SATURDAY RACE DAY with Chris Scholtz

KEMBLA GRANGE November 25

Best Bets

RACE 3 (8) CONTEMPORARY: Also an acceptor for Race 10 and no doubt the Godolphin team will think hard over their selection as he can win either race. He arrives third up after two excellent efforts in this class over 1100m at Randwick and 1200m at Rosehill when he was short of peak fitness. His record shows he hits winning form third up and with favourable draws in either race he will have no excuses.

RACE 6 (9) SUBSTANTIAL: Comes off two conditioning runs over 1400m in tough Melbourne races since resuming, running third first-up at Caulfield before  settling back and left with too much to do when a closing sixth at Flemington on Cup Day. Boasts a strong 1600m record and is sure to find stepping up to this trip on this course to his liking.

RACE 9 (5) HEADWALL: Promising short course sprinter is yet to miss a place in his six starts with his three wins including a first-up victory over this course and distance at just his second outing last year. An ideal barrier draw has him set to repeat as he has shown impressive form in two strong trials including a soft win in his latest hitout at Rosehill on November 6. Speaks volumes that Blake Spriggs, his jockey in all his wins, comes from Queensland for just the one ride at this meeting.

Selections

RACE 1: (10) LYRICAL GANGSTER; (1) Touristic; (3) Unanimous; (8) Ausbred Rising Sun

RACE 2: (13) SAMMIBALLERINA; (11) Associate; (2) Tribeca Star; (4) Unrelenting

RACE 3: (8) CONTEMPORARY; (3) With Your Blessing; (6) Plundering; (10) Toronomica

RACE 4: (8) JUNQUEIRA; (6) Shohei; (7) Shadows Of Love; (3) Miss Hellfire

RACE 5: (5) CUBAN GRANCHICO; (10) Lemaire; (11) Eau De Vie; (4) Burning Need

RACE 6: (9) SUBSTANTIAL; (1) Loch Eagle; (5) Tazaral; (3) King Of The Castle

RACE 7: (9) DETONATOR JACK; (3) Osipenko; (11) Waterford; (8) Communist

RACE 8: (6) DRAGONSTONE: (12) Brudenell; (8) Insurrection; (7) Recommendation

RACE 9: (5) HEADWALL; (3) Emperor; (9) Squad; (10) Acapella Sun

RACE 10: (17) CONTEMPORARY; (5) Danaustar; (11) Fall For Cindy; (4) Crafty Eagle

Why They Can Win ….

RACE 1: (10) LYRICAL GANGSTER – Lightly raced improver. Will give them a start but the long Kembla straight suits and he has the weights in his favour.

RACE 2: (13) SAMMIBALLERINA – Finished off nicely second up at Rosehill. Fitter and meets Tribeca Star 3.5kg better.

RACE 4: (8) JUNQUEIRA – Made expected improvement second up and gets a big rider switch with J Mac reunited. Drawn to get favours.

RACE 5: (5) CUBAN GRANCHICO – Ticks all the right boxes with his record over this course and distance. Obvious target race for him third up on his home track.

RACE 7: (9) DETONATOR JACK – Unbeaten over 1600m and excellent placings at his last two starts have him rock hard for this tough mile race.

RACE 8: (6) DRAGONSTONE – Flew home when third in this race last year. Trials indicate he is ready to put in other big finish fresh.

RACE 10: (5) DANAUSTAR – If Contemporary goes to Race 3 this last start Victorian winner is well placed to make it a double. Drawn to exploit his tactical speed.

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – November 24-27

MUSWELLBROOK FRIDAY: He’s All Style (R8)

CANTERBURY FRIDAY: I Am Famous (R1); Iced Chocolate (R1; King Of Dubai (R1); Botanica (R3); Tumbling (R4); Terra Mater (R8)

KEMBLA GRANGE SATURDAY: Short Shorts (R4); Malkovich (R8); Dragonstone (R8); Bacchanalia (R8); Headwall (R9)

GOSFORD SATURDAY: Getty (R2)

NEWCASTLE SUNDAY: Body Of Venus (R2); Spartus (R2); Boominartie (R4); Packer (R5)

TAREE MONDAY: Sisserou (R5)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Long Memory; Gitalong; Fioprospero; Satin And Silk; Erno’s Cube; Against The Law; Jagjit; Northumbria; Hard To Say; Quick Tempo; The Hawkesbury; Prima Bella; Intervarsity; Way To The Stars; I’mintowin; Sharkim; Watch My Girl; Storm The Ramparts; Trapeze Pleasure; World Alliance; Chrysaor; Mumbai Muse; Yankee One; Estephania; Gai’s Artist; Kazou. 

TRIAL POINTERS

HAWKESBURY November 13: Bjorn Baker’s fast runner MALKOVICH restored his barrier trial record with a sharp trial win over his classy stablemate Overpass. MALKOVICH was unbeaten in 15 barrier trials before he finished second in a 900m heat at Rosehill on October 27. Normal service was restored in the fastest 1000m heat (57.97; 32.75) as he showed his usual speed to run them along from the start and record a sharp three lengths win. Maiden 3YO HE’S ALL STYLE ran up to his name with an impressive win in  his 1000m heat (60.03; 34.68), tracking second after being four wide early before extending easily off the turn for a soft win. It backed up a Randwick trial win on November 3 with his trial form indicating he will improve on what he showed in two starts last season.

HAWKESBURY October 16: The well performed Godolphin sprinter BACCHANALIA made a typical start to his campaign with an easy trial. He was placed in his 1000m heats working to the line with plenty in reserve.

WARWICK FARM November 8: Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle brought the Royal Meeting filly BODY OF VENUS to town for her first trial and she showed good natural ability to easily win the third 2YO heat (48.81; 34.75). She led by six on the turn and could have gone much quicker as she was throttled down over the last 150m to win the heat by two lengths with plenty in reserve.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – November24- 25

CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Sumo Star (R4); Tsarina Sophia (R8)

KEMBLA GRANGE SATURDAY: Leandra (R4/R10)

CRANBOURNE SATURDAY: Foxy Cleopatra (R9)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Stroke Of Luck; Ka Bling; Rose Quartz; Let’srollthedice; Schwarz; I’ve Bean Tryin’; Storm The Ramparts; Without A Fight; Crackerjack Prince; Pesto; Sharp Shock; Attrition; Territory Express; Magic Time; Queen Of Dragons; Foujita San; Airman; Vienna Princess; First Immortal; Espiona; Archo Nacho; Satness

BLACKBOOKERS – Selected November 18

(Follow for next 3 starts)

ACQUITTED; KIND WORDS; PROWLING; SKYBIRD; ZARKANA