Selections, best bets and value plays from Chris Scholtz for the Epsom Handicap meeting at Randwick on October 5 plus al 2YO Trial Reviews, Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports.

RANDWICK October 5

Good 4; Rail 3m entire

Best Bets

RACE 4 - (3) SWIFT FALCON: Ended his first prep last season with a classy win at Rosehill and could not have been more impressive when he resumed at Flemington two weeks ago with a dominant performance over 1420m under 61.5kg. Drops to 56.5kg under the set weight conditions and should relish stepping up to 1600m as he heads towards bigger goals.

RACE 7 – (1) GIGA KICK: It was obvious he needed the run when he resumed from his long layoff with a solid fifth after racing wide without cover in the Concorde Stakes at this course last month where they were too sharp for him over 1000m under 60.5kg. Showed the benefit with a classy last to first trial win at Canterbury on September 24 and the return to 1200m under more favourable WFA conditions should see him confirm he is on target for a second win in The Everest. McDonald is now familiar with him and that has to be a positive.

RACE 9 - (7) CEOWULF: Progressive 4YO is the right age with the right profile as a G1 classic performer last season when placed in the Rosehill Guineas and ATC Derby. Subsequently gelded, he hit winning form second up when he showed a classy turn of foot to sprint away with a BM 100 over 1500m at Rosehill under 60kg before posting the fastest last 600m when a closing second to the impressive Eliyass in the G3 Kingston Town over 2000m at this course two weeks ago. I'm a sticker for the belief that it takes a good 2000m horse to win an Epsom or Doncaster and he is ticking all the right boxes.

Selections

RACE 1: (8) STATE OF AMERICA; (11) Flying Bandit; (13) Kingston Charm; (5) Agita

RACE 2: (10) TUSCANY; (5) North England; (4) King Kirk; (7) Raging Force  

RACE 3: (3) BEL MERCI; (15) Tupakara; (8) Memo; (9) O' Ole 

RACE 4: (3) SWIFT FALCON; (2) Just Party; (1) Depth Of Character; (4) Media World 

RACE 5: (12) CHICA MOJITO; (4) Floating; (10) Snowman; (7) Riyazan 

RACE 6: (2) SNOW IN MAY; (4) Lady Shenandoah; (3) Lazzura; (9) Powers Of Opal

RACE 7: (1) GIGA KICK; (7) Bella Nipotina; (2) Think About It; (3) Mazu

RACE 8: (21) UNUSUAL LEGACY; (11) Future History; (14) Land Legend; (15) First Light

RACE 9: (7) CEOLWULF; (4) Kovalica; (12) Major Beel; (9) Tom Kitten

RACE 10: (21) BRIASA; (4) Ostraka; (5) Moravia; (17) Inhibitions

Why They Can Win….

RACE 1 - (8) STATE OF AMERICA: Solid prep for this trip. Conditions suit.

RACE 2 - (10) TUSCANY: Impressive trial win coming off fast pace in quickest of the colts heats. Looks worthy of his $1.5 million purchase price.

RACE 3 - (3) BEL MERCI: Impressive second in strong trial. Expect her to appreciate fast pace.

RACE 5 - (12) CHICA MOJITO: Had excuses when resuming and the form through that race is strong. Ideally placed under light weight to progress.

RACE 6 - (2) SNOW IN MAY: Impressed chasing home the top filly and now she's missing. Rates to win with further improvement.

RACE 8 - (21) UNUSUAL LEGACY: Getting stronger with every start. Should get every chance carrying only 50kg.

RACE 10 - (21) BRIASA: Taking everything in his stride like a good horse. Well placed to go on from his easy first up win.

