Yard to the Post @ Scone
Race Day: Scone on Saturday, 14 May 2016
Country and Provincial form proved too good for the big city stables up in the NSW hinterland today.
Provincial Championships winner DANISH TWIST and Country Championships winner CLEARLY INNOCENT both strode to clear wins on the lush Scone turf. Two in-form gallopers, the mare DANISH TWIST at the peak of her powers and big-striding gelding CLEARLY INNOCENT a rising star of the future. He's won five straight now and could be even better once he steps up to the mile.
In the other feature races, Fastnet Rock filly SERENE MAJESTY grabbed favourite SPILL THE BEANS to win the Guineas, and another descedent from the Coolmore super-sire KAEPERNICK was dominant winning the Ortenisa Stakes.
And we got to see an impressive debut from two-year-old filly MANAYA in the Woodlands Stakes, a promising daughter of Yarraman Park Stud's sire Hinchinbrook
Overall, a great two days at the 'Horse Capital' of Australia on a good racing surface.
A full review from the Yard to the Post is provided below.
Track Info
| Rail | +3 metres |
| Conditions | GOOD 4 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | FAIR to OFF RAILS |
Race 1 KIA ORA STUD BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP
Tempo tricks over the long distance
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loving Home | Tess Wilkes | Tye Angland | 11 | 60.0 | |
| 2 | Settle the Future | Greg Bennett | Christian Reith | 10 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Halfway to Heaven | Bob Haire | Ms Kaylee Kirkwood | 6 | 54.0 |
In The Running
HALFWAY TO HEAVEN took up the running from LOVING HOME and SETTLE THE FUTURE. There wasn't much pressure in the race. HE'S DREAMIN' was stuck wide.
The Result
LOVING HOME (1st) and SETTLE THE FUTURE (2nd) dueled down the straight. HALFWAY TO HEAVEN (3rd) held off DUCIA VALENTINOIS (4th) in a sprint home.
The Interest
The figures suggest the leaders came home in 33.87, making this a 'non-race'. Nothing was getting past the leaders and LOVING HOME was the classiest of those. DUCIA VALENTINOIS was a touch disappointing though, he does have a turn-of-foot and did quicken into the race before a plain run to the line. Perhaps MEINER FRECCIA (5th) is the one to follow, a lean tough Japanese import that made solid ground in a race that really didn't suit. Follow MEINER FRECCIA.
Race 2 ISUZU UTE SCONE BENCHMARK 77 HANDICAP
A hard watch for favourite backers
strong tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | All Summer Long | Kris Lees | Greg Ryan | 11 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Star Shaft | Tim McIntosh | Jeff Penza | 19 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Hot Hit | Mark Mason | Robert Thompson | 5 | 58.0 |
In The Running
Lots of pressure early and a STRONG tempo. The on-pacers were FIREBALL, BROOKLYN STORM and GRAND CONDOR wider. ESGRIMIDOR just behind them and HOT HIT snuck up he inside. ALL SUMMER LONG behind ESGRIMIDOR with TEXAN LAD stuck wide. ALL SUMMER LONG came wider early in the straight and at the same moment BAROOD and MOGADOR were crowded behind him.
The Result
ALL SUMMER LONG (1st) ran on well to win, beating home the swooping STAR SHAFT (2nd) and brave HOT HIT (3rd), who kept fighting on. MOGADOR (4th) was just behind them.
The Interest
They went at warp speed in this and most of the leaders knocked-up. Lots of hard luck tales! ALL SUMMER LONG and STAR SHAFT were both good, but had the favours. The runs of HOT HIT (near pace), MOGADOR (slightly held up), WONDERBOLT (slightly held up), GRAND CONDOR (stuck on hot pace, fought on OK) and SELECTIFY (never really clear) were all respectable. Nothing was as unlucky as favourite BAROOD though. Kerrin McEvoy is still looking for a run! Forgive GRAND CONDOR, SELECTIFY and BAROOD.
