Chris Scholtz - Early Thoughts

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

SELECTIONS

Randwick Race 3 - 2 Sylvia's Mother

Race sets up as a clash between the Victorian speedster Star Fall, who is going for four straight, and this filly who holds big upside after winning three of her four starts. She proved she was above average running big sectionals to score last time over 1100m at Canterbury where she beat two subsequent winners carrying 59kg.

Expect similar here as she drops 4kg and gets 3.5kg off Star Fall, a weight difference that could be too much for the topweight with the filly stalking him all the way.

Very fit mare progressing strongly through the benchmark system winning three of her six starts this prep including two of her last three.

Rebounded strongly from an unlucky fourth over 1200m at Randwick to record impressive last start win over the same course and distance on January 12 when she overcame a poor start and a chequered passage to score going away by a clear margin.

She is back to 1100m but stays in the same class and while rising 2.5kg will enjoy the fast pace she needs to offset the drop back in distance.

Randwick Race 8 - 8 Sondelon

Lightly-raced 4YO is primed for a big return off two impressive trials placings where he has not been let off the leash, indicating he has plenty to offer fresh.

Made an impact winning two of his four starts in his first prep before taking on G3 company prior to his spell. Stamped to go forward from wide gate to lead and from there can dictate the terms, making him hard to run down on his home track.

BLACKBOOK UPDATE from 19 January (Horses to follow at their next three starts)

Battlecamp - Building nicely towards middle distances.

The Avenger - Sound fresh effort. Obviously likes it longer.

Recent Blackbook winners - Harmattan; Sure Knee; Teodora; Gresham; Military Zone; Nahuel; So Si Bon; Easy Eddie; Miss Norway; Our Crown Mistress; My Nordic Hero; Kentucky Breeze.

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS for 25-28 January

Randwick (Sat) - Highway Sixtysix (R2), Toryjoy (R4), Roman Son (R5), Berdibek (R5), Reckless Choice (R8) and Dealmaker (R8)

Sunshine Coast (Sat) - Mishani Bullitt (R8)

TRIAL WATCH HORSES Jan 25-28

Moonee Valley (Fri) - Royal Hootenany (R5)

Randwick (Sat) - Espaaniyah (R1), Aussie (R1), Dawn Passage (R1), For Love (R1), Lucicello (R1), Flow (R7), Wayanka (R8), Domed (R8), Sondelon (R8) and Dealmaker (R8)

Espanniyah (Randwick 11 January) - The connections of this classy youngster would have been happy with her trial. The fast Moonee Valley winner was always travelling well within herself to safely hold off challengers and win her heat with plenty in reserve (43.51; 33.60).

Endless Drama (Rosehill 15 January) - All eyes were on Winx in the first 900m heat on the course proper but this stablemate was in excellent form having his first trial since a having bone chips removed, running easily in front and holding a comfortable lead over a classy bunch for a clear cut win with plenty up his sleeve. Should come on nicely from a heart where the form looks very strong.

Flow (Rosehill 15 January) - Back from his first-up run in Brisbane and right on his game in his 1030m heat, cruising easily in the lead from the start and held back to his rivals over the last 200m for a soft 1.8 length win. Ready to return to the excellent form he displayed last prep.

Newcastle (Sat) - Elgin (R2), Bollywood (R3) and Be Mindful (R4)

Bollywood (Rosehill 2 January) - She was placed behind the classy Hightail at Kembla on debut and it was hard to miss her hard held fourth with plenty to offer in her heat behind a good type in EGYPTIAN MISSILE in a fast heat (54.68;35.30).

Wyong (Sun) - Bastille Grey (R1), Mameli (R1), Superbowl Sunday (R1), Swizler (R4), Modernity (R4), Tough Larry (R6), Rectitude (R7) and Tikitala (R7)

Swizeler (Warwick Farm 8 January) - A 4YO maiden mare by Choisir produced a sharp piece of work to lead a strong open company heat over 804m and do it easily to beat the classy CHAMPAGNE CUDDLES and other noted winners in easily the fastest time for the distance (47.02; 33.50) with a lot in hand. Her only start saw her placed at Scone back in November of 2017 and she obviously has the talent to repay her connections for their patience.

Modernity (Warwick Farm 8 January) - Nice effort from this unraced filly by Foxwedge to track four and five wide in the lead in her 800m heat before spearing away over the last 200m for a soft win, posting good overall time and closing sectionals (47.47; 33.90). She has been well educated with four trials, this being her first since she won at Rosehill heat that we noted back in September. Talented.

Warwick Farm (Mon) - Autumn (R1), Canzonet (R1), Kylease (R1), Lashes (R1), Tough Larry (R5) and Nordicus (R7)

Kylease (Warwick Farm 27 December) - We noted the trial win by this unraced Choisir filly at Warwick Farm on December 18 and this effort confirmed that she has gone ahead in the right manner as she heads towards what should be a worthy race debut. She pulled her way to an easy lead after 150m in her 807m heat and from there travelled well within herself sitting four and five off the rail to win untouched by a good margin in excellent sectional time for the session (46.90; 32.60). Nice filly who had a further trial with an easy second at Warwick Farm on January 22.

Recent Trial winners - Call Me Royal; Itz Lily; Accession; Uralla Kingdom; Grand Exit; Paris In May; Cool One; Safado.

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.