3 minute read

Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Randwick meeting on December 23 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners for December 23-28.

RANDWICK December 23

Best Bets

RACE 6 (10) TSARINA SOPHIA: Talented mare has been in strong form with two Canterbury placings over 1100m under higher weights since resuming. She's sure to appreciate stepping up to 1200m and is primed to peak with a handy 3.5kg drop in weight. Expect her to stalk the speed with a soft track enhancing her chances.

RACE 9: (4) ARISTONOUS: Capable imported 5YO  impressed first-up making good ground to finish a close third over 1600m at this course, an effort that verified he has made the right progress since his promising first Australian prep. Won second up this track in his first prep for Annabel Neasham and will relish this extra trip at this stage of his campaign. Track conditions no concern if it stays soft. 

RACE 10 (6) TESTATOR SILENS: Captured attention in his first start for his new trainer Joe Pride when he hit the line hard for a second over 1200m at Warwick Farm in his first outing for seven months. Goes well second up record and is at his best with the sting out of the ground. He's in the right stable to make good progress from his first-up placing.

Selections

RACE 1: (3) STRAIGHT CHARGE; (7) Erno's Cube; (1) Pisces; (4) Tarpaulin

RACE 2: (1) I'M A DIRTY RASCAL; (5) Auspicious Cloud; (4) First Light; (6) Deniliquin

RACE 3: (5) MAZITA; (8) Dorami; (4) Sharp Shock; (9) Denarau

RACE 4: (12) MR ROCK IT; (7) Ningaloo Star; (13) Romeo's Choice; (6) Dodi

RACE 5: (12) MATUSALEM; (7) Whisky Wisdom; (2) Clear Choice; (9) Mistress

RACE 6: (10) TSARINA SOPHIA; (8) Valiancy; (1) Miss Hellfire; (11) Euros

RACE 7: (12) STROMBOLI; (3) Fox Fighter; (10) Waverider Buoy; (8) Va Via

RACE 8: (4) WAIHAHA FALLS; (8) Our Redente; (9) Perfect Thought; (2) Sinawann

RACE 9: (4) ARISTONOUS; (11) Bowery Breeze; (8) State Of America; (3) Rogue Bear

RACE 10: (6) TESTATOR SILENS; (11) Master Showman; (2) Danaustar; (3) Robusto

Why They Can Win….

RACE 1: (3) STRAIGHT CHARGE - Trained up for this off impressive trials. Stable confidence high.

RACE 2: (1) I'M A DIRTY RASCAL - Big weight rise but drops lengths in grade. May be better than these. 

RACE 3: (5) MAZITA – Making impressive progress. Comes to town in right form to extend winning sequence.

RACE 4: (12) MR ROCK IT - Strong first-up winner on home track. Well placed to go on with it. 

RACE 5: (12) MATUSALEM - Easy 1800m win before let up. Expect strong showing off good trial.

RACE 7: (12) STROMBOLI - Fit sprinter given little chance from wide gate last time. Bold run expected under light weight.

RACE 8: (4) WAIHAHA FALLS – Has found his form again. Gets his chance to end long drought since last win.

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – December 23-28

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Straight Charge (R1); Tarpaulin (R1); Va Via (R7)

WYONG SATURDAY: Emphatic Bel (R4); Ringdembells (R4)

EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Customized (R6)

RANDWICK TUESDAY: Xidaki (R3); Capital Heart (R8)

NEWCASTLE TUESDAY: Take Me To Church (R4); Misty Legend (R7); Deep Romance (R7); Oceans One (R7); Nosey Parker (R7)

GOSFORD THURSDAY: Growl (R4); Chrysaor (R5); Misty Legend (R5)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Utopian Wine; Gelatin; Shaken; Time To Boogie; Boston Rocks; Anode; Chartwell; Katsumoto; Highness; Royal Merchant; House Of Cards; Spring Lee; Lady Extreme; Overpass; Legio Ten; Storm Boy; Bojangles; Vomo Island; Sisserou; Terra Mater; Tumbling; The Extreme Cat; Long Memory; Gitalong; Fioprospero

TRIAL POINTERS

ROSEHILL December 18: Godolphin runners worth noting off good trials included unraced 2YO TARPAULIN. He took the eye with his strong second from last in a slow 2YO heat (56.06; 35.65).

HAWKESBURY December 12: There was no intent to put talented mare VA VIA under pressure in her second trial since September but she looked the part finishing fifth under a soft ride in her 1000m heat (58.42; 34.52). Rose quickly with three wins on the bounce in Melbourne during the winter and has the ability to go on with it. Zoustar 3YO XIDAKI was a standout among the maiden heat winners, and not just because he wears the silks made famous by Gunsynd. Placed at his only start at Wyong in September, he added to his impressive trial record winning his 1000m heat (59.14; 34.05) without coming off the bit. Sure to be placed to advantage by his top stable.

RANDWICK December 11: Breeders Plate runner-up added STRAIGHT CHARGE to his growing boom with another impressive win in his 740m heat, posting the fastest time over the distance (42.74; 32.54) that has him primed to qualify for the Magic Millions Classic when produced. Tracked wide and responded well when put under a ride by Tim Clark to sustain a fast sprint over the last 300m. The fastest 1050m heat was won by the Snowden-trained SOVEREIGN FUND (62.34; 34.01) where his stablemate RINGDEMBELLS made a better impression finishing off under a hold for second.

WARWICK FARM November 30 (Poly): OCEANS ONE, a winner of three from 15 over short courses, has not raced since August but is ready for a good return after winning two recent Warwick Farm trials. Followed up his November 16 trial win with a fast win in this open heat over 740m (43.12; 32.70), running strongly on the bit to open up a big lead and cruise home by almost four lengths.

RANDWICK November 28: Talented 2YO STRAIGHT CHARGE won his 742m heat (43.09; 33.22) running time well in advance of the older heat winners. He was given a good testing his first trial since he finished a close second in the Breeders Plate.

WARWICK FARM November 16: Speed runners were suited in the short course heats. OCEANS ONE showed excellent pace in his first trial since August to win his 796m heat in the fastest of all the short course heats (45.86; 32.61), doling it easily without coming off the bit. Being a Class 3 horse there are plenty of country and provincial options for him.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – December 23-26

RANDWICK SATURDAY: I'm A Dirty Rascal (R2); Sinawann (R8); Aristonous (R9)

MOONEE VALLEY SATURDAY: Jenny Jerome (R6)

EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Tazaral (R7)

RANDWICK TUESDAY: Nana's Wish (R4); Leandra (R4); Sumo Star (R5)

CAULFIELD TUESDAY: Zennzella (R6)

NEWCASTLE TUESDAY: Nana's Wish (R6)

GOSFORD THURSDAY: Finepoint (R6); Zennzella (R6)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Gelatin; Munhamek; Acotango; Acquitted; Bowery Breeze; Stroke Of Luck; Ka Bling; Rose Quartz; Let'srollthedice; Schwarz; I've Bean Tryin'; Storm The Ramparts; Without A Fight; Crackerjack Prince; Pesto; Sharp Shock; Attrition; Territory Express; Magic Time; Queen Of Dragons; Foujita San; Airman

BLACKBOOKERS – Selected December 16

(Follow for next 3 starts)

CRAFTY EAGLE; GLORY DAZE; MIRACLE SPIN; SO GOOD SO COOL; UNION ARMY