Race 3 PRYDE'S EASIFEED WOODLANDS STAKES
Local blood-lines come to the fore
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manaya | Michael Costa | Mr Lester Grace | 11 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Raiment | James Cummings | Tim Clark | 16 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Nonpareil | James Cummings | James McDonald | 8 | 56.0 |
In The Running
The field spread across the track in the run. NOURISHING led from NOT SUPRISING, IRISH SEA (three wide), AGHNA (four wide) and RAIMENT (five wide). MANAYA was restrained back to near last.
The Result
MANAYA (1st) came to the outside and swept straight past them. RAIMENT (2nd) fought on well and NONPAREIL (3rd) chase home her stablemate.
The Interest
An impressive debut from the daughter of Hinchinbrook, a stallion that serves just around the corner at Yarraman Park Stud. She was dominant in her trials and Warwick Farm trainer Michael Costa has clearly got an exciting filly. An emergency in the field, Costa didn't get on the phone quick enough and missed out on all the good jockeys! Some last minute organising on race day morning have apprentice Lester Grace the ride and he delivered in style. Good runs from RAIMENT and NONPAREIL also, while SUSPENDERS fought on gamely to the line alongside IRISH SEA and SUGARPARMA. Follow MANAYA.
Race 4 COOLMORE DENISE'S JOY STAKES
A swarm of fillies cross the line together
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alucinari | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | James McDonald | 9 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Roeinda | Bjorn Baker | Kerrin McEvoy | 6 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Positive Charge | Bryce Heys | Ms Samantha Clenton | 3 | 54.0 |
In The Running
AEGEAN SEA showed good speed to lead from FANCY NICKERS and THOSBORNE and POSITIVE CHARGE. Favourite SANGIOVESE was just off the pace. ROEINDA back on the inside in midfield with ALUCINARI behind her. ALART was stuck very wide.
The Result
In a blanket finish, ALUCINARI (1st) ran on well through the pack with ROEINDA (2nd), while POSITIVE CHARGE (3rd) fought on. A bunch wider included WAY TOO GOOD (4th), SANGIOVESE (5th), ALART (6th) and DON'T DOUBT MARLEY (8th). Leader AEGEAN SEA (7th) only 1.3 lengths from the winner.
The Interest
A winner for Godolphin and perhaps no surprise it was a fresh horse. The stable runners seem to be tapering off into their campaigns of late. It was only narrow though, the flying Bjorn Baker stable almost stealing the prize with ROEINDA (SP $11). It was 3 lengths back to 11th and most of those in the finish put in admirable runs. A typical 1100m race for the fillies! No Follows or Forgives.
Race 5 INGLIS 3YO GUINEAS
Snowden's patience results in another winner
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serene Majesty | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 2 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Spill the Beans | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | James McDonald | 7 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Kimberley Star | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Greg Ryan | 8 | 54.5 |
In The Running
SPILL THE BEANS crossed to lead from PROFESSOR MARX and GIRL SUNDAY. SUPPLY AND DEMAND got going early on the turn.
The Result
SERENE MAJESTY (1st) ran on and edged past the strong SPILL THE BEANS (2nd) by a narrow margin. KIMBERLEY STAR (3rd) ran on solidly in-front of SUPPLY AND DEMAND (4th) and DARK STEEL (5th).
The Interest
There wasn't much between the top five and SPILL THE BEANS just couldn't hold off Snowden's filly down the long and lush Scone straight. The winner was 2.6 lengths behind SPILL THE BEANS at Hawkesbury, but the form from that track is 'shaky' and she could be improving after a slow start to this preparation. The Snowden stable are renowned for give their horses time and getting them to peak on the day. Given the margin back to 6th, all five could all be worth following up on.
