Race Preview
Sydney Specials: Scone - 17th May 2025
A massive 184 acceptors for Scone's once-a-year standalone Saturday meeting. There are highlights galore across the ten-event card in what looms as a massive test for punters. Some rain is forecast for the next few days, so we are probably looking at a soft track.
A big field of two-year-olds line up in the Listed Woodlands Stakes and Peter Snowden has a strong hand with Akaysha and Miss Freelove.
AKAYSHA appeals as the one to beat at her third race start.
On debut she defeated stablemate Beadman, who has subsequently won two from two including the Group Three Ken Russell, at Kembla over 1000m.
Last time out she tackled an 1100m race at Randwick where she settled a fair way off the leading division before working home well for a close second to Grand Eagle, with a gap to third. The filly's ability to quicken on a soft surface that day was a good pointer to what will be required on Saturday.
The 1100m start at Scone is out of a chute, with just one corner to negotiate. Akaysha's wide draw is therefore of little consequence. Tom Sherry will take a sit behind what looks like a frantic tempo and the daughter of Capitalist will have plenty of time to wind up down the long straight.
In a program where 'good things' are hard to find, this filly looks a nice bet at around the $4 mark.
The value play comes outside the features in Race 4, a Benchmark 72 over 1300m.
GETAFIX has raced twice this prep in far tougher races than this.
First-up he got a mile back in a BM88 over 1200m at Randwick and couldn't finish off.
The O'Shea/Charlton stable then sent him around in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas in heavy going which proved to be too tough.
When last in work Getafix found form when he got to seven furlongs in this sort of company, the highlights being a win at Caulfield on a heavy track against three-year-olds and a close second at Randwick in this grade under 59.5kgs. A repeat of either of those performances would be good enough to take this out.
The grey should be close to his best for Saturday's assignment, and the anticipated soft conditions will suit. The $10 on offer looks over the odds.
SYDNEY SPECIALS
Best Bet: Race 3 No. 2 AKAYSHA
Best each-way: Race 4 No. 3 GETAFIX
