Chris Scholtz previews the Stradbroke/Q22 meeting at Eagle Farm and the Randwick meeting in Sydney on June 10 with best bets, value selections and Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports.
EAGLE FARM June 10
THE STRADBROKE (R8): The best historical guides to the Stradbroke are the two wfa events (Doomben Ten Thousand; Kingsford Smith Cup). This year there really is only one horse that ticks all the boxes with the boom sprinter (9) THINK ABOUT IT clearly the horse to beat dropping 5kg from his powerful win after a wide run in the Kingsford Smith (1300m) that gave him eight wins from his first nine starts. He's unbeaten at 1400m and should have his older rivals well covered at the weights with his main threats coming from an impressive group of 3YOs led by the Fred Best winner (18) HAWAII FIVE OH. His recent wins under much higher weights have stamped him as an ideal Stradbroke horse and it's fallen into place for him as his inside barrier draw ensures he will enjoy the run of the race and sprint quickly with only 49.5kg on his back. They never shirk it in a Stradbroke so the genuine pace will suit strong closers and wide barriers on this big track are not a great disadvantage – seven of the last 10 Stradbroke winner jumped from double figure gates. Including (4) SCALLOPINI, (5) CONVERGE, (10) CARDINAL GEM, (12) AFT CABIN (13) ROYAL MERCHANT and (14) RUTHLESS DAME in the exotics. Emergencies (20) OPAL RIDGE and (23) YELLOW BRICK must inclusions if they make the field.
(9) THINK ABOUT IT; (18) Hawaii Five Oh; (12) Aft Cabin; (13) Royal Merchant; (5) Converge; (14) Ruthless Dame; (10) Cardinal Gem; (4) Scallopini
THE Q22 (R6): The import (3) WITHOUT A FIGHT captured everybody's imagination with his impressive win in the Listed Lord Mayor's Cup (1800m) in his first outing since last year's Melbourne Cup. His turn of foot over the last 200m was electric and stamps him as a potential G1 winner but the niggling question is can he repeat second up over 2200m with only 14 days between runs? He's got the figures to land this rich G2 event but it's a tougher call against the proven G1 performers (1) HUETOR, (2) NUMERIAN, (12) DUAIS and the Derby placed 3YO (14) FAME. Throw in the revitalised English Derby winner (8) SERPENTINE (he'll ensure this is a solid test from start to finish) and there is enough reason to look for value away from the favourite.
(3) WITHOUT A FIGHT; (12) Duais; (1) Huetor; (8) Serpentine; (2) Numerian; (14) Fame
Best Bets
RACE 2 (1) YELLOW BRICK: High class 3YO. No flash odds but he's too good for these at set weights.
RACE 9 (15) OPAL RIDGE: Impressive filly with a classy turn of foot. Wins if she brings her Scone form.
For Value
RACE 1 (9) QUEEN OF DRAGONS: Should find plenty on her debut run. Bigger track will suit.
RACE 3 (3) SKYMAN: Good miler. Suited by the quick back up from strong prep run last Saturday. Save on (5) SINAWANN.
RACE 4 (6) WARNING: Seems to be finding his old form. Can outstay these at his best.
RACE 5 (7) THE BIG GOODBYE: Excellent record over this course and distance. Hard fit and fights under pressure.
RACE 7 (6) TANNHAUSER: Showed class with high rating Randwick win. Can only get better.
QUADDIE
RACE 6: 1-3-8-12
RACE 7: 3-4-6-9-15-17
RACE 8: 5-9-12-13-18
RACE 9: 8-13-14-15
RANDWICK June 10:
Best Bets
RACE 7 (7) ACQUITTED: Kept fresh since his close third in a strong Scone Cup (1600m) on May 12. Drops into this suitable handicap over the same trip where he will jump from a soft draw with the advantage of a 1.5kg claim for top apprentice Dylan Gibbons. Plenty of chances in an open race but he rates to win on his Scone form.
RACE 8 (13) WEWILLROCK: Ex Kiwi 4YO made an excellent start to his Australian career with a game second under a big weight in a BM78 over 1200m at Rosehill where he split the subsequent winners Devil's Throat and Robusto. Now with John O'Shea, he jumps into a black type sprint but he boasts Group form in NZ and can only progress off his Rosehill effort with a 7.5kg weight drop to 53kg over this suitable shorter trip with Jay Ford certain to take full advantage of his inside draw.
