Race 8 Scone
Waterford @ 5.00
Race 9 SconeBaledon @ 6.00
Race 7 TownsvilleBeauty Boom @ 5.00
Waterford for Cup success
The previously mentioned Scone Cup is due to take place as the penultimate contest of the day.
The Listed race, which carries Big Dance Eligibility, is expected to see Nugget jump as favourite for the Ciaron Maher team.
Bred in the UK, the gelding failed to shine when finishing seventh of eight in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield in February.
The veteran was racing first up that day and took a marked step forward when third, beaten less than a length over 1600m in Listed company at Caulfield next time.
While not beaten by far that day, the gelding took a step forward once more when fourth in a big field renewal of the Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick early last month.
The gelding raced off a low weight that day and should find this contest easier with Dylan Gibbons up for the first time since October.
The pick on this occasion however is WATERFORD for the Chris Waller stable.
The gelding recorded some big efforts in defeat last prep, including when placing in a couple of Group 2 contests at Rosehill in September.
While unable to finish in the first three thereafter that prep, he did deliver some good efforts, including when fifth in The Ingham, a Group 2 event at Randwick in December.
The drop to a Benchmark 100m handicap appeared to suit, with the five-year-old saluting by over half-a-length in a 1500m event at Rosehill on 27th April.
The selection has a fair barrier in nine here and, with the step up to Listed company no issue, he is selected to record his sixth career win.
Baledon for Scone glory
The finale at Scone is a Benchmark 84 handicap, the Vinery Country Cup set to take place over 1400m.
Russley Crown was making his first start since November, when delivering a victory in a Class 5 set weights contest at Tamworth in March.
The five-year-old raced over 1400m on a good 4 track and again contested a 1400m event when down the field in the Country Championships Final at Randwick last month.
The gelding raced on a heavy 8 track at Randwick and should find the quicker soft 6 expected here more to his liking.
Scott Singleton's representative finished runner-up in this race 12 months ago and, while he rates a leading player once more, BALEDON is the pick this time around.
Trained by Ron Stubbs, the six-year-old was placed on each of his first three starts in 2024.
The most recent of those saw him lose out by less than half-a-length when contesting the 1600m Albury Mile at Albury in March.
The selection raced on a good 4 track in each of those three outings, with the switch to a soft 5 track seeing him return to the winners' enclosure at Canberra last month.
The gelding came home one-and-a-half-lengths clear of his rivals in a 1400m handicap at Canberra and he is a versatile type with regard to tactics.
Barrier eight shouldn't pose too many issues here, with Regan Bayliss capable of steering the son of Foxwedge to victory.
Beauty to salute at Townsville
The penultimate contest on the Townsville card is a 1000m Benchmark 70 handicap expected to take place on a soft 5 track.
BEAUTY BOOM registered the third win of his career when victorious over 860m in a Benchmark 60 handicap on a wet track at Gatton in early January.
The pick has placed on two of his four subsequent outings, with both of those efforts coming at this venue.
The son of Spirit Of Boom lost out by just under one-and-a-half-lengths when runner-up in a fifteen runner 1000m Class 3 event here at the end of last month.
Lindsay Hatch's gelding was overhauled late on having raced from the front that day and, with an inside alley here, he looks capable of going one better in this event.
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