Chris Scholtz - Early Thoughts

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

SELECTIONS

Randwick Race 4 - 8 Sweet Deal

Came off promising trials to debut with an impressive third in the Widden Stakes at Rosehill where she showed talent to hold third after a tough run sitting three wide outside the lead.

Has to overcome an awkward gate but counting on the benefit she will have taken from her first race to cross early and from there she should prove hard to run down.

Randwick Race 7 - 4 Royal Navy

Progressive three-year-old has impressed since the addition of blinkers by recording strong back to back 1400m wins at Kembla Grange and Rosehill and should have little trouble coping with the extra 200m on his home track.

He’s been placed three times on affected ground and suspect he still has plenty more to offer as he gains experience.

Randwick Race 9 - 2 Pearls

Class mare resumes under suitable conditions after a soft conditioning trial. Boasts a strong first-up record of two wins from three starts when resuming and that is backed up by an excellent win record at Randwick.

That includes a victory first-up in the G3 Toy Show Quality (1300m) last August beating Dixie Blossoms. Expecting a similar effort here.

BLACKBOOK UPDATE from 4 February (Randwick & Caulfield)

Circular - Good mare resumed with an eye catcher.

Denmagic - Strong start to her autumn program. Has class.

Tower Of Song - Working up to a win in the right class.

Spoils - Handy effort in what may be a good form race.

Night Voyage - Watch for him to bob up midweek.

Zasorceress - Poorly judged ride on a biased track.

Recent Blackbook winners - Oak Door; Most Exalted; Imposing Lass; Invienna; Deep Image; Wheal Leisure; Hipparchus; Ocean Embers; Nemrud.

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS for 11 February

Randwick (Sat) - Astronomos (R1), Sweet Deal (R4), Magic Hurricane (R6), Shiraz (R6), Rocket Commander (R9) and Barood (R10)

Caulfield (Sat) - De Little Engine (R1), Divine Mr Artie (R8), Rocket Commander (R9) and Denpurr (R9)

Doomben (Sat) - Dylan’s Luck (R3) and Havasay (R5)

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.