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Chris Scholtz previews the Golden Rose and Underwood Stakes meeting at Rosehill and Caulfield on September 23 with selections for all races plus Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports.

ROSEHILL September 23

Best Bets

RACE 6 (2) ESPIONA: Chris Waller has three leading chances but this enigmatic mare rates as the one to beat after her classy return in the G2 Sheraco over 1200m at this course on September 9 when she reeled off fast sectionals flying home for second. Her figures matched the impressive winner Sunshine In Paris and underlined that at her best she is as good as any mare in the country when she gets a fair dry track. This looks the perfect step for her second up, noting she also won second up in the autumn over 1400m before progressing to her G1 win in the Coolmore Classic on a Good 3 at this course.

RACE 7 (7) WATERFORD: Classy import is poised to rise to a new peak after a slashing first-up third in the G2 Theo Marks over 1300m at this course on September 9, an effort that added to his excellent Rosehill record where he has won three of his six starts with all those wins over this distance. Gets in well here under favourable conditions, noting that in the autumn he finished second in the G2 Ajax Stakes over this course and distance behind Cepheus and will meet that rival on 3kg better terms.

RACE 8 (4) KING COLORADO: The Golden Rose will be a cracking contest with a wide spread of value in an open race. This colt emerged late last season to jump from a maiden to a G1 victory at only his third start in the JJ Atkins in Brisbane. Underlined his potential first-up when he tackled top class older rivals in the G1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick last month where he was unlucky not to figure in the finish after getting little room to move from the 400m. He has since looked the part winning a 1040m trial and expect him to be one of the strongest late in a race where there will be plenty of pressure.

Selections

RACE 1: (6) ATMOSPHERIC ROCK; (1) Take The Kitty; (4) Missile Leader; (7) Desert Mist

RACE 2: (7) PEACE OFFICER; (17) Bundeena; (2) Flying Destiny; (6) Irish Kisses

RACE 3: (8) MARQUESS; (4) Tazaral; (6) Unspoken; (9) Howgoodareyou

RACE 4: (5) CELESTIAL LEGEND; (4) Ozzmosis; (1) Barber; (8) Royal Tribute

RACE 5: (7) AL AABIR; (6) Athabascan; (9) Verona; (11) Outlandos

RACE 6: (2) ESPIONA; (1) Atishu; (3) Zougotcha; (5) Banana Queen

RACE 7: (7) WATERFORD; (3) Cepheus; (1) Kirwan's Lane; (5) Cross Talk

RACE 8: (4) KING COLORADO; (1) Militarize; (3) Cylinder; (2) Shinzo

RACE 9: (9) CHORLTON LANE; (8) Vienna Princess; (11) Pereille; (10) Danish Prince

RACE 10: (17) ABLE WILLIE; (13) Ojai; (6) Tristate; (11) Xtravagant Star

Why they can win….

RACE 1: (6) ATMOSPHERIC ROCK – Strong efforts in Highways since resuming. Ready to peak.  

RACE 2: (7) PEACE OFFICER – Impressed first-up at Wyong. Expect more improvement.

RACE 3: (8) MARQUESS – Just missed last time over 1800m at this course. Weighted to reverse that result over the extra trip.

RACE 4: (5) CELESTIAL LEGEND - Excellent winner this course before spell. Primed to sprint well fresh.

RACE 5: (7) AL AABIR - Building nicely into his campaign. Proven this course and distance.

RACE 9: (9) CHORLTON LANE: Coping well with his racing and travel. Can't fault his credentials at this course.     

RACE 10: (17) ABLE WILLIE: Brilliant ride got him home last time. Can do it again from his inside draw.

