Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Canterbury night meeting on December 13 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.

CANTERBURY December 13

Best Bets

RACE 3: (1) VANESSI

RACE 5: (10) GERRINGONG

RACE 8: (10) WINSTON HILLS

For Value

RACE 4: (8) KIRIKAN

RACE 6: (5) JAMBALAYA

Selections

RACE 1: (7) GREAT WHITE SHARK; (3) Sounds Unusual; (9) Lady Justice; (8) Tempestry

RACE 2: (1) MAORI CHIEF; (6) Railway Man; (3) Hell To Pay; (8) Tuileries

RACE 3: (1) VANESSI; (2) Blanc De Noir; (9) Regimental Colours; (4) Cresta Run

RACE 4: (8) KIRIKAN; (1) Soldier Of Rome; (6) Fay's Angels; (3) Guzumped

RACE 5: (10) GERRINGONG; (8) Husk; (11) Smiling Prophet; (5) Impulsivity

RACE 6: (6) JAMBALAYA; (5) Vegas Raider; (1) Dehorned Unicorn; (8) Zealously

RACE 7: (2) INQUIRING MINDS; (5) Bat Out Of Hell; (8) Jack Duggan; (4) Unlimited

RACE 8: (10) WINSTON HILLS; (8) How Dare You; (3) Scorch; (7) Lancaster Bomber

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – December 12-14

CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Vegas Raider (R6); Winston Hills (R8)

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Tiger Town (R1); Artistic Venture (R5); Farset (R5); Deep Affection (R5); Cantiamo (R5); Moravia (R9); August Bloom (R10)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Extreme Courage (R1); Miss Jones (R5); Stardeel (R5); Metallic Ruler (R7); Bertie (R7)

HAWKESBURY SUNDAY: She Conquers (R1); Roman Script (R1); Tokyo Lady (R1)

NOWRA SUNDAY: Miss Jones (R8); Point And Shoot (R8); Majorca Sunset (R8); The Enchanter (R8); She Conquers (R8), Zoutastic (R8)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: It's A Wonder; O'Invincible; Magical Moments; Arriving Home; Burj; Cutepi; Inside Man; Gerringong; Art Volant; Overtook; Invincible Madison; Quartz Legend; Eye Of The Fire; Sting In The Tail; North England; Cryptonic; Manuscript; Candlewick; American Starlet; True Amor; Zealously; Autumn Burst; Rotagilla; Irish Bliss; Private Harry

TRIAL POINTERS

RANDWICK December 9: DEEP AFFECTION was s stylish winner of the fastest 2YO heat over 850m (51.19; 34. 81).

NEWCASTLE December 4: Capitalist 4YO METALLIC RULER has won three of his seven starts and looks set for further success after a strong win in his 800m heat (47.92; 34.16) in his first appearance since July. Worked home from off the pace for a soft win. CANTIAMO, a Too Darn Hot filly, looked well educated winning the 2YO heat over 800m (46.03; 33.53) with some style. Zousain filly ZOUTASTIC has one placing in four starts but is trialling like a potential winner. Followed up a Rosehill heat win on November 4 with an easy win in this 800m heat in good time (47.01; 33.96) that will have her primed to perform when she resumes.

CANTERBURY December 3: The 2YO heat over 902m was won by ARTISTIC VENTURE in comparable time with the 900m heats (55.81; 35.88). MORAVIA had a bit on his rivals in the fastest 902m heat (55.09; 35.34), travelling well within himself from the start while covering ground. Cruised to the line with plenty in reserve and should be a player in good class races over the summer. STARDEEL and MAJORCA SUNSET are well regarded maidens in the Bjorn Baker stable. They were beaten as short priced favourites in maidens late last season but showed they are ready to win races with sharp wins in their heats (STARDEEL 900m 55.92; 36.26); (MAJORCA SUNSET 898m 55.75; 36.15). Other maidens to impress included SHE CONQUERS running fast time in her 898m heat (55.22; 35.29). The promising WINSTON HILLS added another impressive trial to his record, tracking three wide before running away from his rivals in his open heat over 1100m (67.98; 35.55). TIGER TOWN was an eye catcher finishing second in his open heat.

RANDWICK November 26: AUGUST BLOOM has won only once in seven starts but her two recent trials have her set to quickly improve on that record. Followed up her strong resuming trial at Rosehill with an impressive win in her open heat over 1045m (62.76; 34.50), working home under a hold for a dominant win by 1.5 lengths. 

WARWICK FARM November 8: A sharp return by VEGAS RAIDER in his first trial since July. Raced clear from the start and the further they went the faster he went, clearing out to win his 821m heat by almost nine lengths under a tight hold in the fastest time of the morning (47.58; 33.60). Has had his chances but will be suited in a restricted short course sprint first-up.

HAWKESBURY August 5: Super first trial by Written Tycoon gelding ROMAN SCRIPT, showing great natural speed to lead his 800m heat and skip away to win by more than seven lengths in easily the fastest time of the session (46.93; 32.53).

WARWICK FARM February 26: WINSTON HILLS stood out in the 1200m trials with his surging finish from well off the pace to win his heat (73.26; 35.41). Has a win and three placings from his first four starts and looks to have a good future.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – December 11-12

CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Jambalaya (R6)

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Allapercanto (R3); Café Millenium (R6); Naval College (R7); Tannhauser (R8); Contemporary (R9); Jedibeel (R9); Jewellery (R10); Silvanito (R10); August Bloom (R10)

EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Queen Air (R2); Saltaire (R4); Midnight In Tokyo (R8); Lord Of Biscay (R9)

NOWRA SUNDAY: Associate (R7) 

BLACKBOOKERS – Selected December 7

(Follow for next 3 starts)

GENTILESCHI; IN SUMMER; IS IT ME; RAPT; SAMUEL LANGHORNE

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Danny's St Darci; Arapaho; Riot And Rose; Port Lockroy; Nadal; I'mintowin; Estadio Mestalla; Rey Magnerio; Spirit Of Camelot; Light Infantry Man; Herecomesthestar; Gringotts; Athabascan; Bullion Boy; Powers Of Opal; Poison Chalice; Tavi Time; Pharari; Tulsi; Bubba's Bay; First Light; Naval Trader; Moravia