FRIDAY

SCONE CUP (L)

RACE 7 - 1600m

IMPERIALIST / SHADIZI / TAVI TIME

There's no doubt IMPERIALIST is bred to be a good stayer and the CHURCHILL gelding was trapped out on a limb four wide in the Hawkesbury Cup with not enough pace on to assist, but cut back to nearer the inside, worst ground, and attacked the line strongly. Rounded them up to win the Phoenix (1500m) at Eagle Farm last year, then good form in the spring, winning the Taree Cup and runner-up in the Rosehill Cup in November, then 3rd in the January Cup before a spell. We expect Waller to have him much sharper and with a better run in transit appears a major player.

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SHADIZI is expected to perform better in the Cup, and just forget the big price. Following his initial run over 1500m at Randwick a few weeks ago, the SIYOUNI gelding he was positioned off the pace and finished adequately, though he didn't pose a significant threat. Can be a challenging horse to predict, but when he performs at his best, he is certainly a capable contender, and Waller seriously rates him in this.

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Karaka graduate TAVI TIME took his career earnings past A$800,000 with victory in last years Scone Cup. It was the second black-type victory for the son of TAVISTOCK, who had previously taken out the Gr.3 Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick on Boxing Day. The Kris Lee trained stayer was never totally clear in the Hawkesbury Cup so willing to forgive and go again. Good enough to go back-to-back.

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SATURDAY

DARK JEWEL CLASSIC G3

RACE 9 - 1400m F&M

SURFIN BIRD / ARRIVING HOME / IMPOSANT

Massive victory by this Gai/Bott horse SURFIN BIRD at Caulfield last October, crusing up to them on the turn before coming away by 4.25L in an impressive display. Lost touch with the leader and battled way in the HKJC Stakes at Flemington and sent for a spell with a record of 4 from 6. THE AUTUMN SUN mare resumed with a nice effort in the Gr.3 Hawkesbury Crown (1300m), held together and giving her all before weakening late into 2nd. Likely to go very close.

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ARRIVING HOME looks at big overs in the Dark Jewel and the I AM INVINCIBLE mare wasn't too shabby in the Gr.3 Hawkesbury Crown when leading early before being headed at the 100m and weakening into 3rd place. Run down when 3rd over the same trip on that course, but may be best suited settling just off the pace instead of taking them on. Baker seems happy with her progress and it wouldn't take much other then a clever ride by Alysha Collett.

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The G3 Dark Jewel Classic has an extraordinary record for producing broodmares, with six of the race’s first 10 runners producing stakes winners. IMPOSANT has been threatening to break out of her shell and the last two Midway runs have held plenty of merit. Looked for a run boxed up on the rail in the Provincial WILDCARD and she kept chasing for 2nd when the split came at the 150m. Settled well back before chasing hard in the Provincial Championship Final, doing similar work in the final stages to finish 2nd to LORD OF BISCAY. May need the breaks, but going too well to dismiss.

☆☆

LUSKIN STAR STAKES (L)

RACE 10 - 1300m

LINEBACKER / INFANCY / WATERFORD

While the SUPER SETH gelding LINEBACKER was nominated for the Doomben 10,000, trainer Tom Charlton favoured a trip to Scone as the extra 100m of the Luskin Star Stakes is in the horse's sweet spot. The 2025 Gr.1 Randwick Guineas winner, Linebacker contested elite company during the autumn. Finishing just 1-1/2 lengths from JOLIESTAR first-up in the Canterbury Stakes, midfield in AUTUMN GLOW's George Ryder Stakes and a solid sixth in the Doncaster Mile. Zac knows the horse well which will boost his chances.

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Trainer Kris Lee is looking at travelling INFANCY north for the rest of the Brisbane carnival, but will first run the WANDJINA mare in the Ortensia at Scone. He seems happy with how she's tracking at present after an eye-catching effort for second in the Gr.2 Sapphire (1200m) at Randwick a month ago following a tough fresh assignment in the Gr.1 The Galaxy. They went to Brizzy 12 months back and struck a Heavy track on the Gold Coast, so holding her back in Sydney seems to profile better for the mare. Based on that last start sprint through the line, she doesn't appear too badly placed. Crazy odds really.

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Chris Waller's seven-year-old gelding, WATERFORD, appears to be ideally positioned in this event and at these massive odds well worth entertaining. The ATWAAD gelding, under the guidance of its astute trainer, remained in Sydney following two commendable performances at Eagle Farm a year prior. Raced away to win the Gr.2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill in September before a few difficult runs for little reward. Tommy Berry aboard and really could be a serious threat in this if ridden cold and save for one final burst.

