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Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Randwick and Flemington meetings on March 9 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.

FLEMINGTON March 9

RACE 1: (4) HEDGED

RACE 5: (1) IMPERATRIZ/(5) RUTHLESS DAME/(6) MAGIC TIME

RACE 6: (5) AUTUMN ANGEL

RACE 7: (1) BERKSHIRE SHADOW/(3) AMENABLE

RANDWICK March 9

Best Bets

RACE 3 (10) CANBERRA LEGEND: Measured up to Group company in the UK where he won twice and is ready for his first local win after a close first-up fourth over 1900m in the Parramatta Cup at Rosehill two weeks ago. Covered plenty of extra ground and didn't shirk his task to be beaten a half length in a blanket finish that featured many of today's rivals. Confident he is the one to come out of it with the most improvement.

RACE 8 (3) CELESTIAL LEGEND: The way this impressive Dundeel colt put them to the sword in the G2 Hobartville over 1400m at Rosehill was confirmation of his big talent. Posted impressive closing sectionals, a strong indication that he will relish getting out to a mile on his home track. Veteran trainer Les Bridge knows when he has a good horse and he has timed the grey's prep perfectly by giving him two lead-up runs.

RACE 9 (4) LEKVARTE: Astute Joe Pride mapped out a smart program for this mare after she swept to three impressive wins over 1400m and 1600m  on the bounce before Xmas, culminating with the G2 Belle Of The Turf at Gosford. It was no more than a barrier trial when she ran first-up over 1300m at Rosehill two weeks ago where her closing fifth in the G2 Millie Fox was the perfect prep for this target race. Her impressive course and distance stats make her the one to beat.

Selections

RACE 1: (10) OUR MARYANNE; (16) Star Impact; (3) Mahagoni; (4) Mountain Guest

RACE 2: (7) REASONABLE DOUBT; (6) Extreme Diva; (2) Erno's Cube; (8) Silmarillion

RACE 3: (10) CANBERRA LEGEND; (4) Diamil; (3) Bois D'Argent; (1) Military Mission 

RACE 4: (7) FACILE; (1) Corniche; (2) Red Resistance; (9) Confess Our Dreams

RACE 5: (5) ESPIONAGE; (4) Bodyguard; (3) Straight Charge; (6) Switzerland

RACE 6: (4) AFT CABIN; (3) Remarque; (1) Private Eye; (6) Passive Aggressive

RACE 7: (6) ESPIONA; (2) Pericles; (1) Think About It; (3) Coal Crusher

RACE 8: (3) CELESTIAL LEGEND; (1) Militarize; (2) Tom Kitten; (4) Encap

RACE 9: (4) LEKVARTE; (1) Thalassophile; (6) Gan Teorainn; (9) Ita  

RACE 10: (11) MISS HELLFIRE; (3) C'Est  Magique; (13) Tintookie; (5) Call Di

Why They Can Win….

RACE 1: (10) OUR MARYANNE: Impressed winning first-up and has had an easy trial since last start over this course. Strong pace could see her swoop home.

RACE 2: (7) REASONABLE DOUBT: Posted good figures against the colts when she charged late in her debut at Flemington. Plenty of scope for improvement.

RACE 4: (7) FACILE: Worked hard to a lead a classy field first-up over 1200m. Hard to run down over this shorter trip.

RACE 5: (5) ESPIONAGE: Needed the run when he found stablemate too sharp in the Silver Slipper. He'll be strong over this extra trip.

RACE 6: (4) AFT CABIN: Well-planned prep for his return through two impressive trials. Ideal conditions for him first-up.

RACE 7: (6) ESPIONA: Has a fitness edge after her excellent first-up placing in the Lightning. Loves Randwick.

RACE 10: (11) MISS HELLFIRE: Honest mare with a strong record in the right races. Nice trial shows she has freshened nicely since her Gold Coast placing.

