3 minute read

Chris Scholtz previews the Victoria Derby and Golden Eagle meetings at Flemington and Rosehill with selection for all races plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.

FLEMINGTON November 4

Best Bets

RACE 1: (2) HEMAN - Screaming for this trip after posting fast closing sectionals over 1400m at Rosehill when having only his fourth race start. Plenty of upside.

RACE 3: (6) ROSE QUARTZ - Ready to peak third up. Likes Flemington and her last start second to subsequent winner She Dances at Caulfield looks the right form.

RACE 5: (1) ZARDOZI - Should relish the step up to 2000m after sprinting strongly to the line for impressive win in the G2 Edward Manifold over 1600m at this track a month ago. She's since been back to Sydney for a tick over trial to ensure she's primed for this.

For Value

RACE 9: (12) KALINO - Top Sydney stable took aim at this race after this talented gelding won a Listed race over this distance on his first visit to Flemington seven weeks ago. Well placed with his strong fresh record.

Selections

RACE 1: (2) HEMAN; (1) Brave Mead; (7) Ersa; (5) Influential

RACE 2: (3) ATHABASCAN; (1) Ladies Man; (2) Kalapour; (4) Mostly Cloudy

RACE 3: (6) ROSE QUARTZ; (10) Dancing Alone; (8) Hypothetical; (4) Red Card

RACE 4: (12) GARZA BLANCA; (5) Triple Missile; (7) Spacewalk; (10) Najem Suhail

RACE 5: (1) ZARDOZI; (4) Harlow Mist; (10 Aethelflaed; (3) Konasana

RACE 6: (1) SHINZO; (10) I Am Unstoppable; (2) Cylinder; (18) Stretan Angel

RACE 7: (4) RIFF ROCKET; (5) Sunsets; (1) Apulia; (8) Gates

RACE 8: (7) RENAISSANCE WOMAN; (4) Atishu; (1) Alcohol Free; (2) Princess Grace 

RACE 9: (12) KALINO; (5) Tamerlane; (1) Vilana; (4) Ayrton

ROSEHILL November 4

Best Bets

RACE 2: (5) FALL FOR CINDY: Good mare is on a seven day backup and will be all the better for her closing fourth over 1400m in this class at Randwick last Saturday after covering ground. Her prior win at Warwick Farm when second up from a spell was first class and can see her enjoying a much better run this week with the extra 100m in her favour. If the predicted rain arrives she ticks the right box with two wins on affected tracks.

RACE 9 (8) STROKE OF LUCK: Showed he had the class to win good races with solid Group performances through the autumn ending with his Group placings in the Rough Habit Plate and Queensland Derby won by Kovalica. Has come back in strong form and can see nothing but improvement from his second up win over 2000m at Randwick under 59kg. Sure to measure up to this company dropping 7kg to the limit weight.

RACE 10 (3) WAY TO THE STARS: Excellent results since resuming, beating Jedibeel first-up under 60.5kg over 1100m at Canterbury before he was nailed on the line over this course and distance on October 7 when he conceded 7kg to the winner with the subsequent G2 winner Doull finishing third. That's the right form for this grade with an impressive trial win on a soft track at Rosehill eight days ago the perfect primer to have him at his peak for this suitable sprint. Has the speed to exploit his low draw.

Selections

RACE 1: (6) TRIBECA STAR; (5) Love Shuck; (11) Lyrical Beauty; (14) Discreet Miss

RACE 2: (5) FALL FOR CINDY; (4) Nails Murphy; (2) Dream Hour; (1) Peace Officer

RACE 3: (7) CABOCHE; (4) Peshmerga; (8) Mountain Guest; (7) First Light

RACE 4: (2) SHOHEI; (8) Cholante; (10) Ballroom Bella; (5) Junqueira

RACE 5: (8) MARS MISSION; (5) Overriding; (10) Wizard Of Oz; (2) Pioneer River

RACE 6: (5) OAKFIELD ARROW; (9) Toronomica; (13) Satness; (16) Victory Lane

RACE 7: (4) PRIVATE EYE; (1) Think About It; (6) Bella Nipotina; (2) Cascadian

RACE 8: (5) KOVALICA; (18) Legarto; (7) Osipenko; (1) Hawaii Five Oh

RACE 9: (9) STROKE OF LUCK; (1) No Compromise; (2) Diamil; (6) Canberra Legend

RACE 10: (3) WAY TO THE STARS; (2) Tristate; (9) Jedibeel; (8) Smashing Eagle

Why They Can Win…..

RACE 1: (6) TRIBECA STAR: Stable wins Highway races for fun. Ready to peak third up.

RACE 3: (1) CABOCHE - Average race. Goes close in this class if he finds his G1 form.

RACE 4: (2) SHOHEI - Eye catching trials have her well prepared for a first-up win.

