The feature race at Scone this Friday is the Scone Cup (1600m), with the race looking wide open on paper.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for 2026 Scone Cup.
2026 Scone Cup Runner Preview:
1. Tavi Time: He’s on track to defend the title. Closed with real purpose last start at Hawkesbury and has clearly been set for this race. Has to carry the weight, but he’s earned it and commands respect.
2. Amor Victorious: Resumed at Hawkesbury and gave a very strong kick from the front but just felt the pinch. He’ll land on speed and give a bold sight.
3. Osipenko: Didn’t do a bad job in the Golden Mile at Bendigo last start. Hit and miss but his best is certainly good enough.
4. Cristal Clear: SCR
5. Waterford: He has gone close in this race previously, and at his best is capable…but gee he is frustrating to follow. If he wins, too good.
6. Churchill’s Choice: Found the right part of the track but even allowing for that, she was impressive in winning the Hawkesbury Cup and has to be respected off that performance.
7. Depth Of Character: Total forgive from The Coast given he was back, forced back nearer the inside/quicksand and couldn’t quite pick up well enough. He gets room to move here and will launch late.
8. Encap: He’s a milk drinker. Was there to win at Randwick but found Hellsing too tough, which isn’t exactly a glowing endorsement. He can win without me.
9. Navajo Peak: Didn’t think he was too bad when resuming in the Tamworth Cup but this looks a bridge too far.
10. Port Lockroy: Definite pass mark behind Hellsing at Randwick when back and closing off. His best sees him go very close…just hasn’t shown it in a long time.
11. Chica Mojito: SCR
12. Hellsing: He knuckled down with purpose to win at Randwick last time, but did get the better of a weak horse in Encap. But, he’s racing well and should be around the mark.
13. Palmetto: Presented to win the Hawkesbury Cup but had no answers for the finale of Churchill’s Choice. Honest type at this level and 1600m is his sweet spot.
14. War Eternal: SCR
15. Imperialist: Imperialist was a real eye catcher in the Hawkesbury Cup I thought. He was back off speed and held up at times but cut back to nearer the inside, worst ground, and attacked the line with real purpose I thought. Good upside to come, strong late, he can win.
16. Williamsburg: SCR
17. Caboche (First Emergency): Caboche steps up to the mile after resuming over 1500m at Randwick where he was back off speed and held up at times but didn’t mind the way he finished his race off in defeat. The return was encouraging and that race does seem to be treated as a leading form reference for this.
18. Formal Display (Second Emergency): Toughest test to date, but he’s flying at the moment. Loved the way he kept chasing to win last time at Tamworth and that hard 1400m run should bring him on for this 1600m assignment.
19. Shadizi (Third Emergency): Shadizi should be better for the first up run, which came over 1500m at Randwick a few weeks ago when off speed and worked home okay without threatening. Hard horse to catch but with his best, he’s certainly capable at a price.
20. Sun God (Fourth Emergency): SCR
2026 Scone Cup $100 Betting Strategy:
$5 Win/$20 Place on Depth Of Character, Imperialist, Caboche and Shadizi.
Scone Cup Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TAVI TIME (NZ) | Kris Lees | Chad Schofield | 7 | 59kg |
| 2 | AMOR VICTORIOUS | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 2 | 58.5kg |
| 3 | OSIPENKO (NZ) | Chris Waller | Sam Clipperton | 6 | 58kg |
| 5 | WATERFORD (IRE) | Chris Waller | Zac Lloyd | 16 | 57kg |
| 6 | CHURCHILL’S CHOICE | Nathan Doyle | Regan Bayliss | 3 | 56kg |
| 7 | DEPTH OF CHARACTER | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Jason Collett | 15 | 56kg |
| 8 | ENCAP | Gary Portelli | Ms Rachel King | 11 | 56kg |
| 9 | NAVAJO PEAK | Peter H Bloomfield | Rory Hutchings | 1 | 56kg |
| 10 | PORT LOCKROY | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Dylan Gibbons | 4 | 56kg |
| 12 | HELLSING (IRE) | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Tom Sherry | 9 | 54.5kg |
| 13 | PALMETTO (NZ) | John Sargent | Ms Alysha Collett | 14 | 54.5kg |
| 15 | IMPERIALIST (NZ) | Chris Waller | Andrew Adkins | 5 | 54kg |
| 17e | CABOCHE (NZ) | Chris Waller | Ms Siena Grima (a) | 10 | 54kg |
| 18e | FORMAL DISPLAY (GB) | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Braith Nock (a) | 20 | 54kg |
| 19e | SHADIZI (FR) | Chris Waller | Tyler Schiller (late alt) | 8 | 54kg |
Scone Cup Odds
2026 Scone Cup Speed Map
Amor Victorious should lead from the inside gate. Cristal Clear and Palmetto should press forward from tricky gates but outside that, I can’t see much early tempo, so it will depend on how hard Amor Victorious wants to go.
