Chris Scholtz - Early Thoughts
R&S Contributing Editor Chris Scholtz takes a look at tomorrow’s Sydney racing.
SELECTIONS
This is one smart 3YO with so much potential it’s hard to judge just how far he might go by the end of the spring. Last season he went from a maiden win to a G2 placing and fourth in the Magic Millions Classic and he’s again on a fast upward spiral after a terrific second up win over 1400m at this course on October 7.
Showed class to fight them off after sitting three wide under 59.5kg and there’s no doubt he has the talent to shake this field under the set weight scale. A win in the wet last season also negates any concern about track conditions.
Certain to be fitter after making a good impression in this class at his second start after a spell when he worked to the line for a strong third over this course and distance on October 7.
Showed promise in the autumn when he was fourth in the G1 Randwick Guineas on his way to a Derby start and that form stands up well in this company. Looks to have matured nicely with his spell.
Randwick Race 9 - 11 New Universe
This lightly-raced former Kiwi made quite an impact on his arrival in Sydney in the autumn by winning successive sprint races at Rosehill for the Waller stable.
The signs are good that he is ready start his new prep in similar form after he cruised through a recent Rosehill trial under an easy with plenty to offer if he had been asked for an effort.
He’s unbeaten when fresh and it’s notable that three of his of his four wins have been on soft tracks so he may get conditions to suit if the Sydney forecast is right.
BLACKBOOK UPDATE from 14 October (Horses to follow at their next three starts)
Impending - Super first-up second by the Stradbroke winner.
Vega Magic - Barrier and track pattern cost him dearly.Encryption - Plenty of upside with this youngster.
Wall Of Fire - Big Melbourne Cup trial.Johannes Vermeer - Classy start to his campaign.
Inference - Building nicely into the Cups.Rock Magic - Quality sprinter.
Recent Blackbook winners - Victory Downs; Bergerac; Screamarr; Brave Smash; Almandin; Hardham; Harlem; Sin To Win; Foundry; Goodfella; Interlocuter; Amelie’s Star; Aloisia; Rich Charm.
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS for 21 October
Caulfield (Sat) - Tangled (R4), Turnitaround (R5), Danish Twist (R6), Abbey Marie (R8), Inference (R8), Johannes Vermeer (R8), Foxplay (R9), Ravi (R9) and Shillelagh (R9)
Randwick (Sat) - Fiesta (R1), Our Mantra (R2), Zenalicious (R8) and Impavido (R8)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.
