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Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Gold Coast Magic Millions and The Lakes meeting at Wyong on January 11 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook previews.
GOLD COAST MAGIC MILLIONS - January 11
Best Bets
RACE 5: (6) MISS ROUMBINI
RACE 8: (14) BAUHINIA (EW)
RACE 10: (2) CIFRADO (EW)
For Value
RACE 7: (9) LA BELLA BOOM
RACE 9: (16) PERFECT THOUGHT
Selections
RACE 1: (12) VOLATILE; (8) Innervisions; (11) Shalaa Gold; (9) King Of Dragons
RACE 2: (9) LADY SHOTGUN; (7) Slippin' Jimmy; (15) Flying Birds; (6) Quade
RACE 3: (4) EXCELOQUENT; (2) Amosu; (1) Steel Knight; (3) Darn Hot Lady
RACE 4: (5) BELVEDERE BOYS; (11) Encoder; (6) Tannhauser; (4) Miss Joelene
RACE 5: (6) MISS ROUMBINI; (1) Revolutionary Miss; (5) Bubba's Bay; (7) Countyourblessings
RACE 6: (5) SEMANA; (7) Prince Of Boom; (8) Hedged; (6) Hard To Say
RACE 7: (9) LA BELLA BOOM; (13) Memo; (2) Gallo Nero; (17) Space Rider; (10) Invincible Woman
RACE 8: (14) BAUHINIA; (6) Snitzanova; (13) Dance To The Boom; (18) Tuileries
RACE 9: (16) PERFECT THOUGHT; (19) Redford; (6) Charm Stone; (12) Freak Of Nature
RACE 10: (2) CIFRADO; (1) Yellow Brick; (6) Boom Torque; (15) Busting
WYONG January 11
Best Bets
RACE 3 (9) RITZSUN: Promising three-year-old suffered his first loss when he resumed in a BM 64 over 1000m at this track on December 31 when he found the line strongly behind the in-form Welcome Gypsy after a quiet ride. Impressed with easy on pace wins in his first two starts at Scone – including his debut on a heavy track – and is sure to improve with 4kg less over the extra 100m.
RACE 6 (3) HEADLEY GRANGE: Another promising 4YO from the strong Joe Pride team was a tragedy beaten over this distance first-up when closing late for second in this class behind Noble Conqueror at Randwick on December 26. Boasts plenty of exposed talent on affected tracks in strong form races and from a low draw is perfectly placed to atone for his last start.
RACE 7 (4) ZAPHOD: No surprise that he returns from Brisbane as this looks a perfect progression for this Group placed import after he recorded his third Australian win over 1820m at Eagle Farm after resuming on a soft track with a close second over 1800m at Rosehill. He's now won four of his seven starts with three on soft and heavy surfaces and is well placed to cope with this rise in class dropping 3kg off his latest success.
Selections
RACE 1: (3) NAMASTE; (6) Charlecote Mill; (1) Barbarossa; (2) Damien
RACE 2: (2) GENERAL SOHO; (3) Magnatear; (6) Irish Bliss; (8) Edmond
RACE 3: (9) RITZSUN; (2) Remember Jack; (6) Wilbury; (3) Kreon
RACE 4: (8) GRAND IMPACT; (5) Elettrica; (6) Excelladus; (1) Iowna Merc
RACE 5: (4) QUEEN OF THE MILE; (3) Dollar Magic; (6) Bonita Queen; (7) Llanddwyn
RACE 6: (3) HEADLEY GRANGE; (2) Invader Zim; (10) Imposant; (12) Point And Shoot
RACE 7: (4) ZAPHOD; (6) Bullets High; (7) Inquiring Minds; (8) Unlimited
RACE 8: (13) HIGHLIGHTS; (4) St Lawrence; (2) Osipenko; (9) Spangler
RACE 9: (11) UNSTOPABULL; (2) Flying Destiny; (13) Sisterhood; (10) Huon;
RACE 10: (4) YORKSHIRE; (9) Romeo's Choice; (11) Noble Conqueror; (14) Starman
Why They Can Win….
RACE 1: (3) NAMASTE – Winning trial has him well educated for a strong debut.
RACE 2: (2) GENERAL SOHO - Going well enough to trouble this company. Good value.
RACE 4: (8) GRAND IMPACT – Rates well on the limit weight. Timely switch from Victoria.
RACE 5: (4) QUEEN OF THE MILE – Genuine mare well placed under favourable conditions. Likes this track.
