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Chris Scholtz previews the second day of The Championships at Randwick on April 8 with selections for all races plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.

RANDWICK April 8

Best Bets

RACE 4: (3) LOCH EAGLE

RACE 7: (12) HIGH EMOCEAN (Value)

RACER 10: (4) ZAPATEO

Selections

RACE 1: (9) TOM KITTEN; (6) Make A Call; (5) Kintyre; (8) Tannhauser

RACE 2: (4) HAWAII FIVE OH; (8) Atmosphere; (5) Midnight In Tokyo; (9) Cool Jakey

RACE 3: (3) AUTUMN BALLET; (6) Kimochi; (10) Tiz Invincible; (2) Bossy Nic

RACE 4: (3) LOCH EAGLE; (5) Kayobi; (11) Short Shorts; (2) Acquitted

RACE 5: (2) ZOU TIGER; (1) Aft Cabin; (4) Kote; (12) Wee Nessy

RACE 6: (6) PIEROSSA; (2) Pavitra; (1) Pennyweka; (5) Arts

RACE 7: (12) HIGH EMOCEAN; (11) Cleveland; (14) King Frankel; (5) Arapaho

RACE 8: (2) DUBAI HONOUR; (1) Anamoe; (4) Cascadian; (12) Montefilia

RACE 9: (3) LEVANTE; (1) Alcohol Free; (5) Hope In Your Heart; (7) Sirileo Miss

RACE 10: (4) ZAPATEO; (9) Never Talk; (6) Jal Lei; (2) Kiku

RACE 1: Tricky affair for second tier juveniles trying 1600m for the first time with the heavy track adding to the conundrum. Expect (3) TOM KITTEN to improve off his luckless fifth in the G2 Sires Produce at Flemington. The form from that race has stood up in Sydney and he beat (6) MAKE A CALL at Warwick Farm before going south and that youngster has since run well in Group races. 4, 5, 7 and 8 all hold scope for improvement.

RACE 2: (10) HAWAII FIVE OH will be fitter for his strong second over 1400m on the Kensington when making his debut for top stable in a race that throws up several contenders in this race. They include (8) ATMOSPHERE and (9) COOL JAKEY with all three dropping nicely in weight. Include 3, 4, 5 and 7 in exotics.

RACE 3: (3) AUTUMN BALLET handled soft conditions confidently for an easy debut win in the G3 Black Opal at Canberra and has since trialled strongly. Appeals as a filly with plenty of potential. (6) KIMOCHI also looks the type to go on with it from her impressive first-up win on the Kensington. 1, 2, 4 and 10 are all in play.

RACE 4 (3) LOCH EAGLE's excellent win in the qualifying heat at Newcastle when second up has this well performed 4YO ready to peak under favourable conditions as he is at his best on soft to heavy ground. His Randwick form includes two placings from two starts over this distance and he's been Group placed up to 1600m, strong credentials for this class. Fellow heat winners (5) KAYOBI (Gosford) and (11) SHORT SHORTS (Kembla Grange) also rate highly ahead of 1, 2, 6 and 12.

RACE 5: (1) AFT CABIN and (2) ZOU TIGER are the class acts well placed under the set weight conditions but come back from 1600m to 1200m on a heavy track. They have posted good trial wins in the interim. The addition of blinkers will make a difference to ZOU TIGER. (4) KOTE's recent placings have been excellent and a heavy track favours him to expose any weakness in the top pair. 6, 7 and 12 are sure to run well.

RACE 6: An open Oaks that will be determined by the heavy conditions. (6) PIEROSSA was set for this after a G3 win over 1600m in November and her timing looks perfect after her excellent fourth in the G1 Vinery at Rosehill when she posted the fastest last 200m. You have to respect the G1 form of Vinery runner up (2) PAVITRA and NZ Oaks winner (1) PENNYWEKA, a filly proven over the distance with excellent wet form. (3) FIREBURN has won three times in the wet (including the Golden Slipper) while (5) ARTS was so impressive in the heavy going last week when she bolted away with the G3 Adrian Knox at big odds. She would not be the first surprise winner of that race to back up and win the Oaks.

RACE 7; Tough staying mare (7) HIGH EMOCEAN rates highly on her Melbourne Cup third, getting to this target race ready for a career high performance after her excellent final trial under 56kg last Saturday running the best closing sectional for fourth (blinkers back on) in the race that has provided 10 of the last 15 Sydney Cup winners. With few better wet trackers in this field she is an excellent gamble in a deep race despite wide barriers being a bogy in Sydney Cups for more than 20 years. The Tancred Stakes form is strong with (11) CLEVELAND the one that took everybody's eye with his closing fifth carrying 8kg more under the wfa conditions. That form is sure to hold up with the weights also favouring the winner (5) ARAPAHO and third placegetter (14) KING FRANKEL. 4, 7, 13 and 15 can be included in exotics. (1) GOLD TRIP looks safely held with 59.5kg attempting to be the first since 2004 to win the Melbourne Cup/Sydney Cup double under the highest weight since 1978.

RACE 8: Have to go with (2) DUBAI HONOUR in his showdown with (1) ANAMOE on the figures from his superb Australian debut win in the Ranvet (2000m) at Rosehill. His dominant margin of almost five lengths in his first start for 22 weeks was supported on the clock, running sectionals rarely seen in 2000m races. Coming from a stable that has already won this race twice you must expect him to progress on a softer surface more to his liking. We all know ANAMOE is a winner and you cannot discount the skill of James McDonald in what is sure to be a tactical battle. Huge query on the Japanese raider (7) UNICORN LION but If there's to be an upset it must come from Australian Cup winner (4) CASCADIAN. He's at his peak and boasts enormous form on soft and heavy tracks. 6, 12 and 13 for extended exotics.

