Wong, Editor
