Chris Scholtz - Early Thoughts

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

SELECTIONS

Randwick Race 1 - 4 Rule The River

Unbeaten in two starts since resuming from long spell and the sequence can continue as she is again well placed to add to her growing record.

After winning first-up over 1100m at Canterbury beating the talented Festivity she came back in distance to 1000m for another impressive win at Warwick Farm and now gets the chance to win for the first time on her home track where her only start produced a placing over this trip.

Randwick Race 5 - 6 Quick Strike

Having just his third attempt at 2400m and on past efforts should prove hard to beat, having finished fifth in Mongolian Khan’s ATC Derby last autumn and a last start third behind Jiayuguan at Rosehill when he carried 61kg and conceded 2.5kg to the winner.

Tumbles to the limit and needless to say he definitely has the weights in his favour this time. Get the feeling Chris Waller has had this robust gelding set for these summer staying races from the start of this prep.

Randwick Race 7 - 15 God's In Him

Expecting the lightweights to play a big hand in the Villiers with this talented 6YO an excellent gamble in the big field.

He’s three from five at Randwick and they include a win over the Villiers course last summer beating the subsequent G1 winner Good Project. A light spring saw him finish second in the G2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill splitting Vashka and Messene and then go eight weeks before his last start fourth under 61kg over 1400m at that course when he was anchored by 61kg.

He’ll be in the thick of this carrying only 53kg from an ideal draw

BLACKBOOK UPDATE from 5 December (Randwick & Sandown)

Tarquin - Nailed on the line by a fitter rival. Classy.

Clearly Innocent - Should not take long to make up for this luckless effort.

Mahican - Encouraging first-up effort for new trainer.

Black Jag - Building up for another good staying campaign.

Reldas - Definitely needs something longer than 1000m.

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS for 12/13 December

Randwick (Sat) - Bank On Henry (R2), Lady Sniper (R6), Puccini (R7), Ryker (R9) and Magical Stance (R9)

Flemington (Sat) - Gracious Prospect (R4) and Sistine Demon (R8)

Werribee (Sun) - Tall Ship (R6)

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.