3 minute read
Chris Scholtz previews the Festivgal Stakes meeting at Rosehill on December 2 with selections for all races plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.
ROSEHILL December 2
Best Bets
RACE 5 (10) CHASE MY CROWN: Hard fit mare is holding her form well and is nicely placed for a deserving win after an unlucky third behind Lekvarte over 1400m at Newcastle. Meets that mare 2.5kg better and will have no concerns with expected track conditions. Good value on a tough day.
RACE 6 (4) EAGLEMONT: The step up to 2000m looks ideal for this good class gelding after his recent 1600m runs saw him win easily at Eagle Farm before a luckless sixth in the Little Dance at Randwick where poor decisions in running cost him a place. Well placed in this company, he's a Rosehill winner and gets a positive riding switch to Nash Rawiller.
RACE 7 (17) GREBENI: Progressive 4YO was Group placed last season and added to his growing record with a strong second up win in the Goulburn Cup (1400m) on November 6. A winner up to 1800m, he's been given plenty of time to prepare for this target on his home track where he has won twice from three starts and he's had no issues with soft ground in two previous attempts.
Selections
RACE 1: (6) CANARA; (2) Storm Boy; (3) Traffic Warden; (7) Trafalgar Square
RACE 2: (14) ACCEBER; (8) California Grass; (3) Celestial Fury; (12) Let Me Reign
RACE 3: (8) TOESONTHENOSE; (10) State Of America; (2) Unanimous; (3) Olympic Gaze
RACE 4: (2) GALLANT STAR; (7) The Lions Gate; (10) Wilbury; (1) Tanglewood
RACE 5: (10) CHASE MY CROWN; (7) Molly Nails; (2) Shadows Of Love; (1) Lekvarte
RACE 6: (4) EAGLEMONT; (7) Sound And Vision; (17) Simply Extravagant; (1) Akasawa
RACE 7: (17) GREBENI; (14) Williamsburg; (2) Rustic Steel; (2) Finepoint
RACE 8: (7) ON THE LEAD; (3) Quick Tempo; (8) Sneaky Paige; (2) Dragonstone
RACE 9: (1) SKY LAB; (4) Torrens; (6) Parry Sound; (9) Little Mix
RACE 10: (8) LEGIO TEN; (12) Dollar Magic; (3) Sebonack; (9) Smashing Eagle
Why They Can Win…..
RACE 1: (6) CANARA - Did plenty wrong on debut. Sure to benefit from the experience.
RACE 2: (14) ACCEBER - Down in the weights and distance suits. Appealing odds.
RACE 3: (8) TOESONTHENOSE - Has found winning form. Suited by the conditions.
RACE 4: (2) GALLANT STAR - Excellent record. Has trialled well for his return.
RACE 8: (7) ON THE LEAD - Back from good Melbourne carnival efforts. Weighted to run well.
RACE 9: (1) SKY LAB - Has worked up to this. No excuses under these conditions.
RACE 10: (8) LEGIO TEN – Good trials have him prepared for a first-up win.
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – December 1-2
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Storm Boy (R1); Traffic Warden (R1); Manbehindthemoney (R3); Tanglewood R4); Malkovich (R8); Sneaky Paige (R8); Billiondollarbaby (R10); Legio Ten (R10)
NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Boominartie (R3); Cirebon (R5); Tastula (R6)
ASCOT SATURDAY: Overpass
HAWKESBURY SUNDAY: Battlefield (R3); Misty Legend (R6); World Alliance (R7); Boominartie (R7)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Bojangles; Vomo Island; Sisserou; Terra Mater; Tumbling; Long Memory; Gitalong; Fioprospero; Satin And Silk; Erno's Cube; Against The Law; Jagjit; Northumbria; Hard To Say; Quick Tempo; The Hawkesbury; Prima Bella; Intervarsity; Way To The Stars; I'mintowin; Sharkim; Watch My Girl; Storm The Ramparts; Trapeze Pleasure; World Alliance; Chrysaor.
TRIAL POINTERS
HAWKESBURY November 13: Bjorn Baker's fast runner MALKOVICH restored his barrier trial record with a sharp trial win over his classy stablemate OVERPASS. MALKOVICH was unbeaten in 15 barrier trials before he finished second in a 900m heat at Rosehill on October 27. Normal service was restored in the fastest 1000m heat (57.97; 32.75) as he showed his usual speed to run them along from the start and record a sharp three lengths win. OVERPASS wasn't put under any pressure to chase him and easily held his ground for second with more than four lengths back to the third horse.
WARWICK FARM November 8: STORM BOY backed up from an easy win in his first trial at Rosehill on October 27 to record another sharp win in his 815m heat (47.42; 33.40) by almost six lengths. The Justify colt was ridden up to lead and kept running, typical of the way Waterhouse and Bott want their youngsters to trial.
NEWCASTLE October 24: Smart 4YO TANGLEWOOD has won two of his first five starts and there's more to come after he posted a soft win in his first trial since July. Travelled well within himself in his 800m heat and was ridden with no urgency to make up four lengths from the 400m and get the upper hand over the last 50 metres. It was the fastest of the 800m heats (47.27; 32.76).
BLACKBOOK REPORT
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – December 2
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Amarantz (R6); Rustic Steel (R7); Finepoint (R7)
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Crosshaven (R6); Vivy Air (R7); Thalassophile (R9); Prowling (R10)
DOOMBEN SATURDAY: Acquitted (R6)
ASCOT SATURDAY: War Gem (R2); My Bella Mae (R9)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: 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; Vienna Princess; First Immortal; Espiona; Archo Nacho
BLACKBOOKERS – Selected November 25
(Follow for next 3 starts)
BOWERY BREEZE; CONTEMPORARY; MISS YOU ELLA; PLUNDERING
