3 minute read
Chris Scholtz's selections and best bets for the Randwick and Flemington meetings on March 7 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports.
RANDWICK SATURDAY MARCH 7
RACE 4: (9) Yao Dash (EW)
RACE 6: (3) Redzel
RACE 8: (8) Shared Ambition
RACE 9 (7) Savacool (Value)
RACE 1: 3-2-6-7
RACE 2: 2-3-1-4
RACE 3: 1-3-5-7
RACE 4: 9-7-1-6
RACE 5: 5-7-4-2
RACE 6: 3-5-1-2
RACE 7: 8-1-5-6
RACE 8: 8-2-3-9
RACE 9: 7-8-1-5
RACE 6 (3) REDZEL: OK, we know he's getting into the veteran category but dismiss the world's highest stakes winning sprinter at your peril as he comes back to his favourite track (nine wins) over his best distance (11 starts over 1000m for five wins, five placings), gets the conditions he loves (four wins on soft and heavy) and has the jockey aboard who knows him best (Kerrin McEvoy - nine wins). And he's contested the Challenge Stakes three times for a win and two seconds! In a race packed with speed he can work into it at the right time and fight to the line.
RACE 7 (8) SHARED AMBITION: Exciting staying prospect suffered his first loss in Australia and just his second defeat in seven career starts when he found the 1600m too short first-up at Warwick Farm where he ran his race in patches on a heavy track before hitting the line strongly in the last 100m. Followed up with an excellent third in a Rosehill trial over 1030m on a soft track that is sure to have brought him on for this step up to a more suitable distance. This appeals as the right race for him at this stage of his Sydney Cup preparation.
RACE 9 (7) SAVACOOL: Genuine mare made a fine start to her autumn campaign when she worked through the line in great style over 1300m at Randwick on February 15 and a subsequent strong second in a Rosehill trial has her in great shape for this open race. She is an excellent value play as she's down 5kg off her first-up fifth and ticks all the right boxes as she is a second up winner, boasts excellent course and distance credentials and has a fine winning record on affected tracks.
FLEMINGTON SATURDAY MARCH 7
RACE 3: (7) Westport (Value)
RACE 7: (6) Fascino (EW)
RACE 8: (2) Avilius (EW)
RACE 1: 2-5-3-1
RACE 2: 2-9-3-7
RACE 3: 7-10-3-8
RACE 4: 4-6-1-2
RACE 5: 10-9-2-5
RACE 6: 6-5-1-11
RACE 7: 6-1-3-4
RACE 8: 2-5-7-8
RACE 9: 4-8-9-10
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – March 7-9
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Booker (R1); Fasika (R1); Bangkok (R1); Cosmic Force (R4); California Zimbol (R4); Dawn Passage (R4); Yao Dash (R4); Mister Sea Wolf (R5); Standout (R5); Santa Ana Lane (R6); Deprive (R6); Nettoyer (R9).
STANDOUT (Rosehill February 25): Lived up to his name as his win in easily the fastest of the 1030m heats (62.89; 34.40) was indeed the standout performance of the session. He was in cruise mode sitting three deep in a line behind the leaders and stamped his class on the trial with impressive work between the 200m and 100m as he asserted his authority with Tommy Berry sitting stone cold in the saddle. Top class work.
BOOKER (Rosehill February 25): This G1 winning mare is obviously close to her best form for her new stable judging by the way she sped to a 5.3 lengths win in easily the fastest of the 900m heats (53.70; 33.40) under the kindest of rides form Josh Parr. No knock on the strong work of top class pair SANTA ANA LANE and FASIKA behind her but she is obviously ready to go first-up over a short course.
WARWICK FARM February 13: Liked the strong third by MISTER SEA WOLF in the first black type heat over 1000m while James Cummings had to be pleased by the way DEPRIVE tracked wide from well off the pace to round up classy stablemate SAVATIANO for an impressive win in the 900m heat, albeit in slow time given the heavy conditions. (55.27; 35.35). The polytrack trials saw some sharp performances with a notable win coming from FASIKA (45.12; 34.40).
FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: The Lifeline (R3)
HAWKESBURY SATURDAY: Emanate (R5); Fast 'n' Forward (R5); Foxy Rocket (R5); You Excite Me (R6); Intrinsic (R8)
CANBERRA SUNDAY: Wagner (R5); Return With Honour (R7); Tamerlane (R7)
CANBERRA MONDAY: Phoenician Queen (R5)
WYONG TUESDAY: Phoenician Queen (R1); Princess Ariana (R1); Succendam (R7)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Zakat; Top Prospect; Doubtland; Mirra Vision; Hilo; All Time Legend; Oakfield Missile; Mamaragan; Quackerjack; Probabeel; Trumbull; Dubai Star; Intrepidacious; Daphne Jean; Mo's Crown; Kumasi; Greysful Glamour; Farnan; Savatiano.
BLACKBOOK REPORT
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS March 7-8
RANDWICK SATURDAY: I Am Excited (R1); See You Soon (R3); True Detective (R4); Castelvecchio (R7); The Holy One (R7); Fortress Command (R7); Shared Ambition (R8); Danzdanzdance (R9); Savacool (R9); Aliferous (R9)
FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Russian Camelot (R3); Spanish Reef (R4); Fidelia (R4); Halvorsen (R6); Fascino (R7); Harlem (R8); Kings Will Dream (R8); Mirage Dancer (R8); Constantinople (R8)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Star Of Michelin (R9)
CANBERRA SUNDAY: Purple Sector (R6); See You Soon (R7)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Zebrowski; Dawn Dawn; Fifty Stars; Fabulonh; Naval Strike; Oxford Tycoon; Cyber Intervention; Gytrash; Gaulois; Microphone; Impasse; Just Benjamin; Raqeeq; Lord Von Costa; High Bridge; Cellsabeel; Boomtown Rat; Primitivo; Invincibella; Chat; Probabeel.
Blackbook Horses to follow – Selected February 29
(Selected horses be followed at next three starts)
AIM: Unlucky. Can measure to the best.
HOUSE OF CARTIER: Getting ready for longer races.
FOXIE LA BELLE: One to follow in the Highways.
BIG NIGHT OUT: Fitter next time. Wants 1400m.
FIDELIA: Signs of a return to her best.
SECRET BLAZE: Can be better placed over more ground.
EMBRACE ME: Hard to beat in suitable company.