Yard to the Post @ Scone
Race Day: Scone on Saturday, 16 May 2015
Little-known country jockey Richard Bensley was the hero on a cloudy day in the beautiful NSW hinterland.
Promising galloper ARTLEE was due to be ridden by Mitchell Bell in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes, but an earlier fall meant a desperate last minute search by young trainer Todd Willan.
Bensley was one of the only jockeys available that could ride at 54kg and the decision proved spot on. The young hoop kept the keen-going galloper perfectly balanced before letting him loose in the straight.
"I’m still shaking, a bit weak at the knees. We’ll find a good race for him next preparation I think."
Todd Willan, Artlee's trainer
The feature three-year-old race, the Guineas, was a dramatic tale of luck in racing. While Bensley made the right move and darted up the inside on LOVED UP (picture), Jason Collett drove SURE AND FAST into a wall of horses. The heavily-backed favourite never saw daylight.
A full review of the day, from the yard to the post, will be on-line Sunday at 9am.
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | GOOD 3 |
| Weather | OVERCAST |
| Bias | OFF RAILS |
Race 1 PRYDE'S EASIFEED WOODLANDS STAKES
The local boys take the spoils
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flippant | Peter & Paul Snowden | Hugh Bowman | 12 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Harlem River | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tommy Berry | 6 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Miss Antaeus | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 13 | 58.0 |
Flippant was much too good
In The Yard
Fillies relaxed enough overall. LYCIA and MISS ANTAEUS smaller genuine horses, while SEAGROVE is a bigger leaner type that may need further. FLIPPANT and HARLEM RIVER both with more power.
In The Running
Fillies a bit unsettled in the barrier, line was OK at the jump. The well-backed FLIPPANT jumped best to lead clearly at a FAIR TEMPO. LYCIA was stuck wide on the pace again, while WUTAI MOUNTAIN got the box seat.
The Result
FLIPPANT (1st) strode clear for a big win, beating home HARLEM RIVER (2nd), who ran on well. MISS ANTAEUS (3rd) chased home genuinely into a place.
The Interest
The Snowdens set this filly for the race and she was way too good, there are much better races ahead for her. Most of the fancied horses did OK, LYCIA and MISS ANTAEUS showing how genuine they are and fighting on. First-uppers HARLEM RIVER and SEAGROVE have more scope though, especially the latter, who looks to be a classic type in the making. Follow FLIPPANT and SEAGROVE.
Race 2 CRESSFIELD BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP
Down the road from Dubbo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leaders Road | Dar Lunn | Ms Sophie Young | 7 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Doukhan | Kris Lees | Hugh Bowman | 18 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Rezoned | Chris Waller | Tye Angland | 20 | 57.0 |
Leaders Road stayed on best at odds
In The Yard
DREAM FOLK looked good, a leaner type. HUSSON CHOICE, REZONED and SUPER MOVER all looked well. Some plain staying types overall, especially SALFORD ART, who lacks power or athleticism.
In The Running
SABKHAT strode forward, from SALFORD ART. SUPER MOVER was stuck wide and moved up on the pace. MONACO DOLL got the box seat. LEADERS ROAD was wide no cover midfield.
The Result
LEADERS ROAD (1st) kept grinding away out wide with the light weight, from DOUKHAN (2nd), who stayed on well. REZONED (3rd) wound up late to beat home a big group of them nearer the inside.
The Interest
That sinking feeling for most of us after this race! LEADERS ROAD brought solid Country form to the race and it ended up being good enough, carrying 51kg to victory. DOUKHAN and REZONED stayed on well out wider, but there wasn't much between a lot of them and the BIAS favoured horses off the rails. SUPER MOVER was brave after pushing forward early, he might be the one to follow. Follow SUPER MOVER.
Race 3 TURANGGA FARM BENCHMARK 75 HANDICAP
Baker's bulldog has too much bite
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Encostanati | Bjorn Baker | Brenton Avdulla | 3 | 57.5 | |
| 2 | Crooked Blaze | Melissa Dennett | Blake Shinn | 8 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Faustus | Con Karakatsanis | Hugh Bowman | 5 | 57.5 |
Encostanati delivered a very strong win
In The Yard
Strong horses in the yard, especially ENCOSTANATI, who has power. VANILLA PRINCESS looked solid in the yard, a robust type. ONE DIRECTION was primed for a big run.
In The Running
Lots of early speed. I'M USAIN came across to lead three-wide, from ENCOSTANATI and ONE DIRECTION on his outside. AROUSED and HOT HIT were out wider.
The Result
ENCOSTANATI (1st) sustained his speed, from CROOKED BLAZE (2nd), who chased the winner through. FAUSTUS (3rd) made ground from the back.
The Interest
Too classy and too fast, ENCOSTANATI travelled liked a winner all the way. He's a big powerful sprinter that loves dry tracks. The clear margins suggest the form should stack up, with CROOKED BLAZE suited up in distance next start. The other good run was AROUSED first-up after getting stuck very wide - just a risk he will be a bit 'sore' after that run though - check the yard next time. Follow ENCOSTANATI and CROOKED BLAZE.
