3 minute read

Chris Scholtz previews the Up And Coming Stakes meeting at Kembla Grange with best bets and selections for all races plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.

CAULFIELD August 14

RACE 4: (3) Bella Nipotina

RACE 6: (3) Ingratiating

RACE 9: (7) La Mexicana

For Value

RACE 5: (5) Jumbo Ozaki

RACE 7: (9) Hi Hi Hi

KEMBLA GRANGE August 14

Best Bets

RACE 3: (7) Criminal Code

RACE 6: (4) Mayfair Spirit (EW)

RACE 10: (10) Pale King (EW)

For Value

RACE 2: (4) Zakat

RACE 4: (11) Bacchanalia

RACE 9: (9) Glorious Dream

RACE 1: 9-11-3-6

RACE 2: 4-2-7-1

RACE 3: 7-3-2-6

RACE 4: 11-3-5-7

RACE 5: 3-2-8-11

RACE 6: 4-11-10-6

RACE 7: 9-2-1-5

RACE 8: 7-9-1-3

RACE 9: 9-7-3-2

RACE 10: 10-6-4-13

KEMBLA GRANGE MULTI

RACE 3 (7) CRIMINAL CODE: Cannot get away from his light weight of 52kg on a firm track as the keys to his chances of making a successful rise from his strong benchmark form to open company. He also is getting out to 2000m for the first time this campaign and is certain to appreciate the massive weight drop from carrying between 57kg and 60.5kg in his 11 starts since he was placed over 2400m in the WA Derby as a 3YO. He'll be ridden to have the last run at them and counting on his pull in the weights to make the difference when the pressure is on.

RACE 6 (4) MAYFAIR SPIRIT: They bet the wrong price about this import when first markets went up as he's well placed in this BM78 affair as the winner of six races in the UK up to 2300m. After a warm up in a Cranbourne jump out it was hard to miss his Australian debut for the Maher/Eustace camp when he was never on the track without cover before finishing strongly for a close fourth over 1615m at Sale in a good form race. Two of his wins have been second up in this distance range and I'm not concerned about his wide barrier as he is the type who will appreciate room to move on the big Kembla track.

RACE 10 (10) PALE KING: Loads of upside about this lightly raced 5YO import who has won three of his four starts including both previous first-up runs for the Hawkes team in Australia. Notably one of those win was over 1600m at this course and strong 900m trial has him set to add to that record with the significant booking of Tommy Berry always a positive stable lead to the chances of their first-up runners.

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

Noted Trial Runners

CAULFIELD SAT: Ingratiating (R6); Najmaty (R7); Hi Hi Hi (R7); Archedmus (R8)

KEMBLA GRANGE SAT: Mamaragan (R2); Big Parade (R2); Stolen Jade (R2); Animate (R2); Zakat (R2); Laure Me In (R3)

GOULBURN SAT: Aitchdeetee (R3)  

TAREE TUESDAY: Vila Tinto (R3); Zetarita (R4); Riva Del Sol (R4); Eyewitness (R7)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Hamoon Star; Mascherata; Capital Reign; Coodarady; Journalism; Kingsheir; Destination; Paulele; Ausbred Flirt; Nags To Riches; Ballistic Moon; Bruckner; Jal Lei; Kickatorp; Prince Invincible; Tocomah; Frosty Rocks; Brigantine.

TRIAL POINTERS

RANDWICK August 6: A sharp 900m heat win on the course proper by MAMARAGAN (52.60; 34.70) in his second trial after finishing second to Fituese in his first-up trial at Randwick on July 27. He's now a gelded 4YO and looks to be back to the form he displayed in his early starts.

WARWICK FARM August 3: A maiden worth noting for the future was AITCHDEETEE, a smart winner of the fastest heat over 799m (47.26; 34.29).

ROSEHILL July 30 There was nothing flash about the times recorded by the winners of the four open trials over 900m but ARCHEDEMUS showed his class to circle the field from last and work well within himself over the last 400m to win his heat in slow time (55.24; 34.,25).

WARWICK FARM July 23: Talented mare STOLEN JADE made a one horse affair of her 800m heat. At the finish she had stretched her advantage to more than 10 lengths with no pressure applied but still put the time on the board (47.13) with her last 600m (33.17) that fastest of the session. Not asked to do as much in another noteworthy trial at Warwick Farm on August 3. Smart 2YO filly HI HI HI won on debut in January but didn't progress in two subsequent starts. Resumed here with blinkers on and really responded with a sharp win in the fastest of the five heats over 800m on the turf (46.86; 33.26). Impressed by the way she left the runner-up almost five lengths in arrears with panels to the others.

RANDWICK JULY 9: The open heat over 735m marked the return of the talented five time winner BIG PARADE. He won the trial narrowly in good time (44.59; 34.75) under a well held ride from Josh Parr. Topped off his preparation with another strong trial at Randwick on July 27.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

Eligible Blackbook Runners – August 14

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Bella Nipotina (R4); Mr Mozart (R6); La Mexicana (R9)

KEMBLA GRANGE SATURDAY: All Time Legend (R2); Ziegfeld (R3); Criminal Code (R3); Ashim (R5); Just Field (R5); Coastwatch (R8); Steel Diamond (R9)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Arctic Thunder; Hi Stranger; Chat; Kutayha; Furrion; Criminal Code; Blondeau; La Chevalee; Our Playboy; Harpo Marx; Montez; Tycoonist

Blackbookers – Selected August 7

(Follow for next 3 starts)

CONTEMPTUOUS: Sure to improve on first-up placing.

EIGHT DIAMONDS: Will benefit from more experience.

LOVEPLANET: Longer distances should suit.

MANKAYAN: Excellent Australian debut. Strong stayer.

REMARQUE: Luckless return. Obviously has the required class.