Scone Cup Suits Malice

The benefits of recent racing are expected to put Malice (John O'Shea/James McDonald) into strong contention for the Listed Emirates Park Scone Cup at Scone, Australia on Friday, May 13.

Malice has raced twice this Autumn, most recently in the G3 Hawkesbury Cup where he looked the winner before his run ended and he took fifth place.

"He ran up to win at Hawkesbury and just ran out of condition," O'Shea said.

"As he's got older he's taken a run or two to reach his peak, so I'm expecting him to improve here and be very competitive."

The stable is also strongly represented on the second day of the Scone meeting with Fitou (John O'Shea/James McDonald) heading the team in the G3 Godolphin Dark Jewel Classic on Saturday May 14.

A filly of undeniable talent, Fitou was having the second run of her current preparation at Hawkesbury last month and almost fell in the G3 race won by Nancy.

"I'd been very happy with her coming into that race, but she lost all chance and the run can be forgotten," O'Shea said.

Fitou heads a six-horse Godolphin team which also includes the classy colt Furnaces (John O'Shea/James McDonald), a last start winner in track-record time at Hawkesbury.

"He's appreciated being back at Osborne Park and bounced back to his best last time out," O'Shea said.

"This looks a good race for him, he's really trained on nicely and he has a lovely gate."

The Medaglia d'Oro gelding Federal (John O'Shea/James McDonald) also goes to Scone with strong prospects in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes following some strong work on the training track.

"He's been one of our best workers, he hardly runs a bad race and I think he'll be a lot fitter after a trial last week," O'Shea said.

The line-up is completed by Alucinari (John O'Shea/James McDonald) who resumes in the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes and Nonpareil (John O'Shea/James McDonald) and Raiment (John O'Shea/James McDonald) in the Listed Woodlands Stakes.