Greg Polson Preview and top three bets for Scone

Greg Polson - Friday September 22

It's looks a tough day at the office at Scone on Friday with substantial weight, awkward barriers and first starters dominating the favoured runners so I've have looked for a bit of value arriving at our three plays on the day.

Greg Polson says don't bet your underwear but it's still worth having a little dabble at Scone.

Favourites win one in three races, year in year out at tracks across Australia and is generally my starting point in analysing a race meeting but I couldn't find one favourite in the eight-race card on Friday that I would be prepared to back at the odds available in early markets.

I am certainly not potting them but the likes of Raiden has to carry 60.5kg on a track where horses carrying that weight and above have a winning strike rate of just 22.8 per cent, Makfi Lass is still to be proven at 1600m, another favourite has to overcome barrier 14, a couple of first starters dominate the opening race and others are up in grade.

Plenty of questions to be answered right across the program and the odds are just not there in the favoured runners.

My best advice for punters today is to tread warily where the favourites are concerned and remember a losing bet saved is the equivalent of a $2 winner but have come up with three non-favourites that I would be prepared to have something on.

LOZZA (Race 4 No 4)

The Carmen Murnane-trained Lozza takes on Makfi Lass in the Emirates Park Class Two Handicap (1600m) with both horses unproven at the mile. The speed map tips the scales in favour of Lozza with the gelding set to get an uncontested lead and will get every chance to run the journey right out.

NIKKAS 'N' A TWIST (Race 6 No 5)

Nikkas 'N' A Twist was a Tamworth maiden winner in his first preparation and did enough resuming at Beaumont finishing just over three-lengths from the winner on September 5 to suggest he is a value chance on Friday with the first-up run under his belt.

BAKSLAP (Race 8 No 3)

Robert Thompson rides Bakslap for Allan Denham when the gelding returns to racing in the Mikki Isle @ Arrowfield Benchmark 69 Showcase Handicap (1100m). A winner of four of his nine career starts, including two wins at Scone Bakslap finished on the placegetters heels in a race at Wyong when resuming last preparation and a similar effort first-up back to country grade would see the son of Congrats right in the finish.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.