☆☆

ORTENSIA STAKES (L)

RACE 8 - 1100m

GOLDEN STRAAND / THE INSTRUCTOR / FIRE STAR

Promising sprinter GOLDEN STRAAND continued his form surge and is making a compelling case to be given his chance at stakes level after another brilliant win at Hawkesbury. The sprinter is obviously blessed with well above average ability, running a fast time again (1m 02.82s) and carrying a big weight (60kg). Golden Straand, owned by Gerry Harvey, is a four-year-old SNITZEL entire who has now won five of his 10 starts and a black type win would significantly enhance his value. The scarey part is, there still seems improvement to come and he can be competitive stepping up in grade here.

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THE INSTRUCTOR will land on the speed and go for broke early we imagine and they might have trouble running him down over the 1100m. The Gai/Bott trained RUSSIAN REVOLUTION gelding was strong when last in work and even tested himself at elite level, running in a Stradbroke, finishing 2nd in the Canterbury Sprint and 2nd in the JRA Plate. Looks to have trialled up well in preperation, so should press forward and run a big one.

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The Peter Snowden-trained FIRE STAR is a strong contender in the ORTENSIA and arrives fresh up after two nice trial runs in Sydney. Won over 1100m at Rosehill last September, then ran 2nd at Newcastle but should of won if pushed to lead instead of being boxed in. Chased home HIDDEN WEALTH up at Eagle Farm in December and was only fair but not terrible with two runs in January. The DEEP FIELD gelding should score a sweet trail and can offer plenty of sting first up.

☆☆

DENISE'S JOY STAKES (L)

RACE 7 - 1100m 3YOF

MISS FREELOVE / LA BASILIQIE / MERCY ME

The Snowden trained MISS FREELOVE has been carefully managed since winning a 2YO event at Canterbury Park in April 2025, then returned with a sound effort for 2nd before quickening from the 100m to win easily over 1100m at Warwick Farm. Found wanting finishing 4th in the Brian Crowley followed by a nice run for 3rd behind POINT BARROW in the Gr.3 Red Roses at Flemington. Kept going when 6th fresh up and sure to be in sharper condition. Unbeaten 2nd-up and we like the set up for this horse here.

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LA BASILIQUE, a progressive filly trained by Chris Waller has demonstrated the capability to compete at Stakes level and gets her shot here. She has achieved two victories from two starts this season, with her most recent performance being particularly impressive as she overcame her competitors giving them a heads start and winning from a challenging position. While this race presents a significant strp up, we are confident in her ability to perform up well.

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MERCY ME is a strong HELLBENT filly who has really looked the part for Nathan Doyle in only five starts. Scored a hat-trick of wins before a spell and showed plenty of toe that day and although drawn a wide, she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. She can give cheek again here even from this awkward gate and this race could be a speed battle with the slickest group of sprinters fighting out the finish.

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WOODLANDS STAKES (L)

RACE 3 - 1100m 2YOF

MOSCATEL / LA GITANA / KRASINA

The high-priced daughter of Snitzel in MOSCATEL was a dominant winner of a 2YO 1100m event at Kensington, although she missed out running in the features during the Sydney Autumn Carnival and is now making up for lost time. Under Tim Clark the filly travelled smoothly in the lead and skipped clear early in the straight before clearing out. Seems to have benefited from being afforded some extra time to mature and their patience could pay off here.

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The legacy of HIPS DON’T LIE (Stravinsky) continues on Saturday when her daughter LA GITANA starts in this event. After two slick jump-out wins for the Hayes brothers, the HOME AFFAIRS the filly was solid on debut for 3rd in the Gr.3 Chairman’s (1000m) at Caulfield, then put eventual winner GIN TWIST under some serious pressure chasing hard for 2nd in the Festival Stakes at Flemington. Two sound jumpouts since and potentially in the right shape to give this a red hot go with additional track time behind her.

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The RUSSIAN REVOLITION filly KRASINA has experienced zero luck in her first three career runs and she could be much better then the results suggest. Straight our the back and no favours on debut in Jan, before failing to score a clear path at a vital stake in the Gr.3 Widden (1100m) at Rosehill. Won a jumpout there precedding that, followed by a three wide run near the back at Warwick Farm. But she went good and getting close enough under pressure is not the worst sign. Looks the real upset chance in our books even from the gate.

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BEST BET: SURFIN BIRD

NEXT BEST: LINEBACKER

BEST VALUE: FIRE STAR

LONGSHOT: SHADIZI (Scone Cup)