Chris Scholtz - Early Thoughts

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

SELECTIONS

Warwick Farm Race 3 - 5 Single Bullet

The talent has always been there from day one, it just took Gary Portelli time to unlock how to get the best out of this classy 4YO. First it was having him gelded and then the masterstroke – keeping him fresh and focusing on 1000m sprints.

That methodology has seen him win two of his last three starts over 1000m with breaks of 42 days and 35 days beforehand.

He’s gone back to the well again for this race, giving him 28 days since his latest win at Randwick and again taking advantage of the 2kg claim for top apprentice Robbie Dolan, keeping him favourably weighted to unleash his dazzling footwork off the back of a certain hot pace.

Warwick Farm Race 5 - 8 Fiesta

High class filly looks in great order for a tilt at this million dollar race after two excellent trials, notably both at this course.

She was up with the best of her age as a 2YO and was even better in the spring when she recorded a terrific first-up win the Silver Shadow Stakes before a luckless sequence of second placings in the best Group races for the fillies.

She is drawn to enjoy a perfect trail and looks the safe way to go with her main rival, the Golden Slipper Estijaab, having had a less than ideal preparation after 10 months away from the races.

Warwick Farm Race 7 - 1 Accession

He’s the right colt with the right jockey in the right race to give Chris Waller his richest ever success with a 2YO.

Has impressed with the way he has made excellent progression in each of his three starts topped off by his dominant last start win over 1100m at Rosehill when he powered clear in the last 200m. Expect a positive ride by Bowman from the wide gate to avoid the traffic and make it hard for his rivals to run him down.

BLACKBOOK UPDATE from 2 February (Horses to follow at their next three starts)

Rotator - Promising debut. Strong filly.

Adana - Certain to appreciate something longer.

Nobu - Unlucky. Can make further improvement.

Performer - Should come on from strong return.

Veladero - Certain to find a suitable Brisbane race.

Fighting Teo - Watch for him over 2000m and longer.

Recent Blackbook winners - Andy’s A Star; Heptagon, Bons Away, Naantali; King Lear; Amercement; Harmattan; Sure Knee; Teodora; Gresham; Military Zone; Nahuel; So Si Bon; Easy Eddie; Miss Norway; Our Crown Mistress; My Nordic Hero; Kentucky Breeze.

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS for 8/9 February

Canterbury (Fri) - Rock (R2), Sister Sledge (R2) and Pipeline (R7)

Moonee Valley (Fri) - Creedence (R6)

Warwick Farm (Sat) - Slow Burn (R6), Biscara (R7), Brimham Rocks (R8), Tangled (R8) and Amanito (R9)

Caulfield (Sat) - Futooh (R2), Brazen Brando (R5), Dealmaker (R7), Secret Blaze (R7), Shillelagh (R8) and Sikandarabad (R9)

Doomben (Sat) - Reckless Choice (R2) and Mishani Bullitt (R9)

Kembla Grange (Sat) - Pipeline (R7)

TRIAL WATCH HORSES 9 February

Warwick Farm (Sat) - Time To Reign (R1), Cosmic Force (R1), Escaped (R1), Steel Diamond (R1), Camdus (R3), Super Too (R3), Sandbar (R4), Brutal (R4), Master Ash (R4), Gem Song (R4), Miss Celebration (R5), Spin (R5), Danawi (R5), Coterie (R5), Fiesta (R5), Evalina (R5), Mizzy (R5), Cool Passion (R6), White Moss (R6), Slow Burn (R6) and Rapido Chaparro (R9).

Time To Reign (Warwick Farm 22 January) - Unbeaten youngster was very good in his first return trial, sitting off the leader until the last 200m when his class kicked in. His last 50 metres was excellent as he surged past the leader under a quiet ride, finding the line under no urging to post a fast 46.91 (33.50) for the 797m.

Super Too (Warwick Farm 22 January) - We know she’s fast but she was low flying from the gates in this 800m heat where she left a field of black type performers 10 lengths behind after 200m and from there kept running to score by almost 16 lengths! She can be suspect at anything an inch beyond 1000m but you have to credit this performance as she ran the 800m in 47.5 seconds (last 600m 34.10), almost 2 seconds quicker than the other heat for the Group horses won by Fiesta.

Fiesta (Warwick Farm 4 February) - Top class filly had plenty to offer finishing third in her 807m heat. She was never asked for an effort over the last 300m but still ran through the line strongly in a hitout that will top her off nicely for her pending return after an equally good trial win over 800m at Warwick Farm on January 22.

Caulfield (Sat) - Athiri (R6) and Kementari (R8)

Kementari (Randwick 24 January) - Top notch G1 performer looked a picture and ran up to his appearance with an excellent second in his first trial since the spring. James McDonald allowed the leader Master Ash to run clear by four lengths in his 900m heat on the course proper before letting Kementari get into his work over the last 200m. The big 4YO easily cutting the margin back to a neck on the line without any pressure being applied – and the third horse was seven lengths away! He did it all within himself in a perfect start to his autumn prep.

Kembla Grange (Sat) - Arcane (R4) and Carambola (R4)

Recent Trial winners - Trope; Amercement; McLaren; Alizee; Autumn; Mollyfied; Lashes; Mameli; Tough Larry; Dawn Passage; Joigny; Call Me Royal; Itz Lily; Accession; Uralla Kingdom; Grand Exit; Paris In May; Cool One; Safado; Roman Wolf; Royal Witness.

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.