Scone 17 Aug 2026
GOING: S(6)
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DARLEY BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP 1300m Track: SOFT 6 Clouds (Max: 17) Rail: +3m Entire. |
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Think Back to take charge ahead of Slush Fund at a strong tempo. VARUNI (6) lightly raced mare who looks destined for better company. Returned from a spell with a dominant win over 1280m at Muswellbrook with the 58.5kg. Can race a touch closer today as she steps up in class. Hard to stop. ZOUSANITY (7) made it back-to-back wins from outside gates and looks primed for this. Speared across from the wide draw with a commanding 3 len win over 1250m at Gunnedah. Best figures measure up and sure to run well. READY AND LUCKY (4) returns from a let-up after she came to town with a respectable fifth over 1500m at Rosehill in Highway company. Kept up to the mark with a 1000m trial placing and her best form is over this trip. RIVER PAT (5) mixing her form and backs-up quickly after running fourth over 1200m at Gosford. Worth thought in this class. SUGGESTED PLAY: Varuni gets all the favours from the draw.
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| 1 | 235x7 |
SLUSH FUND
TODD SMITH 6YO BAY GELDING 63.0KG Mrs K M E Smith & T W Smith Second-up. First-up after seven months 7th of 10 at Forbes on August 2 over 1200m, 4 len behind Atmospheric Rock carrying 55kg at $21. Previously second-up made ground from midfield; 2nd of 12 at Cowra on July 5 2025 over 1100m, on rain affected going; 1.5 len behind Wonder Step carrying 60kg at $5.50. Not at this stage. |
7 IZZY NEALE |
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| 2 | 69782 |
SHAGGY ROGERS
KIEREN HAZELTON 7YO B/BR GELDING 60.0KG A B Hazelton, G T Mcanally-Elwin, Mrs S Mcanally-Elwin, Mrs G Elwin, M J Hannelly, J Leslie, Mrs L Gillman, Essential Racing, C Herbig, E Jones, D J Duffy, J A Wood, J W Wood, Q McEwen & B K Irvin Most recently settled towards the rear 2nd of 11 at Gilgandra on August 1 over 1280m, nose behind Castlebar Road with 55kg at $8. Before that struggled in the run home; ran second last of 9 at Tamworth on June 26 over 1600m, slow going 8 len behind Bellini Spritz with 55kg at $31. Improvement required to threaten this field. |
4 JEAN VAN OVERMEIRE |
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| 3 | 8x551 |
SAVOCA
PAUL PERRY 6YO BAY GELDING 59.0KG Ms C G Collis Most recently came from midfield and won by 0.5 len at Quirindi on August 4 over 1200m defeating He's My Warrior carrying 57.5kg at $5. Before that 5th of 12 at Wyong on July 23 over 1200m, on a slow track; 2.75 len behind Condone carrying 54.5kg at $26. Last-start winner worth including. |
6 R JONES |
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| 4 | 36345 |
READY AND LUCKY
LOU MARY 6YO BROWN MARE 58.0KG Roving Investments Racing (Mgr: M J Primmer), D R Nelson, Mrs J Matijevic, J Weir, L Stuart, E Poulis, Mrs E E Poulis, M Stuart, Mrs N Stuart, Mrs M Pudja, N Pudja, S P Loane, Z Matijevic, Mrs L Tzanetopoulas & Mrs A Zec Comes here off a 51-day let-up. Most recently 5th of 16 at Rosehill on June 27 over 1500m, slow going 2.75 len behind Portofino with 54.5kg at $13. The run before that 4th of 8 at Muswellbrook on June 12 over 1280m, on a slow track; 3.5 len behind Andale Andale carrying 59kg at $3.90. Encouraging effort last start. Returns from a let-up in easier company, go close. |
3 AARON BULLOCK |
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| 5 | 49464 |
RIVER PAT
KIM WAUGH 6YO B/BR MARE 58.0KG Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: N R J Werrett), Dr A L Attebo, S Werrett, I Werrett, B N P Werrett, A D Allan, Mrs J V Allan, W W Allan & L R Allan Last start 4th of 8 at Gosford on August 6 over 1200m, 3 len behind Grinzinger Pod with 55.5kg at $8.50. The race before that tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 6th of 9 at Taree on July 21 over 1262m, on heavy track; 9 len behind Bold Design carrying 58kg at $12. Likely to play a leading role on the backup. |