CAULFIELD September 23

Best Bets

RACE 4: (11) YELLOW SAM

RACE 6: (10) AMENABLE

RACE 8: (12) BERKELEY SQUARE

For Value

RACE 1: (5) BIG BREW

RACE 5: (13) AMAZONIAN LASS

RACE 9: (9) RIGHT YOU ARE

RACE 10: (18) SEBONACK

Selections

RACE 1: (5) BIG BREW; (3) Shock Em Ova; (2) Polanco; (1) Always Hapi

RACE 2: (2) FIRST IMMORTAL; (9) Chandon Burj; (7) Garachico (12) Donatrice

RACE 3: (1) RED CARD; (4) Belle Et Riche; (6) Dazzling Lucy; (9) Seradess

RACE 4: (11) YELLOW SAM; (8) Our Red Morning; (4) Nunthorpe; (5) Tajneed

RACE 5: (13) AMAZONIAN LASS; (6) Miracle Of Love; (4) Zoukerette; (15) Poifect

RACE 6: (10) AMENABLE; (5) Corner Pocket; (1) Bandersnatch; (7) Umgawa

RACE 7: (2) VEIGHT; (3) Steparty; (5) Scheelite; (6) Scentify

RACE 8: (12) BERKELEY SQUARE; (3) Floating Artist; (17) Alaskan God; (4) Regal Power

RACE 9: (9) RIGHT YOR ARE; (2) Alligator Blood; (10) Soulcombe; (14) Attrition

RACE 10: (18) SEBONACK; (10) On The Lead; (4) Midwest; (12) Viviane

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – September 20-23

GOULBURN FRIDAY: Literacy (R7); Midori Glory (R7); Chosir's Choice (R5)

SCONE FRIDAY: Midnight Opal (R6)

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Kristilli (R3); Ozzmosis (R3); Sheeza Belter (R6); Shinzo (R8); King Colorado (R8); Portray (R10)

KEMBLA GRANGE SATURDAY: Big Apple (R4); Razors (R6)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Midori Glory; Midnight Opal; Rhettara; Excess; Afterlight; Panic; Ausbred Flirt; Private Eye; Kibou; Giancarlo; Florida Sky; Left Field; Bolero Belle; Riff Rocket; Frilled; She's A Bad Girl; Red Card; Unspoken; Rhythm Of Love; Unstopabull; Snapback; Tropical Squall; Rock Empire; Remarque; Just Fine: Balkans; Tom Kitten; Inhibitions

TRIAL POINTERS

WARWICK FARM September 12: Classy mare SHEEZA BELTER showed good form for her new trainer Annabel Neasham with a strong win in her 1200m heat (73.85; 35.21). Eye catchers in the shorter heats included KRISTILLI.

RANDWICK September 8: In the open heats on the A grass the G1 JJ Atkins winner KING COLORADO showed the benefit of his first-up ninth against the older horses in the Winx Stakes with a classy win in the fastest of the six heats over 1040m (62.15; 34.27).

ROSEHILL August 11: Golden Slipper winner SHINZO showed the benefit of his first-up trial at Canterbury with a strong win in the quicker of the two black type heats on the course proper over 900m (56.54; 33.73). After settling three lengths off the leaders he put in strong work to take a split under a soft ride from James McDonald over the last 200m.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

Eligible Blackbook Runners – September 23

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Take The Kitty (R1); Atmospheric Rock (R1); Different Strokes (R2); Al Aabir (R5); Espiona (R6); Waterford (R7); King Colorado (R8); Moravia (R8); Vienna Princess (R9)

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: First Immortal (R2); Wahine Toa (R2); Maracana (R4); Amazonian Lass (R5); Emissary (R8); Sheraz (R8); Attrition (R9); Duais (R9)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Archo Nacho; Satness; Wolfy; Unspoken; Recommendation; Snapback; Devoted; Garza Blanca; Diamond Dealer; Wineglass Bay; Tags; Apulia; Amenable; August Bloom; April In Augusta; Smashing Eagle; Amor Victorious; Baiyka; Thin Red Line; Intuitu; Barbie's Fox

BLACKBOOKERS – Selected September 16

(Follow for next 3 starts)

ABERFELDIE BOY; KING OF FIGHTERS; LET'SROLLTHEDICE; OLENTIA; PESTO; PIZARRO; PROTAGONIST; SHARP SHOCK