By Nick Berney
SCONE – BEST BET: Race 8 # 18 – MISS ICELANDIC
She produced a career peak figure first-up for her new trainer, Matt Laurie, and she profiles well for this down in weight. The mare had every chance at Randwick, but she wore down the leader and wanted to savage the line late. Further, she recorded the meeting's quickest final 200m split, and there was plenty of merit in the back end of the clock, with the gap to third confirming the quality. The mare brings a competitive last-start rating, will be suited up in trip and maps to have all favours with conditions to suit. Each-way.
Invader Zim (Pic: Bradley Photos)
SCONE – VALUE BET: Race 4 # 6 – INVADER ZIM
As his historical pattern suggests, he's a sharp improver second-up, and everything about his first-up run indicates he can only improve. The gelding raced wide with cover after having the pace/bias against and loomed to win but peaked late. All his best figures/efforts have come on rain-affected ground, and the blinkers are going on for the first time. Each-way.
SCONE – SECTIONAL STAR: Race 5 # 14 – GOOD BANTER
Her first-up effort was much better than the form guide reads after having too much to do. The mare was restrained from a wide draw, had the race shape against, and made a long, sustained run. Punter's Intelligence recorded she ran the race's quickest final 600m in 36.08, and that form line has since been confirmed with Know Thyself winning again. The four-year-old can settle closer with a significant barrier change, revels in the conditions and expect a strong performance.
KEMBLA GRANGE – PROVINCIAL PICK: Race 7 # 13 – SWAG
He's well placed under the set-weight conditions and was solid first-up, running second to subsequent dominant winner Beadman in a high-rating race. Further, he stalked a genuine speed and was outpaced when the sprint went on, but once building momentum, he hit the line hard, running one of the meeting's fastest final 200m splits. The colt maps to have all favours, will appreciate the rise in the trip, handles all conditions, and everything points towards him producing a career peak.