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Chris Scholtz previews the Group One meetings at Randwick and Caulfield on September 2 with best bets and selections for all races plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.
RANDWICK September 2
Best Bets
RACE 5 (10) VERONA: Stunning last start winner by four lengths under 59kg at Rosehill when tackling 2400m for the first time, marking a return to the talent she displayed at this course as a 3YO when she beat the colts in the G3 Packer Plate over 2000m on a heavy track. Despite meeting a tougher field she rates to win again with a significant 5kg drop in weight.
RACE 9 (16) OLENTIA: Exciting mare showing G1 talent. Took her record to five wins from six starts with a super 1200m win under 58kg when resuming at Rosehill, producing exceptional sectionals circling the field from last. Rises to a strong G2 from that BM88 win but she drops 4kg and she did skip grades to win the G3 James Carr over this course and distance in her first Randwick start in the autumn.
RACE 10 (8) GARZA BLANCA: His first first-up second as an odds on favourite behind the flying Smashing Eagle over 1100m at Rosehill was a hard watch for his backers as he was full of running for James McDonald but couldn't get clear of a pocket until it was too late. The step up to 1200m is ideal and expect J Mac to sit off a strong pace and avoid traffic issues from a wider gate this time.
Selections
RACE 1: (2) SEBRENCO; (3) Backrower; (1) Strait Acer; (7) Ningaloo Star
RACE 2: (2) WIZARD OF OZ; (14) Centre Bounce; (15) Rebel Dreamer; (9) Atmospheric Rock
RACE 3: (4) WAVERIDER BUOY; (6) Ojai; (11) Dancing Alone; (15) Molly Nails
RACE 4: (12) TAZARAL; (4) Mission Phoenix; (8) Logan Street Lion; (14) Gan Teorainn
RACE 5: (10) VERONA; (13) Mostly Cloudy; (14) Kirkeby; (5) Military Mission
RACE 6: (5) KIMOCHI; (3) Tiz Invincible; (2) Autumn Ballet; (13) Mumbai Muse
RACE 7: (5) IN SECRET; (1) Nature Strip; (3) Eduardo; (6) Bella Nipotina
RACE 8: (10) DUAIS; (11) Montefilia; (12) Hinged; (1) Think It Over
RACE 9: (16) OLENTIA; (4) Pericles; (12) Hope In Your Heart; (14) Sky Lab
RACE 10: (8) GARZA BLANCA; (10) Pereille; (6) Our Last Cash; (3) Stromboli
Why they can win….
RACE 1 - (2) SEBRENCO: Game effort second up in stronger class. Fitter and benefits from a 3kg claim.
RACE 2 - (2) WIZARD OF OZ: Just caught late over 1300m at Rosehill. Back to 1200m must work for him.
RACE 3 - (4) WAVERIDER BUOY: Ultra consistent mare. Brings the right form for this class.
RACE 4 - (12) TARAZAL: Strong trial since latest win. Primed to make it three straight over the Randwick mile.
RACE 6 - (5) KIMOCHI: Finished hard for close third in the Silver Shadow. Rates with the best fillies.
RACE 7 - (5) IN SECRET: They have kept the lid on her in her trials. Set to fly fresh.
RACE 8 - (12) DUAIS: Took the eye with her late work in the Winx. Will be strong over this extra distance.
CAULFIELD September 2
Best Bets
RACE 7: (7) BENEDETTA - Developing into one of Melbourne's best mares. Sure to improve off her first-up kill.
RACE 10: (14) DEVOTED - Just missed first-up over this course and distance. With 7.5kg less can exploit weight advantage from soft draw.
For Value
RACE 5: (12) LEGACIES - Unbeaten filly with big potential. Top stable showing confidence taking on the colts.
RACE 8: (12) SIGH - Honest mare keeps rising to the challenge. Best when fresh.