RACE 9 (9) PIZARRO: Found the fitter Conscript a shade too strong first-up over 1100m at this course on May 27 and is certain to have taken plenty of benefit from the run. Sure to appreciate going to 1300m on his home track where he boasts an excellent record that includes running a the boom Stradbroke favourite Think About It to a half length over this distance in his last prep. Trusting that his rails draw is not a disadvantage late in the day with the rail out 3 metres.
For Value
RACE 1 (1) SOVEREIGN FUND (Value): Strong trial win since luckless in G2 company. Won first two starts and trial says he's back to that form.
RACE 4 (9) UNION ARMY (EW): Out of luck over this course and distance last time. Can swoop late under his light weight.
RACE 5 (8) KOUKLARA (Value): Never tested when badly blocked last time at Warwick Farm. Going well enough to match this field.
RACE 10 (7) YOSHINO (EW): Kept finding after a tough run to win first-up, keeping him unbeaten at this course. Can measure up in this strong form race.
Selections
RACE 1: (1) SOVEREIGN FUND; (3) Ozzmosis; (7) Royal Tribute; (2) Fleetwood
RACE 2: (3) SOAMI; (2) So Good So Cool; (5) Broken Arrows; (6) Nosey Parker
RACE 3: (17) ZOUATICA; (9) Sungblue; (14) Chase My Crown; (1) Cliff House
RACE 4: (9) UNION ARMY; (2) Iowna Merc; (1) Kibou; (6) Plundering
RACE 5: (8) KOUKLARA; (5) Peshmerga; (10) Centrestone; (7) Pharoah's Reign
RACE 6: (11) PASSEGGIATA; (8) Penthouse; (2) Our Bellagio Miss; (1) Boss Lady Rocks
RACE 7: (7) ACQUITTED; (10) Super Strike; (11) Niffler; (3) Brutality
RACE 8: (13) WEWILLROCK; (12) Spacewalk; (5) Conscript; (6) Dragonstone
RACE 9: (9) PIZARRO; (7) Manhood; (15) Super Pursuit; (1) Ucalledit
RACE 10: (7) YOSHINO; (4) Phearson; (10) Crafty Eagle; (14) Super Effort
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – June 10-13
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Sovereign Fund (R1); Royal Tribute (R1); Lord Heron (R2); Kibou (R4); I Am Lethal (R4); O'Tycoon (R4); Passeggiata (R6); Super Pursuit (R9)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Ranges (R5); Aft Cabin (R8); Ruthless Dame (R8); Sheeza Belter (R9); Revolutionary Miss (R9)
NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Misty Legend (R1); Exolent Choice (R1); Ruby Surprise (R3)
HAWKESBURY SUNDAY: Highway Patrol (R4); I Am Brazen (R6)
WARWICK FARM MONDAY: Joliestar (R1); Kitty Chat (R1); Ruby Surprise (R1); Watch My Girl (R1); Crusader Razor (R2); Sunlord (R2); Hellavadancer (R3); Darlington County (R6); Powerful Peg (R7); O'Tycoon (R8)
SCONE TUESDAY: Procrastinator (R3)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Epic Proportions; Nostalgia; Commemorative; Perennial; Sounds Of Heaven; Hawaii Five Oh; Iowna Merc; Tannhauser; Hellfire Express; Ozzmosis; Smart Legend; Fireburn; Overriding; Imrahor; Giga Kick; Divine Vicky; Flag Of Honour; Think About It; Vowmaster; Zia; Metallic Ruler; Tocomah; Moonlight Grace; New Mandate.
TRIAL POINTERS
RANDWICK June 2: Godolphin star AFT CABIN was the big name player, having a mid-prep trial to prime him for his crack at the G1 Stradbroke. He worked a treat to win his open heat over 1045m with ease, tracking the leaders and showing an impressive turn of foot to rail underneath them at the 300m and scoot clear for a soft win. His overall time wasn't flash (64.11; 34.33) but he is obviously in good health and did all that was required to win the heat by an easy 1.55 lengths. The third horse I AM LETHAL worked home strongly from last and was doing his best through the line, putting in his second eye catching trial in his build up for his return to racing. The brilliant filly PASSEGGIATA recorded another huge win in her 737m heat, showing her amazing short course speed to win the heat by more than nine lengths (43.45l 33.49) and could have gone quicker. The previously noted MISTY LEGEND won her 2YO heat over 1045m (63.42; 34.76) with another previous good trialler WATCH MY GIRL third. Both again showing they have obvious talent. In the other 1045m heat for 2YOspreviously noted unraced filly KITTY CHAT again made an impression finishing a strong third and is another youngster set for a big debut.
