Chris Scholtz - Early Thoughts
R&S Contributing Editor Chris Scholtz takes a look at tomorrow’s Sydney racing.
SELECTIONS
Rosehill Race 3 - 7 Archedemus
Added to growing reputation when he came off an impressive trial win to score first-up under 59.5kg over 1300m at Warwick Farm for his third win in just five starts.
Can only get better, especially as he will relish the soft track conditions after showing excellent wet track talent with a big nine lengths win in the heavy before a spell. Rise in class should not be a concern from favourable draw.
Ready for this class after coming back from a spell in a big way with a dominant win over 1100m at Warwick Farm on January 28, revelling in the heavy ground under 57.5kg.
All her three wins have been on affected tracks and no reason why she can’t extend that record with a handy 3.5kg drop in weight off her first-up win.
Ready to peak after two strong efforts since resuming, especially last time when he just failed to peg back stablemate Badajoz over 1000m at Warwick Farm when having his first test on a soft track.
In a wide open race he is sure to find the extra 100m to his liking with the re-application of blinkers and switch to a stronger rider key moves in his favour.
BLACKBOOK UPDATE from 16 February (Horses to follow at their next three starts)
Pohutukawa - Class filly. Big in size and talent.
Hursley - Certain improver.Stars Of Carrum - Strong start to his classic campaign.
Osborne Bulls - Must get his G1 win soon.Widgee Turf - Gave away too much start under big weight.
Macewen - Nothing went right. Stay with him.Recent Blackbook winners - Nakeeta Jane; In Her Time; Intuition; Reckless Choice; Rock; Andy’s A Star; Heptagon, Bons Away, Naantali; King Lear; Amercement; Harmattan; Sure Knee; Teodora; Gresham; Military Zone.
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS for 22/23 February
Moonee Valley (Fri) - Spanish Whisper (R7) and Multaja (R7)
Caulfield (Sat) - Sikandarabad (R1), Secret Blaze (R2), Futooh (R4), Zousain (R5), Land Of Plenty (R6), Shotmaker (R7), I’ll Have A Bit (R8) and Shillelagh (R9)Rosehill (Sat) - Purple Sector (R5), Savatiano (R7), Emperor’s Way (R8), Tangled (R8), Akasaki (R9) and Renewal (R9)
Eagle Farm (Sat) - Veladero (R3) and Fighting Teo (R4)TRIAL WATCH HORSES 22-25 Feb
Canterbury (Fri) - Mesmer (R1), Clear The Beach (R6) and Don’t Leave Me Out (R7)
Moonee Valley (Fri) - Multaja (R7)
Rosehill (Sat) - Caprera (R1), Tassort (R1), Born A Warrior (R2), Signore Fox (R3), Just Shine (R4), Golden Tycoon (R6), The Tenor (R6), Mansa Musa (R6), Wagner (R6), The Soloist (R6), Invictus Salute (R6), She’s Furline (R6), Baller (R6), I Am Serious (R7), Moss Trip (R7), Epidemic (R7), Dyslexic (R7), Camdus (R9) and Renewal (R9)
Born A Warrior (Rosehill 11 February) - Second trial for this $1.4 million colt by I Am Invincible and really showed his stuff as he led under restraint and easily opened up a big gap on the chasers from the 400m to the 200m before coasting to the line but still 3.8 clear at the finish. The merit of his effort lies in his fast time (53.99/34.30) for the 895m, far superior to the winning time by the boom colt TASSORT (55.79; 35.70) in his heat.
Faretti (Randwick 7 February) - There will be high expectations for this $2 million colt when he debuts after two impressive trial wins. This effort showed he has good field sense and can respond under pressure as he was steadied to get back after the start and was left six deep as he travelled into it from the 500m. He then put the foot down over the last 200m to burst clear and win by 1.8 lengths in the fastest time of all the 735m heats (43.12/33.50). Reliable form.
Moss Trip (Rosehill 11 February) - Quality mare has been off the scene since last winter but she looks in great form to resume after winning her 1030m heat in the fastest time (61.70) with a big surge from off the pace. Kerrin McEvoy rode her quietly in midfield six lengths off the lead until giving her the slightest encouragement 100m from the finish when the response was immediate. Super impressive running past her rivals with McEvoy sitting quietly.
Dyslexic (Rosehill 11 February) - Another class mare stood out in the 900m heats, sitting three deep in midfield before rounding up her rivals that included Redzel with ease under a hard held ride from Tommy Berry. She put the fastest 900m heat time and sectional on the board (54.44/34.30) in her first trial since November and suspect she will take plenty from this strong hitout.
Invictus Salute (Warwick Farm 10 August) - Lightly raced filly has had obvious issues since she went straight from a provincial maiden win to a black type placing at Scone last May. She produced this impressive trial win at the start of the season when she led at her ease and was never asked to extend and she has since had another three well-spaced trials showing the same talent to win twice and finish second in the other. Creates a lot of interest.
Caulfield (Sat) - Zousain (R5) and Spright (R8)
Gosford (Sat) - Adonis Victorious (R6) and Reconsider (R7)
Hawkesbury (Sun) - Bondi Boy (R4), Columbia (R5), Enfilade (R6) and Road To Heaven (R7)
Taree (Mon) - Nosey (R4)
Nowra (Mon) - Baaed (R7) and Reconsider (R7)
Recent Trial winners - Tuesday Special; Classique Legend; Miss Antares; Winx; Archedemus; God Of Thunder; Gem Song; Fiesta; Carambola; Trope; Amercement; McLaren; Alizee.
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.
