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Chris Scholtz previews the Winter Stakes meeting at Randwick on July 8 with selections for all races, best bets, value plays, Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.

RANDWICK July 8

Best Bets

RACE 2 (5) WEST OF AFRICA: Nice effort first-up over 1300m at this course, finishing off with good work late from last after being held up from the 400m. His form last prep in better 3YO races up to 1600m reads well for this class and he is nicely placed to improve with a 1.5kg drop in weight after the claim for top apprentice Zac Lloyd. 

RACE 6 (6) MUTAMANNI: Rapidly improving imported 4YO landed here off a debut win in France and has made an impression winning two of his first three local starts over 1400m and 1600m in the style of a horse screaming for longer distances. Didn't get it all his way last time under 59kg in a BM72 at Warwick Farm but responded when it counted, indicating he will relish the step to 2000m on this bigger track with the advantage of the 1.5kg claim for Dylan Gibbons.

RACE 9 (11) IOWNA MERC: He was short odds to make it three straight wins at this course on June 24 but it all went pear shaped before the race (reshod/agitated), in the barrier (reared/rider concussed) and in running when he settled eight lengths off the lead. Needless to say his effort to fly home for fourth under 58kg in fast sectionals underlined his obvious potential. He's rising in class but the return of Dylan Gibbons as his rider is a positive as it sees the 3YO drop sharply in weight – and he surely won't face the same circumstances as last time.

For Value

RACE 3: (4) SWIFT CHARM – Should have won his last start over 1500m at this course a month ago. Will take a clever ride from his wide draw but has built a strong record and rates to win off his last start.

RACE 4: (13) SUPER BRIGHT - Wide gate negated her chances last time. Fitter for the run, rates well on her prior placing and gets in light with 3kg claim from rails draw.

RACE 7: (9) CUSTODIAN – Just the one win in seven starts but he's taken on some classier races and soft trials point to him being set for a bold fresh run. He's been gelded and trials indicate he will be appreciate a gear switch from blinkers to winkers.

RACE 8: (3) TAMAHERE – Expect this imported G2 winner to improve sharply on her luckless first-up ninth in the Civic Stakes as she was badly checked at the 300m when looming to figure in the finish. Will do no work in the run from her inside gate and rates well against a similar field with her obvious scope for improvement.

RACE 10: (13) PETULANT - In an extremely difficult race with a host of chances this mare is nicely weighted to take advantage of her good draw that will give her the drop on the leaders. Kept fresh since her solid win over subsequent winners at Canterbury when blinkers were applied.

Selections

RACE 1: (2) CIGAR FLICK; (1) Epic Proportions; (3) Misty Legend

RACE 2: (5) WEST OF AFRICA; (6) Bat Out Of Hell; (7) Noble Conqueror; (3) Little Beginnings

RACE 3: (4) SWIFT CHARM; (2) Burrandana; (5) Salute Again; (6) Chase My Crown

RACE 4: (13) SUPER BRIGHT; (7) Twice As Special; (5) Diamond Diesel; (11) Star Impact

RACE 5: (2) EXCELLADUS; (3) Resonator; (9) From The Bush; (1) Battleton

RACE 6: (6) MUTAMANNI; (3) Manbehindthemoney; (9) Intuitu; (7) Touristic

RACE 7: (9) CUSTODIAN; (2) Brudenell; (1) Insurrection; (6) Bend The Knee

RACE 8: (3) TAMAHERE; (14) King Of Hastings; (11) Cotehele; (5) Cisco Bay

RACE 9: (11) IOWNA MERC; (3) Fox Fighter; (5) Handle The Truth; (14) Bella Rouge

RACE 10: (13) PETULANT; (9) Sunborn; (12) Acapella Sun; (5) Diamond Dealer

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – July 8-9

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Cigar Flick (R1); Noble Conqueror (R2); Much Much Better (R9); Diamond Diesel (R10); Kir Royale (R10); Sunborn (R10)

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Brigantine (R6); Ingratiating (R8); Malkovich (R8); Sweet Ride (R8)