WARWICK FARM May 26: Last start G1 winner RUTHLESS DAME was kept up to the mark with a strong second in her open trial over 806m.She had the back of the classy Big Parade into the straight and worked through nicely underneath him from the 400m with the pair splitting the line together. She was working well within herself through the line and could have improved on the heat time (48.53; 34.26). SOVEREIGN FUND is set to improve sharply after two recent below par performances. Settled midfield in his 801m heat before he was taken across the heels of three leaders at the 400m to get clear air and never came off the bit as he cruised past, extending nicely to win in sharp time (47.76; 34.06). SUPER PURSUIT put in impressive work late in his 806m heat, (47.49; 33.65), running through the line in great style just as he did when a strong second in his first-up trial at this course on May 9. He's the winner of five races up to 1300m including two when first-up and looks well prepared to run boldly fresh.
GOSFORD May 26: Group winner KIBOU won the fastest 1000m heat (59.37; 35.05). It was solid progress on his first-up trial at Hawkesbury after his long recovery from injury as he worked strongly in a trial that had plenty of depth with an easy third by the Snowdens good mare REVOLUTIONARY MISS worth noting. The Snowden stable won 1000m heats with their quality performers RANGES (61.71; 35.17) and SHEEZA BELTER (61.88; 35.87) nut the pair recorded much slower times than KIBOU.
ROSEHILL May 19: Brilliant filly PASSEGGIATA turned on the jets to win her open heat over 900m by almost nine lengths. A winner of two of her first three starts, she is also unbeaten in trials and it's not the first time we have seen her display her natural speed to win by a big margin. She raced to an easy lead in the first 100m and at the 500m was leading by six with Rachel King sitting quietly on the Winning Rupert filly. She was in cruise mode over the last 200m and while her rivals were not put under pressure to chase she easily posted the fastest time in the nine heats over 900m (53.19; 34.16). Her stablemate O'TYCOON showed he has come up well with a strong win in his 900m heat (54.55; 35.06) after standing the leader a big start.
HAWKESBURY May 8: Classy 3YO KIBOU has had a good break since he missed the spring after his win in the G2 Up And Coming Stakes in August. Could not have made a better return winning the fastest 800m heat (46.33; 32.67), trailing the leader and picking him up with strong work over the last 100m with Regan Bayliss swinging to him.
RANDWICK December 13: First trial by strong Menari filly KITTY CHAT stamps her as a promising 2YO. Very much in the mould of her sire with a prominent white blaze, she was posted four wide from the start but was always travelling well within herself and showed her quality to round them up under a kind ride with an impressive action over the last 200m. The clock reaffirmed her quality as she posted the fastest time in the six heats over 740m featuring the quickest closing sectional (43.09; 32.80).
BLACKBOOK REPORT
Eligible Blackbook Runners – June 10-11
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Queen Of Dragons (R1); Sinawann (R3/R8); Numerian (R6); Snapback (R7); Make A Call (R7); Trifling (R7); Miss Joelene (R7); Palaisipan (R8); Tycoon Evie (R9); Salateen (R9)
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Super Strike (R7); Never Talk (R8); Super Pursuit (R9); Battleton (R10); Vienna Princess (R10); Cross The Rubicon (R10)
SANDOWN SATURDAY: He's Our Bonneval (R8)
SWAN HILL SUNDAY: Torranzino (R2); Packing Waltham (R8)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Manbehindthemoney; Robusto; Shaiyhar; Verifier; Miracle Of Love; Crafty Eagle; Naboo Star; Party For One; Vowmaster; Kovalica; I've Bean Tryin'; Preemptory; Giga Kick; Tarps; Atishu; Cardinal Gem; Nosey Parker; I Wish I Win; High Court; Zeyrek; Mr Brightside.
Blackbookers – Selected May 27
(Follow for next 3 starts)
BATTLETON; CHARTERHOUSE; DEEPOUR; DEFICIT; HELL HATH NO FURY; MISTER YU SHU; OSMOSE; TSARINA SOPHIA; WAHINE TOA; ZION
