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Selections, best bets and value plays from Chris Scholtz for the Chelmsford Stakes meeting at Randwick on September 7 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports.
RANDWICK September 7
Good 4; Rail Out 6 Metres Entire
Best Bets
RACE 4: (6) STRATHTAY: Has done nothing but improve since joining the Waller stable from NZ, winning three of his six starts up to this trip. Deserves his crack at black type after his dominant last start success over this course and distance under 60kg when he appreciated a good surface. Has everything going for him to carry on as he is at the top of his game and drops to the limit weight of 53kg with an obvious fitness edge.
RACE 6 (1) MANAAL: Carried the weight penalty (58kg) for a G1 winner when resuming with a close third in the Silver Shadow over this course and distance after she covered ground. Meets them all 3kg better at level weights this time and with her added fitness expect her to return to the form that made her one of last season's best fillies.
RACE 7 (3) AFT CABIN: He has been an enigma but this will be his first start as a gelding and it could be the perfect set up for him coming off two classy trial wins. He's at his best when fresh and with his proven liking for Randwick he could ambush the speedsters as he maps to stalk the pace from his inside gate. Appealing value play in a cracking field.
Selections
RACE 1: (6) TAVS; (7) Hide Your Heart; (14); November Falls; (15) Powers Of Opal
RACE 2: (3) SPRING LEE; (5) Martini Mumma; (1) Lost; (6) Confess Our Dreams
RACE 3: (10) CARRIBEAN KING; (5) Lisztomania; (2) Atmospheric Rock; (8) Field Of Myrtle
RACE 4: (6) STRATHTAY; (4) Redstone Well; (1) Changingoftheguard; (5) Canberra Legend
RACE 5: (6) FLOATING; (1) Zeyrek; (7) Roma Avenue; (4) Galeron
RACE 6: (1) MANAAL; (2) Ameena; (9) Zeitung; ((4) El Morzillo
RACE 7: (3) AFT CABIN; (1) Giga Kick; (4) Bella Nipotina; (5) Remarque
RACE 8: (10) ZARDOZI; (1) Buckaroo; (9) Hinged; (4) Adelaide River
RACE 9: (14) ARCTIC GLAMOUR; (10) Freedom Rally; (8) Amelia's Jewel; (3) Democracy Manifest
RACE 10: (8) THUNDERLIPS; (12) Iron Man; (7) Panic; (17) Congregation
Why They Can Win….
RACE 1: (6) TAVS - Nice effort when resuming. Fitter and suited this course and distance.
RACE 2: (3) SPRING LEE - Stakes placed mare set to peak third up. Back to her pet trip against her own sex.
RACE 3: (10) CARRIBEAN KING - Gear addition (winkers) follows strong placing when resuming. Formidable trainer/jockey combo.
RACE 5: (6) FLOATING - Looking for one with upside in an ugly race. Fitter and goes well at Randwick.
RACE 8: (10) ZARDOZI - Top shelf mare. Trust her to progress from her Winx Stakes effort.
RACE 9: (14) ARCTIC GLAMOUR - Rates well on the limit weight. Should relish step up in distance.
RACE 10: (8) THUNDERLIPS - Doing his best late when resuming. Randwick winner suited by the extra trip.
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – September 6-7
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Confess Our Dreams (R2); Winning Proposal (R6); Aft Cabin (R7); Dragonstone (R7); Private Eye (R7); Remarque (R7); Red Card (R7); Moravia (R7); Bella Nipotina (R7); Giga Kick (R7); Military Mission (R8); Poptronic (R8); Adelaide River (R8); Amelia's Jewel (R9); Royal Patronage (R9); Hollywood Hero (R10)
HAWKESBURY SATURDAY: Nymphadora (R2); Miss Kim Kar (R3); Obscure (R3)
MOONEE VALLEY SATURDAY: Lady Of Camelot (R9); Caballus (R9)
MUDGEE SUNDAY: Rock Hard Love (R6)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Watch My Girl; Deconstruction; Briasa; Storm Boy; Asuriita; Last Command; Spirit Of Wealth; Countyourblessings; Kimochi; Via Sistina; Ameena; Joliestar; Wave Breaker; Agenda Setter; Enriched; Starmae; Lilac; Drifting; Gatsby's; Autumn Glow; Tom Kitten; Runranirun; Theblade; Mogul Monarch; Golden Path
TRIAL POINTERS
RANDWICK August 30: Another impressive trial by GIGA KICK on the course proper over 900m, winning the first heat (53.74; 33.52) that showed he had come on from his first Sydney trial on August 19. He'll be fitter again after his strong work to the line. PRIVATE EYE returned with an easy trial to finish fifth.
WARWICK FARM August 27: Class is constant and no mare epitomises that belief more than multiple G1 winner BELLA NIPOTINA. Ageing like a fine wine, she came back from her Brisbane carnival heroics with an impressive prep trial over 821m on the inside grass at Warwick Farm to finish third (49.00; 34.13). She was ridden with no urgency through the first half of the trial but really warmed to her work over the last 200m, making up several lengths under an easy ride from Louise Day in a sure sign she will be threat in any sprint she contests through the spring.
