Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Randwick meeting on September 21 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.
RANDWICK September 21
Good 4; Rail True
Best Bets
RACE 5 (11) CEOWULF: Laid down a strong marker for the spring with his impressive second up win over 1500m at Rosehill on August 31 when he showed a classy turn of foot under 60kg. Followed up with a soft win over rival Golden Path in a 1200m trial that ensures his fitness for the step up to 2000m, a distance that presents no issues after his G1 placings in the Rosehill Guineas and ATC Derby last season.
RACE 8 (6) FANGIRL: Ideal second up target for this top class mare – she was third in this race last year - after her excellent first-up third in the G1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at this course where the race pattern from a wide gate played against her. Excellent closing sectional when she made up five lengths over the last 250m to be beaten less than a length and with a better run this time she should have them covered over the extra trip. An easy conditioning trial since the Winx ensures she will strip at her peak.+
RACE 9 (6) I AM ME: Added to her impressive record with a classy first-up win in the G3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at this course on September 7, giving her three wins from four starts at Randwick. She is also the winner of four of her six starts over 1100m and with a 2kg drop in weight from a favourable draw she has everything in her favour to extend that record.
Selections
RACE 1: (11) EL CASTELLO; (7) Flying Bandit; (9) (5) State Of America; (13) Ambassadors
RACE 2: (1) PERENNIAL; (4) She's Exotic; (9) Saratoga Power; (7) Ticklebelly
RACE 3: (1) GALERON; (6) Bear On The Loose; (5) Floating; (2) St Lawrence
RACE 4: (14) PURE ALPHA; (10) Well Timed; (6) Thunderlips; (18) Sharp Shock
RACE 5: (11) CEOLWULF; (12) Golden Path; (6) Eliyass; (8) Adelaide River
RACE 6: (8) GRINGOTTS; (4) Tom Kitten; (14) Scarlet Oak; (1) Amenable
RACE 7: (1) MANAAL; (6) Autumn Glow; (3) Erno's Cube; (7) More Territories
RACE 8: (6) FANGIRL; (7) Zougotcha; (3) Royal Patronage; (2) Detonator Jack
RACE 9: (6) I AM ME; (1) Private Eye; (12) Mumbai Muse; (3) Stefi Magnetica
RACE 10: (3) MORAVIA; (8) Battleton; (2) Kibou; (14) Atmospheric Rock
Why They Can Win….
RACE 1: (11) EL CASTELLO - First-up maiden win confirmed his potential. Big improver with 7kg drop in weight.
RACE 2: (1) PERENNIAL – Has the right profile and trialling well. Drawn to come off the back of the speed.
RACE 3: (1) GALERON - Holding his form well. Very fit and 3kg claim helps in an open race.
RACE 4: (14) PURE ALPHA – Better than latest effort. Ready to rebound off a quiet trial.
RACE 6: (8) GRINGOTTS - Strong trial win. Conditions suit first-up.
RACE 7: (1) MANAAL - Classy G2 win second up and she'll be fitter again. G1 winner this course and distance.
RACE 10: (3) MORAVIA - Fine effort first up in Group company. Back to his right class with J Mac aboard.
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – September 20-22
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Humanity (R1); Pure Alpha (R4); Café Millenium (R6); Amenable (R6); Tom Kitten (R6); Scarlet Oak (R6); Gringotts (R6); Stefi Magnetica (R9); Mazu (R9)
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Commemorative (R6); Huetor (R8); Fawkner Park (R8); Depth Of Character (R9); Revolutionary Miss (R10)
NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Zoubaby (R3); Creek (R4); Mane Character (R5); River Pat (R6); Restonica (R8)
NOWRA SUNDAY: Cashburn (R7)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Amelita; Ellipsis; Sunshine In Paris; Lady Shenandoah; Traffic Warden; Dashing Rupert; Opal Fields; Royal Patronage; Watch My Girl; Deconstruction; Briasa; Storm Boy; Asuriita; Last Command; Spirit Of Wealth; Countyourblessings; Kimochi; Via Sistina; Ameena; Joliestar; Wave Breaker; Agenda Setter; Enriched; Starmae; Lilac
TRIAL POINTERS
RANDWICK Sept 9: In the first black type heat (1000m) MAZU showed he retains plenty of zest, leading under a good hold to record a soft win (60.13; 34.33) over other G1 stars that included STEFI MAGNETICA and FANGIRL. None were put under any pressure with only 2.5 lengths covering the six runners across the line. The pair that looked good in their late work were the Stradbroke winner STEFI MAGNETICA (2nd) and exciting mare SCARLET OAK (4th). FANGIRL (5th) was merely out for conditioning work. The second heat over 1000m saw impressive late work from off the pace by the winner AMENABLE and runner-up REVOLUTIONARY MISS. They sprinted to the line in faster time than the first heat (59.82; 33.96) and look set for good campaigns. There were numerous good efforts In the A grass trials including a strong second by the big mare COMMEMORATIVE.
WYONG Sept 9: A strong winning trial by GRINGOTTS indicates he can carry on with the super form he displayed in the late autumn. Ciaron Maher spelled GRINGOTTS after he reeled off three successive wins including the Tamworth Cup and a Listed race in Brisbane, taking his career record to seven wins from 13 starts. This was his second trial since his spell and he had no trouble running past the leader to record a soft win in his 1200m heat (72.30; 34.95) that will have him ready for a bold first-up performance.
ROSEHILL September 5: TOM KITTEN was given an easy tick over trial following his first-up win, working easily under a big hold to finish second in a slow 1030m heat (64.27' 34.69) that he could have won if J Mac had let him off the leash. Maiden heat winners with good prospects include ZOUBABY.
RANDWICK August 30: The big boy CAFÉ MILLENEIUM put in another strong trial to finish second in the faster of two black type heats over 900m (53.20; 33.10).
RANDWICK August 19: In a black type heat over 850m (51.00; 34.16) the trial that took the eye was the closing third of CAFÉ MILLENIUM as he ran through the line with plenty to offer. FAWKNER PARK had an easy time settling at the rear and was never asked for a serious effort.
BLACKBOOK REPORT
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – September 20-22
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Snowman (R3); Hollywood Hero (R4); Thunderlips (R4); Adelaide River (R5); Athabascan (R5); Erno's Cube (R7); More Territories (R7); Moravia (R10); Battleton (R10)
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Sassy Boom (R3); Que Tempesta (R7); Feroce (R9); Sergeant Major (R9)
GOLD COAST SATURDAY: Blaze A Trail (R6)
MORPHETTVILLE SATURDAY: Aviatress (R6)
FLEMINGTON SUNDAY: Le Mans (R2)
BLACKBOOKERS – Selected September 14
(Follow for next 3 starts)
FAY'S ANGELS; FIRST LIGHT; LINEBACKER; SKYBIRD; SYMPHONY OF COLOUR; TANNAHUSER; VICTORY LANE
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Unlimited; Sunshine In Paris; Unusual Legacy; Spring Lee; Ceolwulf; The Englishman; Boom Torque; Kundalini; Daytona; Hellavadancer; Yorkshire; Amigo; House Of Cards; Shiny New Deel; Invader Zim; Rogue Bear; Piastri; Madame Odette; Kapakiri; Batrana; Aramco; Don Diego De Vega; Rezone
