We head to Scone this Saturday afternoon with a bevvy of black type racing taking place.
Our full 2022 Dark Jewel Classic Day Tips & Preview can be found below.
program, meaning that there are ten winners to be found. I’ve run the rule over each contest, and I am confident that I have unearthed a few in my 2022 January Cup Day Tips below.
Preview brought to you by Neds. Learn more about Neds HERE.
RACE 1: HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1500M) 11:05AM
Tip: No. 7 Dramatist
These Highway Handicap races are often won by a progressive type of horse and that is who I’m going with in this event.
The Dramatist has been placed in all but one of his six career starts and has won two of four so far this prep.
The four year old broke his maiden at Scone by five lengths three back and is a last start winner at Tamworth.
RACE 2: BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1700M) 11:40AM
Tip: 4 Lovetheinvasion
Lovetheinvasion was dominant when winning at Newcastle by five lengths before a spell and she returned to the track with another impressive victory first up at Muswellbrook.
The four year old mare has earned her place in town in this event and has drawn to get a nice run in transit from barrier four.
She is my best of the day.
RACE 3: BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (2200M) 12:15PM
Tip: No. 14 Velvet Lady
Velvet Lady put together back to back wins including a 3.19 length win at Newcastle over 220m.
The Australian Bloodstock team tough she was going well enough to put her in the Group 1 Australian Oaks and although she was well beaten on the heavy 10, this is a considerable drop back in class.
She has drawn perfectly in barrier four, has changed trainers to Kris Lees, has just 53kgs and will have a fitness edge over a few of these.
At $61 she is worth a small each way play.
RACE 4: LISTED WOODLANDS STAKES (1100M) 12:50PM
Tip: No. 3 In Secret
Two year old filly In Scret couldn’t have been much more impressive when winning by 1.29 lengths on debut at Hawkesbury on the 13th of April.
She weaved her way through the field at the 250m mark and ran away from the field in the concluding stages.
The daughter of I Am Invincible has a fair amount of class and looks the one to beat.
RACE 5: BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1300M) 1:25PM
Tip: No. 18 Different Strokes
The Kim Waugh trained Different Strokes has been consistent throughout his short racing career placing in seven of his nine starts.
He was well beaten in the Provincial Midway Championships behind Barossa Rosa and found one better last start wat Warwick Farm behind Coal Crusher.
he has a class advantage in this race and should he gain a start he will be right in this contest at nice each way odds.
RACE 6: LISTED DENISE JOY STAKES (1100M) 2:00PM
Tip: No. 3 Zapateo
I have a pretty big opinion of the Godolphin filly Zapateo who has finished outside the top two just once in her short seven race career.
The daughter of Brazen Beau was beaten less than a length behind the very smart Mazu at Rosehill in February and he is a $2.80 shot in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 on saturday.
Handles the sting out of the track and is each way odds.
RACE 7: LISTED LUSKIN STAR STAKES (1300M) 2:35PM
Tip: No. 4 Andermatt
It’s really tough to go past Andermatt with the form he has produced recently.
The four year old gelding has won both starts so far this prep by a combined nine lengths both on the heavy surface.
This is another step up in class but he looks the obvious choice.
RACE 8: GROUP 3 DARK JEWEL CLASSIC (1400M) 3:10PM
Tip: No. 1 Mirra Vision
The feature race of the day is the hardest on the card with an even bunch of fillies and mares accepting.
Mirra Vision brings a lot of class to the race and she was not far away in both the Group 1 Coolmore Classic as well as the Group 2 Emancipation during the autumn.
She has had seven weeks in between runs and unlike a few of the other fancied runners, she has drawn perfectly in barrier three.
RACE 9: LISTED ORTENSIA STAKES (1100M) 3:50PM
Tip: No. 3 Malkovich
He’s a beauty Malkovich.
The four year old has been placed in 15 of his 21 career race starts and rarely puts in a poor performance.
Makes his own luck right on the speed and has a high cruising pace which makes him tough to get past over the shorter courses.
He had six weeks in between runs and although Tycoonist got him late in the Listed Hawkesbury Rush two weeks ago, he will take benefit out of the run and he represents good each way value in this event at the double figures.
RACE 10: BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1100M) 4:30PM
Tip: Boxed Trifecta 1/2/3/5/16
Let’s box them up in the last and hope to end on a winning note!