3 minute read
Promising galloper Lightinthenite can bring up his first stakes win in today's Listed Emirates Park Scone Cup (race 7) at Scone.
The lightly raced four-year-old, in the John O'Shea yard at Randwick, has shown good potential and measured up in stronger races but is yet to break through in black type grade.
After two wins from two runs in his initial campaign, O'Shea set the bar higher last time in where he won two of his first four starts in the spring before tackling the Listed Festival Stakes.
The festival is over the same 1500m journey at Rosehill as he won over the start prior but in the stakes event he had little luck when blocked for a run, hitting the line hard and finishing a half length second behind Monton.
He then tackled the Group 2 Villiers Stakes, and even tougher assignment, and after settling midfield in the big field he again found the line nicely but could manage only fifth, beaten two lengths and again by Monton.
O'Shea sent the gelding for a spell and missed much of the autumn before he resumed over 1400m at Randwick.
There, in a Benchmark 95, he sat midfield and turned fifth before running on for a strong neck win.
Today he carries a half kilo more in this tougher race but is a promising horse who is certainly up to this grade.
Lightintheniteis a second up winner, looks suited at the longer journey and should be hitting the line hard again today.
Cessnock galloper Star Of Octagonal is racing well including a last start Listed win and looks the biggest danger.
Prepared by Todd Howlett, Star Of Octagonal placed at his first two this campaign before stepping up to 1500m at Rosehill and breaking through for a strong win.
He then tackled the Group 3 Newmarket at Newcastle and after finding a bit of traffic really motored home when clear to run into third.
Next start was the even tougher Group 2 Ajax Stakes where he drew wide and settled midfield. Turning there before winding up strongly in the straight to finish runner up.
Last start, back to easier grade in the Listed Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury, he was able to sit closer from the inside gate and after turning just off the speed ran on well to score a head win.
Today he rises in weight and has drawn awkwardly but is super honest wioth a strong enough turn of foot to sit close or get home when going back.
He has a strong record here including a win in the Inglis Guineas and with leading country rider Robert Thompson aboard as usual he will be hard to hold out again.
Honest mare Divorces is long overdue for a win and after two runs back looks a strong each way chance here.
The mare won over 1800m six runs back and since then has finished third in the Group 3 Doomben Roses, fourth in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, third in the Group 3 Maybe Mahal fresh, then resumed again with a third in the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes.
Last start, she placed yet again, this time in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes when running on from near last.
She has drawn much better today, will find this easier, drops in weight and is fitter so it all points to yet another good run.
Stablemate Rasberries was a little disappointing last time in the Rowley Mile but can do much better here.
She was a Group 3 winner fresh at Flemington before being Group 2 placed.
Her last two have been below her best but interestingly today stable rider Kerrin McEvoy goes aboard.
From gate two she should enjoy a good run and she's certainly up to the class.
She can improve sharply at each way odds.
Izababe, who has won a host of country cups, ran on hard over 1400m at Tamworth latest and the run was better than it looked. The extra ground suits and he drops nicely in the weights.