Chris Scholtz previews the All Aged Stakes meeting at Randwick on April 16 with selections for all races plus Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports.

RANDWICK April 16

Best Bets

RACE 3 (4) STRAIGHT ARRON: This meeting throws up several short priced favourites on a heavy surface but this impressive 3YO looks a safe play with his expected progression from his classy last start win in the G3 Carbine Club over 1600m in similar conditions at this course two weeks ago. It was just his second win in three starts and confirmed his potential as he was a class above them recording outstanding sectionals (fastest last 200m of the day) after making a long run against a slow on pace bias. Should eat up 2000m on that performance.

RACE 6 (3) BIG PARADE: Another of the shorties but justified after his excellent first-up second in the G1 Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill when he gave 5kg to the winner and was beaten only a head after he had to work hard three wide outside the lead. The form out of the Galaxy is strong and sets him up perfectly for his return to Randwick where he has won three of his five starts, all over this distance. There have been the occasional hiccups in his career but he's won eight from 17 starts and is at his best on affected ground (5 slow/heavy wins and 3 placings from 8 starts). His stable has won this race twice in the last four years and he maps to get an e much easier time in the lead than he endured in the Galaxy.

Best Value

RACE 2 (11) CONTRIBUTINGFACTOR: Strong performances since resuming. Ready for this.

RACE 7 (2) POLLY GREY: Honest mare sure to run well in her favoured conditions.

RACE 8 (1) MO'UNGA: Take on trust as he's the one to beat if he brings his best form to the party.

RACE 10 (9) APRIL RAIN: Quality mare has had a good break since her three luckless spring starts under bigger weights and is primed for a strong return after her eye catching fifth in a recent 900m trial at Rosehill when she went to the line untested after she ran out of room in the last 100m. Her effort ticked all the boxes and indicates she is ready to live up to her early promise when she won three of her first four starts. First try in the heavy under race conditions but her trials on soft and heavy surfaces have been good.

Selections

RACE 1: 9-10-17-19

RACE 2: 11-15-6-7

RACE 3: 4-3-5-1

RACE 4: 5-6-1-2

RACE 5: 2-5-7-1

RACE 6: 3-1-8-2

RACE 7: 2-7-1-3

RACE 8: 1-10-14-8

RACE 9: 7-16-8-5

RACE 10: 9-6-20-14

TRIAL WATCH REPORT – April 16-18

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Kementari (R6); Count De Rupee (R6); Fituese (R6); Purple Sector (R7); Cliffs Art (R9); Huetor (R9); Kirwan's Lane (R9); Acquitted (R10); Exotic Ruby (R10); April Rain (R10)

EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Written Beauty (R8); Catesby (R8); Duchess (R8)

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Najmaty (R5)

KEMBLA GRANGE SATURDAY: Daichi (R3); Owen County (R4);

WARWICK FARM MONDAY: Tavi L'Amour (R1); Giancarlo (R3); Captain Kenny (R3); Tomislava (R3); King Of The Castle (R4); Cushy; Showtime Lady (R5); Our Bellagio Miss (R6); Satin Ribbons (R6); King Kapa (R6); Daichi (R7); Democracy Manifest (R7). 

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: I'm Secret; Best Side; Moroccan Lad; More Sundays; Coco Rox; Paris Dior; Quiet Riot; Largo Winch; Czar; Heresy; Zeminnika; Zain's Girl; Strombus; Jamesonheart; Norman; Vilana; Voldemort; Sinaloa; Comrade Rosa; I Am Me; Kinloch; Nominator.

TRIAL POINTERS

WARWICK FARM April 11 (Polytrack): COUNT DE RUPEE showed he was ready to improve sharply on his recent efforts with a bold second in his 740m heat. 33.56). He worked to the line strongly from the back half under a cold ride after covering ground on the turn.

WARWICK FARM April 1: Godolphin stalwart KEMENTARI produced one of the best trials of the morning with a surging finish in his 740m heat won by the lesser performed Crazy Train (44.50; 34.12). It was his first outing since January and the way he split runners over the last 100m under a cold ride from Nash Rawiller says he can still be a player at any level. SHOWTIME LADY won a hollow open trial in the quickest of the two heats over 1175m (71.03; 36.52). In the maiden heat over 1175m HYDE, well supported in his first start at Warwick Farm, had blinkers on and dominated to lead easily and score by six lengths (71.43; 36.62).