Selections
RACE 1: (6) EYE OF THE EAGLE; (5) Boh Rhap; (9) Tokenist; (11) Georgie Get Mad
RACE 2: (14) RHEINBERG; (12) Rogue Rocker; (2) Chorlton Lane; (16) Presser
RACE 3: (8) NUNTHORPE; (2) Belle Et Riche; (9) Yellow Sam; (4) Beour Bay
RACE 4: (14) FRIGID; (11) Affordable; (10) Dillian; (12) Chandon Burj
RACE 5: (12) LEGACIES; (2) Barber; (9) Heman; (1) Little Brose
RACE 6: (15) JIMMY THE BEAR; (12) Makram; (17) Junipal; (13) Frankie Pinot
RACE 7: (7) BENEDETTA; (9) Parisal; (4) Wrote To Arataki; (9) C'Est Magique
RACE 8: (12) SIGH; (6) Asfoora; (13) Magic Time; (2) Kallos
RACE 9: (1) MR BRIGHTSIDE; (2) I Wish I Win; (13) Princess Grace; (3) Alligator Blood
RACE 10: (14) DEVOTED; (7) Kalino; (4) Buffalo River; (2) Here To Shock
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – September 1-2
WYONG FRIDAY: The King (R3); Balkans (R5); Jawharat Dubai (R5); Xidaki (R5); Wollombi (R6); Short Shorts (R6)
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Rainbiel (R3); Avebury (R3); Tazaral (R4); Just Fine (R4); Nature Strip (R7); Eduardo (R7); Remarque (R7); Zapateo (R7); My Oberon (R9); For Valour (R10); Saltcoats (R10)
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Barber (R5); Heman (R5); Masked Party (R8); Kallos (R8); Alligator Blood (R9); Ascension (R10)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Hell I Am (R7); Williamsburg (R8)
HAWKESBURY SATURDAY: Big Shooter (R4); Torie's Rose (R4); Balkans (R5); Laser Beam (R5); Panic (R5); Alot A Lip (R5); Saturn Star (R7)
SCONE TUESDAY: The Escape
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Tom Kitten; Inhibitions; Captain Amelia; Mexico; Nadal; Buenos Noches; Parisal; Cylinder; Missile Seeker; August Bloom; Betsy's Flag; Disney Castle; Olentia; Tiz Invincible; Pericles; Miss Couver; Moravia; Marquess; Secaution; I Am Me; Capital Heart; Fire Star; Stromboli; Stenson Wallman; Silentsar; How Dare You
TRIAL POINTERS
RANDWICK August 25: Former Kiwi 3YO SALTCOATS again impressed working well within himself to finish an easy third in a strong 1045m heat won by Kote (64.03; 35.45). Good type with the potential to win a good race during the spring.
ROSEHILL August 22: Champion sprinter NATURE STRIP is trialling like his old self, producing a classy piece of work to win a strong black type heat over 900m on the course proper. Just as he did in his resuming trial at Rosehill on August 11, James McDonald allowed the big gelding to find his rhythm from a wide gate after a slow start before sliding forward to sit outside the leader. They weren't breaking records but NATURE STRIP pulled his way to the front under a big hold turning for home and after establishing an advantage McDonald was content to keep him under restraint and do all that was required to win the heat in average time (55.02; 33.51). Another Everest contender MASKED PARTY was asked for some serious work in his 1030m heat on the inside grass, running home from last under a ride to claim a narrow win (64.34; 35.82). The effort of THE KING to finish fourth in this heat augers well for his prospects in a suitable restricted event.
HAWKESBURY August 21: Lonhro colt BALKANS has trained on well with two solid trials since his Canterbury debut in June. Ready for a maiden win after working home under an easy ride from James Macdonald to win his 800m heat in good time (47.22; 33.26). Nothing but upside in talented 4YO mare WOLLOMBI. She's won four from 13 and you can expect her to add to her record after a classy win in her 1000m heat (60.00; 33.91) that confirmed improvement from her eye catching first-up fourth at Rosehill on July 23.
