Chris Scholtz - Early Thoughts

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

SELECTIONS

Randwick Race 3 - 1 Cristobal

Confident this has been a target race for this Godolphin filly with two lead-up efforts in stronger company fitting her well for her first start over 1400m.

Her only start on a soft track last season resulted in a debut win over the classy Miss Fabulass before she was placed in the G3 Magic Night behind Sunlight, form that is an excellent reference for this company.

Last start when second up she really found the line when a close third behind the good colt Gem Song over 1300m at Rosehill, an effort that sets her up perfectly for the return to her own sex, notably with blinkers on for the first time.

Randwick Race 8 - 12 Egg Tart

Have to stick with this class mare after her last start third in the Hill Stakes when she was perhaps a run short and probably felt the firm track.

Now we have had a week of rain and with that extra race behind her, this has to be her right day as she is a nob in the wet and her record shows she gets better the further she gets into a preparation.

She boasts four wins from five starts on soft and heavy ground and will have no fitness excuses now that she has that 2000m run under her belt.

Randwick Race 9 - 5 One Foot In Heaven

With most of his rivals coming out of the ATC Metropolitan with some considerable weight variations, I’m happy to rely on this import’s strong fourth under the WFA conditions of the Hill Stakes (2000m) to have given him the right grounding for his first Australian start beyond 2000m.

He’s a G2 winner of six races from 1900m to 2400m in the UK and France and with four of those wins on soft tracks there is plenty of confidence in the Waller stable that he is set to find that form now that he gets out to a decent rip with some favourable give in the ground.

BLACKBOOK UPDATE from 6 October (Horses to follow at their next three starts)

Ranier - Good thing beaten.

Verry Elleegant - Great start to her Oaks build-up.

Youngstar - Winx form is as good as you get.

Savatiano - Would have made it interesting with a clear shot.

Sir John Lavery - Watch out for him over more ground.

Warranty - Gave up too much start in tough conditions.

Etymology - Certain to benefit from sound first-up effort.

Recent Blackbook winners - Ringerdinding; Sesar; Tamasa; Diplomatico; Homesman; Patrick Erin; Oohood; God Of Thunder; Miss Admiration; The Autumn Run; Noire; Mikey Blue Eyes; Akkadian; Night’s Watch; Best Of Days; Isaurian; Haripour; All Too Soon.

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS for 13/14 October

Randwick (Sat) - Araaja (R4), After All That (R5), In Her Time (R7), Egg Tart (R8) and Sikandarabad (R9)

Caulfield (Sat) - Duca Valentinois (R2), Graceful Storm (R3), El Dorado Dreaming (R6), Shillelagh (R7), Tosen Basil (R8), D’Argento (R8), Good ‘N’ Fast (R9), The August (R9) and Big Duke (R10)

Hamilton (Sat) - Tezlah (R5)

Cranbourne (Sun) - Sheezdashing (R8)

TRIAL WATCH HORSES

Randwick (Sat) - Disruptor (R1), Speedycom (R1), Anaheed (R1), Stampede (R4), Araaja (R4), After All That (R5), Victorem (R5), Egyptian Symbol (R7), Revenire (R10), Beacon (R10) and Blue Tycoon (R10)

Disruptor (Rosehill 2 October) - Gary Portelli-trained Dissident youngster was second to the subsequent Breeders Plate winner Dubious at the Randwick trials on September 17 and improved off that to record an impressive 900m heat win despite doing plenty wrong.

He was up on the speed before running wide on the point of the turn and took 100m to balance before sprinting past the leaders for a strong win in a fast closing sectional. Has been well educated as he followed up with a third trial at Warwick Farm last Monday where he wasn’t asked for anything serious in the heavy ground. Has the ability.

The Kosciuszko - The open class trial of note featured Kosciuszko contenders VICTOREM and AFTER ALL THAT.

The Port Macquarie-trained VICTOREM had won a trial at Taree on September 16 but this time was given a much easier time by his race jockey Ben Looker, settling well off the speed before picking up ground easily from the 500m under a hold. He was only allowed some rein in the last 200m and it was hard to miss him making ground quickly over the last 100m to be fourth across the line.

AFTER ALL THAT was very similar as he was also given an easy time through the first half and was never asked for a serious effort at any stage, working home easily along the rail to finish 1.5 lengths behind Victorem.

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.