RANDWICK Preview with Chris Scholtz – September 21

RACE 5 (11) CEOWULF: Laid down a strong marker for the spring with his impressive second up win over 1500m at Rosehill on August 31 when he showed a classy turn of foot under 60kg. Followed up with a soft win over rival Golden Path in a 1200m trial that ensures his fitness for the step up to 2000m, a distance that presents no issues after his G1 placings in the Rosehill Guineas and ATC Derby last season.

RACE 8 (6) FANGIRL: Ideal second up target for this top class mare – she was third in this race last year – after her excellent first-up third in the G1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at this course where the race pattern from a wide gate played against her. Excellent closing sectional when she made up five lengths over the last 250m to be beaten less than a length and with a better run this time she should have them covered over the extra trip. An easy conditioning trial since the Winx ensures she will strip at her peak.+

RACE 9 (6) I AM ME: Added to her impressive record with a classy first-up win in  the G3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at this course on September 7, giving her three wins from four starts at Randwick. She is also the winner of four of her six starts over 1100m and with a 2kg drop in weight from a favourable draw she has everything in her favour to extend that record.

RACE 1: (11) EL CASTELLO; (7) Flying Bandit; (9) (5) State Of America; (13) Ambassadors

RACE 2: (6) KREON; (1) Perennial; (4) She’s Exotic; (9) Saratoga Power

RACE 3: (1) GALERON; (6) Bear On The Loose; (5) Floating; (2) St Lawrence

RACE 4: (14) PURE ALPHA; (10) Well Timed; (6) Thunderlips; (13) Kokoro

RACE 5: (11) CEOLWULF; (12) Golden Path; (6) Eliyass; (8) Adelaide River

RACE 6: (8) GRINGOTTS; (4) Tom Kitten; (14) Scarlet Oak; (1) Amenable

RACE 7: (1) MANAAL; (6) Autumn Glow; (3) Erno’s Cube; (7) More Territories

RACE 8: (6) FANGIRL; (7) Zougotcha; (9) Zardozi; (3) Royal Patronage

RACE 9: (6) I AM ME; (1) Private Eye; (12) Mumbai Muse; (3) Stefi Magnetica

RACE 10: (3) MORAVIA; (8) Battleton; (2) Kibou; (1) Whinchat

RACE 1: (11) EL CASTELLO – First-up maiden win confirmed his potential. Big improver with 7kg drop in weight.

RACE 2: (6) KREON – Put them away with ease at Goulburn. Heading for better races.

RACE 3: (1) GALERON – Holding his form well. Very fit and 3kg claim helps in an open race.

RACE 4: (14) PURE ALPHA – Better than latest effort. Ready to rebound off a quiet trial.  

RACE 6: (8) GRINGOTTS – Strong trial win. Conditions suit first-up.

RACE 7: (1) MANAAL – Classy G2 win second up and she’ll be fitter again. G1 winner this course and distance.

RACE 10: (3) MORAVIA – Fine effort first up in Group company. Back to his right class with J Mac aboard.

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – September 20-22

NEWCASTLE FRIDAY: City Of Lights (R5); Matcha Latte (R7)

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Humanity (R1); Pure Alpha (R4); Matcha Latte (R6); Café Millenium (R6)  Amenable (R6); Tom Kitten (R6); Scarlet Oak (R6); Gringotts (R6); Stefi Magnetica (R9); Mazu (R9); Whinchat (R10)

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Commemorative (R6); Huetor (R8); Fawkner Park (R8); Depth Of Character (R9); Swift Falcon (R9); Revolutionary Miss (R10)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Zoubaby (R3); Creek (R4); Cashburn (R5); Canara (R5); Mane Character (R5); Rennata (R5); River Pat (R6); Restonica (R8)

NOWRA SUNDAY: Cashburn (R7)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Amelita; Ellipsis; Sunshine In Paris; Lady Shenandoah; Traffic Warden; Dashing Rupert; Opal Fields; Royal Patronage; Watch My Girl; Deconstruction; Briasa; Storm Boy; Asuriita; Last Command; Spirit Of Wealth; Countyourblessings; Kimochi; Via Sistina; Ameena; Joliestar; Wave Breaker; Agenda Setter; Enriched; Starmae; Lilac

ROSEHILL September 16: The Hawkes stable would have been pleased with the late work by the lightly raced SWIFT FALCON to win his 1030m heat (62.77; 35.01).

