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Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Newcastle meeting on April 3 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports.
NEWCASTLE April 3
Chris Scholtz previews the Newcastle meeting on April 3 with best bets and selections for all races plus eligible Trial Watch and Blackbook runners for April 3-6.
Good 4 - Rail Out 6m entire circumference.
Best Bets
RACE 2 (7) RANTAN: Randwick trainer Ron Quinton has prepared this I Am Invincible filly for a winning debut through two excellent Randwick trials, improving from a third in her debut trial to win her second over 740m with authority. The astute Quinton rarely sends his first starters to the races under prepared.
RACE 7 (9) TERRA MATER: Boasts the impressive record of five wins and six placings from 12 career starts. Teamed with Nash Rawiller for three wins on the bounce at Canterbury and Randwick in the early summer and it's significant that he reunites after she resumed in the Gosford heat of the Midway series where she closed strongly from an awkward position for fourth. The extra 200m on this bigger track is a perfect fit.
For Value
RACE 4 (1) EXTREMELY FRILLY: Placed in four of her six starts including her last three since resuming. Her early each way odds are generous in an average field.
Selections
RACE 1: (4) QUEEN GEE EM; (1) Duke Of Bronte; (8) Shirvington; (11) Godelba
RACE 2: (7) RANTAN; (5) Blue Moves; (3) Shall Be; (8) Rivana
RACE 3: (7) IMPUNITY; (9) Kotaishi; (1) December Sky; (10) Presley
RACE 4: (1) EXTREMELY FRILLY; (8) Inquisitive Legend; (10) Summer Soiree; (6) Rockbarton Icon
RACE 5: (8) SCHOLL DEEP; (3) Callistemon; (7) All Too Sneaky; (2) Invincible Whip
RACE 6: (7) KINGDOM OF LOGRES; (9) About A Girl; (1) Chateaux Park; (10) Dances With Hooves
RACE 7: (9) TERRA MATER; (6) Willinga Freefall; (1) Ang Pow; (4) Kayobi
RACE 8: (1) FIDDLERS GREEN; (10) Lady Devine; (7) Hellbent On You; (3) Mr Caleb
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – April 3-6
NEWCASTLE WEDNESDAY: Duke Of Bronte (R1); Blue Moves (R2); Rantan (R2); Shall Be (R2); Inquisitive Legend (R4)
GOSFORD THURSDAY: Reigning Captain (R2); Hydrometer (R3); Physical Graffiti (R3); Watch My Girl (R5); Linquee (R5); Rhettara (R7)
MUSWELLBROOK FRIDAY: Physical Graffiti; Sneaky Sofia; Jamacri; Monty The Missile
RANDWICK SATURDAY: August Moon; Celestial Legend; Cigar Flick; Embassy; Espionage; Espiona; Hallet; Too Darn Lizzie
HAWKESBURY SATURDAY: Balmoral; Hydrometer; Diva Las Vegas; Jamacri; Physical Graffiti; Linguee; Sneaky Sophia; Monty The Missile; Rum Diary; Slay Queen; Itsacircus
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Froebel Star; Killcare Beachgirl; Gringotts; Another Wil; Linebacker; More Territories; Lady Of Camelot; Growing Empire; Left Field; Commemorative; Canamble; Empress Of Japan; Red Card; Cassiel; Hallet; Holmes A Court; Short Shorts; Infancy; Rustic Steel; Briasa; Phearson; Storm Boy; Mr Midnight; Territory Express
TRIAL POINTERS
NEWCASTLE March 27: Some top Sydney stables sent some of their better youngsters up the highway for tick over trials ahead of the Randwick carnival. The impressive Randwick debut winner HALLETT also took the eye finishing second under a quiet ride after tracking wide in the fastest 800m heat (47.86; 33.52).
WARWICK FARM MARCH 26: The maiden speedster DUKE OF BRONTE again showed great pace to win the fastest 791m heat (45.86; 33.58), a repeat of the way he won his previous trial at Warwick Farm on March 12. The promising EMBASSY stood out in the 2YO heats with a classy win in the fastest 794m heat (46.51; 33.95), going through his gears effortlessly with plenty in reserve at the finish. We'll never know what ESPIONAGE might have been capable of in the Golden Slipper! Showed he will be a player in the Group races at Randwick after he took on older horses in an open heat over 1200m, working home from midfield to win comfortably in the fastest of the three heats over the distance (71.63; 35.60). Australian Guineas winner SOUTHPORT TYCOON had an easy time in his first Sydney trial, working home under a big hold for a soft second in his 1200m heat (72.86; 34.91). The Guineas form is outstanding and this trial underlined that he'll be a real threat in the Doncaster. In the fastest 797m heat (46.35; 33.73) top class mare ESPIONA worked well within herself for second but again showing a tendency to turn her head and lay in, a trait that already cost her wins.
RANDWICK March 22: We haven't seen many youngsters by Bellevue Hill but his unraced filly DIVA LAS VEGAS sure knows how to run. Showed terrific natural speed to lead her debut trial with ease by five lengths, skating along under a tight hold before she was throttled down by Adam Hyeronimus to win the 740m heat by a 2.5 lengths in sharp time (43.52; 32.92). Randwick Guineas winner CELESTIAL LEGEND showed his class to win his 1200m heat (73.18; 35.25). He was boxed up in midfield before surging to the line when he got some clear air over the last 100m for a narrow win in a trial designed to keep him up to the mark for the Doncaster. The fastest 1050m heat was won by the previously noted maiden PHYSICAL GRAFFITI (62.81; 34.26), a 3YO gelding by Russian Revolution who has had a long time off since with four trials since he was placed in the Breeders Plate in his only start in 2022.
GOSFORD March 19: Suspect there have been some issues getting REIGNING CAPTAIN, a 4YO by Capitalist, to the races as he had four trials over the last 12 months for two wins and two placings. No doubt the ability is there as he displayed again here winning his 1000m heat in good time (62.13; 37.77). Liked the way he absorbed pressure from another runner challenging him for the lead, travelled strongly and easily held his rivals to run through the line with something in reserve.
ROSEHILL March 18: Among the heat winners who did enough to warrant attention when they race was INQUISTIVE LEGEND (1030m – 62.28; 35.50).
WARWICK FARM March 12: A smart heat win by the maiden speedster DUKE OF BRONTE, who flew over 798m in 45.86 (33.14).
BLACKBOOK REPORT
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – April 3
NEWCASTLE WEDNESDAY: Willinga Freefall (R7); Terra Mater (R7)
DOOMBEN WEDNESDAY: Quothquan (R6); Miss Joelene (R7); Quarantine Dreams (R10)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: He's Our Bonneval; Riff Rocket; Elettrica; Strawberry Rock; Fearless; Commemorative; Illative; Etna Rosso; Pasima; Sir Atlas; Territory Express; Dolphin Skin; Cadetship; Celestial Legend; Gently Rolled; Dark Journey; Our Maryanne; Pereille; Glory Daze; Ceerseven; Cradle Of Life
BLACKBOOKERS – Selected March 30
(Follow for next 3 starts)
ANDERSON BRIDGE; EUPHORIC; GALERON; HOLLYWOOD HERO; SCULLY; STRAIT ACER
