O’Shea, Charlton to play Strait bat in the 2025 Scone Cup

With a team spread across two major race days, trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton are gearing up for a pivotal weekend, highlighted by Strait Acer’s Scone Cup tilt and Schwarz’s bid in the Doomben 10,000 (1200m).

Strait Acer, a recent stable arrival, impressed last time out when closing late for sixth in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m), and will now step into the Scone Cup.

“He actually ran alright at Hawkesbury. He was wide and back and made up good ground considering,” said Charlton. “He is getting back towards form. It was a really encouraging run, he couldn’t have done much more.”

In the Cup, he’ll take on a deep field including Know Thyself, My Oberon, and Amenable. His stablemates Countyourblessings and Captain Amelia are entered for Saturday’s Dark Jewel Classic.

Both mares return after moderate runs, but Charlton believes they’re better than recent results suggest. “They’re both racing well without having been afforded much luck with barriers and luck in running,” he said.

The stable could also have Good Banter and Getafix featuring in support races, while Polymnia is being aimed at The Roses and the Queensland Oaks (2200m).

Charlton added, “She was perhaps a little bit unlucky in the (Australasian) Oaks. She just didn’t get room when she needed it and while I have no idea if she would have beaten the winner, she would have finished a lot closer.”