Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the The Ingham meeting at Randwick on December 14 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.

RANDWICK December 14

Best Bets

RACE 6 (13) MORNING SUN: Resumed with a comfortable Rosehill win over 1800m under 59kg then raced flat in soft ground second up when beaten two lengths over the same course and distance on November 30, the first time he has missed a place in five Australian starts. Drawn wide but rates well dropping in weight with better track conditions in his favour.

RACE 7 (12) ALALCANCE: Reads as a target race for this lightly raced mare dropping to the limit weight. She has made the right impression in her two Australian starts, winning first-up over 2140m at Warwick Farm in September before resuming with a game second over 2000m at Kembla Grange when she was caught on the line. Showed her best over this distance in Ireland and an easy interim trial since her last start is typical of the way the Waterhouse/Bott stable gets the best out of their imported stayers. .

RACE 9 (5) HEDGED: Trialled well but found fitter sprinters too sharp for him first-up when third over 1000m at Kembla Grange where he was doing his best through the line to be beaten less than a length. Well placed to return to the form he showed in quality sprints last season, a highlight being his nose second to Joliestar in the G2 Arrowfield over this course and distance at his only previous Randwick start. Rates to win from the rails draw.

Selections

RACE 1: (7) SMASHING TIME; (9) Zoubaby; (3) Emmabella; (10) Tiger Town  

RACE 2: (9) TICKLEBELLY; (1) Duke Of Bronte; (16) Bridie's Luck; (6) Tai Lung

RACE 3: (6) ALLAPERCANTO; (3) Pier Pressure; (1) Chica Mojito; (4) Redbreast

RACE 4: (9) ZONDEE; (8) Ravello; (5) Bunker Hut; (13) Victory Lane

RACE 5: (5) IMAGINATE; (12) Cantiamo; (6) Within The Law; (8) Artistic Venture

RACE 6: (13) MORNING SUN; (14) Queen Of Dragons; (3) Tavi Time; (4) Café Millenium

RACE 7: (12) ALALCANCE; (3) Sea King; (11) Kadavar; (2) Naval College

RACE 8: (18) ESTADIO MESTALLA; (6) New Energy; (1) Private Eye; (14) Xidaki

RACE 9: (5) HEDGED; (4) Contemporary; (6) Moravia; (7) Pereille

RACE 10: (9) JEWELLERY; (18) Left Field; (17) Wooloowin; (3) Eye Of The Fire

Why They Can Win….

RACE 1: (7) SMASHING TIME - Excuses second up in higher grade. Expect improvement back in class with tongue tie on.

RACE 2: (9) TICKLEBERRY - In the money all three Randwick starts this class. Can find the frame again.

RACE 3: (6) ALLAPERCANTO – On pace pattern played against her second up. Has been looking for 1600m.

RACE 4: (9) ZONDEE – Kept fresh as he's best on top of the ground. Gets the right conditions.         

RACE 5: (5) IMAGINATE – Obvious talent in his Victorian jump outs. Good draw supports stable judgement to send him north.

RACE 8: (18) ESTADIO MESTALLA: Game Kembla win under 62kg in faster time than Gong winner Gringotts. Loves Randwick and will give a big sight on pace with 9kg less.

RACE 10: (9) JEWELLERY: Untested first-up when badly held up. Ample scope to improve off that effort.  

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – December 14-15

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); 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: Winston Hills; 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

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: 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). 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. 

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).

BLACKBOOK REPORT

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – December 14-15

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