Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Randwick meeting on December 21 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports.
RANDWICK December 21
Best Bets
RACE 7 (10) HEED THE OMENS: Big effort to jump sharply in distance for his last start placing over 1800m on a heavy track at Rosehill when having his third run back from a spell. Strips a fit horse for the drop back to 1600m on a good track, Tommy Berry sticks and the addition of blinkers for the first time is a familiar Chris Waller 'power play'.
RACE 8 (7) SO RISQUE: He was set for a Sydney visit two weeks ago but the Hayes camp dodged the wet conditions to resume at Ballarat where he was anchored by 60kg. Gets his favoured firm conditions this time and with a big drop in weight to 53.5kg he is well placed to improve sharply being a three time winner and placed three times from six starts when second up. Sure to run well sitting on the pace as few horses of this class can rival his monster record over 1400m.
RACE 10 (9) ACCREDITED: Promising sprinter was a tragedy beaten (by a nose!) when he couldn't get clear of a pocket when resuming at Canterbury. Quickly atoned when he made his midweek rivals looks second class breezing home by three lengths under 59.5kg over 1200m at Warwick Farm to give him four wins from only 11 starts. He'll be fitter again and is well placed to take another step up the ladder.
Selections
RACE 1: (8) QUIETLY ARROGANT; (7) Pallaton; (3) Chergui; (1) Albany Road
RACE 2: (1) TEXAS FIREBALL; (8) In Summer; (9) Magic Pharoah; (5) Moritz Girl
RACE 3: (13) CALLISTEMON; (3) Rapt; (1) Dr Evil; (6) Jacob's Time
RACE 4: (3) TERRESTAR; (4) I Am Famous; (6) Pippie Beach; (5) Lulumon
RACE 5: (10) DIDDLE DUMPLING; (6) Metaphorically; (3) Midnight Dynamite; (4) Codetta
RACE 6: (3) GILDED WATER; (4) Good Banter; (10) California Grass; (9) Tastula
RACE 7: (10) HEED THE OMENS; (7) Bright Red; (9) O'Ziggy; (6) Fiddlers Green
RACE 8: (7) SO RISQUE; (10) Elettrica; (9) Ang Pow; (8) Uzziah
RACE 9: (7) IN FLIGHT; (1) Our Kobison; (8) Time To Boogie; (2) Garza Blanca
RACE 10: (9) ACCREDITED; (13) Yorkshire; (3) Flying Destiny; (8) Little Beginnings
Why They Can Win….
RACE 1: (8) QUIETLY ARROGANT - Impressive late work in his trial. Snowden has the right knack with youngsters by his Golden Slipper winner.
RACE 2: (1) TEXAS FIREBALL - Leading Highway stable has him well placed getting to 1600m third up. Prep runs have been excellent.
RACE 3: (13) CALLISTEMON - Ready for a peak effort. Well placed back in class with light weight.
RACE 4: (3) TERRESTAR - Honest mare with a strong 1400m record. Race fit and taking the claim gives her an edge.
RACE 5: (10) DIDDLE DUMPLING - Playing wide in a trap race. She's been freshened with a nice trial and rates well down in weights.
RACE 6: (3) GILDED WATER - Promising import did the King's colors justice first-up. Set to progress through the staying ranks.
RACE 9: (7) IN FLIGHT - Sure to be better for her solid first-up effort. Distance specialist with the advantage of an allowance this time.
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – December 18
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Pallaton (R1); Quietly Arrogant (R1); Albany Road (R1); Cenotaph (R1); I Am Famous (R4); Getafix (R5); Much Much Better (R9); Yorkshire (R10)
WYONG SATURDAY: Prosperous Dragon (R2); Stratafy (R3)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Merchant Gold; Monarchs Brae; Dance To The Boom; Tempted; Point And Shoot; She Conquers; 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
TRIAL POINTERS
RANDWICK December 9: The previously noted PALLATON looks well prepared for his debut after a strong heat win (51.54; 34.74) with the runner-up QUIETLY ARROGANT taking the eye with his strong work over the last 200m.
NEWCASTLE December 4: A maiden to impress in the 1000m heats was the previously noted trial winner PROSPEROUS DRAGON (60.52; 34.64).
RANDWICK November 26: A number of these runners will have aspirations of landing at the Gold Coast in January for the Magic Millions including the 2YO heat winner over 740m ALBANY ROAD (44.90; 33.87). PALLATON trialled well behind ALBANY ROAD.
WYONG November 26: Talented local trainer Sara Ryan won an open 845m heat with her evergreen performer MUCH MUCH BETTER.
WARWICK FARM November 19: Youngsters to take the eye with their work in their heats included CENOTAPH.
ROSEHILL June 21: Provincial stable has a runner in unraced 3YO gelding PROSPEROUS DRAGON. After posting trial wins at Wyong and Gosford in April and May he came to town for another dominant exhibition, giving a big kick off the turn to win his 1030m heat by a dominant margin (63.38; 36.02). Hard to beat in a provincial maiden.
BLACKBOOK REPORT
ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – December 21-22
RANDWICK SATURDAY: In Summer (R2); Rapt (R3); Bojangles (R10)
PAKENHAM SATURDAY: Samuel Langhorne (R5); Robrick (R8); Strawberry Rock (R9); Is It Me (R10); Sir Atlas (R10)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Tannhauser (R6)
ASCOT SATURDAY: Let's Galahvant (R6)
SALE SUNDAY: Bring Forth (R4)
WAGGA TUESDAY: Associate (6)
BLACKBOOKERS – Selected December 14
(Follow for next 3 starts)
ALALCANCE; EMMADELLA; LUNA CAT; SEQUISTA; ZONDEE; ZOUCLAIRE
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Lord Of Biscay; Jedibeel; Queen Air; 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
