Scone will host day 1 of their two day carnival with the 2017 Scone Cup headlining the quality card of racing. View our tips and selections for each of the eight races on Scone Cup day.
Free Bets: Get over $5,000 in Big Bonus Free Bets HERE!
Race One: 1 Locus
Race Two: 14 Cymbalis
Race Three: 4 Excelamour
Race Four: 11 Only Choice
Race Five: 12 Suncraze
Race Six: 8 Sisken
Race Seven: 4 Famous Seamus
Race Eight: 13 Star Reflection
BEST BET: Race Five Number 12 Suncraze
NEXT BEST: Race Two Number 4 Mount Panorama
VALUE: Race Seven Number 4 Famous Seamus
Racing News:
Murray Johnson travels full circle when Pure Pride goes around in the Listed Scone Cup.
Although Melbourne-born and domiciled abroad for decades before resettling in Victoria, Scone has always been a home away from home for the trainer.
“I first came here when I was 17 and just out of school,” Johnson said.
From the Hunter Valley he travelled overseas, notably the United States where he prepared Perfect Drift to run third in the 2002 Kentucky Derby.
Johnson followed last weekend’s race at Churchill Downs and although the Derby will always be a career highlight, finally having a runner in the Scone Cup is also memorable.
“I started at Yarraman Park 40 years ago. Scone was home until I went overseas. I ended up staying away for 30 years,” Johnson said.
He has visited Scone regularly over the years but until Pure Pride endured a luckless run in Melbourne last weekend he might have only been a spectator at the two-day carnival.
“When last week didn’t unfold right we looked for something. She didn’t exert herself so she was ready to run again,” he said.
A $15 chance with Luxbet.com.au, Pure Pride has the outside barrier in the 18-strong field.
“It’s good we don’t have to be buried on the inside,” Johnson said.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained five-year-old Fabrizio ($4.60) led the market, followed by the Darren Beadman-trained duo, Moher and Duca Valentinois ($7).
Waterhouse and Bott doubled their representation in the 1600-metre feature when Supply and Demand joined the field on Thursday after Green Sweet was scratched.