Race 4 COOLMORE DENISE'S JOY STAKES
Brenton steals it in a flash
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | In a Wink | Justin McIntosh | Brenton Avdulla | 10 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Fine Mist | Paul Murray | Jason Collett | 15 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Felines | Kris Lees | Jim Cassidy | 4 | 54.0 |
In A Wink strode through the pack to win
In The Yard
LIKE XENA was a bit unsettled in the yard as she often is. ONEMOREZETA stood out in the yard, coat shining with muscle. DONELLE also had shine in her coat. Most fillies looked quite well.
In The Running
PALAZZO PUBLICO kicked up on the inside from SILENT RUSH, FELINES and DONELLE, who was four-wide with no cover. FINE MIST settled out very wide.
The Result
IN A WINK (1st) tracked up nicely nearer the inside and quickened, from FINE MIST (2nd), who darted home down the outside. FELINES (3rd) kept on OK.
The Interest
B Avdulla, take a bow. IN A WINK sprinted well fresh with the help of a perfect ride form the in-form jockey. FINE MIST was very hard done by, racing way out off the track. FELINES was another good run on the hot speed and DEFENDER is one to follow over further. ONEMOREZETA and DONELLE didn't have the breaks this time, don't be too harsh on them over 1200m next start. Follow FINE MIST and DEFENDER.
Race 5 YARRAMAN PARK - HORSEPOWER LUSKIN STAR STAKES
The country champ backs up
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Artlee | Rebecca Dunn | Mitchell Bell | 1 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Oxford Poet | Kim Waugh | Brenton Avdulla | 12 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Slots | Grant Marshall | Danny Beasley | 6 | 54.0 |
Artlee wore down leader Oxford Poet
In The Yard
ARTLEE a big balanced type, he was keen as he often is. OXFORD POET shone in the yard, bold and muscular. BOUZY ROUGE just a bit keen first-up after a break.
In The Running
OXFORD POET went to the lead from RYKER on his outside and JACINTA out wide. ARTLEE was kept balanced on the rails behind the leaders.
The Result
OXFORD POET (2nd) kicked strongly, but ARTLEE (1st) picked up and chased well. SLOTS (3rd) followed the winner through from midfield.
The Interest
Some of the jockeys over-compensated and went wide here, but they still wouldn't have been a match for the top two. ARTLEE is a real talent on the way up, ridden well by Richard Bensley after Mitchell Bell was injured in an earlier fall. OXFORD POET was brave as always. Follow ARTLEE.
Race 6 DARLEY DARK JEWEL CLASSIC
Pride finds the speed needed
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Divertire | Joseph Pride | Danny Beasley | 7 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Calming Influence | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 11 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Bound for Earth | David Vandyke | Brenton Avdulla | 12 | 54.0 |
Divertire swept past them from the back
In The Yard
Most mares fine, MY SABEEL a plainer type that prefers wet tracks. ROSE OF CHOICE fit enough and a touch fizzy. CALMIING INFLUENCE and MAMWAAZEL both well for Waller.
In The Running
CALMIING INFLUENCE took up the running and rolled along from stable-mate MAMWAAZEL. I'M IN THE MONEY was out wider and VERGARA got the box seat.
The Result
CALMING INFLUENCE (2nd) came off the rails and got a break, but DIVERTIRE (1st) stormed down the outside late. BOUND FOR EARTH (3rd) stuck on well from ROSE OF CHOICE, who ran on steadily.
The Interest
Jo Pride as turned this mare from a steady-going miler to a short-course mare with a touch of dash. She always had a little bit of power in her compact frame, but not many saw this kind of performance coming. She is racing well fresh at the moment and could pop up again soon. CALMING INFLUENCE was brave, it looked like they were trying to take the sprint out of ROSE OF CHOICE, who was solid enough first-up. FINE BUBBLES was only plain in the pack and BOUND FOR EARTH was very honest. Follow CALMING INFLUENCE.
Race 7 INGLIS 3YO GUINEAS
Bensley feels the love again
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loved Up | Brett Cavanough | Richard Bensley | 12 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Nayeli | Peter & Paul Snowden | Joshua Parr | 9 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Heavens Above | Tim Martin | Christian Reith | 3 | 54.5 |
Loved Up dashed past up the inside
In The Yard
SURE AND FAST, LOVED UP and HEAVENS ABOVE all looked very well in the yard, the favourite shining in the coat for BEDE MURRAY. NAYELI was well, but power in her frame and might be a risk at 1400m.
Race 8 ARROWFIELD ORTENSIA STAKES
Bowman's bright idea pays dividends
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | That's a Good Idea | Peter & Paul Snowden | Hugh Bowman | 17 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Target in Sight | Joseph Pride | James McDonald | 2 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Atmospherical | Robert Smerdon | Tommy Berry | 13 | 55.0 |
That's A Good Idea stayed out wide and was too fast
In The Yard
Bigger stronger types in the yard. TARGET IN SIGHT had good power and looked very well in the yard, as did THAT'S A GOOD IDEA first-up. STRAIGHT GOLD, HIDDEN WARRIOR and ATMOSPERICAL more athletic sprinters, all OK. THE MONSTAT keen and on his toes.