RACE TALK – Weekend Racing Preview with Chris Scholtz – February 2-3

CANTERBURY February 2

RACE 1: (4) RIP OFF; (6) Overview; (1) Autumnmation; (2) Jamais

RACE 2: (5) MELLIFLUENT; (4) Excelindeed; (2) Caravanserai; (6) Ride The River

RACE 3: (6) AMOREAUX; (2) Marchesi; (1) Gaylord; (3); (3) Midnight Harry

RACE 4: (5) SUPERSTITIOUS; (1) Seton Hall; (3) Master Riley; (7) Ferghana

RACE 5: (4) RING AHOY; (8) Sophia’s Magic; (1) Jack Duggan; (10) Lady Superspy

RACE 6: (2) AMATI; (1) Ella Te Ama; (4) Cirebon; (3) Arale

RACE 7: (1) BUBBA’S BAY; (7) Rebel Dean; (6) Mr Kennedy; (10) Fameux

ROSEHILL February 3

Best Bets

RACE 4 (6) HARD TO SAY: Returns to Sydney from a Gold Coast foray where he took on a strong MM sprint over 1200m first-up after two months and should have finished closer than fifth behind the classy King Of Sparta. The six-time winner is well placed to improve dropping 3kg to the limit weight, an advantage that makes him easy to like against the favourite Lady Laguna. He won second up in his last campaign and the map says he will get all the favours tracking obvious leader Malkovich.

RACE 6 (4) MORNING SUN: Only a neck separated this import from his stablemate Age Of Sail when they made their Australian debuts over 1600m at Warwick Farm on January 27 and they meet again on the same terms over this extra 400m. MORNING SUN may take most improvement from their first-up performances as he hadn’t raced for eight months and holds the better form in this distance range recording both his UK wins over this trip. Easy to like with J Mac replacing apprentice rider.

RACE 9 (6) OUR KOBISON: Promising sprinter had excuses first-up when close second to Tintookie over 1000m at Randwick then had no trouble turning the tables when they met over 1100m at this course on January 20 for his fourth win from only seven starts. This is his first crack at 1200m but his strong finish last time when he posted the fastest last 200m of the entire meeting says he will have no issues with the extra 100m. For good measure J Mac has ridden him twice for two wins.

Selections

RACE 1: (6) BLACK DUKE; (9) Treize; (1) Dimaggio; (11) Sumo Star

RACE 2: (12) VEANDECHANCE; (5) Stay Safe; (17) Missile Leader; (9) Agirlsbestfriend

RACE 3: (5) FEARLESS; (1) Traffic Warden; (8) Prost; (3) Enhance

RACE 4: (6) HARD TO SAY; (3) Lady Laguna; (4) On The Lead; (1) Baller

RACE 5: (3) CELERITY; (2) Alinea; (1) Manaal; (6) Lady Of Camelot

RACE 6: (4) MORNING SUN; (2) Age Of Sail; (3) Sky Out; ((7) The Englishman

RACE 7: (6) ESTADIO MESTALLA; (8) Ita; (3) So Risque; (2) Robusto

RACE 8: (7) SALTCOATS; (9) Infatuation; ((4) Gracilistyla; (2) Powerful Peg

RACE 9: (6) OUR KOBISON; (9) So Good So Cool; (2) Dalaalaat; (10) Dipsy Doddle

RACE 10: (12) WALLENDA; (13) Stefi Magnetico; (14) The Black Cloud; (5) French Endeavour  

Why They Can Win…..

RACE 1: (6) BLACK DUKE – Back in winning form. Well placed this class and drawn to get a favourable run.

RACE 2: (12) VEANDECHANCE – Had excuses in tougher Gold Coast race. Has the right form and well treated by set weight conditions.

RACE 3: (5) FEARLESS – No luck in his Breeders Plate debut. Has progressed with strong trial wins.

RACE 5: (3) CELERITY – Stable confident she is top shelf. Classy trial Tuesday has her ready for a big debut.