RACE 5: (8) MARS MISSION - Course winner ready to find his best after two solid efforts since resuming.

RACE 6: (5) OAKFIELD ARROW - Three time winner at this track including this race last year. Capable of a repeat at good odds.

RACE 7: (4) PRIVATE EYE - Could have won The Everest from a better gate. Won this last year off his Everest placing and the extra 100m gives him the chance to turn tables on stablemate Think About It.

RACE 8: (5) KOVALICA - Has run huge races in the Epsom and King Charles. No horse is going better and wide gate can work for him.

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – November 4-5

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: I'mintowin (R2); Miss Hellfire (R4); Shohei (R4); Leandra (R4); Cascadian (R7); Osipenko (R8); Way To The Stars (R10) 

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Gravina (R4)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Power Spark (R2); Sharkim (R3); Just Easy (R7); Oakfield Zena (R7); Angara (R8)

MUSWELLBROOK SUNDAY: Zoe Shark (R5)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Watch My Girl; Storm The Ramparts; Trapeze Pleasure; World Alliance; Chrysaor; Mumbai Muse; Yankee One; Estephania; Gai's Artist; Kazou; Shangri La Express; Influential; Up To Mischief; Dream Hour; Luton Hoo; I Am Me; Just In Time; Need Some Luck; Sovereign Hill; Gustosisimo; King's Gambit; Schwarz; Spacewalk; Facile; Salisano 

TRIAL POINTERS

ROSEHILL October 27: In the open heats over 900m the sharp speedster WAY TO THE STARS showed he was holding his form well with an impressive win in the fastest trial over the distance (53.66; 33.71). It was an excellent piece of work and he should take this form into any race up to 1200m. In a strong 900m heat won by good sprinter Iowna Merc (53.80; 33.85) OSIPENKO looked to have freshened up well since his trip to Melbourne, having a quiet trial before putting in strong work over the last 100m to finish fourth. PRIVATE EYE was not in the heat to compete and was allowed to drop well off the pace at the rear before picking up a gear or two with soft work over the last 100m.

NEWCASTLE October 24: ANGARA is a Frankel 4YO with only one win in 11 starts but may be ready to hit his straps after his impressive return in his first trial since July. Took control of his 1000m heat a long way from home and ran right away from his rivals with Regan Bayliss swinging to him to score by more than six lengths. The clock backed it up as he posted easily the fastest of the seven heat wins over the distance (60.21; 33.65). Nice improvement from unraced Super One gelding POWER SPARK to win his second trial over 800m (48.20; 33.23). Could have gone quicker as he was keen to run but Rory Hutchings kept him under a tight hold from the jump. He easily extended his lead to four lengths turning for home before he was throttled down over the last 50 metres.

WARWICK FARM October 23: The 9YO veteran CASCADIAN resumed with a super trial win that says he is set for another strong campaign despite his advancing years. Godolphin are good with their ageing stars (Hartnell!) and they have this striking chestnut in great health for his coming campaign. He was classes above his rivals in his 815m heat (48.64; 33.78), given time to find his legs before pulling wide and sailing past his rivals under the quietest of rides to win the trial with ease. Really liked the way he worked past the line in a strong prep for his imminent return.

RANDWICK October 20: The fastest heat over 1045m was won by the 4YO gelding I'MINTOWIN, a maiden winner from six starts in New Zealand having his first Sydney trial for the Waterhouse/Bott stable. Worked along in the lead and held his ground to the line with a nice effort from MISS HELLFIRE taking the eye with her closing second.

ROSEHILL October 13: SHOHEI was a real eye catcher in the open heat over 900m (55.01; 35.44). Settled at the rear before slicing through the field with an inside run from the 300m under a big hold from Zac Lloyd to finish a close fourth. She's a 5YO mare who has missed a place only once in seven starts and should build on that record.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

Eligible Blackbook Runners – November 3-5

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Love Shuck (R1); Hawaii Five Oh (R8); Kovalica (R8); Stroke Of Luck (R9)

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Rose Quartz (R3); Triple Missile (R4); Don Corleone (R6); Mexico (R6); Moravia (R6); More Secrets (R8); Renaissance Woman (R8)

GOULBURN SUNDAY: Pizarro (R7); I've Bean Tryin' (R7)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Storm The Ramparts; Without A Fight; Stroke Of Luck; Crackerjack Prince; Pesto; Sharp Shock; Attrition; Territory Express; Magic Time; Queen Of Dragons; Foujita San; Airman; Vienna Princess; First Immortal; Espiona; Archo Nacho; Satness; Wolfy; Unspoken; Recommendation; Snapback; Devoted; Garza Blanca

BLACKBOOKERS – Selected October 28

(Follow for next 3 starts)

LOVE SHUCK; RENAISSANCE WOMAN; SCHWARZ; SALTAIRE; TERRITORY EXPRESS