Two horses coming out of a class two handicap at Newcastle on October 7 head to different races at Scone on Friday and feature prominently in our best bets for the program.
The race was won by Poet’s Advocate who dominated proceedings getting all the favours up front with Clevanicc and Nikkas ‘N’ A Twist filling the placings coming from the rear of the field.
Both are in winnable races on Friday.
CLEVANICC (Race 4 No 4)
A strong case could be argued that the Kris Lees-trained Clevanicc should have claimed the major end of the prize at Newcastle instead of finishing second.
Clevanicc settled back in the field but the breaks didn’t come his way in the straight.
The Racenet Video comments tell the tale.
"Raced keen early stages. Sett rear 2W 6L. H/Up strt. Continually checked early strt. Switched inside runners 220m. ROS but the bird had flown. Unlucky”.
Reckon Clevanicc makes amends.
INVIENNA (Race 5 No 1)
Invienna is another former Greg Bennett-trained galloper returning to Scone where she will try and defend an unbeaten record over the 1100m at the track in the AHA "Where There’s A Will” Benchmark 60 Showcase Handicap.
Invienna is now part of the Kris Lees stable and returns to racing after a 72-day let-up but should be fit enough after contesting two trials at Beaumont and with her excellent fresh record (three wins and three placings from seven first-up runs), Invienna looks ready to go on Friday.
The decision to take advantage of the 3kg claim for apprentice Louise Day brings Invienna in with a winnable weight and the mare is expected to be right in the finish.
NIKKAS ‘N’ A TWIST (Race 7 No 5)
Whilst there was no hard luck story for Nikkas ‘N’ A Twist finishing third at Newcastle, the Kylie Gavenlock-trained gelding worked home in a manner that suggest the four-year-old is looking for a step up in distance and looks ideally suited in the AHA "Where There’s A Will” Benchmark 60 Handicap (1600m).
Nikkas ‘N’ A Twist is proven at the mile winning her maiden at Tamworth over the trip at the end of her last preparation.
Nikkas ‘N’ A Twist should be cherry-ripe for the step up in distance fourth-up this time and won’t have any concerns coming back to Scone where he was trained by Greg Bennett before changing stables when Bennett handed in his licence.
