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Chris Scholtz previews the Flemington and Rosehill meetings on February 19 with selections and best bets for all races plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.

FLEMINGTON February 19

RACE 3 - (1) CENTIMENTAL: Her Sydney form should stand up.

RACE 6 - (3) LIGHTSABER: Easy to excuse last start. Can bounce back.

RACE 8 - (9) CHERRY TORTONI: Good fresh. Can add to excellent Flemington record.

RACE 10 - (10) THE GARDEN: Should have this field covered with improvement from his first-up second.

Selections

RACE 1: 5-8-3-11

RACE 2: 7-5-10-2

RACE 3: 1-5-7-2

RACE 4: 11-12-15-14

RACE 5: 4-1-5-6

RACE 6: 3-7-10-1

RACE 7: 1-8-3-2

RACE 8: 9-8-5-12

RACE 9: 10-11-3-4

ROSEHILL February 19

Best

RACE 5 - (6) ABLE WILLIE: He's a work in progress as his raw talent has seen him record a win and two placings from just three starts. Stakes placed before a spell, and holds big scope for improvement off his first-up second only a head behind the fast Sky Command under the lights at Canterbury on January 28. He had a chequered run from a wide gate before sprinting hard up the fence in the fastest last 200m of the meeting. Bowman sticks and racing on his big home track for the first time should bring out the best in him. Include his stablemate MINSK MOMENT in the exotics.

RACE 7 - (8) MIGHTYBEEL: Emerging as a quality stayer and the step up to 1900m should be the right fit for him after he dropped back in distance for his last start over 1600m at Randwick when a creditable seventh from last (fastest last 600m) behind Frosty Rocks. The speed played against him as they walked and sprinted to the line. With a 2kg drop in weight he holds plenty of upside off that effort as it was his first start since he won the Listed Christmas Cup over 2400m at Randwick on December 11. In the money in all his three Rosehill starts including a win over this distance off a similar prep. His dangers are his in-form stablemates TOOGOODTOBETRUE and NO COMPROMISE.

Value

RACE 4 - (1) KRONE: Top class mare has won twice from three starts at Rosehill including the G1 Coolmore Classic and returns third up off a nice freshen of 35 days since she performed with credit at the Magic Millions meeting where she had a tough run three wide under 59.5kg, giving 4kg to last week's Randwick G3 winner Snapdancer. The stable has a huge strike rate in Sydney and with Bowman on board from a soft gate she's excellent value under the favourable set weights scale. Save your stake on the obvious leader EXPAT.

RACE 9 - (7) DREAM CIRCLE: Likes Rosehill and gets down in the weights. Conditions suit.

RACE 10 - (11) STEEL DIAMOND: Should get a favourable run. Affected track is the key.

Selections

RACE 1: 18-5-12-8

RACE 2: 3-2-1-4

RACE 3: 2-11-3-9

RACE 4: 1-3-2-6

RACE 5: 6-7-9-2

RACE 6: 13-11-1-2

RACE 7: 8-13-11-1

RACE 8: 1-2-5-11

RACE 9: 7-6-11-4

RACE 10: 11-3-10-6

TRIAL WATCH REPORT – February 16

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Expat (R4); Rocha Clock (R4); Mazu (R5); Fox Fighter (R5); Zapateo (R5); Shalatin (R6); Magic (R6); Entente (R7); Toomuchtobear (R7); Zeyrek (R9) 

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Eduardo (R7); Nature Strip (R7); Home Affairs (R7)

GOSFORD SATURDAY: Omni Man (R1); Why Big Bry (R3)

KEMBLA GRANGE TUESDAY: Russian Standard (R1); Elusive Bride (R1); Bahama (R1); Champions League (R3); Global Encounter (R3); Stalking (R3); Arthur Francis (R4); Character (R7)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Psychiatrist; I Am Brazen; Stoical; Stray; Lord Heron; Camino Real; Fangirl; Le Gai Soleil; Lost And Running; Coastwatch; Mayrose; Xtravagant Star; Maotai; Paulele; Super Bright; Fleet Air Arm; Rocklily; Ting Tong; Troach; Sinba; Caribbean Stud; Sandpaper; California Surreal; Trendy Lass.

TRIAL POINTERS FOR FEBRUARY 19

GOSFORD February 10: The promising ZAPATEO was the star performer. Despite running slow time (49.31; 35.04) he moved impressively to win his combined 800m heat for 2 and 3YOs. Redoute's Choice filly BAHAMA stopped the clock in the fastest of the 10 heats over 900m (53.92; 34.54) in her first appearance since September. Led under a big hold and maintained a clear margin to the line to score by 2.6 lengths under no stress.