RANDWICK Sept 9: In the first black type heat (1000m) MAZU showed he retains plenty of zest, leading under a good hold to record a soft win (60.13; 34.33) over other G1 stars that included STEFI MAGNETICA and FANGIRL. None were put under any pressure with only 2.5 lengths covering the six runners across the line. The pair that looked good in their late work were the Stradbroke winner STEFI MAGNETICA (2nd) and exciting mare SCARLET OAK (4th). FANGIRL (5th) was merely out for conditioning work. The second heat over 1000m saw impressive late work from off the pace by the winner AMENABLE and runner-up REVOLUTIONARY MISS. They sprinted to the line in faster time than the first heat (59.82; 33.96) and look set for good campaigns. There were numerous good efforts In the A grass trials including a strong second by the big mare COMMEMORATIVE.

WYONG Sept 9: A strong winning trial by GRINGOTTS indicates he can carry on with the super form he displayed in the late autumn. Ciaron Maher spelled GRINGOTTS after he reeled off three successive wins including the Tamworth Cup and a Listed race in Brisbane, taking his career record to seven wins from 13 starts. This was his second trial since his spell and he had no trouble running past the leader to record a soft win in his 1200m heat (72.30; 34.95) that will have him ready for a bold first-up performance.

ROSEHILL September 5: TOM KITTEN was given an easy tick over trial following his first-up win, working easily under a big hold to finish second in a slow 1030m heat (64.27’ 34.69) that he could have won if J Mac had let him off the leash. Maiden heat winners with good prospects include ZOUBABY.

RANDWICK August 30: The big boy CAFÉ MILLENEIUM put in another strong trial to finish second in the faster of two black type heats over 900m (53.20; 33.10).

WARWICK FARM August 27: The strong front runner WHINCHAT is ready for a bold first-up effort after an easy win in the fastest of the four heats over 1207m.

RANDWICK August 19: In a black type heat over 850m (51.00; 34.16) the trial that took the eye was the closing third of CAFÉ MILLENIUM as he ran through the line with plenty to offer. FAWKNER PARK had an easy time settling at the rear and was never asked for a serious effort.

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – September 20-22

NEWCASTLE FRIDAY: Counterpart (R4); Tulsi (R5); Touristic (R6)

BALLARAT FRIDAY: Basilinna (R7)

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Snowman (R3); Hollywood Hero (R4); Thunderlips (R4); Adelaide River (R5); Athabascan (R5); Erno’s Cube (R7); More Territories (R7); Moravia (R10); Battleton (R10)

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Sassy Boom (R3); Que Tempesta (R7); Feroce (R9); Sergeant Major (R9)

GOLD COAST SATURDAY: Blaze A Trail (R6)

MORPHETTVILLE SATURDAY: Aviatress (R6)

FLEMINGTON SUNDAY: Le Mans (R2)

(Follow for next 3 starts)

FAY’S ANGELS; FIRST LIGHT; LINEBACKER; SKYBIRD; SYMPHONY OF COLOUR; TANNAHUSER; VICTORY LANE

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Unlimited; Sunshine In Paris; Unusual Legacy; Spring Lee; Ceolwulf; The Englishman; Boom Torque; Kundalini; Daytona; Hellavadancer; Yorkshire; Amigo; House Of Cards; Shiny New Deel; Invader Zim; Rogue Bear; Piastri; Madame Odette; Kapakiri; Batrana; Aramco; Don Diego De Vega; Rezone