Race 6 YARRAMAN PARK - HORSEPOWER LUSKIN STAR STAKES
Greg Bennett's country hero storms to victory
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clearly Innocent | Kris Lees | Ms Samantha Clenton | 7 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Music Magnate | Bjorn Baker | Kerrin McEvoy | 2 | 57.5 | |
| 3 | Cradle Me | David Pfieffer | Christian Reith | 4 | 56.5 |
In The Running
MUSIC MAGNATE went to the lead from DECISION TIME and RIVER LAD. CRADLE ME was urged into a much more forward spot in the box seat. FEDERAL was behind them with CLEARLY INNOCENT three wide on his outside.
The Result
MUSIC MAGNATE (2nd) fought on gamely, but couldn't hold off the big strides of CLEARLY INNOCENT (1st) over the closing stages. CRADLE ME (3rd) chased hard and got the better of FEDERAL (4th) late. UNEQUIVOCAL (5th) just behind.
The Interest
The local hero found his mark today and it was a high one! After beating lower-level opposition easily in recent starts, including the Country Championships field, he proved that Group 3 winners like MUSIC MAGNATE are within his reach. Without getting too excited early, both MUSIC MAGNATE and CLEARLY INNOCENT shape as having Group 1 potential. Perhaps MUSIC MAGNATE still has the edge on class overall, he was second-up and not on his home track like the winner. He heads to the STRADBROKE and CLEARLY INNOCENT heads for a spell. As for FEDERAL, he drifted to $3.5 and was just OK in 4th, taking a step back from his 4th in the G3 Hall Mark. Follow MUSIC MAGNATE.
Race 7 GODOLPHIN DARK JEWEL CLASSIC
A Dark Jewel from the Kris Lees stable
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danish Twist | Kris Lees | Tim Clark | 16 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Onemorezeta | Kris Lees | Ms Samantha Clenton | 15 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Press Report | Kris Lees | Jeff Penza | 3 | 54.0 |
In The Running
LUCKY NEWS took up the running from AMMIRATA and PRESS REPORT in the box seat. DANISH TWIST moved up wider racing keenly. ONEMOREZETA tracked up behind her.
The Result
DANISH TWIST (1st) sustained her run and surged clear late from ONEMOREZETA (2nd), who chased home OK and PRESS REPORT (3rd) nearer the inside. FITOU (6th) ran on from last near the inside, with JUST A BLUR (4th) and ARTISTRY (5th) storming home out wider. SHE'S CLEAN never got room.
The Interest
This mare is absolutely flying. The sleek and tough DANISH TWIST once again hit the line with force after taking out the Provincial Championships and another race at Hawkesbury. And to think new jockey Tim Clark (Avdulla suspended) couldn't get her to settle! The other good runs in the race came from JUST A BLUR, ARTISTRY and FITOU, who are all right at peak form too. No knock on ONEMOREZETA (gave Kris Lees a quinella). SHE'S CLEAN the unlucky runner. PEACE FORCE not the same mare this prep it seems. Follow DANISH TWIST, JUST A BLUR, ARTISTRY and FITOU. Forgive SHE'S CLEAN.
Race 8 ARROWFIELD ORTENSIA STAKES
Fastnet Rock power too much to handle
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaepernick | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | Robert Thompson | 2 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Inz'n'out | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Christian Reith | 15 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | That's a Good Idea | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tye Angland | 4 | 58.5 |
In The Running
FURNACES took the lead from THAT'S A GOOD IDEA and MISS WICKED WANDA in the box seat. KURO moved to midfield after a slowish jump, just behind INZ'N'OUT near the pace. KAEPERNICK got back in the pack with BROOK ROAD.
The Result
KAEPERNICK (1st) tracked up and dashed straight past for a big win. INZ'N'OUT (2nd) and THAT'S A GOOD IDEA (3rd) fought on. BROOK ROAD (4th) ran on late.
The Interest
He had trialed very well in the lead up to this race and you get the feeling this demolition job was planned to perfection. Local super sire Fastnet Rock (Coolmore) has given the winner his fair dose of power and muscle. This was a very easy win! INZ'N'OUT ready for a 1200m Rosehill race now third-up. Follow KAEPERNICK and INZ'N'OUT.