Australia: Dark Jewel tops three-stakes card at Scone Racecourse

Rocha Clock has developed in the last year from a filly who raced near the front early in her career to more of a closer.

The patient style led to a win in a sale progeny stakes at Flemington Racecourse last November and a third in the Group 3 Aspiration Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in March.

Rocha Clock won a seven-furlong handicap at Randwick on April 21, and starts in Friday’s Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Scone Racecourse in the New South Wales countryside.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

The Dark Jewel Stakes drew an open field of 16. Rocha Clock, trained by John O’Shea, is joined on the list of top candidates with More Prophets and Missile Mantra.

More Prophets was third in a six-furlong handicap at Randwick on April 24, her first start since a win in a seven-furlong handicap for fillies and mares at Warwick Farm Racecourse in January. More Prophets has won 3 of 9 starts, with two of the wins at seven furlongs.

Missile Mantra was second as the 5-2 favorite to Still a Star in the Anniversary Vase at seven furlongs at Caulfield Racecourse on April 24, closing from sixth to miss by 1 3/4 lengths.

The $154,700 Dark Jewel is one of three stakes on an eight-race program at Scone that begins at 10:20 p.m., Eastern, or 7:20 p.m., Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Pandano, second by a neck in the $386,750 Provincial Championship Final as the 6-5 favorite at Randwick on April 17, is part of a field of 16 in the $154,700 Scone Cup at a mile.

Royal Celebration, second by about a half-length in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Cup at a mile on May 1, and Laure Me In, fourth behind Rocha Clock at Randwick on April 24, are two others to consider in any sort of multi-horse or multi-race wager. Laure Me In was stakes-placed as recently as last November.

The $154,700 Inglis 2-year-old Challenge Stakes is run at 5 1/2 furlongs earlier on the program.

The first-time starter I Want One is expected to go favored for trainer Kris Lees. I Want One won a four-furlong training race, or barrier trial, at Newcastle Racecourse on Nov. 5.

Bitcoin Baby, another first-time starter, is well regarded, but stuck on the also-eligible list in a race that will be limited to 16 runners. In the main field, 12 runners have race experience, but none has won.