We head to the Hunter Region of NSW to start the week for a competitive day of country racing at Scone.
The meeting has been torn apart by no less than 47 scratchings.
After considerable rain across NSW, the track has come up a Soft 7 with the rail out 4m the entire circuit.
Scone Race 2 Tip #1 Poseidon Ruler $5.00
This is a very interesting race.
Summer Glow from the Paul Messara yard has come up the early favourite and is bred to handle the wet. The concern for her followers is where she gets to in the run.
The other two horses of note are Texan Windstorm and Poseidon Ruler. The former looks a handy type who will sit on speed and knuckle down late, and he's a must include for exotics players.
That said, I want to be on Poseidon Ruler. He's produced two strong runs on Heavy 8 tracks this prep and gets the blinkers on for the first time.
From barrier 6 today, Louise Day will use his early speed and send him straight to the front.
The drop back to 1100m looks ideal and with an easy enough time in the lead, he'll prove hard to run down.
Scone Race 6 Tip #14 Mabel Josephine $5.00
This 5YO mare has been in good form since switching to the Sam Kavanagh stable.
She was well backed first-up, before running a strong 3rd. She then scored a win over today's race favourite Akasawa.
It's worth noting Akasawa was held up and arguably should have won that day, but that's racing.
Mabel Josephine then went to the Provincials, running a gallant third behind Godolphin's Vecetich. It was an impressive effort to make up good ground on a Heavy 8 track, which is a huge positive given today's conditions.
In what looks a two-horse race, I'm happy to side with Mabel Josephine at the $5.
She has a fitness edge on Akasawa and is proven to handle significant give out of the ground.