Unbeaten galloper Maroney Avenue can bring up his third straight win in today's SRC Members Handicap (race 8) at Scone today.
Prepared on the course by Rodney Northam, the lightly raced four-year-old, a son of Snitzel, has won both starts convincingly and now faces a much tougher test as he takes on this Benchmark 65 over 1100m.
He made his debut here after finishing runner up in a trial, and started favourite over the 900m on the trial effort.
With leading rider Robert Thompson in the saddle, and carrying 59kg form the extreme outside gate, he crossed to the lead and kept going, scoring by five lengths.
He then raced in a Class 1 over 1007m at Taree and this time had 59.5kg and started odds on.
From a much better gate, he slotted in third on the inside but then was crowded and hampered on the turn.
Getting clear and angling out, he sprinted quickly and ran away with a 1.5 length win.
The gelding returns home today and although facing tougher grade will appreciate the 3.5kg drop in the weights.
He was still green last time and will be further improved for this and shouldn't have any troubles with the longer journey, the way he picked up last time and sprinted clear.
Maroney Avenue looks well placed to make it three straight today and should go close.
The Brett Partelle trained Pleasure Or Pain is racing well this campaign and looks the clear danger.
The gelding resumed over 1150m at Cessnock and after crossing from a wide gate kicked strongly in the straight and scored a 1.8 length win.
He then headed to the Gold Coast for Magic Millions day and raced over 1400m in far tougher class.
Settling just off the speed, he turned fourth and boxed on strongly to finish third, beaten less than a length.
He was then given a let up before returning over 1200m at Newcastle in a Benchmark 60.
He took up the running in the small field there and turned in front, but was run down in the straight, finishing third and beaten just over a length.
That was a month ago and he has since trialled to keep him ticking over, finishing third over 900m at Gosford.
The gelding is racing well and looks nicely placed here as he drops back to 1100m.
He has drawn okay and should be prominent throughout.
Ay Dee Bee is another local galloper and although will find this trip short of her best looks hard to hold out.
The mare was a last start Muswellbrook winner over 1750m but didn't race again for almost a year.
She resumes here on the back of two recent trials, showing she was ready last time with a 900m Muswellbrook win.
Although a winner to 1750m and placed to a mile in town she does have a good fresh up record and with the claim and a good draw should be motoring home late here.
Reigns Above has placed at his last two runs, the latest when covering ground at Gosford in richer grade.
The gelding has drawn ideally here in barrier five and with a better run can feature in the finish again.
Military Shrew was runner up in the same race as Reigns Above last time when getting home hard.
She looks well placed with the claim and should be doing the same again here.
