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Chris Scholtz previews the Randwick and Caulfield meetings on February 26 with selections for all races plus Trial Watch pointers and Blackbook runners.

RANDWICK February 26

RACE 4 (15) PEACE OFFICER: In a wide open Skyline Stakes this colt is excellent value as he only has to make natural progression from his eye catching debut on a soft track when fifth in the Pierro Plate (1100m) at this course 14 days ago to play a big hand. He was beaten only two lengths but would have just about won with clear running from the 300m as he went to the line untested. It's significant that Nash Rawiller sticks with him, he boasts a strong wet track pedigree (Iffraaj out of a Commands mare) and I'm sure veteran trainer Clarry Conners still knows how to get the best out of a quality 2YO.

RACE 5 (8) ATISHU: Won twice at this course including a G3 in her first Australian prep and has a win a two placings from three first-up starts. Placed only start in the heavy and trials point to a bold fresh showing.

RACE 6 (8) ICEBATH: We know she's Sydney's unluckiest mare so we won't dwell on that. Put simply this her race to lose as this winner of $3.75 million gets into a G2 race for her own sex on the limit of 54kg under the set weight conditions because she is yet to win a Group race! She's as good as any wet tracker going around so the heavy ground is a gift for her after her excellent first-up sixth in the G2 Apollo Stakes against the top wfa horses over this course and distance two weeks ago where she carried 3kg more. FORBIDDEN LOVE is flying – a must for the quinella.

RACE 10 (4) GRAVINA: First start as a gelding and an eye catching trial points to a big fresh run from this talented 4YO by top wet track sire Sebring under favourable conditions. He's won three times on soft tracks, he's been in the money in three of his four fresh up runs, has missed a place only once in seven starts at Randwick and is 2-2-4 over this course and distance. Can charge home when quietly ridden and suspect the early speed will play into his hands late in the day when the conditions may favour the swoopers.

SELECTIONS

RACE 1: 8-6-2-3

RACE 2: 10-2-5-7

RACE 3: 2-3-4-9

RACE 4: 15-5-10-1

RACE 5: 8-12-2-5

RACE 6: 8-2-7-11

RACE 7: 9-1-8-10

RACE 8: 3-7-5-8

RACE 9: 13-11-2-9

RACE 10: 4-8-10-3

CAULFIELD February 26

RACE 3: (14) EL PATRONESS: Stiff first-up. Can test her male rivals over this longer trip.

RACE 8 (9) MINHAAJ: Excellent trials. Can use the rails draw to sit on the back of the favourite.

RACE 9 (5) DESERT ICON: Talented import on the rise. Well placed to repeat over same course.

SELECTIONS

RACE 1: 2-5-1-6

RACE 2: 2-3-5-1

RACE 3: 14-3-1-10

RACE 4: 4-10-5-12

RACE 5: 1-5-7-4

RACE 6: 4-1-3-5

RACE 7: 11-6-4-10

RACE 8: 9-5-7-2

RACE 9: 5-6-3-8

TRIAL WATCH REPORT – February 23

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Lady Laguna (R3); Fireburn (R3); Man In The Mirror (R4); Brosnan (R4); Atishu (R5); Forbidden Love (R6); Vangelic (R6); Gravina (R10)

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Yearning (R4); Wild Ruler (R8); Minhaaj (R8)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Jukebox Flyer (R3); Ferrari Man (R3)

KEMBLA GRANGE TUESDAY: Bionic (R4); Speech (R5)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Endorsement; Fire; Champions League; Character; Arthur Francis; Home Affairs; Mazu; Expat; Omni Man; Why Big Bry; 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.

TRIAL POINTERS

HAWKESBURY February: 18: Thousand Guineas winner YEARNING finished a distant second in the fastest 1000m heat (58.49; 33.46) but there was a lot to like about the way she trialled, settling out the back before sprinting to the line over the last 100m.

WARWICK FARM February 14: In the first Group/Listed trial over 1000m specialist sprinter WILD RULER led and won in strong style (59.53; 34.54) to back up his recent trial win at Rosehill and confirm that he is ready to run to his best fresh. FORBIDDEN LOVE was an excellent second, working off the back of the leader to close nicely, just the type of trial you would want off her first-up placing in the Expressway Stakes. Would love to see her placed against her own sex! MO'ÚNGA never competed (by design?) and was beaten more than seven lengths in a performance that raised more questions than answers about his immediate prospects. VANGELIC was a late scratching two days prior at Randwick and satisfied a vet ruling with excellent work to lead from start to finish in her 900m black type heat on the course proper (53.22; 33.93). In the 2YO heats over 805m Annabel Neasham would have been delighted by the classy wins of her talented pair MAN IN THE MIRROR and LADY LAGUNA. The high priced debut winner MAN IN THE MIRROR posted the quickest time (47.40; 33.94) doing all that was required to beat some smart opposition that included highly regarded FIREBURN (nice third). LADY LAGUNA stamped her class on her heat (47.86; 34.31) over the last 200m, working easily past the leaders.

ROSEHILL February 10: Eye catching efforts by the unraced BROSNAN, a big grey son of Snitzel, were noted in earlier trials and he is ready to go to the races after recording his first win in his fourth trial. He's got a lovely action and responded like a professional, extending fluently to score a soft win in the fastest of the four 2YO heats over 900m (54.81; 34.87). Suspect he will come into his own in longer 2YO races. In the 900m heat for 3YO fillies Thousand Guineas winner YEARNING worked strongly without being put under pressure.

RANDWICK February 7: In the second Group/Listed heat over 900m the quality mare MINHAAJ worked to the line in style to win the heat (54.08; 35.25). She is primed to go fresh after two good trials.

ROSEHILL January 31: It's rare to see Nature Strip beaten in a trial so full marks to WILD RULER edging him out in the fastest of two black type heats over 900m on the course proper(53.37; 34.39). WILD RULER trucked along in Nature Strip's slipstream and got the upper hand in the last bound to win the heat by less than a head.

RANDWICK January 24: MINHAAJ made the best impression in a fast 900m heat won by Malkovich, surging late for a strong second.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

Eligible Blackbook Runners – February 24

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Peace Officer (R4); Top Ranked (R7); Stockman (R7); Startantes (R8); Yiyi (R9); Through Irish Eyes (R9)

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Finance Tycoon (R1); Bound To Win (R2); I'm Thunderstruck (R6); Away Game (R8); 

MORPHETTVILLE SATURDAY: Hasta La War (R5)

BALLARAT SUNDAY: Toff Choice (R8)

BENDIGO TUESDAY: Aktolgali (R8)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Comica; War Eternal; Rose Quartz; Mightybeel; 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.

Blackbookers – Selected February 19

(Follow for next 3 starts)

FORGOT YOU: Watch for him over the longer trips. 

MAGIC: Excellent debut. Can only get better.

MR BRIGHTSIDE: Ready for a big autumn.

SLUICE BOX: Could have stayed in his box. Never tested.

ZEYREK: Nice start for a staying campaign.

ZAPATEO: Suited against own age and sex.