WEEKEND RACING PREVIEW with Chris Scholtz

Best Bets

RACE 7: (2) SHINES

RACE 8: (6) HOW DARE YOU (EW)

Selections

RACE 1: (2) ASSEMBLE; (1) Miss Emma; (10) Noble Tess; (9) Kimono

RACE 2: (8) VIACONI; (12) Yvette; (13) I Am Famous; (2) Chartwell

RACE 3: (7) NORTHERN EYES; (3) Aix En Provence; (11) Booster Shot; (8) Denote

RACE 4: (7) RING AHOY; (6) Monarchs Brae; (3) Our Bambino; (5) Brynner

RACE 5: (7) SENSORY; (9) Kenyada; (6) Venetian Blue; (4) Lalaguna

RACE 6: (8) HEAD OF THE HERD; (7) Enotis; (6) Scorched Land; (9) Avonview

RACE 7: (2) SHINES; (6) Charlemagne; (3) Diamond Diesel; (8) Lancaster Bomber

RACE 8: (6) HOW DARE YOU; (7) Rotorua; (5) Hyde Park; (2) One Destiny

Best Bets

RACE 3: (10) ZOUPHORIA: Goes against my usual practice to support a midweek maiden winner jumping grades into a Saturday class BM 78 but the breakthrough win by this Zoustar filly over 1400m on the Kensington track on December 1 by almost three lengths rated well above the norm. Having only her fourth career start, she easily dictated the pace from the front under 56.5kg and the shrewd move to use claiming apprentice Jett Stanley to reduce her weight to only 50kg is going to make it hard for her rivals to give her a start and run her down.

RACE 8 (6) CRAFTY EAGLE: Promising 4YO had things against him first-up over 1200m at Warwick Farm when he worked home strongly from last under 60kg. Showed potential when he figured prominently in Guineas races late last season and is sure to have taken plenty of benefit from that first-up outing. These dry conditions suit as he will be more comfortable up in trip on his home track.

RACE 10 (10) CONTEMPORARY: He’s been well fancied in all three runs since resuming and has been consistent without winning. This is his chance as he has a fitness edge and will appreciate a better track surface after the heavy ground made it hard for him to come from behind last time over 1200m at Kembla Grange. Gets back on top of the ground and just needs a strong pace to bring him into the race.

Selections

RACE 1: (1) AMAZING EAGLE; (2) Anode; (3) Moonraker; (5) Tardelli

RACE 2: (4) TYMPANIST; (3) Bowery Breeze; (5) Cosmic Field; (6) Socrates

RACE 3: (10) ZOUPHORIA; (9) Nana’s Wish; (4) Hide Your Heart; (2) Cross The Rubicon

RACE 4: (11) LYRICAL GANGSTER; (6) Iowa; (3) Caboche; (2) Toesonthenose

RACE 5: (13) ACAPELLA SUN; (1) Emperor; (16) Bomarea; (2) Blow Dart

RACE 6: (13) SILENT RAINDROPS; (7) Accredited; (10) Boston Rocks; (3) Fine Vintage

RACE 7: (13) LEKVARTE; (11) Grebeni; (5) Another One; (6) King Of The Castle

RACE 8: (6) CRAFTY EAGLE; (4) Robusto; (8) Plundering; (11) Louisville

RACE 9: (4) SQUAD; (3) Time To Boogie; (2) So Good So Cool; (5) Dollar Magic

RACE 10: (10) CONTEMPORARY; (12) Junqueira; (11) Shohei; (9) Smashing Eagle

Why They Can Win….

RACE 1: (1) AMAZING EAGLE – Super trial win in fast time stamped him as well above average. Natural runner…but short odds for a first starter!

RACE 2: (4) TYMPANIST – Sure to be fitter for tough second up win over 1800m when well supported. Has come up well.

RACE 4: (11) LYRICAL GANGSTER – Heavy track made it tough for him to give them a start at Kembla Grange. Big improver under better conditions.

RACE 5: (13) ACAPELLA SUN – Good effort second up in the heavy at Kembla. Well placed back to Highway class with weight and barrier advantages.

RACE 6: (13) SILENT RAINDROPS – Fit mare going well in this class. Gets down in the weights and will appreciate fast pace on this big course.

RACE 7: (13) LEKVARTE – This much improved mare is flying. Loves Randwick and with a huge drop in weight can swoop home again.

RACE 9: (4) SQUAD – Well placed on his impressive Victorian record. Flies fresh and sets up well off good Rosehill trial.

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – December 14-16

CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Assemble (R1); Noble Tess (R1); Chartwell (R2); Viaconi (R2); Lizzie’s Gem (R2); Notthesillyone (R2); Northern Eyes (R3); Utopian Wine (R5); Diamond Diesel (R7); Shines (R7); Rotorua (R8)

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Amazing Eagle (R1); Anode (R1); Union Army (R6); Boston Rocks (R6); Miracle Spin (R8); Orlabent (R9); Time To Boogie (R9)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Chartwell (R5)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Katsumoto; Highness; Royal Merchant; House Of Cards; Spring Lee; Lady Extreme; Overpass; Legio Ten; Storm Boy; Bojangles; Vomo Island; Sisserou; Terra Mater; Tumbling; The Extreme Cat; Long Memory; Gitalong; Fioprospero; Satin And Silk; Erno’s Cube; Against The Law; Jagjit; Northumbria; Hard To Say; Quick Tempo. 

RANDWICK December 11: Smart 4YO sprinter TIME TO BOOGIE is set to build on his good record after two strong trials since he last raced in September. Worked well within himself throughout his 740m heat with plenty in hand through the line (43.80; 33.37).

ROSEHILL December 5: Wow! No youngster in Sydney this season has made such a huge impression in his first trial than Capitalist colt AMAZING EAGLE. He oozed class as he strode to a dominant lead and kept extending his margin to eventually score by more than seven lengths under the quietest of rides from Tim Clark. He left his rivals spread out over many lengths and the exciting visual impact of his win was backed up by the clock as he posted easily the fastest time of the morning (53.61; 34.22), more than half a second better than the next best 2YO heat and lengths quicker than the times recorded in the open heats by some good older horses.

NEWCASTLE November 30: BOSTON ROCKS proved he was a fast runner in his first prep and his natural talent was again on show in this resuming trial win over 950m. Sat a length back off the leader under a big hold and was under no pressure to gain the upper hand over the last 100m under a kind ride from Mitchell Bell while recording the fastest time for the eight heats over the distance (54.37; 33.46)..

GOSFORD July 26: Unraced Nicconi 3YO VIACONI is primed for a big debut after recording his second trial win to go with his earlier success at Wyong. Travelled smoothly behind a pair of leaders before easily rounding them up over the last 200m, working to the line with plenty in reserve to win the fastest of the eight heats over 1000m (62.36; 37.30).

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – December 16

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Nana’s Wish (R3); Rogue Bear (R4); Plundering (R8/R10); Contemporary (R10)

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Bermadez (R9); Prowling (R10); Jenny Jerome (R10); Kin (R10)

ASCOT SATURDAY: Munhamek (R9); My Bella Mae (R9)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Acotango; Acquitted; Bowery Breeze; 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

BLACKBOOKERS – Selected December 9

(Follow for next 3 starts)

ARISTONOUS; IOWNA MERC; SINAWANN; NYMPHADORA; STEP ASIDE; TORRANZINO