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Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Silver Slipper Stakes meeting at Rosehill on February 24 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.
ROSEHILL February 24
Best Bets
RACE 5 (14) LORD ARDMORE: Plenty of reasons to expect sharp improvement on his last start seventh at Randwick when he was dropping back in distance to 1600m. His prior second up placing over 2000m at this course added to his excellent record on his home track and he is sure to appreciate the soft conditions with a handy drop in weight from his last start. Well placed to run to his best at generous odds.
RACE 7 (6) LADY LAGUNA: Treated a Group 3 field with contempt to make it three wins on the bounce over 1200m at this course three weeks ago. At her best on soft ground and perfectly placed under the set weight conditions as she holds a big advantage in race fitness over many rivals.
RACE 10 (19) GENTLY ROLLED: Boasts a near perfect in the money record of three wins and five placings from nine starts with the form she is displaying since resuming taking her to a new peak. Did it easily to beat her own sex in a BM78 second up over 1300m at Randwick and no reason she can't repeat in the same grade, albeit against the males, if she maintains her rate of improvement.
Selections
RACE 1: (8) GLAD YOU THINK SO; (14) Smart Legend; (5) Pharoah's Reign; (4) Mountain Guest
RACE 2: (2) BELVEDERE BOYS; (4) Atmospheric Rock; (7) Sharp Shock; (21) Vinolass
RACE 3: (2) SHEZANALISTER; (8) Dipsy Doodle; (6) Xtravagant Star; (4) Shadows Of Love
RACE 4: (1) ESPIONAGE; (2) Straight Charge; (3) Embassy; (9) Celerity
RACE 5: (14) LORD ARDMORE; (13) Zennzella; (6) Diamil; (12) Love Tap
RACE 6: (11) ROBUSTO; (13) Marquess; (7) Thalassophile; (12) Vreneli
RACE 7: (6) LADY LAGUNA; (1) Zougotcha; (7) Lekvarte; (2) Madame Pommery
RACE 8: (2) ENCAP; (1) Tom Kitten; (7) Celestial Legend; (11) Fukubana
RACE 9: (2) DERRY GROVE; (4) Red Card; (11) Frilled; (13) Our Bellagio Miss
RACE 10: (19) GENTLY ROLLED; (6) Dakota Vroom; (15) Acapella Sun; (5) Starman
Why They Can Win….
RACE 1: (8) GLAD YOU THINK SO - Heading for bigger things. Sure to come on from his excellent first-up placing.
RACE 2: (2) BELVEDERE BOYS - Motored late at Randwick after giving away a big start. The step up to 1400m looks ideal.
RACE 3: (2) SHEZANALISTER - Keeps getting it done with a great will to win. Her race fitness may be decisive.
RACE 4: (1) ESPIONAGE - His Breeders Plate form is strong. Trials confirm he has trained on.
RACE 6: (11) ROBUSTO - Has never raced better and gets conditions to suit again. Well weighted off his last start.
RACE 8 (2) ENCAP - Has measured up to the best of his age group and is sure to be fitter for another honest effort when resuming. Conditions are favourable on his home track and should be ridden to exploit his tactical speed.
RACE 9 (2) DERRY GROVE - Just missed last time over 1000m. This is his best distance and the return Nash Rawiller is the right fit for these conditions.
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – February 23
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: King's Gambit (R9)
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Ballroom Bella (R3); Xtravagant Star (R3); Shadows Of Love (R3); Espionage (R4); Straight Charge (R4); Erno's Cube (R4; Yoshinobu (R4); Almania (R5); Zennzella (R5); Stroke Of Luck (R5); Ucalledit (R6); Palmetto (R6); Red Card (R9); Quick Tempo (R9); Podium Queen (R10); Kintyre (R10); True Crime (R10)
GOSFORD SATURDAY: Marais (R1); Provencal (R3); Reggie's Boy (R7)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Gatsby's; Linebacker; Martial Music; Dagon; King Of Sparta; Totoka; Confess Our Dreams; Chateau Miraval; Drifting; Our Gold Hope; Bonita Queen; Kallos; Bodyguard; Prost; Lady Of Camelot; Mad Darcey; Merchant Lady; Ironton; Whinchat; Capabelle; Koby Girl; Tashi; Amor Victorious; Winning Proposal; Switzerland; High Octane
TRIAL POINTERS
WARWICK FARM February 12: A classy trial by STRAIGHT CHARGE in his first appearance since a hiccup ruled him out of the Magic Millions. Showed there is no cause for concern as he sped away from his rivals for the easiest of wins in his 816m heat in one of the fastest times of the session (46.86; 32.94). The 1207m trials provided some good pointers with the in-form ZENZELLA working well within herself to win her heat (73.28; 34.96).
RANDWICK February 7: In the first black type heat over 1000m on the course proper PALMETTO got the better of the leader after they walked through the first half and sprinted the last 300m (60.56; 34.53). She went home under less pressure. STROKE OF LUCK settled at the rear and put in nice work late.
ROSEHILL February 5: The fastest 2YO heat over 900m (54.45; 35.10) was won by Breeders Plate winner ESPIONAGE (53.76; 34.25), responding well when called on to comfortably hold his rivals. We know RED CARD is a good mare, especially when fresh, and it seems she's getting stronger after she made her early name with speed. Settled kindly behind the lead in a quick 900m heat (54.00; 34.46) and never came off the bit to take control over the last 200m. She was held down and could have put a good margin on her rivals.
WYONG January 31: Smart sprinter QUICK TEMPO had a nice freshen since he last raced in early December. Easily took up the running in his strong open heat over 845m (51.03; 34.24) and worked smoothly under a tight hold to win unextended by more than two lengths.
RANDWICK January 22: The fastest 850m heat for the 2YOs on the Kensington track saw Breeders Plate winner ESPIONAGE take the eye with his late work through the line under no pressure.
BLACKBOOK REPORT – February 24
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – February 24-25
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Dipsy Doodle (R3); Lord Ardmore (R5); Thalassophile (R6); Renaissance Woman (R7); Tom Kitten (R8); Heman (R8); Celestial Legend (R8); Ceowulf (R8)
DOOMBEN SATURDAY: Sigourney (R1); African Daisy (R3); Wairere Falls (R7)
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Ashrun (R1); Don Corleone (R4); Legacies (R4); Rue De Royale (R8); Fearless (R8); Matisse (R8);
LAUNCESTON SUNDAY: Flattered (R8)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Gently Rolled; Dark Journey; Our Maryanne; Pereille; Glory Daze; Ceerseven; Cradle Of Life; Our Kobison; Caballus; Bermadez; Nana's Wish; Union Army; Va Via; Miracle Spin; Contemporary; Zennzella; Gelatin; Munhamek; Acotango; Acquitted; Bowery Breeze; Stroke Of Luck
BLACKBOOKERS – Selected February 17
(Follow for next 3 starts)
ARCTIC GLAMOUR; BUCKAROO; ESPIONA; ETNA ROSSO; FOXY FRIDA; QUARANTINE DREAMS; REASONABLE POINT; TIME QUEST