RACE 9: The $10 million mare (1) ALCOHOL FREE holds the key in her first local start for Waterhouse/Bott after a break of 255 days since her last race in the UK. The multiple G1 winner is favoured meeting this field at level weights with her recent win in a 1200m trial good enough to say she is ready for this trip first-up with the key booking of J Mac. Top Kiwi mare (3) LEVANTE is a four time G1 winner with super wet track credentials and is suited back to her own sex from her impressive fifth in the G1 George Ryder. Melbourne mare (7) SIRILEO LASS is coming off high rating wins and is sure to run them along but will have company from several others, tactics that will suit (5) HOPE IN YOUR HEART from her good draw. 4 and 8 can be included in the exotics.

RACE 10 (4) ZAPATEO is perfectly placed to go back to back after her soft G3 win over a similar fillies and mares field at Rosehill with 2kg more weight. She loves soft ground and her wide gate should not be a disadvantage at the end of a 10 race program with James McDonald on board. (9) NEVER TALK is a noted wet tracker with strong Randwick form and is well placed to improve sharply after an impressive country trial win since her last start when first-up. Several speed runners are sure to set a strong pace that will suit (6) JAL LEI and a fresh (2) KIKU.

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – April 8-10

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Renaissance Woman (R2); Lazzago (R3); Autumn Ballet (R3); True Crime (R4); Aft Cabin (R5); Zou Tiger (R5); Alcohol Free (R9); Excelida (R9); Princess Grace (R10); Kiku (R10); Juan Diva (R10)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Surreal Lily (R4); Salaasel (R6)

PORT MACQUARIE SATURDAY: Jacky Dee (R1)

NOWRA SUNDAY: Champers Girl (R5); Frilled (R5)

WARWICK FARM MONDAY: Head Of The Herd (R1); Mathkhoora (R2); Champers Girl (R2); Irradiance (R2); La Boqueria (R2); Rubikins (R2); Money From The Sky (R5); Nasturtium (R6); Tocomah (R6); Tidal Impact (R8)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Angara; Lonrioli; Arts; Welcome Gypsy; Altivo; Kipsbay; Bobby Shiraz; Californian; Watch The Clock; Air To Air; Airman; Libertad; Short Shorts; Scientist; Martial Music; Parisal; Jedibeel; Autumn Ballet; Smart As Smart; Bacchanalia; Soldier Of Rome; Just Like Lisa.

TRIAL POINTERS

ROSEHILL March 27: Classy imported mare PRINCESS GRACE worked strongly in her second trial for Chris Waller, keeping in touch with the winner Fire in a strong open heat over 900m in moderate time (55.32; 35.70).  She is a G1 placed US stakeswinner of seven races and her progress will be watched with interest.

RANDWICK March 21: After recent disappointments the focus was on AFT CABIN in his 1045m heat and he rekindled his carnival prospects with strong work to win the trial in a blanket finish, splitting the lead line in the last 100m for a narrow win in average time (63.19; 34.26). Right on their heels was the promising MONEY FROM THE SKY with his work over the last 100m indicating he is set for more success working through the grades. The high class G1 winner ALCOHOL FREE also commanded attention with her first trial appearance in Sydney and didn't disappoint. The July Cup winner was allowed to find her feet in the 1200m heat before tracking into it three wide from the 800m. James McDonald gave her an easy ride as she took control over the last 200m and forged clear for a soft win by 2.4 lengths (73.08; 34.67).

HAWKESBURY March 20: Lightly raced speedster SURREAL LILY led her 800m heat by a good margin with her ears pricked and simply toyed with them, coasting home under a kind ride for a soft two lengths win in fast time (46.77; 33.165). Multiple winner TOCOMAH finished an impressive third in a strong 1000m heat (59.28; 33.58), running home sweetly from last.

WARWICK FARM March 17: HEAD OF THE HERD had to work to record his third trial win in a quick 797m heat (47.21; 33.39).

RANDWICK October 28: A good maiden prospect FRILLED won her 740m heat (44.58; 34.08) despite running erratically and can only improve with more experience. Her improvement was evident with two trial wins at Randwick and Warwick Farm last month that have her ready to debut.

RANDWICK October 10: The only 2YO trial was won by HEAD OF THE HERD, a $1.4 million colt by Snitzel from the Waterhouse/Bott yard. He led the 780m heat and was put under a ride to hold off a bunched finish in reasonable time (46.02; 33.48).

BLACKBOOK REPORT

Eligible Blackbook Runners – April 8-10

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Atishu (R4); Pride Of Jenni (R4); Excelida (R4); More Secrets (R4); Pierossa (R6); High Emocean (R7); Mo'unga (R8); Numerian (R8); Gear Up (R8)

DOOMBEN SATURDAY: Tyresa (R9)

SANDOWN SATURDAY: Dream Hour (R6); Frankie Pinot (R7); Cardinal Gem (R7); Monarch Of Egypt (R9)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Nosey Parker (R4)

IPSWICH MONDAY: Tyresa (R5)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: I Wish I Win; High Court; Zeyrek; Butch Cassidy; Mr Brightside; Meridius; Almania; Jal Lei; Osipenko; Lindermann; Swords Drawn; Regal Pom; Sha Of Gomer; Lekvarte; Iron Grace; Queen Air; Spacewalk; Competition; Jacquinot; Hokkaido; Levante; Deficit; Frumos; Mr Rock It

Blackbookers – Selected April 1

(Follow for next 3 starts)

AIRSTRIKE; DO YA PUNK; HIGH APPROACH; HIGH EMOCEAN; I'VE BEAN TRYIN'; MY OBERON: NORTHERN BARRAGE; SABALENKA