Chris Scholtz - Early Thoughts
R&S Contributing Editor Chris Scholtz takes a look at tomorrow’s Sydney racing.
SELECTIONS
Rosehill Race 1 - 5 Fortress Command
Steps up from two excellent provincial wins that have laid a strong platform for a race of this nature, given that he had four trials before winning his debut over 1350m at Wyong in February.
He then went to Newcastle and created a big impression with the strength of his win over 1400m when he really ran through the line like a good horse. He’s on his home track and reckon they have had this as a target race for some time. Good each way gamble at the early odds.
Quality sprinter is ready to produce a big run first-up off a super impressive trial effort at Randwick where he motored to the line from the back in great style.
We know he’s always had the talent and as this will be his second prep as a gelding suspect we are about to really see him live up to his early potential. Should be suited by the early speed, noting that his best efforts in the past have been when fresh with two wins and placings when first-up.
Rosehill Race 6 - 8 Pohutukawa
Strong progressive filly gets her first crack at 2000m and should revel in the conditions after her dominant 1600m win over a strong field on a soft track at Kembla Grange.
She previously had no luck against several of her main rivals in this field and really only needs to make the expected improvement from her last start to have their measure over a trip she should relish with the track conditions in her favour.
BLACKBOOK UPDATE from 23 March (Horses to follow at their next three starts)
Chapada - Right type for the Derby.
Into The Abyss - Watch for improvement on a firm track.Loving Gaby - Big filly has a big future.
Pierata - He’s ready to land that elusive Group One.Wild Planet - Tried hard. Back in good form.
Recent Blackbook winners - Multaja; All Pluck; Widgee Turf; Pohutukawa; Tumbler; Star Missile; Mishani Vaidra; Renewal; Sikandarabad; Nakeeta Jane; In Her Time; Intuition; Reckless Choice; Rock; Andy’s A Star; Heptagon, Bons Away, Naantali; King Lear.
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS for 30 March
Rosehill (Sat) - Rome (R1), Autocratic (R1), Invincible Gem (R4) and Aristia (R6)
Bendigo (Sat) - Indian Thunder (R1), Desert Path (R6) and Belgravia (R6)Doomben - Macewen (R7) and The Avenger (R8)
TRIAL WATCH HORSES
Rosehill (Sat) - Daysee Doom (R4), Brave Song (R5), Grey Lion (R8), Spring Charlie (R9) and Calculated (R9)
Brave Song (Randwick 14 March) - He was the eye catcher in a solid open company heat over 1050m, motoring to the line from last to finish a close third. He’s always looked above average and could be in for his best prep as he looks in great fettle for a campaign that could take him to Brisbane.
Calculated (Rosehill 26 March) - Failed to fire in last two short preps but this impressive heat win over 1030m indicates he can turn his form around when next produced. Hugh Bowman had him in cruise control as he easily ran past the leader, extending strongly for a comfortable win that was more in keeping with his excellent early form.
Wyong (Sat) - Word For Word (R1), Making Whoopee (R5), Rare Episode (R7) and Bobbing (R8)
Recent Trial Watch winners - Think It Over; Nature Strip; Trumbull; Traumatised; Easy Eddie; Tell Me; Fasika; Evening Slippers; Green Aeon; Chabreet; Pin Sec; Yes Yes Yes; Ball Of Muscle; Trapeze Artist; Mustafa; Stronger; Evalina; Wagner; Kylease; Renewal.
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.
