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Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Hawkesbury Cup meeting on April 22 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.
HAWKESBURY April 22
RACE 4 (4) UNSPOKEN: Made Australian debut with a strong second carrying 60kg over 1550m on the Kensington track when having first outing for five months in a race that has since produced solid winning form from the third horse. Well placed in this company and holds obvious scope for improvement over this more suitable distance given that he won three races in the UK up to 2012m on all surfaces from good to heavy.
RACE 6 (10) A VERY FINE RED: Back from Melbourne where she resumed from a four month spell on March 25 with an excellent third in the Listed Bob Hoysted (1000m) at Flemington when she was doing her best work late. Kept fresh and is sure to be suited over the extra 100m, being a previous winner over this course and distance. Note that she won a Listed race over this trip at Caulfield when second up in the spring and with the limit weight she will get her chance to run home hard off a hot pace.
RACE 7 (9) RAZETA: Talented filly mastered the heavy track in great style to put away her male rivals with ease in the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) at Randwick on April 8. Expect her to hold that form on this better surface as she meets the horse she beat (Atmosphere) 1.5kg better and will gets a handy weight advantage over her other main rivals. She's favoured to enjoy a good run from a low gate.
RACE 8 (10) NEVER TALK: Made a positive return to form at her second run back when charging to the line late for an impressive second in the G2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) won by the classy Zapateo at Randwick on April 8. She ran past Princess Grace in that race and will meet that Imported mare 1kg better, enough reason to expect a similar result. She'll be fitter again and the rise in distance will suit.
Selections
RACE 1: (2) ZARDOZI; (4) Icebreaker; (3) Californian; (1) Quasimoto
RACE 2: (2) DOLLAR MAGIC; (10) Titration; (13)Star To Fall; (7) Acotango
RACE 3: (12) MOONLIGHT GRACE; (13) Shadows Of Love; (2) Miss Kojiki; (10) Sweet Mercy
RACE 4: (4) UNSPOKEN; (6) Pretty Amazing; (8) Ausbred Flirt; (11) Highballer
RACE 5: (2) FIRE; (7) Nasturtium; (13) Plymstock; (11) Red Card
RACE 6: (10) A VERY FINE RED; (3) Andermatt; (1) Athelric; (2) Malkovich
RACE 7: (9) RAZETA; (7) Hawaii Five Oh; (1) The Fortune Teller; (2) Kote
RACE 8: (10) NEVER TALK; (1) Princess Grace; (4) Tycoon Evie; (2) Expat
RACE 9: (8) NEW MANDATE; (10) Lord Ardmore; (12) Hosier; (4) Just Folk
RACE 10: (3) SPANGLER; (5) Wicklow; (12) Estadio Mestalla; (11) Rogue Bear
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – April 21-22
TAMWORTH FRIDAY: Yamabushi (R2); Cross Talk (R7)
HAWKESBURY SATURDAY: Moonlight Grace (R3); Strawberry Rock (R4); Fire (R5); Red Card (R5); Nasturtium (R5); Malkovich (R6); Juan Diva (R6); Fox Fighter (R6); Written Beauty (R8); Tycoon Evie (R8); Air To Air (R8); New Mandate (R9); Bold Mac (R9); Estado Mestalla (R10)
DOOMBEN SATURDAY: Skyman (R8)
NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Snatchreilly (R1/R2); Line Of Law (R2); Oscar Charlie (R2); Starlight Girl (R2); Toyger (R2); Lyrical Gangster (R6)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Chilada; General Salute; Overpass; Vilana; Champers Girl; Black Iris; Typhoon Tavi; Excelladus; Frilled; Aft Cabin; Angara; Lonrioli; Arts; Welcome Gypsy; Altivo; Kipsbay; Bobby Shiraz; Californian; Watch The Clock; Air To Air; Airman; Libertad.
TRIAL POINTERS
WARWICK FARM April 14: Another brilliant trial win by the flying MALKOVICH was the standout among the turf heats. He was never off the bit running fast time (45.57; 32.62) to win his 795m heat, another regular trial star Spaceboy keeping him company as they sped through the first 500m. MALKOVICH has never gone better and is primed for a suitable short sprint first-up. OSCAR CHARLIE, a flashy chestnut colt by Russian Revolution, has the talent to match his looks. This was his second trial win and he looks ready to make an impact on debut after he pumped through his 790m heat to win under a hold in good time (46.48; 33.52).
ROSEHILL April 11: Two recent trials have shown that stylish grey youngster SNATCHREILLY has progressed nicely since his debut in the Breeders Plate in October. Looked the part posting a professional win in the fastest 900m heat of the morning (53.08; 34.47), leading at his leisure and coasting over the last 200m to win by a soft 1.7 lengths with plenty in hand. Sure to be well placed when he resumes.
NEWCASTLE April 11: The Waterhouse/Bott stable sent a small team from Randwick with the classy front runner CROSS TALK the star of the session with his dominant win in the only heat over 1200m. He ran freely to the lead with Tim Clark sitting quietly as he extended the margin to more than seven lengths at the finish with plenty in reserve (72.60; 34.93). Progressive 3YO filly MOONLIGHT GRACE has a win and five placings from her first seven starts and looks capable of building on that after trucking through her 800m trial for a comprehensive win by almost seven lengths (48.01); 33.06); She has an economical low to the ground action that saw her run through the line with plenty of strength. Unraced Brave Smash youngster YAMABUSHI stood out among the 2YO heat winners, taking up the lead and showing a sharp turn of foot to sprint clear from the 300m and cruise home untouched in his 800m heat by four lengths (48.72; 34.15). He's now had four trials since November and is ready to go the races.
RANDWICK April 3 (Poly): The depth of 2YO talent in the Waterhouse/Bott seems endless. Racy Zoustar filly STARLIGHT GIRL has now won two of her three trials and is sure to be well fancied when she debuts. Travelled easily in the lead before sprinting clear when given a squeeze to coast home by more than four lengths in the fastest of the six heats over 780m (45.31; 33.09).
WARWICK FARM March 31: If you know MALKOVICH you know this boy is a fast runner. Displayed his usual speed to comfortably lead his first trial since November and was trucking over the last 400m of his 811m heat (47.90; 33.90) with plenty in reserve. All his seven wins have been over 1000m and 1100m.
ROSEHILL March 27: The talented FIRE was back from Melbourne and looked the part winning the strongest open heat over 900m in moderate time (55.32; 35.70). From a wide gate he pulled his way to the front and was well in control under a big hold from Jay Ford over the last 200m.
HAWKESBURY March 20: Ribchester filly RED CARD is a fast runner, having won three of her seven starts from 900m to 1000m. She may not get further but this sharp trial win in the fastest of the nine 800m heats (46.74; 32.82) with very quick sectionals shows she will take catching over a short course.
BLACKBOOK REPORT
Eligible Blackbook Runners – April 22
HAWKESBURY SATURDAY: A Lot More Love (R7); Tycoon Evie (R8); Never Talk (R8)
MORNINGTON SATURDAY: Do Ya Punk (R5); Gear Up (R8)
DOOMBEN SATURDAY: Rousseau (R3); Canadian Dancer (R4); Tyresa (R7)
SUNSHINE COAST SUNDAY: Airstrike (R9)
+9RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: I've Bean Tryin'; Preemptory; Giga Kick; Tarps; Atishu; Cardinal Gem; Nosey Parker; 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.
Blackbookers – Selected April 15
(Follow for next 3 starts)
BLACKWATER BAY; FLOATING; PALLADAS; PROKLISI; SHEZATEMPEST; STARTANTES