RACE 8: (13) HIGHLIGHTS – Ready for a peak effort. Can exploit light weight running on pace.
RACE 9: UNSTOPABULL – Fitter again after winning second up. Winner here and right race to go back to back.
RACE 10: (4) YORKSHIRE – High expectations at short odds. Should win with expected improvement.
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – January 8-11
NEWCASTLE FRIDAY: Goldane (R1); Mailata (R1); Haze (R4); Flying Thinker (R7)
GOLD COAST SATURDAY: Volatile (R1); Splash Of Steel (R3); Hard To Say (R6); Lavish Empire (R6); Bauhinia (R8); Charm Stone (R9)
WYONG SATURDAY: Bonita Queen (R5)
KEMBLA GRANGE SATURDAY: Mia Ballerina (R4); Sweet Patriot (R4)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: With Your Blessing; Rivellino; Abuse Of Power; Manaajem; Gallo Nero; Spicy Hotpot; Stratafy; Pallaton; Merchant Gold; Monarchs Brae; Dance To The Boom; Tempted; Point And Shoot; She Conquers; Winston Hills; It's A Wonder; O'Invincible; Magical Moments; Arriving Home; Burj; Cutepi; Inside Man; Gerringong
TRIAL POINTERS
WARWICK FARM January 3: Bjorn Baker's flying mare BONITA QUEEN is a ready to run first-up. The speedster bounded in front and was held back for the first 400m before her natural speed saw her sprint away with her 801m heat under no pressure to score by a soft 4.3 lengths (46.80; 32.82). Hard to catch in a short course sprint, especially against her own sex. Baker's unraced Winning Rupert filly GOLDANE was responsible for another impressive trial win to back up her debut trial at Rosehill on December 10. Dictated from the front in her 797m heat (46.64; 33.49), travelling well within herself and extending easily off the turn with an economical action. She cruised home by more than two lengths with plenty to offer. The 2YO heats winners over 799m included NAMASTE (46.98; 33.31) and SPLASH OF STEEL (46.81; 33.48). Scone-trained SPLASH OF STEEL, a trial winner at Muswellbrook early in the season, made an impression and looks well prepared for his debut.
ROSEHILL December 23: In the fastest 900m heat of the morning (53.77; 34.05) the Gold Coast-bound BAUHINIA produced excellent work over the last 200m, making up good ground from the back half for third. Classy Victorian mare CHARM STONE should be followed wherever she turns up for her next start after an impressive second in her 900m heat won by subsequent winner Outback Miss (54.47; 34.31). Looked in good form as she worked up easily and could have won the trial if asked for a serious effort. VOLATILE was the pick of the maiden heat winners, dominating his 900m trial (55.10; 34.51) from the start to lead easily and run through the line with plenty in reserve. He's shown talent from his very first trial as a 2YO and maybe this will be the prep where he gets his act together.
ROSEHILL December 10: GOLDANE was the best of the maiden heat winners, running sharp time (54.60; 33.75) as she ran away from the chasers over the last 300m to win by 4.5 lengths. Other maidens to perform well included SWEET PATRIOT and MIA BALLERINA. Hard to get excited about the three 2YO heats over 900m where In Limbo won a much slow heat (56.50; 34.72).
RANDWICK December 9: The open heats saw strong work from numerous runners having easy workouts with FLYING THINKER among the eye catchers
BLACKBOOK REPORT
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – January 11
GOLD COAST SATURDAY: Memo (R7); Hella Fast (R8); Charm Stone (R9); West Of Africa (R9)
WYONG SATURDAY: August Bloom (R6); Yorkshire (R10)
FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Samuel Langhorne (R4); Flying Mikki (R7); Wonder Boy (R8); Cheval Chic (R8); Empressive Enuff (R10)
BLACKBOOKERS – Selected January 4
(Follow for next 3 starts)
BURLINGTON GATE; COSMONOVA; HEZDARNHOTTOO; HOLA AMIGOS; LETHAL THOUGHTS; READY FOR ANYTHING; STAY SILENT; ZOUKERINO
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Emmadella; In Summer; Rapt; Lord Of Biscay; Jedibeel; Queen Air; Danny's St Darci; Arapaho; Riot And Rose; Port Lockroy; Nadal; I'mintowin; Estadio Mestalla; Rey Magnerio; Spirit Of Camelot; Light Infantry Man; Herecomesthestar; Gringotts; Athabascan; Bullion Boy; Powers Of Opal; Poison Chalice; Tavi Time
