Chris Scholtz - Early Thoughts
R&S Contributing Editor Chris Scholtz takes a look at tomorrow’s Sydney racing.
SELECTIONS
These restricted distance races are never easy when two stables provide half the field (Waller/Lees) but in this case I am confident this has been a target race for this Waller import.
A two-time winner in this distance range in the UK, it will be his fifth start in Australia and significantly with 55kg it will be the first time he has carried less than 56.5kg in any of his local races.
Secondly he has been crying out for a spacious track like Scone as he has been clearly disadvantaged on the tighter tracks like Warwick Farm and Hawkesbury. It can all come together for him under these conditions.
Deserves a crack at this class and should test his higher weighted rivals off the back of his strong last start Benchmark win over 1400m at Randwick on April 20 when he was strongest over the last 200m.
This could work out much the same as he is a foolproof type who can be relied on to jump and hold a forward position in a race devoid of testing early pace and that will make him hard to run down at the weights.
Classy G1 placegetter has mixed his form in three starts since resuming but that can be put down to varying track conditions. Bounced back on a good surface last time when he was beaten less than length under 59kg in the G3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick and he can definitely make improvement off that effort.
BLACKBOOK UPDATE from 4 May (Horses to follow at their next three starts)
Duchess Of Lennox - Promising filly. Suited in Brisbane.
Kapajack - Certain to benefit from first-up effort.Articus - Good stayer will be suited on winter tracks.
Mushaireb - Solid effort second-up. Has the talent.Bel Sonic - Never tested. Would have made it interesting.
Zamex - Not far off a win in right grade.Miss Siska - Worth another chance on a better track.
Recent Blackbook winners - Autocratic; Life Less Ordinary; Abdon; Declarationofheart; Libertini; Graceful Storm; Pierata; Indian Thunder; Spin; Zoutori; Invincible Gem; Multaja; All Pluck; Widgee Turf.
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS for 11 May
Scone (Sat) - Wild Planet (R1), Raqeeq (R2), Pretty In Pink (R5), Resin (R6), Into The Abyss (R7) and Viridine (R8)
Doomben (Sat) - Mewstone Rock (R1), Viral (R4), Light Up The Room (R5) and Fierce Impact (R7)Caulfield (Sat) - William Thomas (R2) and Saccharo (R3)
Morphettville (Sat) - Saccharo (R6) and Chapada (R7)TRIAL WATCH HORSES – 11 May
Scone (Sat) - Cloud Spirit (R3), Egyptian Missile (R3), Pretty In Pink (R5), Prophet’s Thumb (R5), Sweet Ava (R5), Ready To Prophet (R5), Wonderbabe (R5), Snow Valley (R5), Deploy (R6), Resin (R6), Savatiano (R7), Con Te Partiri (R7) and Organza (R7)
Doomben (Sat) - Nature Strip (R8), Easy Eddie (R8) and White Moss (R8)Caulfield (Sat) - Firsthand (R8)
Kembla Grange (Sat) - Black Sunrise (R2), Discombe (R2), River Bird (R3), Constanzia (R3), Jacquine Reward (R4), Larson (R4), Minted (R4) and Primal Scream (R4)Recent Trial Watch winners - Gododdin; California Zimbol; Constellations; Demerara; Life Less Ordinary; I’m A Legend; Intuition; Merlinite; Persepolis; Reloaded; Walk The Runway; Pelorus Jack; Human Nature; A Room Somewhere; Grey Lion; Top Striker; Trekking; Plague Stone.
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.
