WEEKEND RACING PREVIEW with Chris Scholtz
Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Canterbury and Rosehill meetings on January 18 and 19 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.
Best Bets
RACE 2: (5) SETOMBE
RACE 4: (1) DAKOTA VROOM
Selections
RACE 1: (2) HELLFIRE EXPRESS; (3) Amati (5) Cirebon; (8) Seething Seb
RACE 2: (5) SETOMBE; (3) It’s A Wonder; (4) Llanddwyn; (1) Autumnmation
RACE 3: (2) GROUNDRUSH; (3) Turned Down; (6) Superstitious; (7) Dayu
RACE 4: (1) DAKOTA VROOM; (7) Tycoon Deshauna; (9) Disney Castle; (4) Euros
RACE 5: (9) LOVERO; (2) Deep Romance; (10) Lady Shenanigans; (4) Oakfield Duke
RACE 6: (15) COUNTER; (9) Caring Lass; (5) Bak Da Man; (14) Fleet Commander
RACE 7: (12) BOTANICA; (2) Shalailed; (1) Huon; (10) Oakfield Mahogany
Best Bets
RACE 5 (1) CABALLUS: First start for his new trainer Bjorn Baker. He’s been flying in trials with two sharp wins on soft tracks since the stable change from Chris Waller and it’s obvious he’s been prepared to perform first-up in a race where he will be suited by abundant pace. His only win in five starts for Waller was over this trip on affected ground.
RACE 7 (5) POWERFUL PEG: Talented mare made an excellent start to her new campaign when nailed on the line by Contemporary over 1200m at Randwick three weeks ago. It’s turned out to be a strong form race producing last week’s winner Union Army and a handy 4kg drop in weight offsets the rise in class. She’s a second up winner, boasts three wins from her four starts over this trip including one over this course and an affected track presents no issues.
RACE 8 (8) ANYTHINK GOES: Building nicely into his prep and is ready for a peak effort after closing off strongly for second in this class over 1500m at Randwick when he had excuses behind the promising Running By. Impressive closing sectionals last time and gets conditions to suit as he rates highly on affected tracks.
Selections
RACE 1: (16) SWITZERLAND; (6) Deputize; (5) Caravanserai; (1) Customized
RACE 2: (9) MUSICAL AFFAIR; (21) Miss Ghent; (3) Bon Frankie; (8) Lensman
RACE 3: (8) GENTLY ROLLED; (6) Lancaster Bomber; (5) Willaidow; (1) Xpresso
RACE 4: (4) TIME TO BOOGIE; (8) Stromboli; (3) Noble Soldier; (7) Sneaky Paige
RACE 5: (1) CABALLUS; (9) Wallenda; (3) Thunderlips; (2) Epic Proportions
RACE 6: (8) YARRAWONGA; (2) First Light; (5) Lyrical Gangster; (9) Fun Sunday
RACE 7: (7) POWERFUL PEG; (5) Danaustar; (2) Excelladus; (8) Podium Queen
RACE 8: (8) ANYTHINK GOES; (4) Step Aside; (7) Buillt; (6) Crafty Eagle
RACE 9: (2) WAVERIDER BUOY; (3) Tintookie; (6) Our Kobison; (5) Bubba’s Bay
RACE 10: (9) PIONEER LASS; (8) Infinitive; (10) Bootscooter; (3) Principessa
Why They Can Win….
RACE 1: (16) SWITZERLAND – Impressive $1.5 million Snitzel colt. Obvious talent in easy trials.
RACE 2: (9) MUSICAL AFFAIR – Honest on pace mare in good form. Gets conditions to suit.
RACE 3: (8) GENTLY ROLLED – Soft trials have her ready to perform first-up. J Mac is a significant booking.
RACE 4: (4) TIME TO BOOGIE – Leads for fun in small field. No excuses.
RACE 6: (8) YARRAWONGA – Big provincial win second up over 2000m on a heavy track. Has more upside.
RACE 9: (2) WAVERIDER BUOY – Back home with a 3kg claim has her well placed on best form. Set for sharp improvement.
RACE 10: (9) PIONEER LASS – Has gone to a new level since resuming. Suited again meeting her own sex.
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – January 19-20
CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Lovero (R5)
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Bosustow (R1); Caravanserai (R1); Deputize (R1); Switzerland (R1); Ride The River (R1); Associate (R2); Caballus (R5)
KEMBLA GRANGE SATURDAY: Winston Hills (R3)
SCONE SUNDAY: Ride The River (R1); Perri Lass (R6)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Norton Road; Rockbarton Fashion; Sky Artist; King Of Sparta; Too Darn Lizzie; Junqueira; Tycoon Deshauna; Magnucat; Shezanalister; Kitty Chat; Dize; Tamerlane; Lady Soames; King Of Roseau; Secret Revolution; Take Me To Church; Deep Romance; Straight Charge; Utopian Wine; Gelatin; Shaken; Time To Boogie; Boston Rocks.
ROSEHILL January 11: Loved the first soft trial by SWITZERLAND at Warwick Farm on January 2 and another easy piece of work by this unraced Snitzel youngster to finish third in the quickest 900m heat won by DEPUTIZE (53.46; (33.93) confirms that he is a talented prospect. Eager to see what he can do under race conditions.
CANTERBURY January 9: I Am Invincible colt CABALLUS was a Randwick winner last season and impressed winning a Rosehill trial on December 29. He went on with it here easily winning his 902m heat under no pressure (54.50; 33.79). Liked the way he opened up over the last 100m to win the heat by more than three lengths.
WARWICK FARM January 2: SWITZERLAND, a colt from the Waller yard, stamped himself as one to follow with an impressive second in his 812m heat (47.67; 33.92).
ROSEHILL December 29: It was a good morning for the Bjorn Baker team with a strong trial by new acquisition CABALLUS winning the fastest 900m heat (53.77; 34.11).
WARWICK FARM December 22: The 2YO heats saw some nice efforts by BOSUSTOW. DEPUTIZE and CARAVANSERAI.
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – January 20
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Caballus (R5); Powerful Peg (R7); Step Aside (R8); Crafty Eagle (R8); Our Kobison (R9)
FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Bermadez (R1); Kin (R5); Naval Seal (R6); Torranzino (R8)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Payline (R3); Clyde (R5); Navas Two (R9)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Nana’s Wish; Union Army; Va Via; Miracle Spin; Contemporary; Zennzella; Gelatin; Munhamek; 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
BLACKBOOKERS – Selected January 13
(Follow for next 3 starts)
LORD ARDMORE; LOVING CILLA; PENTITO; PEREILLE; SELEQUE; ZHUANG SHI