2 ASHLEY MORGAN |
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| 6 | 331x1 |
VARUNI
ANNABEL & ROB ARCHIBALD 4YO BAY MARE 57.0KG Australian Bloodstock, M Pitt, J Ashcroft, F J Elmer, M C Elmer, J T Barry, J M Rice, Keeping Schtum (Mgr: C O'Loughlin), W F Butler, Mrs L R Young, B J Kirkbride, T J Dryburgh, The Bow Pair, J Lyon, Kramerica Industries, J J O'hearn, D J Van Velden, R O'Brien, Mrs E Pitkin & Ready to Pick Second-up. First-up after 10 months favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 1.3 len at Muswellbrook on July 26 over 1280m defeating Jenni La Rock carrying 58.5kg at $2.60. Previously second-up 3rd of 12 at Muswellbrook on September 15 over 1280m, 0.7 len behind Anarchist with 56kg at $3. Can continue her winning ways. Has upside and can keep the winning momentum going. |
1 RORY HUTCHINGS |
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| 7 | 4x115 |
ZOUSANITY
WAYNE WILKES 4YO BAY MARE 57.0KG Ms C Wilkes, M J Armstrong, J Bicknell, J M Duncan, S K Hamdan, A Maguire, D M Mitchell, Mrs J L Mitchell, P Nicholls, R L Piltz, C G Wall & E Mullan Third-up today. Resuming favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 1.3 len at Tamworth on July 3 over 1200m on a rain affected track defeating Oakfield Mars carrying 56kg at $2.05. Second run from a spell favourite; won by 3 len at Gunnedah on July 20 over 1250m defeating Miss Karis with 58kg at $2.30. Starting to hit her straps and will take catching. |
11 |
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| 8 | 837x6 |
ERINA
ADAM DUGGAN 5YO BAY MARE 56.0KG P R Horsnell Second-up. First-up after 10 months got back early 6th of 8 at Gosford on August 6 over 1200m, 4 len behind Grinzinger Pod with 58kg at $19. Previously second-up 8th of 12 at Newcastle on August 26 over 1250m, in the wet; 6 len behind Bellenth with 56.5kg at $8.50. Later on. |
8 M BELL |
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| 9 | 09896 |
PEARLS TREASURE
PAUL PERRY 6YO BAY MARE 56.0KG Mrs C L Perry Most recently got back early 6th of 12 at Port Macquarie on July 31 over 1206m, on a slow track; 4.5 len behind Fancy Shoulder with 61kg at $26. The run before that couldn't go on with it; ran second last of 10 at Newcastle on July 11 over 1300m, on a slow track; 8 len behind Turning Circle with 55kg at $101. Likely to struggle again. |
9 SHANNEN LLEWELLYN |
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| 10 | 4119x |
THINK BACK
SCOTT SINGLETON 4YO BROWN MARE 55.0KG C T Hay, J P V Bosquet, P A Herrington, B J Lenaghan, B W Bayot, P M O'Shea, Marshdale Racing (Mgr: R Marshdale), J L Finn, Ms P Farmer, D C Fenech, S Coban, J S Brannigan, Mrs K Coban, A Van Der Berg, J D Turnbull, D J Newham, P D Wotherspoon, G J Price, J Willis & Pulse Dagamaan (Mgr: C T Hay) First-up. Finished off last campaign second last of 10 at Quirindi Bm66 April 28 over 1600m, 5.5 len behind Piccaderro with 55kg at $2.35. Previously first up; sixth of 10 at Muswellbrook Super Mdn-Sw March 8 over 1280m, 2.75 len behind Olympian carrying 56.5kg at $12. Prefer to see how she returns. |
10 MIKAYLA WEIR |
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| 11 | 51572 |
PRINCE RUPERT
PHILIP DUFFY 5YO CHESTNUT GELDING 55.0KG P J Duffy & Ms M Nolan Last start 2nd of 12 at Coonabarabran on July 25 over 1200m, slow going 2.5 len behind Battle Reign carrying 57.5kg at $13. The start before that 7th of 11 at Muswellbrook on July 7 over 1000m, on a slow track; 5 len behind Star Whisperer with 54kg at $14. His best is good enough. |
5 BEN LOOKER |
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