Scone
Tuesday, 24 February 2026
No more jumps at this meeting today.
Punty's Punts
Race type: MAIDEN, 1000m
Map & tempo: Genuine pace; No.7 rolls, and anything eyeballing it early risks cooking itself.
Punty read: No.7 Perfect Force looks the logical on raw talent, but at $1.88 you're paying for the privilege. With only two places paid, this is the sort of race where you either back it to win or you look for the niggle runners to pinch a cheque if the fave gets softened up. No.2 has upside, No.1 has market love, and No.6 is the kind of thing that gets cluttered up then hits the line when you've already kicked the bin.
Top 3 + Roughie ($20.00 pool)
1. Perfect Force (No.7) — $1.88 / $1.29 🏆 WINNER
Bet Tracked
Prob 31.8% | Place: 65.4% | Value: 0.79x
Why Maps to lead and keep rolling, but the price is a bit stingy for a maiden.
2. Checks'n'balances (No.2) — $3.00 / $1.67 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet $10.50 Place — ✗ Lost, net -$10.50
Prob 44.9% | Place: 44.9% | Value: 0.92x
Why Debut type with upside, and the map says it can sit close enough to pounce without doing the donkey work.
3. Moke Lake (No.1) — $8.40 / $3.47 🏆 3RD
Bet $9.50 Place — ✓ Won, net +$17.10
Prob 37.2% | Place: 37.2% | Value: 1.21x
Why Heavily backed and if it jumps cleaner (has missed it before), it's right in the finish.
Roughie: Go Russian (No.6) — $9.80 / $3.93 🏆 4TH
Bet Tracked
Prob 25.4% | Place: 25.4% | Value: 0.94x
Why If they go hard early and the leader feels it, this is the one stalking and launching late.
Race type: MAIDEN, 1200m
Map & tempo: Slow pace; whoever lands handy without working can steal this.
Punty read: This is the classic "don't let the backmarkers into it" setup. No.4 Olympian is the likely class/top-end talent, but the value punch is around the on-pace runners who can hold a spot and sprint. No.5 Morpeth is the price spice if it lands close, and No.1 Eagleturn maps to get every favour from the inside.
Top 3 + Roughie ($20.00 pool)
1. Olympian (No.4) — $2.06 / $1.35 🏆 2ND
Bet Tracked
Prob 55.6% | Place: 55.6% | Value: 0.89x
Why Gear changes and a stable that can have them ready, but you're taking unders.
2. Eagleturn (No.1) — $3.00 / $1.67 🏆 3RD
Bet $11.50 Place — ✓ Won, net +$4.60
Prob 45.2% | Place: 45.2% | Value: 0.89x
Why Draws to park midfield with cover and gets first crack in a dawdle-up.
3. Luchadora (No.6) — $42.00 / $14.67 🏆 7TH
Bet Tracked
Prob 2.7% | Place: 2.7% | Value: 0.47x
Why Market support at huge odds is interesting, but it's still a proper Hail Mary.
Roughie: Morpeth (No.5) — $11.50 / $4.50 🏆 4TH
Bet $8.50 Place — ✗ Lost, net -$8.50
Prob 46.1% | Place: 46.1% | Value: 2.46x
Why On-pace in a slow-run race is the oldest trick in the book, and it still works.
Race type: MAIDEN, 1400m
Map & tempo: Slow pace; the first move at 600m matters more than the last move at 200m.
Punty read: No.4 Pappa Blue has the setup: inside draw, can let them loaf along then wind up when the others are still looking for gears. No.6 Splash Of Steel is the consistent type who can land in the fight again, and No.5 Scoop The Pool is the "if it gets cover and the gaps appear" runner. No.2 is the rough hope if the drift's an overreaction and it lands closer than expected.
Top 3 + Roughie ($25.00 pool)
1. Pappa Blue (No.4) — $2.46 / $1.49 🏆 WINNER
Bet $11.00 Win — ✓ Won, net +$12.10
Prob 36.3% | Place: 73.7% | Value: 1.00x
Why Draws to get the softest run in the race and looks the most likely to put them away when it turns into a dash.
2. Splash Of Steel (No.6) — $2.68 / $1.56 🏆 4TH
Bet $9.00 Place — ✗ Lost, net -$9.00
Prob 56.0% | Place: 56.0% | Value: 0.89x
Why Reliable grinder who keeps finding the line; in this small field, just don't do anything silly early.
3. Be More Pacific (No.2) — $21.00 / $7.67 🏆 5TH
Bet Tracked
Prob 5.0% | Place: 5.0% | Value: 0.39x
Why Big drift is ugly, but if it rolls forward and pinches cheap sectionals, it can surprise.
Roughie: Scoop The Pool (No.5) — $3.50 / $1.83 🏆 2ND
Bet $5.00 Place — ✓ Won, net +$9.00
Prob 43.6% | Place: 43.6% | Value: 0.81x
Why If the leaders stack them up and it turns into a sprint home, it's one of the few with a proper last 200m.