RACE 7: (6) ESTADIO MESTALLA – Fitted by two solid efforts since resuming. Suited by quick back up with 5kg drop in weight.

RACE 8: (7) SALTCOATS – Talented ex-Kiwi back starting second prep for Waller. Set for a bold fresh run.

RACE 10: (12) WALLENDA – Made a good impression in his Sydney debut. Improving with every start.

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – February 2-3

CANTERBURY FRIDAY:  Overview (R1); Marchesi (R3); Gaylord (R3)

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Traffic Warden (R3); Enhance (R3); Prost (R3); Fearless (R3); Manaal (R5); Alinea (R5); Celerity (R5); Lady Of Camelot (R5); Pushpa (R5); Saltcoats (R8); Dipsy Doodle (R9); Rush Hour (R10)

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Lost (R1); Counteroffensive (R4) 

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Mad Darcey; Merchant Lady; Ironton; Whinchat; Capabelle; Koby Girl; Tashi; Amor Victorious; Winning Proposal; Switzerland; High Octane; Memoria; Caballus; Winston Hills; Lovero; Norton Road; Rockbarton Fashion; Sky Artist; King Of Sparta; Too Darn Lizzie; Junqueira; Tycoon Deshauna; Magnucat

TRIAL POINTERS

WARWICK FARM January 30: Impressive second by unraced Exceed And Excel filly CELERITY in the fastest of the four 2YO heats over 785m (46.16; 33.31). Having her second trial, she settled five lengths off the winner and made her run widest on the turn before working to the line under a big hold from James McDonald to take good ground off a smart winner. It’s form worth following.

ROSEHILL January 25: Stylish Exceed And Excel colt ENHANCE recorded the fastest win in the 2YO heats over 900m (54.49; 34.60), showing nice improvement off his first trial when second at Rosehill on January 11. Led comfortably and had plenty in reserve over the last 200m to score by almost three lengths. LOST posted the fastest time in the 900m heats (53.75; 34.25) after travelling three wide. Horses to follow from the open heats include SALTCOATS while the good performances in the 2YO and maiden heats included TRAFFIC WARDEN, PUSHPA, OVERVIEW and MARCHESI.

RANDWICK January 22: The fastest 850m heat winner on the Kensington track was PROST (48.45; 32;62) in a strong trial. Breeders Plate winner MANAAL took the eye with his late work through the line under no pressure. In the two 2YO trials over 1050m on the A Grass FEARLESS won the quicker of the two trials (61.81; 34.00) while COUNTEROFFENSIVE had a bit on his rivals in the other heat (61.90; 33.76) and is one to keep an eye on. In the shorter 741m heats the flying filly LADY OF CAMELOT was again too quick for her rivals to score by almost three lengths (42.44; 32.56) while another Waterhouse/Bott speedster ALINEA really took the eye with her impressive win in the faster 741m heat (42.40; 32.37) by a soft 3.4 lengths. She never came off the bit and looked to have a lot more to offer over the latter stages.

CANTERBURY January 9: There were numerous good 2YO trials but none matched the brilliance of Written Tycoon filly LADY OF CAMELOT as she sped away with her 899m heat by more than nine lengths in the fastest time of the morning (53.17; 33.10). Several other 2YOs reaffirmed the talent they had displayed earlier in the season in trials and races including a strong placing from Breeders Plate winner MANAAL.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – February 2-4

MOONEE VALLEY FRIDAY: Dark Journey (R1)

CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Ella Te Ama (R6)

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Powerful Peg (R8); Saltcoats (R8); So Good So Cool (R9)

EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Clyde (R4); Seleque (R9)

DARWIN SATURDAY: Proklisi (R1)

SAPPHIRE COAST SUNDAY: Kokoro (R7)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: 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; Munhamek; Acotango; Acquitted; Bowery Breeze; Stroke Of Luck; Ka Bling; Rose Quartz

BLACKBOOKERS – Selected January 26-27

(Follow for next 3 starts)

BELLINGER; CADETSHIP; INFINITIVE; KING COLORADO; LADY LE DA; SWEET RIDE