Selections and best best from Chris Scholtz for the Hawkesbury Cup and Queensland Guineas meetings on May 4 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports.
EAGLE FARM May 4
Best Bet
RACE 6 (3) EMBASSY: Rates among the best maiden 2YOs in Sydney after matching it with some classy youngsters in his first two starts. Impressive trial win at Warwick Farm points to him being ready for a big Brisbane campaign.
For Value
RACE 9 (8) PORT LOCKROY: Rates well with improvement to come off his luckless Sydney efforts in the right races since resuming. Drawn wide but is the type who will appreciate galloping room on this big track. Follow him through the carnival. Be wary of (18) MISTERKIPCHOGE second up for top stable. He was doing his best work late when first up over 1400m in black type company at Randwick and is sure to have taken benefit from the run. He's a promising 3YO with ample scope to improve over this extra distance.
QUADDIE
RACE 6: 3-7-12-10-1
RACE 7: 9-3-15-10-12.
RACE 8: 9-1-3-6
RACE 9: 8-18-2-1-9-11
HAWKESBURY May 4
TRACK RATING: Good 4 (8am Saturday); Forecast – Up to 20mm of rain from midday Saturday; Rail True
Best Bets
RACE 5 - (4) PARISAL: Multiple Group winner is primed to add to her excellent record off two classy trials. She's unbeaten in three 1100m starts, has won twice when first-up and she's proven on affected tracks. Suspect the Godolphin stable has bided their time waiting for the right race to launch her into the Brisbane carnival.
RACE 7 - (7) KONASANA: Impressive Dundeel filly went to a new level second up when she revelled in the heavy ground to bolt away from a G3 field in the James Carr over 1400m at Randwick for her third win in eight starts. She's won both her starts on wet tracks and if the forecast is right there is no reason why she can't maintain that record.
RACE 9 - (17) FALL FOR CINDY: Closed off nicely from an awkward position when resuming for third over 1400m at Warwick Farm carrying 58.5kg. She jumps a class or two but with the claim for Jett Stanley she'll be carrying only 50.5kg, giving her a massive weight advantage over her main rivals on what could be a testing track late in the day. On a tough day when value is key she makes a lot of appeal as she boasts multiple wins on soft tracks and is unbeaten in two second up attempts.
Selections
RACE 1: (2) TRAFALGAR SQUARE; (5) Monte Veebee; (1) Commanding Artist; (9) Canara
RACE 2: (5) GO TROPPO; (4) Danish Prince; (6) Putt For Dough; (14) Callistemon
RACE 3: (9) GENTILESCHI; (2) Bandasha; (6) Tokyo Run; (1) Toesonthenose; (10) D'Oro Choice
RACE 4: (3) KUREDER; (10) Casual Connection; (1) Toesonthenose; (15) O'Ziggy
RACE 5: (4) PARISAL; (13) Xtravagant Star; (1) Spacewalk; (10) Eagle Nest
RACE 6: (5) SHADOWS OF LOVE; (13) Willinga Beast; (6) Miss Hellfire; (2) Ghaanati
RACE 7: (7) KONASANA; (4) Butch Cassidy; (1) Schwarz; (8) General Salute
RACE 8: (1) DETONATOR JACK; (6) Just Folk; (11) Welwal; (3) Berkshire Shadow
RACE 9: (17) FALL FOR CINDY; (10) Highlights; (6) Excelladus; (3) Coastwatch
RACE 10: (11) CHILLI FILLY; (7) Smashing Eagle; (3) Contemporary; (12) Valiancy
Why They Can Win…..
RACE 1: (2) TRAFALGAR SQUARE - Ran 1250m right out with a good turn of foot in her Canterbury win. Can go on with it.
RACE 2: (5) GO TROPPO - Closing sectionals were excellent in the heavy at Randwick when second up. Fitter for this suitable trip.
RACE 3: (9) GENTILESCHI - Delivering big wins at short odds in the country. Promising filly.
RACE 4: (3) KUREDER - Ran out of ground when charging home second up over 1550m. The step to 1800m looks ideal.
RACE 5: (5) SHADOWS OF LOVE - Genuine mare ticks all the right boxes. Hard to run down under favourable wet conditions.
RACE 8: (1) DETONATOR JACK - Rely on the Doncaster form to stand up. Rates to win despite topweight.