Race type: BENCHMARK 58, 1600m
Map & tempo: Genuine pace; No.7 likely rolls along, but the closers get their chance if it's truly run.
Punty read: No.1 Are You Kidding is short for a reason, but at $1.53 you're basically investing in disappointment if anything goes wrong. No.3 is the saver type at a price who can land midfield and grind into it. And the real "dividend-maker" profile is No.9 Tycoon Lad, who just needs the leaders to overcook it and a clean lane.
Top 3 + Roughie ($15.00 pool)
1. Are You Kidding (No.1) — $1.53 / $1.18 🏆 3RD
Bet $10.00 Place — ✓ Won, net +$0.40
Prob 95.0% | Place: 95.0% | Value: 0.95x
Why Class edge and should be hitting the line like it owns the final 100m.
2. Roses Imminente (No.3) — $5.90 / $2.63 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet $5.00 Each Way ($2.50W + $2.50P) — ✗ Lost, net -$5.00
Prob 18.5% | Place: 43.5% | Value: 0.97x
Why Barrier 1 is the dream; if it holds a spot and doesn't get shuffled, it's right in the fight.
3. Damascus Gate (No.5) — $13.00 / $5.00 🏆 2ND
Bet Tracked
Prob 18.5% | Place: 18.5% | Value: 0.78x
Why Capable, but the drift and the setup say "needs luck and tempo".
Roughie: Tycoon Lad (No.9) — $19.50 / $7.17 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet Tracked
Prob 16.8% | Place: 16.8% | Value: 1.02x
Why If the leader keeps rolling and it's a proper staying grind, this can hang on and blow up the tote.
Race type: CLASS 1, 1400m
Map & tempo: Slow pace; stalkers and on-pacers get the picnic.
Punty read: No.4 The Cristal looks the horse with the best map for this kind of race: settle with cover, slide at the right time, and punch clear. No.2 Sipping Shamus is the value place angle because it's tough and lands handy, and No.3 Emalyn is the danger if it bounces back despite the drift.
Top 3 + Roughie ($20.00 pool)
1. The Cristal (No.4) — $2.88 / $1.63 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet $11.50 Win — ✗ Lost, net -$11.50
Prob 27.8% | Place: 61.2% | Value: 1.13x
Why Market's found it and the race shape suits perfectly, slow tempo, quick sprint.
2. Emalyn (No.3) — $8.80 / $3.60 🏆 2ND
Bet Tracked
Prob 22.3% | Place: 22.3% | Value: 0.80x
Why Drift is the warning label, but if it lands in the first four pairs it can still take plenty of catching.
3. Sipping Shamus (No.2) — $9.20 / $3.73 🏆 WINNER
Bet $8.50 Place — ✓ Won, net +$11.90
Prob 56.1% | Place: 56.1% | Value: 2.09x
Why Maps on-pace in a race that might be jog-trot early; that's exactly where you want to be.
Roughie: Never A Doubt (No.5) — $17.50 / $6.50 🏆 UNPLACED
Bet Tracked
Prob 6.7% | Place: 6.7% | Value: 0.43x
Why Needs the leaders to bottle it and a real tempo shift at the 600m to bring it into play.
Race type: BENCHMARK 58, 1000m
Map & tempo: Genuine pace; proper speed, and you want a runner who can hold a spot without overdoing it.
Punty read: No.5 Into Brooklyn is the likely leader/pressure point and should be there swinging. No.3 Solar Blast is the value runner if it gets the right cart into it, and No.4 Echelon has been absolutely crunched in betting which screams "ready to peak". No.6 Catchy Tunes is the rough threat from the inside if it can use barrier 1 to stay out of trouble and pinch runs.
Top 3 + Roughie ($16.50 pool)
1. Into Brooklyn (No.5) — $3.10 / $1.70 🏆 3RD
Bet $8.00 Place — ✓ Won, net +$4.80
Prob 55.0% | Place: 55.0% | Value: 0.96x
Why Maps to be in the first couple and in 1000m races that's half the battle.
2. Solar Blast (No.3) — $5.90 / $2.63 🏆 WINNER
Bet $3.50 Each Way ($1.75W + $1.75P) — ✓ Won, net +$14.70
Prob 43.3% | Place: 41.9% | Value: 1.45x
Why Firming in a race with speed everywhere, if it gets the right tow, it's launching late.
3. Echelon (No.4) — $4.10 / $2.03 🏆 2ND
Bet $5.00 Place — ✓ Won, net +$3.00
Prob 43.3% | Place: 43.3% | Value: 0.91x
Why Big market push and maps for the right spot… even from the awkward gate it can tag the speed.
Roughie: Catchy Tunes (No.6) — $9.80 / $3.93 🏆 9TH
Bet Tracked
Prob 27.9% | Place: 27.9% | Value: 1.13x
Why If it holds the rail and the leaders overdo it, it's the one that can pinch a place at juicy odds.