DOOMBEN SATURDAY: Dragonstone (R7)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Counter Move (R1); He's All Style (R1); Ladyking (R4); Raf Attack (R4); Andronicus (R4); Diabelli (R4); Procrastinator (R5); Global Encounter (R8)

HAWKESBURY SUNDAY: Howgoodareyou (R3); Zarrose (R3); Global Encounter (R8)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Eight Of A Kind; Pereille; Shaken; Soobooco; Mad Deel; Mission Ridge; Dakota Vroom; Taormina; Tanglewood; Estriella; Biographer; The Little Pumper; Tropical Squall; Brudenell; Shadow Raiders; Konasana; Joliestar; I Am Brazen; Misty Legend; Passeggiata; Epic Proportions; Nostalgia; Commemorative.

TRIAL POINTERS

RANDWICK June 30: Talented 5YO mare SUNBORN recorded a big win in the fastest 1040m heat (62.84; 34.04) in her second trial since she won at Canterbury in January. She opened up a big lead with ease and kept running smoothly to cruise home by more than six lengths in a heat of some depth.

CANTERBURY June 26: Smart sprinter DRAGONSTONE showed he is in good form to continue his winter campaign with a stylish win the fastest trial of the morning. He was quietly ridden at the rear before coming across heels at the 300m and sprinting home over the top of his rivals in his 905m heat (55.02; 34.31) with something in reserve. Annabel Neasham's classy 3YO sprinter SWEET RIDE won the fastest of the three 1100m heats (67.92; 3.538) with good speed from the front with BRIGANTINE taking the eye with his work behind him

HAWKESBURY June 19: Noted speedster MALKOVICH provided the highlight of the session with his seven lengths win in an open heat over 1000m. Back from a Brisbane failure early in the month, he was too fast for his rivals cruising through his heat in good time (46.94; 32.82) without ever coming off the bit.

RANDWICK June 13: Unraced So You Think filly HOWGOODAREYOU has been in the blackbook since we highlighted her only previous trial last August when she won a heat at Gosford. There's obvious talent here as she again made an impression to come from six lengths off the lead after sitting three wide in her 1045m heat (63.63; 35.58), reeling in her rivals with a strong surge over the last 200m for a narrow win.   Liked the way unraced Maurice filly LADYKING attacked the line to finish fourth in her 740m heat won by a G2 winner. This was only her second trial and first since December and expect she will take plenty of benefit from the work.

ROSEHILL June 5: The 2YO heats created most interest and will be a reliable reference to late season juvenile races. The fastest of the six 2YO heats over 900m was won by the $1.35 million colt ANDRONICUS, an unraced son of I Am Invincible having his first trial outing for Peter and Paul Snowden. He is a well-built colt with plenty of strength and did all that was required to win his heat with something in hand (54.61; 35.02).

GOSFORD August 29: The Waterhouse/Bott stable won a maiden heat over 800m with the unraced HOWGOODAREYOU (50.30; 35.59), a nice So You Think filly with definite scope for improvement.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

Eligible Blackbook Runners – July 8-9

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Allegemeine (R3); Battleton (R5); Tony Be (R6); Intuitu (R6); Tamahere (R8); Longvillers (R8); Wewillrock (R9); Astero (R9); Iowna Merc (R9); Bella Rouge (R9)

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Sensical (R1) 

DOOMBEN SATURDAY: Dragonstone (R7); Seleque (R8)

BEAUDESERT SATURDAY: Green Reign (R7)

GRAFTON SUNDAY: Green Reign (R6)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Touristic; Dubenenko; Super Strike; Vienna Princess; Deepour; San Fabrizio; Manbehindthemoney; Robusto; Shaiyhar; Verifier; Miracle Of Love; Crafty Eagle; Naboo Star; Party For One; Vowmaster; Kovalica; I've Bean Tryin'; Preemptory; Giga Kick; Tarps; Atishu.

BLACKBOOKERS – Selected July 1

(Follow for next 3 starts)

AMOR VICTORIOUS; COLOUR SERGEANT; MOSTLY CLOUDY; TAGS; VIENNA PRINCESS; VODKA MARTINI