WARWICK FARM August 18: Evergreen sprint star EDUARDO may be a 10-year-old but has lost none of his dash, jumping into the lead in his 807m heat with ease and travelling smoothly to maintain a clear margin to the line in the fastest time for the distance (48.28; 34.64). Other heat winners worth noting included LASER BEAM, RAINBIEL and FOR VALOUR.
RANDWICK August 15: KALLOS took control of his black type heat over 850m from the start and was never under pressure to record a soft win (51.50; 34.04). Nice efforts behind him from SALTCOATS and his top class stablemate IN SECRET. Classy G1-placed mare ZAPATEO had her prep topped off with a sharp win in her 850m heat on the Kensington. Did it easily in front to post the quickest time of the two heats (50.90; 33.77) over the trip and could easily have gone faster.
ROSEHILL August 11: In the classy black type heat over 1000m Tim Clark bounced ALLIGATOR BLOOD to the front before sprinting strongly from the 300m to win the trial by a soft 3.5 lengths (60.28; 33.67), a firm confirmation that has come on from his earlier trial at Randwick on July 28. All eyes in the 900m heat were on NATURE STRIP making his first appearance as a 9YO and he didn't disappoint finishing an impressive second. James McDonald allowed him to find his rhythm sitting three deep a length or two off the lead before working to the line under a good hold. The feature was his strong work for 150m after the line that will no doubt improve his fitness. The 15 heats on the A grass saw REMARQUE dominate his 900m trial for a soft win in slow time (56.07; 34.41) while stablemate MASKED CRUSADER was under pressure to run home for third behind MUMBAI MUSE and WILLIAMSBURG in another 900m heat (55.63; 34.72).
RANDWICK July 28: Class is constant and it was clearly evident when the multiple G1 winner ALLIGATOR BLOOD returned with an impressive display in his 900m black type heat, sitting second outside the leader before extending under no pressure for a soft win (54.82; 34.95). English Derby runner-up HOO YA MAL had his first trial since running in the Melbourne Cup, working home in his 1000m heat (61.16; 35.22) in a typical staying trial. A super first trial win by the unraced Exceed And Excel filly ALOT A LIP in her 742m heat (44.26; 33.82). Travelled sweetly in the lead and was given a kind ride to record a soft win. Other heat winners to make an impression included XIDAKI.
WARWICK FARM July 24: Outstanding filly IN SECRET never got out of a working gallop in her 900m heat, running in a bunch with no intent to chase the tearaway winner.
HAWKESBURY July 17: The G3 winner BARBER was given time to settle off the pace in his fast 800m heat (47.51; 33.15) while travelling wide before rounding them up under a soft ride. Made an impression with his strength through the line.
BLACKBOOK REPORT
Eligible Blackbook Runners – September 1-4
WYONG FRIDAY: Wollombi (R6); High Emocean (R7)
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Different Strokes (R1); Molly Nails (R3/R10); Bonny Ezra (R5); Mostly Cloudy (R5); Amazonian Lass (R6); Mumbai Muse (R6); Duais (R8); My Oberon (R9); Madame Pommery (R9); Sky Lab (R9); Garza Blanca (R10)
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Georgie Get Mad (R1); Make A Call (R5); Emissary (R6); Sheraz (R6); Uncle Bryn (R6); C'Est Magique (R7); Devoted (R10)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Bedford Square (R9)
HAWKESBURY SATURDAY: Waverley (R2)
COFFS HARBOUR MONDAY: Nobile Missile (R7)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Diamond Dealer; Wineglass Bay; Tags; Apulia; Amenable; August Bloom; April In Augusta; Smashing Eagle; Amor Victorious; Baiyka; Thin Red Line; Intuitu; Barbie's Fox; Vodka Martini; Radiohead; Blackcomb; Wewillrock; Battleton; Touristic; Dubenenko; Super Strike
BLACKBOOKERS – Selected August 26
(Follow for next 3 starts)
BROSNAN; CRACKERJACK PRINCE; FOUJITA SAN; MORAVIA; RIGHT TO PARTY