Race type: CLASS 4, 1200m
Map & tempo: Genuine pace; No.9 rolls, but it's not a comfy lead if there's heat outside it.
Punty read: This is the "who blinks first" speed duel. No.8 Favour The Bold is the safe late anchor with a proper place profile. No.2 Blend Of Three is tough as nails and keeps turning up, and the mad value angle is No.4 Great Idea, heavily backed earlier and if it lands in the right lane, it can absolutely pinch this like it stole your last beer.
Top 3 + Roughie ($16.50 pool)
1. Favour The Bold (No.8) — $3.40 / $1.80 🏆 2ND
Bet $8.50 Place — ✓ Won, net +$9.35
Prob 57.6% | Place: 57.6% | Value: 0.96x
Why Maps to get the right run and just keeps finding the line, a proper "top three" horse.
2. Blend Of Three (No.2) — $3.90 / $1.97 🏆 6TH
Bet $3.50 Each Way ($1.75W + $1.75P) — ✗ Lost, net -$3.50
Prob 32.3% | Place: 53.6% | Value: 0.72x
Why Firmed up for a reason and loves being in the thick of it.
3. Upwardly Mobile (No.3) — $8.60 / $3.53 🏆 WINNER
Bet Tracked
Prob 32.3% | Place: 32.3% | Value: 1.06x
Why Fresh and can improve off a run where it didn't get clear, needs tempo and gaps.
Roughie: Great Idea (No.4) — $9.60 / $3.87 🏆 7TH
Bet $4.50 Place — ✗ Lost, net -$4.50
Prob 36.9% | Place: 36.9% | Value: 1.33x
Why If it gets the right tow into the straight, it's got the kind of turn of foot that breaks hearts and quaddies.
Sequence legs are the picks-engine's authoritative choice, rendered from the persisted ticket.
Smart: 1,3,9 / 4,3,2 / 3,6,5,10 / 4,3,8 (108 combos x $0.37 = $40.00) -- 37% flexi
The day's multi leans on three win legs across the card.
1 - Perfect Force (Race 1, No.7)✓ Won — $1.88
2 - Pappa Blue (Race 3, No.4)✓ Won — $2.46
3 - The Cristal (Race 5, No.4) — $2.88
Meeting Stats
Selections
Punty's Early Mail
Rightio You Grubby Lot, Scone's serving up a sun-baked Good 4 with the rail out +6 and half these races look like they'll be run at "Sunday arvo social trot" tempo… until some hero presses the red button and we're all screaming at 600m like it's the final lap at Bathurst.
MEET SNAPSHOT
Track: Scone, 1000m-1600m card
Rail: +6m Entire
Official going: Good 4 (expected to play pretty fair, but leaders on the fence won't be queuing for Centrelink)
Weather: Sunny, 27C (watch for the track firming up and on-pace getting a cuddle)
Early lane guess: On-pace/rail draws hold their own; swoopers need timing and luck
Tempo profile: A stack of slow-run races (R2, R3, R5) with a couple of proper burn-ups in the sprints (R1, R6, R7)
Jockeys to follow:
Aaron Bullock, pops up everywhere and rides Scone like he owns the joint
Jeff Penza, patient when he needs to be, pinches runs when others panic
Reece Jones, can turn a mid-race nothing into a last-200m "oh shit" for everyone else
Stables to respect:
R P Northam (7 runners), the kind of barn that can lob one at odds and ruin your lunch
Annabel & Rob Archibald (4 runners), live chances across the card, especially in the maidens/C1 stuff
Brett & Georgie Cavanough (4 runners), strong hand in the sprints and the closer; when they're warm, you feel it
Punty's take:
Rail +6 at Scone on a Good 4 is like turning up to a BBQ and the host says "help yourself" then hides the sauce. You can win from anywhere, but if you're giving away a start and hunting wide, you're doing it the hard way. The pattern I'm expecting early is: lead/back of lead, peel at the right time, and don't get bailed up behind a tired one like an extra in Mad Max stuck behind a busted-up Interceptor.
The meeting's got a real "maps matter" vibe. Race 1 has a sharp little speed test where the fave (No.7) looks the winner on talent, but there's sneaky value around it if the pressure bites. Race 2 and Race 5 scream "slow tempo, someone steals it" if the on-pacers get their own way. Then late doors? Race 6 and Race 7 are proper punter races, speed engaged, a few with claims, and the exotics can absolutely spit.
What it means for you:
Don't go full chaos goblin early with ten-leg exotics. Pick your spots: play safer (place) where the race shape screams "top 2-3 chance", and attack the one or two races where you can anchor a key runner and let the value fill the minors.
Also: treat the quaddies as entertainment, not rent money. The card looks "banker-heavy" on paper but that's exactly how the punt gods lure you in… then a $11 pop lobs in a slow-run maiden and your ticket becomes a coaster.