RANDWICK April 4:  The closing second of KIRWAN'S LANE in a fast 1045m heat (63.86; 35.53) was one of the eye catching performances of the session. Classy import HEUETOR (75.07; 35.53) won a1200m heat with an impressive surge from off the pace s in a warm up for his Queensland campaign. The efforts of CLIFF'S ART and PURPLE SECTOR to finish second in the 1200m heats had merit. Regular trial star SATIN RIBBONS was responsible for another fast win, speeding away with the quickest 1045m heat (63.20; 36.08). She held a break of almost 10 lengths at one stage before her margin was cut to just over three lengths, noting that she posted negative splits as she flew the gates to run her first 445m in a fast 27.12 before coming home in a slow 36.08. Maiden runners to make an impression included an easy third by TAVI L'AMOUR in her 1045m heat and a strong fourth by the unraced filly TOMISLAVA in the open 3YO heat.

ROSEHILL March 22: The punctuated career of APRIL RAIN is back on track judging by her strong fifth in her 900m trial. As usual showed no early speed before working into the trial from the 400m under a cold ride by Tommy Berry. Went to the line untested as she ran out of room over the last 50 metres when just starting to extend but her effort ticked all the boxes – surely it's time for her to live up to her early promise.

RANDWICK March 18: The Snowden-trained import HUETOR is unbeaten in Australia and his solid third in a strong 1200m heat was a nice start to a prep that should take him to Brisbane where the Doomben Cup would be an ideal target. SATIN RIBBONS (63.29; 35.43) posted the fastest time of the nine heats over 1050m the trip, showing her usual speed to lead by a big space before throttling back over the last 100m.

RANDWICK March 3 (Polytrack): SATIN RIBBONS showed her usual speed to post the quickest 780m heat win (45.07; 33.02) in her first trial since November.

RANDWICK February 17: NAJMATY took the eye as she had plenty in reserve working to the line for second in her 743m heat (43.68; 33.17). Won another 1050m heat at Randwick on March 18.

GOSFORD March 18: ACQUITTED, an import in the Lees stable yet to race in Australia, confirmed the talent he displayed in a Newcastle trial in October 5 with a closing second in in his 800m heat (50.42; 35.69). One to keep tabs on as a Brisbane carnival prospect.

NEWCASTLE October 27: ACQUITTED is a 5YO newcomer from the UK with two wins from 11 starts up to 1600m. Looks a nice prospect judging by the way he worked to the line from the back half for a soft win in his 1000m heat (60.11; 34.26).

BLACKBOOK REPORT

Eligible Blackbook Runners – April 16-18

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Party For One (R5); Mo'Unga (R8); Laws Of Indices (R8); Hungry Heart (R8); In The Congo (R8); April Rain (R10)

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Through Irish Eyes (R3); Mamounia (R4); Juan Diva (R6); Zayydani (R7); Milford (R7); Douceur (R9)

EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Enterprise Prince (R5); Je Suis Belle (R8)

STAWELL SUNDAY: Celtic Glory (R1); Milford (R7); Queen Of Wizardry (R8)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: El Patroness; Mr Brightside; Bullfinch; Daisies; Athelric; Maserartie Bay; Express Pass; Blackcomb; Mac 'N' Cheese; Duais; Star Of Michelin; Kinloch; She's Extreme; Zeyrek; Finance Tycoon; Comica; War Eternal; Rose Quartz; Mightybeel; Devil's Throat; Stray.

Blackbookers – Selected April 9

(Follow for next 3 starts)

AHEADOFHISTIME: Watch for him midweek.

APRES LA MER: Nice prep for something easier.

BISCAYNE BAY: Game Oaks effort. Quality filly.

DREAMREACHER: Forgive run.

GO WANDJI: Next time in something longer.

MAGIC MAX: Luckless. Plenty of ability.

RUDHYAR: Good staying potential.

PORT ALBERT: Promising debut.

TRICKY GAL: Another Group placing. Deserves one.