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – October 4-5

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Powers Of Opal (R6); Giga Kick (R7); Think About It (R7); Kovalica (R9); Corniche (R10) 

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Tarpaulin (R5); Bodyguard (R5)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Iowna Benz (R2); Inoue (R2); Bremel (R2); Oakfield Badger (R5); Super Zippi (R5); Apollo Ridge (R6)

WARWICK FARM MONDAY: Tartaglia (R2); Bonita Queen (R6); Hard To Say (R7); The Bopper (R7); Renosu (R7)

GOULBURN TUESDAY: Circle Of Love (R6); Apollo Ridge (R6)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Aye Aye Captain; Force Red; Broadsiding; Swift Falcon; Creek; Zoubaby; Amelita; Ellipsis; Sunshine In Paris; Lady Shenandoah; Traffic Warden; Dashing Rupert; Opal Fields; Royal Patronage; Watch My Girl; Deconstruction; Briasa; Storm Boy; Asuriita; Last Command; Spirit Of Wealth; Countyourblessings; Kimochi; Via Sistina; Ameena

BREEDERS PLATE/GIMCRACK STAKES TRIAL GUIDE

RANDWICK 2YO TRIALS (850m) - September 23

HEAT 1 (C & G): The winner TUSCANY (Zoustar) cost $1.5 million and looks the part, being an imposing chestnut with plenty of strength. James McDonald allowed him to find his legs, covering ground four lengths off the lead at the 500m before responding well when called on over the last 250m to reel in the leaders and post the equal fastest heat time (49.11; 33.75). His margin at the finish was only a half length but there was a lot to like about the extension in his action and he will take plenty of benefit from the experience.

HEAT 2 (Fillies): The winner MEMO (Capitalist) impressed coming from six lengths off the lead at the 500m for a dominant 1.5 lengths win (49.33; 33.45) She was taken widest and showed good racing manners sprinting to the line. The runner up AUTUMN BLONDE was briefly held up taking a split at the 200m and finished off nicely when balanced.

HEAT 3 (C & G): Plenty of merit in the win by KING KIRK (Ole Kirk). Railed through to third before coming off the back of the leaders at the 200m and sprinting to the line under a ride to score by a half length. Slower overall time (49.57; 33.32) but his last 600m was the fastest closing sectional of the eight heats.

HEAT 4 (Fillies): The slowest heat of the morning (50.02; 33.69) with STRADA VARENNA (Street Boss) finishing over the top after being eager to run behind a line of four coming to the turn. She needed clear air and lengthened nicely when she got clear running at the 200m.The eye catcher was the Trapeze Artist filly TUPAKARA making strong ground from last under a soft ride to finish fourth.

HEAT 5 (C & G): Like the form in this heat. The flashy chestnut TEMPESTUOUS led on the bit and travelled easily with the winner RAGING FORCE (Cosmic Force) tracking along the fence behind the pace. He looked a real professional driving along the rail over the last 100m for a strong win to score by a half length (49.44; 33.43) while TEMPESTUOUS was given an easy time over the last 50m. RIPLEY also impressed finding the line nicely for third after covering ground. .

HEAT 6 (Fillies): Good fillies heat in the equal fastest time of the session (49.11; 33.40). Racy filly O' OLE (Ole Kirk) had impressed in jumpouts and showed she is a natural runner by bounding to a clear lead from the barrier. Travelled easily but came under some pressure over the last 100m and needed a flick or two with the whip to find the line. She only had a neck to spare at the finish from the impressive runner up BEL MERCI, who closed off under a kind ride from four lengths off the lead at the 600m after she was eased back from a wide gate. She was stronger through the line than the winner.

HEAT 7 (C & G): Stylish Farnan colt NORTH ENGLAND recorded one of the easiest wins of the session (49.43; 33.43). He's a natural runner who did it at both ends, speeding through his first 600m with company before responding well when called on at the 300m by Tim Clark to break away and coast to the line.

TRIAL POINTERS

WARWICK FARM September 30: Carnival prospects to show good form in their prep trials included TARPAULIN. In the maiden heats a notable effort from CIRCLE OF LOVE impressed.

NEWCASTLE September 25: HARD TO SAY and THE BOPPER, two of Newcastle's better class sprinters, are in good shape for coming engagements after smart wins in their heats.

