Tips and race-by-race guide for Scone on Monday

Track soft 7 and rail out 7m from 1000m to 400m and 5m the remainder.

Race 1

6. Cape Cod, an emerging filly trained on the course, can open her account at the second attempt after going under on debut in a deeper provincial race over a short course. Up sharply in distance with a significant jockey change, and she’s right at home on rain-affected ground. Similarly 10. Flaunter is a rival home-tracker also having her second start after hitting the line nicely on debut here. The rest are gunning for minor money headed by 2. Northern Eagle, which has a race fitness edge fourth-up, and 3. Nulkaba Star, which has been up for a long time and has a 25 per cent strike rate in the placings from 20 starts.
How to play it: Cape Cod to win.

Race 2

4. Suasion is a two-year-old by All Too Hard that can start with a bang at home for the Cavanough stable. Travelled hard on the bridle in a solid trial over 1000m and is bred to handle all conditions. Looks primed for this. 1. Lady Segosha heads into her second start off a tidy closing debut at Newcastle. 3. Star Of Indigo is an improver that went back to the trials after flopping first-up at Warren. 5. Charlies had two runs back from a spell at Coffs before being strong through the line in a provincial trial win.
How to play it: Suasion to win.

Race 3

12. Pharoah Queen is an improving provincial mare that can peak third-up over a longer journey. Finished right behind the favourite here in a handy Newcastle maiden 16 days ago, despite being unwanted in betting. Previous form at the provincials through autumn over this sort of trip was very encouraging. 10. Jade Sunset is hard fit and banging on the door for a breakthrough win deep into the prep. Has tactical speed and was close-up in that Newcastle race where she led until the final few strides. Also more comfortable back over this journey and drawn to dictate. 9. G’day Ausbred can improve enough with a string of gear changes to finally run into the money at his eighth start. 6. The Confidante fifth-up and 7. Legs Power, which has placed in his last three, are both worthy inclusions at big odds in trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: Pharoah Queen to win.

Race 4

10. Maples can go back-to-back over more ground to really launch her career for the leading Messara and Gavranich yard. The Autumn Sun filly finished too well to score on debut in a handy maiden at Muswellbrook, and the top jockey sticks solid. 3. Sweet Justice ran them off their feet third-up here, but goes up in weight in a race with more depth. 2. Ocean Tsunami has to tuck in from a wide draw fourth-up, but was good to the line in a similar race after a torrid run in deeper Saturday Class 3 Highway company. 11. Moana Gold comes off a breakthrough country maiden win as a hot favourite, while 7. Grand Diablo heads the rest.
How to play it: Maples to win.

Race 5

8. Don’t Say Do is primed to open her account third-up in her second full prep. Did her best work late resuming at Warren before chasing home a dominant winner at Bathurst on a heavy nine. Better placed back on the bigger course coming back a shade in trip, and drawn to get to the middle late. 6. Celestial Deal is a striking filly by Bivouac and pivotal runner on debut for the Waterhouse-Bott yard. Fitted with two trials and the market will be a telling indicator. 1. Bicknoller is by Hellbent, and a market watch on debut behind a handy soft track trial. 12. Trapeazy is another home tracker returning for a second start behind a handy trial. 3. General Div improves at his second start up sharply in distance. 5. Bees Knees is a first starter by Super One sporting gear changes after a solid trial here.
How to play it: Don’t Say Do to win.

Race 6

5. Starverna is a talented and tough filly that can return to the winner’s stall at her fourth start and on her home track. Charged home to win on debut at Muswellbrook before chasing home ultra-smart Chains Of Love, which then won a Saturday race in Sydney. Went to Dubbo and drifted a mile back under a horror watch, zooming home late to miss by under a length. Extra 100m is an obvious plus, and so is a middle draw which gives the jockey options. Bred to thrive in the wet and is headed for much bigger targets. In what could be a classic match race, 1. Oakfield Missouri is the clear threat after a dominant all-the-way win here on debut. Has tactical speed and also bred to thrive in the ground. Big gap to the rest headed by 7. Ephemeral, a stablemate of the top selection that can run into the money. 2. Devilish Sun fourth-up and 9. Ring My Bell over 100m further can pump value into wider exotics.
How to play it: Starverna to win.

Race 7

7. Sobek is an unbeaten three-year-old trained on the course and destined to win higher grades. Swept home to score on debut at Taree in January before being turned out. Was even more impressive resuming here, charging clear late in a Class 1 that offered good depth. Bred to handle the going and importantly drawn to stay well off the fence. Stablemate 4. Copperline is shooting for three wins on the bounce at home in his first full prep. 2. Giddy Girl is over the odds coming back from a deeper provincial race. 3. Bullion Hunter, after being outclassed in consecutive Saturday Class 3 Highways, and at bigger odds 6. Singing Star, which drops back from metropolitan company deep into the prep, can both figure in the minor money.
How to play it: Sobek to win.

Best bets

Race 6: (5) Starverna
Race 7: (7) Sobek

Best value

Race 5: (8) Doin’t Say Do

Supplied by Racing NSW