HAWKESBURY August 26: Top class mare AMELIA'S JEWEL found her form in her second trial for her new trainers, an effort that puts her on track for a successful spring. It was a much improved showing from the former Perth mare to win the fastest 1000m heat (58.15; 33.90) with authority. Took a trail five lengths off the leaders before taking advantage of a split as they fanned turning for home, cruising to the lead and running through the line under a good hold. We tabbed unraced filly MISS KIM KAR off a trial win at Warwick Farm on August 12 and she improved further to run away with this 800m heat (48.98; 34.42) to win with plenty in reserve. She's improved since two trials last season and is ready to go to the races. The import ADELAIDE RIVER showed his class to win his heat over 1250m while maidens to keep tabs on after good trials include CONFESS OUR DREAMS.
ROSEHILL August 20: AFT CABIN is in rude form for his return to racing. Followed up his trial win at this course on August 6 with another classy display to share the lead on the inside in his 900m heat before slipping away easily from the 300m. Coasted to the line and while the time wasn't flash (55.73; 34.65) it was the manner of his work with plenty in reserve that made an impression. RED CARD worked in excellent style in the fastest 900m heat (54.23; 34.76). The winner cleared out to lead by eight lengths on the turn before RED CARD cut the margin back to just over a length at the finish with impressive work over the last 200m. It was a firm statement that she is ready for good spring preps. Other quality runners to lay down nice markers for the spring included REMARQUE.
RANDWICK August 19: Heavy conditions for four black type heats on the Kensington that welcomed the return of G1 stars GIGA KICK and LADY OF CAMELOT. In Heat 1 (1250m) MILITARY MISSION responded to riding to get the upper hand for a solid win by 1.6 lengths (78.26; 36.21). In Heat 2 (850m) MORAVIA worked to the line from last for a strong second. In Heat 3 (850m) GIGA KICK made his Sydney return with his effort to finish second behind the Golden Slipper winner LADY OF CAMELOT a fine start to his prep for The Everest. LADY OF CAMELOT led and was ridden along to hold her advantage to the line in the fastest of the three 850m heats (50.43; 33.48) while GIGA KICK worked smoothly under no pressure to hold second.
WARWICK FARM August 12: Another round of black type heats saw several notable names start their spring preparations. In Heat 2 (900m) an easy trial by DRAGONSTONE took the eye. Heat 3 (900m) was slowly run (55.40; 34.32) with AMELIA'S JEWEL finishing a soft second with plenty in reserve in her first trial for her new trainer Annabel Neasham.
ROSEHILL August 6: AFT CABIN is an enigma but you couldn't ask for a better first-up trial as he worked home easily for a soft win in his 900m heat (55.34; 34.03) with plenty in reserve. There is rarely any pressure applied in these black type heats with horses landing in a position and holding their place from start to finish. WINNING PROPOSAL led at her own speed (55.55; 33.60) to win her 900m heat from Joliestar.
RANDWICK August 5: Golden Slipper winner LADY OF CAMELOT made her return in a black type heat over 850m but looked short in condition as she came under a ride to keep pace with the winner over the short course (50.87; 33.34). Another black type heat won narrowly by Storm Boy (51.58; 34.36) saw the quietly ridden MORAVIA finish a close second and was always travelling better than the winner.
ROSEHILL July 23: A slow 900m trial (56.60; 34.84) saw CABALLUS looking strong to finish an easy second.
WARWICK FARM May 7: A poly trial served the purpose for RED CARD. She was given an easy trial working well within herself in her open heat over 740m (43.50; (32.69).
RANDWICK April 8: Class prevailed in the 1200m open heat on the A Grass where the imported mare POPTRONIC, a G1 winner on Champions Day at Ascot, did all that was required to win the trial for her new trainers Waterhouse and Bott. She's won five of her 13 starts from 1700m to 2400m.
BLACKBOOK REPORT
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – September 4
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Spring Lee (R2); Democracy Manifest (R9); Nugget (R9); Arctic Glamour (R9); Thunderlips (R10); Crafty Eagle (R10)
MOONEE VALLEY SATURDAY: Le Mans (R2); Suparazi (R10)
DOOMBEN SATURDAY: Triple Money (R1); Ready Azz Eva (R2); Drammatica (R2); Devastating (R3); Tony Be (R6)
KALGOORLIE SUNDAY: Upper Limits (R7)
BLACKBOOKERS – Selected August 31
(Follow for next 3 starts)
BLANC DE BLANC; BULLION BOY; FEROCE; FORTUNATE KISS; QUE TEMPESTRA; SASSY BOOM; UNUSUAL LEGACY; WOLLOMBI; WONDER BOY
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Ceolwulf; The Englishman; Boom Torque; Kundalini; Daytona; Hellavadancer; Yorkshire; Amigo; House Of Cards; Shiny New Deel; Invader Zim; Rogue Bear; Piastri; Madame Odette; Kapakiri; Batrana; Aramco; Don Diego De Vega; Rezone; Wyclif; Matisse; Tiffany Valentine; Craig
