Chris Scholtz - Early Thoughts

Chris Scholtz - Early Thoughts

R&S Contributing Editor Chris Scholtz takes a look at tomorrow’s Sydney racing.

SELECTIONS

Randwick Race 2 - 6 Intuition

Love the strike rate Hugh Bowman is building for the Godolphin stable and his booking for this gelding is significant after the luckless run he had first-up on a soft track at Warwick Farm on December 22 under Tommy Berry.

He finished three lengths behind Easy Eddie in that 1200m event but undoubtedly should have been much closer at the finish after getting little opportunity over the last 300m.

He meets Easy Eddie 2.5kg better and is well placed to improve sharply on a firmer surface, the key being his rails draw that should see Bowman smoke his pipe sitting on the back of the leaders.

Randwick Race 4 - 9 Sure Knee

Untapped filly hits this race third-up and should find the conditions more favourable than both starts since resuming when she has struck seriously affected tracks.

There was a lot of merit in her last start fourth at Warwick Farm when she was checked at the 600m before the biased soft track negated her finishing effort on the slower inside section. This field is stacked with promising types but she holds as much scope for improvement as any of them.

Randwick Race 8 - 8 Rebel Miss

This smart short course mare has excellent credentials for this class with a list of strong performances in better company. She’s won twice first-up and looks set to produce another bold fresh effort after a sharp barrier trial win at Warwick Farm on December 27.

She races best with cover and should get plenty of favours from her good draw with James McDonald’s booking an obvious bonus.

BLACKBOOK UPDATE from 29 December (Horses to follow at their next three starts)

Igniting - No favors from wide draw. Will get better.

Husson Eagle - Sure to find a suitable summer sprint.

Pipeline - Sound effort first-up. Expect improvement.

Viral - Luckless ride added merit to his performance.

Rome - Will develop with more racing.

Tbilisi - Had it all against him Suited by a bigger track.

Recent Blackbook winners - Military Zone; Nahuel; So Si Bon; Easy Eddie; Miss Norway; Our Crown Mistress; My Nordic Hero; Kentucky Breeze; Firsthand; Chapter And Verse.

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS for 4/5 January

Canterbury (Fri) - Marmaris (R4)

Randwick (Sat) - Intuition (R2), Sure Knee (R4), Charlayne (R5), Invinzabeel (R7), Emperor’s Way (R7) and Gresham (R7)

Caulfield (Sat) - Wenner (R6), Civil Disobedience (R7), Creedence (R7) and Demolition (R9)

TRIAL WATCH HORSES

Canterbury (Fri) - I Am Zain (R1), Vegadaze (R2), You’re Next (R2), Lashes (R2), Asiago (R3), Wandonna (R3), Marmaris (R4) and Savvy Ken (R6)

You’re Next (Warwick Farm 9 November) - This unraced Dream Ballad gelding hasn’t been seen since this impressive heat win over 797m in fast time (47.16; 33.80). He was a good trial winner in July and has come on from that judging by this effort to lead at his leisure before he slipped clear under a big hold off the turn to score by 3.5 lengths, a margin that could have been much more. Eight weeks since that trial raises some questions but he’s obviously talented.

Randwick (Sat) - Jahbath (R1), Twentyfour Carat (R1), Avon River (R1), Botti (R4), Emperor’s Way (R7) and Rebel Miss (R8)

Botti (Canterbury 20 December) - Eye catching first trial for new stable by this interesting former Kiwi 3YO who has won two of his five starts in NZ and Victoria. Came out slow in his 896m heat, settling last five lengths off the pack and ridden with no urgency until turning for home where he got into his work and made up a lot of ground late for an impressive second. Follow with interest.

Emperor’s Way (Randwick 17 December) - The race fit FIERCE IMPACT (subsequent Summer Cup winner) recorded a soft win but this talented middle distance performer was the eye catcher coming from last and putting in some lovely work over the last 200m under a strong hold in his second trial since September. He goes well fresh and looks well prepared for a good summer campaign.

Wyong (Sat) - Starring (R2), Russian Romeo (R2), Micawber (R4), Fallgold (R5) and Chilcotin (R6)

Fallgold (Canterbury 20 December) - First trial since a maiden win in September by this Exceed And Excel filly and looks set to go on with it after recording strong heat win over 896m. She led at her own pace with Tim Clark keeping a strong hold on her throughout. She comfortably held her rivals to the line without being asked for a maximum effort.

Recent Trial Watch winners - Bring The Magic; Vinci Lady; Elenara; Alizee; Sexy Eyes; Prophet’s Thumb; Fierce Impact; Sasso Corbaro; Dubious; Helga; Unify; Taken Everything; Bad Boy For Love; Hightail; Ljungberg.

Chris’ final observations and full audio preview of all Sydney races will be available after 9.30am Saturday on the R&S website and tweeted by @ScholtzRacing.