Chris Scholtz - Early Thoughts

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

SELECTIONS

Randwick Race 3 - 5 Ave

We don’t get many Highway races for the country horses over this extended trip but it has drawn a competitive lot with this Bathurst-trained gelding offering good value in an open race.

He recorded a strong 1600m win at the end of his last prep and gets to this trip third up after two promising efforts in shorter races when he has impressed with his eagerness to find the line.

This will be his first try beyond 1600m but his latest effort at this course over 1400m when he struck trouble coming from way too far back on a heavy track suggests he will relish this trip.

Randwick Race 4 - 5 Just Dreaming

This Kris Lees-trained mare is a second up specialist, recording three wins and a second in that mode, and that adds to her appeal under these conditions as she has never missed a place in five starts on soft tracks and is getting significant weight relief from her main rivals in the small field.

She resumed with arguably her best ever first-up performance when third over this same course and distance on October 6 after setting the pace and the expected improvement she should take from that effort will make her a much tougher rival this time.

Randwick Race 6 - 1 Revenire

Deservedly carries the topweight in this BM78 but still looks well placed on his excellent record under big weights in similar company, an example being that he gave 5kg to Brook Magic when beaten only 0.4 lengths in a similar race in June and now meets him 3kg better.

He’s been placed in all four Randwick starts and can only improve off his strong first-up second to his stablemate Esperance in this same class over this course and distance on October 13 when he surged home down the outside fence in the heavy ground under 60kg.

BLACKBOOK UPDATE from 20 October (Horses to follow at their next three starts)

Aloisia - Positive signs. We know she’s good when on song.

Eawase - Did her best work late. Getting close.

Zoutori - Impeded by riderless horse. Cost him a place.

Star Missile - Looks capable over more ground.

New Universe - Sound first-up effort.

Pelethronius - Worth following with this run under his belt.

Recent Blackbook winners - Verry Elleegant; Ranier; Street Tough; Savacool; Ringerdingding; Sesar; Tamasa; Diplomatico; Homesman; Patrick Erin; Oohood; God Of Thunder; Miss Admiration; The Autumn Run; Noire; Mickey Blue Eyes; Akkadian

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS for 27 October

Moonee Valley (Sat) - Biscara (R1), Savatiano (R3), El Dorado Dreaming (R6), Duca Valentinois (R7), Sir John Lavery (R7), Egg Tart (R8), Big Duke (R8), Tosen Basil (R8) and Dealmaker (R10)

Randwick (Sat) - Royal Celebration (R2), Revenire (R6) and Generalissimo (R9)

Trentham (Sat) - Wyndspelle (R8)

TRIAL WATCH HORSES

Canterbury (Fri) - Intrepidacious (R1), River Bird (R2) and Pierina (R8)

Moonee Valley (Fri) - Kementari (R7)

Kementari (Randwick 15 October) - Despite the heavy conditions the Group One star settled easily three wide and two lengths off the leaders and from there he simply went through the motions to finish an unextended second, beaten less than a length. He has obviously freshened up nicely and is set to go to the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley in cracking form.

Randwick (Sat) - Fabrizio (R4), Sambro (R4) and Kawaikini (R9)

Fabrizio (Randwick 15 October) - Invariably trials well and should be ready to run a race fresh.

Sambro (Randwick 15 October) - Was having an easy time of it but notably was strongest in the last 50 metres when he ran through the line with relish.

Moonee Valley (Sat) - Espaaniyah (R1) and Guard Of Honour (R2)

Kembla Grange (Sat) - Loved One (R2), River Bird (R2), Black Sunrise (R3), Valiant (R3), Excelling (R4), Poetic Charmer (R4), Plaisir (R6), Wolfe (R8) and De Valera (R8)

Loved One (Randwick 28 September) - Nice effort from a maiden who had only one start at Newcastle in July. He was given plenty of time to find his feet in his 1050m heat then made his run wide from the 400m, putting in very nice work for a strong second. Stable has been patient.

Black Sunrise (Randwick 15 October) - Has had five trials and his strong heat win in quick time augers well for his prospects when produced.

Poetic Charmer (Randwick 15 October) - Nice type from the Snowden stable. He has won only once in 10 starts but he has the ability to progress when he resumes after running home strongly from midfield.

Wolfe (Randwick 15 October) - Unraced import bred in Japan. Caught the eye late and is worth watching on debut.

De Valera (Randwick 15 October) - Previously noted in earlier trial and he was again responsible for a good effort, being last and wide before making up a lot of ground late.

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.