RACE 10: (11) CHILLY FILLY - Fast improving filly holds ample scope for improvement. Had plenty to offer in recent trials.
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – May 3-4
HAWKESBURY SATURDAY: Cannonball (R5); Spacewalk (R5); Parisal (R5); Much Much Better (R5); Banana Queen (R6); Russian Conquest (R6); Call Di (R6); General Salute (R7); Attractable (R8); Jojo Was A Man (R8); Palmetto (R8); Kibou (R9); Rise Of The Masses (R9); Brigantine (R9); Excelladus (R9); Contemporary (R10); Manwe (R10)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Zoe's Promise (R4); Madrina (R6); Insist (R6); Embassy (R6)
NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Tullyheron (R3)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Lizzie's Gem; Spring Lee; Waterford; Highlights; Ikasara; Redbreast; Jedibeel; Call Me Gorgeous; Battle Of Vienna; Perfumist; Overpass; Piggyback; Joey D'Or; Celestial Legend; Espionage; Diva Las Vegas; Physical Graffiti; Inquisitive Legend; Rantan; Froebel Star; Killcare Beachgirl; Gringotts; Another Wil
TRIAL POINTERS
RANDWICK April 30: PALMETTO is ready to turn her form around after a surging last to first win in the 1200m heat (72.68; 34.58)
WARWICK FARM April 26: Nice conditioning trials from JOJO WAS A MAN. I'm not a fan of polytrack trials but it there was plenty to like about the way the 1175m heat winner CALL DI went about her business.
ROSEHILL April 23: A classy return by Group-winning mare BANANA QUEEN in her first trial since October, trucking through her 900m heat (54.41; 34.44) under a big hold from Nash Rawiller for an easy win. She pulled well clear turning for home before he shut her down with her winning margin flattering the closers.
RANDWICK April 15: High class sprinter CANNONBALL made an impressive return from his summer spell, a break he needed after his trip to the UK last year. He finished fourth in the fastest 737m heat after he drifted to the rear some 15 lengths off the lead before steaming to the line over the last 200m to be beaten less than 2.5 lengths. Not the easiest horse to train but he's obviously coming up well and an indication of what he is capable of when right.
RANDWICK April 8: SPACEWALK is a good Group sprinter on his day and two recent trials have him ready to be a player in the right races. Classy win under a good hold in his 850m heat on the Kensington track (50.50; 33.61), running through the line with a lot to offer. The form looks good as the subsequent Randwick winner Joliestar finished third. Stablemate CONTEMPORARY had an easy time finishing fourth.
WARWICK FARM MARCH 26: 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. Took on high class fields in his first two starts and only a matter of time for him to record his first win – could be a star at the Brisbane carnival.
NEWCASTLE March 27: Classy G2 winner ZOE'S PROMISE is working up to a likely Brisbane carnival campaign. She did it easily in her first trial since January to lead the fastest 1000m heat by a big margin and coast home untouched (60.05; 33.61). Impressive work that augers well for her to run well fresh.
BLACKBOOK REPORT
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS - May 4
HAWKESBURY SATURDAY: Call Di (R6); Midnight Opal (R7); Detonator Jack (R8)
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Euphoric (R8)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Mayfair Spirit (R2); Volcanic Love (R5); Port Lockroy (R9); Caracas (R9); Chica Mojito (R9); Misterkipchoge (R9);
MORPHETTVILLE SATURDAY: Sprit Of Camelot (R6)
ASCOT SATURDAY: Generosity (R9)
BLACKBOOKERS – Selected April 27
(Follow for next 3 starts)
GREBENI (Sydney): Set for a good winter.
MANHOOD (Sydney): Sure to appreciate more ground.
POINT AND SHOOT (Sydney): Should find a suitable late season 2YO race.
SACHEM (Adelaide): Eye catching charge from the back.
SILENT SURRENTE (Adelaide): Hard to beat in her right grade.
TIFFANY VALENTINE (Melbourne): No luck in running. Impressed late.
UNUSUAL LEGACY (Sydney): Will take benefit from solid first-up effort.
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Hollywood Hero; Skybird; Seonee; Tojaki; Quothquan; Circle Of Fire; Miss Joelene; Terra Mater; He's Our Bonneval; Riff Rocket; Elettrica; Strawberry Rock; Fearless; Commemorative; Illative; Etna Rosso; Pasima; Sir Atlas; Territory Express; Dolphin Skin; Cadetship; Celestial Legend