RANDWICK February 7: In the Group heat over 1000m on the course proper won by Le Lude (59.70; 35.48) the best trial came from ROCHA CLOCK working to the line nicely from off the pace for third. EDUARDO won his 735m heat (43.87; 33.79) on the A Grass, sitting three wide under a big hold all the way to the line. In the 2YO heats the focus was on the Snowden-trained filly EBHAAR after her abject first-up failure in the Widden Stakes at Rosehill. She showed her expected pace to narrowly win her 1050m heat (63.30; 35.96) but it was hardly a convincing performance as the closing sectionals were slow and she didn't have a lot up her sleeve. Failed to raise confidence about her prospects against the top youngsters.

WARWICK FARM February 4: The Hawkes stable have handled the high priced Snitzel colt MAGIC patiently. He has now been placed in his three trials and could be a big improver under race conditions. The good mare EXPAT had her first hitout since her Belle Of The Turf win at Gosford in late December, leading at her own speed for a soft win in the open heat over 1000m in quicker time (59.62; 34.26) than the black type trial over the same distance. She's a runner and her strong work points to her adding to her impressive record of seven wins from 12 starts.

ROSEHILL January 31: In the first Group heat over 900m (53.83; 34.39) the hulking HOME AFFAIRS settled second and was under an iron grip from James McDonald through the trial, finishing a strong second with plenty in reserve. In the other black type heat (53.37; 34.39) NATURE STRIP, wearing ear muffs, led after 100m and when joined in the last 150m James McDonald sat as cold as a statue allowing Wild Planet to edge him out on the line.

RANDWICK January 24: EDUARDO was in good form in his 743m trial, jumping to the front and controlling the speed under a big hold. There was little pressure applied by his rivals and that left him to work well within himself with a lot to offer. His time was reasonable (44.09; 33.14) as it was obvious he could have gone a lot quicker if given rein.

WARWICK FARM January 20: In the 800m Group heat HOME AFFAIRS jumped to a clear lead under Jay Ford and had no trouble dictating the speed to cruise home untouched for a hard held win without testing the clock (49.02; 34.96). SHALATIN, a boom youngster in the spring, looked open to improvement on his solid fourth in his 800m heat after sitting three wide outside the leaders.

ROSEHILL January 17:  NATURE STRIP was given an easy workout by James McDonald in his 900m heat. He wore ear muffs and there was no intent to use his speed as he was cruising wide outside the lead before taking control at the 600m. No pressure was applied as he worked well within himself over the last 400m to maintain a comfortable advantage in slow time (55.50; 34.02): Another fast trial win by promising maiden OMNI MAN. He sat off the leader before going up a gear at the 350m to sprint clear and cruise to a soft 3.5 lengths in the fastest of the three heats over 1030m (61.70; 34.91). Ready to win fresh.

ROSEHILL September 28: The only 2YO heat featured the Hawkes-trained MAGIC, the $2.5 million Snitzel colt who topped the 2021 Easter yearling sale in Sydney. He performed with credit to finish an easy second in a slow 900m time (56.20; 35.65).

BLACKBOOK REPORT

Eligible Blackbook Runners – February 19

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Remus (R3); Shalatin (R6); Mightybeel (R7); Hilal (R8); War Eternal (R10); Bullfinch (R10); Tamerlane (R10); Steel Diamond (R10)

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Groovy Kinda Love (R2); Maserartie Bay (R2); Renosu (R4); Alegron (R6); Gytrash (R7); Swats That (R7); Cherry Tortini (R8); Rose Quartz (R9)

SUNSHINE COAST SATURDAY: Star Of Michelin (R5)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Devil's Throat; Stray; Desert Icon; Worthily; Gogol; Easy Campese; Overpass; Profit; Toomuchtobear; Zoukina; Vespertine; Casino Kid; Mass Destruction; Dzsenifer; Coventina Bay; Five Kingdom; El Padrino; Totally Charmed; Brookspire; Bacchanalia.

Blackbookers – Selected February 12

(Follow for next 3 starts)

BURNING POWER: Strong prep for longer targets.

I'M THUNDERSTRUCK: Solid start to a big autumn. Stick with him. 

KNIGHT MARINER: Good return. Still has the ability.

PEACE OFFICER: No luck on debut. Shows talent.

SPANISH MISSION: What you would expect first-up from a class stayer.

STARTANTES: Not far behind the top fillies.

SUPERIUM: Going OK for a suitable sprint. Needs it firm.