Selections, Best Bets, Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports for February 23.
CAULFIELD February 23
RACE 1: (2) Sikandarabad
RACE 2: (13) Lunar Flare (EW)
RACE 3: (8) Naantali (EW)
RACE 4: (1) Futooh (EW)
RACE 7: (11) Athiri (EW)
RACE 1: 2-1-3-5
RACE 2: 13-1-2-3
RACE 3: 8-1-2-4
RACE 4: 1-2-3-5
RACE 5: 1-5-7-6
RACE 6: 11-7-3-2
RACE 7: 11-7-10-6
RACE 8: 3-4-5-10
RACE 9: 8-6-9-10
ROSEHILL February 23
RACE 3 (7) Archedemus
RACE 4: (7) Seaway
RACE 6: (4) So Taken
RACE 7: (9) Moss Trip (EW)
RACE 8: (9) High Bridge (Value)
RACE 9: (13) Malahat (EW)
RACE 1: 6-9-3-2
RACE 2: 3-7-2-6
RACE 3: 7-9-10-2
RACE 4: 7-10-8-9
RACE 5: 1-6-7-2
RACE 6: 4-9-6-11
RACE 7: 9-7-10-5
RACE 8: 9-10-7-12
RACE 9: 13-14-5-6
ROSEHILL PARLAY
RACE 3 (7) ARCHEDEMUS: Added to growing reputation when he came off an impressive trial win to score first-up under 59.5kg over 1300m at Warwick Farm for his third win in just five starts. Can only get better, especially as he will relish the soft track conditions after showing excellent wet track talent with a big nine lengths win in the heavy before a spell. Rise in class should not be a concern from favourable draw.
RACE 6 (4) SO TAKEN: Ready for this class after coming back from a spell in a big way with a dominant win over 1100m at Warwick Farm on January 28, revelling in the heavy ground under 57.5kg. All her three wins have been on affected tracks and no reason why she can’t extend that record with a handy 3.5kg drop in weight off her first-up win.
RACE 9 (13) MALAHAT: Ready to peak after two strong efforts since resuming, especially last time when he just failed to peg back stablemate Badajoz over 1000m at Warwick farm when having his first test on a soft track. In a wide open race he is sure to find the extra 100m to his liking with the re-application of blinkers and switch to a stronger rider key moves in his favour.
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
Noted Trial Horses engaged February 23-25
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Caprera (R1); Tassort (R2); Born A Warrior (R2); Just Shine (R4); Golden Tycoon (R6); Mansa Musa (R6); Invictus Salute (R6); Baller (R6); I Am Serious (R7); Moss Trip (R7); Camdus (R9)
Born A Warrior (Rosehill February 11): Second trial for this $1.4 million colt by I Am Invincible and really showed his stuff as he led under restraint and easily opened up a big gap on the chasers from the 400m to the 200m before coasting to the line but still 3.8 clear at the finish. The merit of his effort lies in his fast time (53.99/34.30) for the 895m, far superior to the winning time by the boom colt Tassort (55.79; 35.70) in his heat.
Faretti (Randwick February 7): There will be high expectations for this $2 million colt when he debuts after two impressive trial wins. This effort showed he has good field sense and can respond under pressure as he was steadied to get back after the start and was left six deep as he travelled into it from the 500m. He then put the foot down over the last 200m to burst clear and win by 1.8 lengths in the fastest time of all the 735m heats (43.12/33.50). Reliable form.
Moss Trip (Rosehill February 11): Quality mare has been off the scene since last winter but she looks in great form to resume after winning her 1030m heat in the fastest time (61.70) with a big surge from off the pace. Kerrin McEvoy rode her quietly in midfield six lengths off the lead until giving her the slightest encouragement 100m from the finish when the response was immediate. Super impressive running past her rivals with McEvoy sitting quietly.
Invictus Salute (Warwick Farm August 10): Lightly raced filly has had obvious issues since she went straight from a provincial maiden win to a black type placing at Scone last May. She produced this impressive trial win at the start of the season when she led at her ease and was never asked to extend and she has since had another three well-spaced trials showing the same talent to win twice and finish second in the other. Creates a lot of interest.
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Zousain (R5); Spright (R8)
GOSFORD SATURDAY: Adonis Victorious (R6)
HAWKESBURY SUNDAY: Bondi Boy (R4); Columbina (R5); Enfilade (R6); Road To Heaven (R7)
TAREE MONDAY: Nosey (R4)
NOWRA MONDAY: Baaed (R7); Reconsider (R7)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Think Free; Tuesday Special; Classique Legend; Miss Antares; Winx; Archedemus; God Of Thunder; Gem Song; Fiesta; Carambola; Trope; Amercement; McLaren; Alizee; Autumn; Mollyfied; Lashes; Mameli; Tough Larry; Dawn Passage
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – February 22/23
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Sikandarabad (R1); Secret Blaze (R2); Futooh (R4); Zousain (R5); Land Of Plenty (R6); Shotmaker (R7); I’ll Have A Bit (R8); Shillelagh (R9)
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Purple Sector (R5); Savatiano (R7); Emperor’s Way (R8); Tangled (R8)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Veladero (R3); Fighting Teo (R4)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Nakeeta Jane; In Her Time; Intuition; Reckless Choice; Rock; Andy’s A Star; Heptagon, Bons Away, Naantali; King Lear; Amercement; Harmattan; Sure Knee; Teodora; Gresham; Military Zone
CURRENT BLACKBOOK HORSES: Adana; Akasaki; Amanito; Aristocratic Miss; Battlecamp; Belfast; Belgravia; Brazen Brando; Brimham Rocks; Chaussure; Consommateur; Dealmaker; Demolition; Divine Unicorn; Ducimus; Eawase; Emperor’s Way; Exceltara; Fighting Teo; Finche; Fit For Purpose; Frolic; Futooh; Galaxy Raider; Han Xin; Holy Snow; Hopes Eternal; Hursley; Husson Eagle; I Am Coldplay; Igniting; I’ll Have A Bit; Indian Thunder; Invincible Al; Invincible Gem; Invinzabeel; Kings Of Leon; Land Of Plenty; Mewstone Rock; Mishani Bullitt; Mishani Vaidra; Montrachet; Multaja; My Favorite; Nobu; Ombudsman; Osborne Bulls; Our Venice Beach; Peaceful State; Performer; Pipeline; Pohutukawa; Pretty In Pink; Proud Wolf; Purple Sector; Really Swish; Renewal; Rich Charm; Rome; Rotator; Sangita; Savatiano; Savvan; Secret Blaze; Secret Vega; See Me Exceed; Sheezdashing; Shillelagh; Shotmaker; Sikandarabad; Sir Isaac Newton; Sir John Lavery; Slightly Sweet; Slow Burn; Snogging; So Splendid; Solo MIssion; Spirit Of Valor; Star Missile; Stars Of Carrum; Stealthy Lucas; Tangled; The Avenger; Toryjoy; Tumbler; Umberto; Veladero; Viceroy; Viral; Wall Of Fire; Widgee Turf; Xebec; Youngstar; Zizzis; Zousain; Zoutori.