CANTERBURY September 24: Crack sprinter GIGA KICK continued his preparation for a second win in The Everest with an impressive trial win. Everything about his last to first win in his 901m heat confirmed that he had taken immense benefit from his first-up fifth in the Concorde at Randwick when he was having his first start back from an enforced break of 12 months. James McDonald was content to let his rivals run from the barrier, riding GIGA KICK with no urgency to settle at the rear under a strong hold. While his rivals were a long way short of Everest quality his class came to the fore over the last 200m as he surged down the outside to score by a head without McDonald applying any serious pressure. He posted a good time (54.88; 34.13) and it was hard to miss his work after the line as was full of running for another 200m. Group winner CORNICHE is another set for a good spring after responding well to get the better of last year's Everest winner THINK ABOUT IT in their 901m heat (55.02; 34.26). THINK ABOUT IT sat outside the leader and trialled in his usual strong manner to be beaten only a head. TARTAGLIA is a well above average 3YO who is poised to rise quickly through the classes this season. He ended his 2YO season with a maiden win at Warwick Farm in June and is ready to go on with it after this impressive 901m heat win in fast time (54.34; 34.11) to back up his recent placing in a Randwick trial.

HAWKESBURY September 17: Bjorn Baker had another strong session winning six heats. They included the in-form speedster BONITA QUEEN and impressive unraced maiden IOWNA BENZ. The latter is ready to make a mark when he goes to the races.

ROSEHILL September 16: I Am Invincible colt BODYGUARD was a classy dual winner last season and made an impressive return in his first trial since March, running to a clear lead under a hold from Tommy Berry before sprinting away over the last 200m with a quick closing sectional to win his 1030m heat by more than six lengths (62.81; 34.48). It wasn't the quickest heat over the distance but said plenty about his spring prospects. The unraced INOUE continues to enhance his reputation with his third win in four trials since February, leading easily to post the quickest time in the three heats over 1030m (62.73; 35.28).

RANDWICK September 9: In the black type heat over 1000m none of the runners were put under any pressure with only 2.5 lengths covering the six runners across the line. THINK ABOUT IT'S effort was typical of his trials, doing all that was required to finish third.

WYONG September 9: Smart sprinter HARD TO SAY was under a big hold finishing a close second in his 845m heat (48.84; 34.03) that he could have won if given rein.

ROSEHILL September 5: Unraced Winning Rupert filly IOWNA BENZ breezed to a five lengths win in the fastest 900m heat (53.58; 34.51), improving on two previous trials to run to a clear lead after 200m and maintain her advantage under no pressure. She's ready for a suitable maiden. BREMEL is a maiden heat winner with good prospects.

RANDWICK August 30: I have been waiting for unraced Shalaa gelding INOUE to reappear since two impressive trials last season.  Strong bodied 3YO with plenty of natural talent evident as he cruised through his 740m heat (43.57; 32.97) with ease, extending like a good horse under no pressure over the last 300m.

WARWICK FARM August 27: Some very quick heat winners in the short course trials included the fast runners SUPER ZIPPI and MICRO MAGIC.

RANDWICK February 22: Among the 2YOs to make an impression in their trials was the Snowden-trained heat winner INOUE (737m – 43.53; 33.66).

BLACKBOOK REPORT

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – October 4-5

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Snowman (R5); Powers Of Opal (R6); Que Tempesta (R8); Athabascan (R8); Kovalica (R9); Democracy Manifest (R9); Arctic Glamour (R10); Battleton (R10)

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Scheelite (R1); Sergeant Major (R3); Declichy Boulevard (R4); Skybird (R10); Fortunate Kiss (R10)

DOOMBEN SATURDAY: Bubba's Bay (R10)

BENDIGO SUNDAY: Landmark (R5)

BLACKBOOKERS – Selected September 27-28

(Follow for next 3 starts)

CLIMBING STAR; PHARARI; RIOT AND ROSE; SCHEELITE; TAVI TIME

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: First Light; Naval Trader; Moravia; Aviatress; Unlimited; Sunshine In Paris; Unusual Legacy; Spring Lee; Ceolwulf; The Englishman; Boom Torque; Kundalini; Daytona; Hellavadancer; Yorkshire; Amigo; House Of Cards; Shiny New Deel; Invader Zim; Rogue Bear; Piastri; Madame Odette; Kapakiri