RACE TALK – Weekend Racing with Chris Scholtz

Best Bets

RACE 2 (3) OUR KOBISON: The rising star of the summer lines up at short odds for his third win on the bounce and it will take a good horse to halt his sequence. He’s won his last two over 1100m and 1200m at Rosehill by easy margins in brilliant times and it’s doubtful a rise in class and weight will stop him in his current form. The return of James McDonald as his rider from the rails gate is a bonus.

RACE 8 (3) KIMOCHI: Got the win she justly deserved when getting the upper hand late in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes over 1200m at this course on February 17 to beat Learning To Fly by a nose in her first outing for three months. She’s held her own against the best of her sex from day one and it may be that in a very even season she could be the filly to go on with it through the autumn. Proved herself up to 1600m at G1 level in the spring and she’s certain to be given every chance from a favourable draw.

RACE 9 (3) OLENTIA: Less said the better about the first-up second by this classy mare in the G3 Triscay over 1200m at this course on February 17, only to confirm that she was a good thing beaten behind Semana after Tommy Berry made the error in persevering for a rails run in the straight. Berry gets the chance to square the ledger as this mare is well placed to atone holding an edge in race fitness over her main rivals with the step up to 1400m on a firm track in her favour.

Selections

RACE 1: (5) SUPER BRIGHT; (6) Martial Music; ((8) Vindication; (14) Mad Darcey

RACE 2: (3) OUR KOBISON; (4) Pereille; (5) Tintookie; (1) Moravia

RACE 3: (5) ONCE AGAIN MY GIRL; (4) Outishka; (2) Perennial; (7) Nipotino

RACE 4: (1) STORM BOY; (4) Parkour; (3) Prost; (8) Duvana

RACE 5: (8) MIRACLE SPIN; (1) Redstone Well; (14) Etna Rosso; (10) Louisville

RACE 6: (1) MANAAL; (2) Castanya; (7) Wave Breaker; (11) Fly Fly

RACE 7: (9) FANGIRL; (4) Buckaroo; (2) Cascadian; (5) Just Fine

RACE 8: (3) KIMOCHI; (8) Makarena; (4) Learning To Fly; (11) Arctic Glamour

RACE 9: (3) OLENTIA; (1) Duais; (2) Hinged; (5) More Secrets

RACE 10: (2) COAL CRUSHER; (8) Phearson; (11) Hard To Say; (13) Whinchat

Why They Can Win….

RACE 1: (5) SUPER BRIGHT – Strong last start winner at Warwick Farm. Likes Randwick and lacks nothing in fitness.

RACE 3: (5) ONCE AGAIN MY GIRL – Fast filly from Scone with plenty of upside. Impressed in her recent trial win.

RACE 4: (1) STORM BOY – He’s the season’s best youngster. Enough said!

RACE 5: (8) MIRACLE SPIN – Has had excuses in recent outings over 1600m. Should find 2000m ideal.

RACE 6: (1) MANAAL – Gimcrack winner carried the weight penalty when a strong first-up second. Wants 1200m.

RACE 7: (9) FANGIRL – Brilliant first-up. Seems like she is now in a class of her own.

RACE 10: (2) COAL CRUSHER – Excellent Expressway placing when resuming. Hard to run down under these conditions.

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – March 1-3

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Vindication (R1); Storm Boy (R4); Parkour (R4); Zounaka (R6); Phearson (R10)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Happy Cappy (R1); Squamish (R2); Mr Midnight (R2)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Territory Express; Wembanyama; Shadows Of Love; Straight Charge; Red Card; Gatsby’s; Linebacker; Martial Music; Dagon; King Of Sparta; Totoka; Confess Our Dreams; Chateau Miraval; Drifting; Our Gold Hope; Bonita Queen; Kallos; Bodyguard; Prost; Lady Of Camelot; Mad Darcey; Merchant Lady; Ironton; Whinchat; Capabelle

TRIAL POINTERS

RANDWICK February 22: In a fast 737m heat (43.17; 33.09).the work of VINDICATION over the last 200m to finish fourth took the eye. In the 2YO heats over 1050m the Randwick winner PARKOUR impressed finishing a soft fifth in his heat under a big hold. Brad Widdup would be happy with the form of PHEARSON heading towards his return to racing after the Group 3 winner put in impressive work to win the fastest 1050m heat (62.87; 34.12).

ROSEHILL February 15: Unbeaten youngster STORM BOY commanded the spotlight in his first trial appearance since his return from Queensland. With his new rider James McDonald aboard the unbeaten 2YO showed why he is a dominant favourite for the Golden Slipper with a super display of speed to win his 900m heat by more than six lengths. He extended easily over the last 200m to post the fastest time of the morning (53.47; 22.96), something that has been a feature of his brilliant wins.

WYONG January  31: Unraced 3YO SQUAMISH is doing well for his new trainer Nathan Doyle judging by this sharp trial.  It was his second trial since his transfer from Brett Cavanough and he worked well within himself to coast home in his 1000m heat by 2.55 lengths in good time (59.88; 35.20).

BLACKBOOK REPORT

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – March 1-3

MOONEE VALLEY FRIDAY: Sweet Rise (R7)

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Etna Rosso (R5); Buckaroo (R7); Arctic Glamour (R8); Kind Words (R8);Stefi Magnetica (R8);  More Secrets (R9); Democracy Manifest (R10); Kovalica (R10)

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Strawberry Rock (R2); Moesha (R5); King Colorado (R8); He’s Our Bonneval (R10)

EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: African Daisy (R5/R10); Quarantine Dreams (R6); Quothquon (R6); Lady De La (R10)

MORPHETTVILLE SATURDAY: He’s Our Bonneval (R8)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Territory Express; Dolphin Skin; Cadetship; Celestial Legend; Gently Rolled; Dark Journey; Our Maryanne; Pereille; Glory Daze; Ceerseven; Cradle Of Life; Our Kobison; Caballus; Bermadez; Nana’s Wish; Union Army; Va Via; Miracle Spin; Contemporary; Zennzella; Gelatin

BLACKBOOKERS – Selected February 24

(Follow for next 3 starts)

CANBERRA LEGEND; CARACAS; ELETTRICA; KINTYRE; LUMENS LENNY; SERASANA