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – March 9-10

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Miss Busslinger (R2); Mic Drop (R2); Red Resistance (R4); Infancy (R4); Remarque (R6); Mazu (R6); Aft Cabin (R6); Zapateo (R6); Think About It (R7); Cosmic Lad (R8); Po Kare Kare (R10); Call Di (R10); Miss Hellfire (R10); Eagle Nest (R10); Diamond Dealer (R10)

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Ruthless Dame (R5)

HAWKESBURY SATURDAY: Yamato (R2); Convincebility (R8); Dream Hour (R8); Short Shorts (R8); Pier Pressure (R8)

CANBERRA SUNDAY: Holmes A Court (R7); King Of Roseau (R7)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Rustic Steel; Briasa; Phearson; Storm Boy; Mr Midnight; Territory Express; Wembanyama; Shadows Of Love; Straight Charge; Red Card; Gatsby's; Linebacker; Martial Music; Dagon; King Of Sparta; Totoka; Confess Our Dreams; Chateau Miraval; Drifting; Our Gold Hope; Bonita Queen; Kallos; Bodyguard; Prost

TRIAL POINTERS

ROSEHILL March 1: The Hawkes stable is building nicely for the carnival. Their proven Group performer REMARQUE posted a strong open heat win over 900m (55.12; 34.42).

WARWICK FARM February 26: Everest winner THINK ABOUT IT commanded the spotlight with his trial placing. Having his second trial since the spring, he was allowed to settle in wide and back in the second half in his open heat over 805m (46.97; 33.09) before working impressively to the line over the last 200m to finish third. MAZU was solid through the line finishing second in a fast run 805m heat, giving the tearaway winner six lengths start and pegging it back to two lengths at the finish. The damning stat against him is it's been 22 months since he won his last race. A couple of nice 2YO trials overt 802m by unraced youngsters included a fast heat win by the country trained MIC DROP (46.86; 33.34).

ROSEHILL February 15: Classy Group winner AFT CABIN is working up to his return in great style, improving nicely off his first up trial at Hawkesbury to record an impressive win in the fastest of the five heats over 1030m (60.98; 34.32). He was given time to find his legs and was at the rear until the 400m before making ground quickly along the rails to run down the leader for a soft win.

WARWICK FARM February 12: A lovely first-up trial from the Everest winner THINK ABOUT IT in his first hit-out since November. Never came off the bit to finish a close second in his 822m heat (48.53; 33.61) and is sure to take plenty of benefit from the exercise.

RANDWICK February 7: The class of G1 winner RUTHLESS DAME came to the fore in her 900m heat on the course proper. She put in an impressive sprint over the last 200m to come from five lengths off the lead and win easily (54.31; 35.42) under a cold ride from Jason Collett.

ROSEHILL February 5: Easy as you like for smart mare SHORT SHORTS to win her 1030m heat under a big hold by almost three lengths while running easily the quickest time of the four heats over the distance (61.89; 35.31). She strode clear from the start and was always travelling well within herself, a sure indicator that she can add to her excellent fresh record, having recorded three of her five wins when first-up. Brad Widdup would be happy with her form as she won another trial at Randwick on February 22.

HAWKESBURY FEBRUARY 1: It was hard to miss the strong fifth of AFT CABIN in his 800m heat. He was making ground from last with impressive work in his first trial since he last raced in the Stradbroke last June.

ROSEHILL January 25: The black type heat over 900m (54.55; 34.27) saw RED RESISTANCE finish a close third in his first trial since a setback kept him sidelined through the spring. RED RESISTANCE led and went to the line under a quiet ride. 

RANDWICK August 25: Last season's high rating youngster RED RESISTANCE had a good blow out showing his natural speed to win his heat in quick time for the session (63.30; 34.49).

BLACKBOOK REPORT

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – March 9-10

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Vivy Air (R3); Rue De Royale (R4); Bosustow (R4); Serasana (R6); Mollynickers (R6)

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Elettrica (R1); Nymphadora (R2); Reasonable Point (R2); Canberra Legend (R3); Espiona (R7); Tom Kitten (R8)`; Ceowulf (R8); Call Di (R10); Powerful Peg (R10)

GOLD COAST SATURDAY: Wairere Falls (R2); Sigourney (R3)

CANBERRA SUNDAY: Lord Ardmore (R8)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: 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; Our Kobison; Caballus; Bermadez; Nana's Wish; Union Army; Va Via; Miracle Spin

BLACKBOOKERS – Selected March 2

(Follow for next 3 starts)

ILLATIVE; IVAN'S HERO; NEW ENERGY; PETERSHAM; RIFF ROCKET; ROLL ON HIGH