3 minute read
Chris Scholtz - Early Thoughts
R&S Contributing Editor Chris Scholtz takes a look at tomorrow’s Sydney racing.
SELECTIONS
Randwick Race 5 - 19 Supernova
It’s all upside for this impressive import, who has raced just twice in Australia and looks more than capable of making the big jump to Group company dropping 6.5kg off his last start 1900m restricted win in the heavy ground at Rosehill when he powered to the line under 59.5kg.
Should eat up this trip under his light weight as he was placed at 2800m and won twice up to 2400m from just five starts in the UK. It appears his astute stable have timed his preparation for the Sydney Cup to a nicety.
Produced the best trial for the Derby with his third over 2000m in the Rosehill Guineas behind The Autumn Sun and stablemate Arrogant, making ground strongly over the last 200m from the back half after being held up on the turn.
He’s a real staying type who answered the stamina question in the spring with his unlucky third in the Victoria Derby over 2500m and it’s obvious he has been prepared to be at his peak for this classic.
Randwick Race 8 - 3 Santa Ana Lane
This is a tremendous sprint showdown that will be run at a cracking pace, setting it up for this big finisher providing there is no bias against the backmarkers.
He is clearly favoured by the swing in the weights from the Newmarket Handicap that sees him 4kg and 2.5kg better off against Sunlight and Osborne Bulls, not forgetting that he got home over the top of Shoals, Redzel and Trapeze Artist when they met at WFA in the Premiere Stakes over this course and distance last spring.
He’s a real Randwick horse, more than competent in soft going and his super trial at this track last week sets him up perfectly to add yet another G1 win to his record.
BLACKBOOK UPDATE from 30 March (Horses to follow at their next three starts)
Fortress Command - Raw talent. Has plenty of upside.
Carif - Learning his trade. Will make his mark.Abdon - Building nicely. At his best over 2000m and longer.
Twinspier - Luckless. Only needed clear running to win.Saccharo - Needs further on a big track.
Wham - Plenty of merit in his unlucky effort. Certain improver.Recent Blackbook winners - Zoutori; Invincible Gem; Multaja; All Pluck; Widgee Turf; Pohutukawa; Tumbler; Star Missile; Mishani Vaidra; Renewal; Sikandarabad; Nakeeta Jane; In Her Time; Intuition; Reckless Choice; Rock; Andy’s A Star; Heptagon, Bons Away.
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS for 6/7 April
Randwick (Sat) - Rome (R6), Probabeel (R6), Loving Gaby (R6), Chapada (R7), Declarationofheart (R7), Twinspier (R7), Pierata (R8), Osborne Bulls (R8), Land Of Plenty (R9), Eawase (R10) and Into The Abyss (R10)
Caulfield (Sat) - I Got You (R2), Mastering (R7) and Hursley (R9)Toowoomba (Sat) - Xebec (R7) and Deconstructed (R7)
Morphettville (Sat) - Aristocratic Miss (R5)Wellington (Sun) - Akasaki (R8)
TRIAL WATCH HORSES – APRIL 6-8
Randwick (Sat) - Libertini (R1), Fun Fact (R2), Declarationofheart (R7), Santa Ana Lane (R8), Shoals (R8), Vega Magic (R8), Life Less Ordinary (R9), My Xpression (10), Eawase (R10), Fiera Vista (R10) and Laburnum (R10)
Randwick 29 March (Heat 3 – 1045m) - This was the best of the open heats with Lindsay Park’s G1 winner VEGA MAGIC turning on the speed from the start to lead throughout. I saw him first hand in an exhibition gallop at Albury the previous week and the improvement in his coat and overall condition was noticeable. Behind him SANTA ANA LANE could not be missed as he motored home from the rear with a very quick closing sectional while OSBORNE BULLS (7th) went through the motions without being asked for a serious effort.
Kembla Grange (Sat) - Kiss The Bride (R2), Vox Pop (R3) and Cottenham (R7)
Wellington (Sun) - Brazenpine (R7) and Another Sin (R8)Scone (Mon) - Seeingisbelieving (R1)
Recent Trial Watch winners - Sure Knee; Word For Word; Thiswilldous; Think It Over; Nature Strip; Trumbull; Traumatised; Easy Eddie; Tell Me; Fasika; Evening Slippers; Green Aeon; Chabreet.
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.