John O’Shea and Tom Charlton are set for a busy weekend, with a strong squad targeting both the Scone carnival and Brisbane’s Group 1 action.

Strait Acer will carry the stable’s hopes in Friday’s Scone Cup (1600m), after a promising sixth-place finish in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m). Despite not reaching his best since a fourth in the 2023 Golden Eagle, Charlton saw improvement in the five-year-old’s recent run. “He is getting back towards form. It was a really encouraging run, he couldn’t have done much more,” Charlton said.

Strait Acer is among 43 entries for the Scone Cup, joined by rivals like Know Thyself and My Oberon.

In Brisbane, Schwarz will race in the Doomben 10,000 (1200m) with Group 1 ambitions. Closer to home, the stable also has mares Countyourblessings and Captain Amelia targeting the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) on Saturday, both coming off mixed results in their previous races.

Charlton also confirmed that Polymnia, runner-up in the Australasian Oaks, will aim for the Queensland Oaks (2200m) after a two-start Brisbane campaign. “She is Group One placed now and all being well she is going to prepare for The Roses and the Queensland Oaks,” he said.