Selections and Best Bets from Chris Scholtz for the Winter Stakes meeting at Rosehill on July 5 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook Report.

ROSEHILL July 5

Best Bets

RACE 1 - (1) RAGING FORCE: Carried high expectations from the start of the season when he was heavily backed to win the Breeders Plate after an impressive trial. Since returning he's been well placed to win in lesser company at Muswellbrook before a dominant midweek score over 1100m at Randwick (Kensington) where his winning margin of four lengths flattered his rivals. He's relished the soft ground in both wins and has the tactical speed to take full advantage of his rails draw with first use of the track.

RACE 5 - (5) TARPAULIN: Plenty of anticipation about the return of this talented 3YO as he has been gelded since he last raced nine months ago with his two trials indicating he is set to deliver on the potential he displayed winning two of his late juvenile starts, both on heavy winter tracks. He failed to deliver when he took on strong black type company last spring but the way he has worked in his trials is a strong pointer to his first-up prospects.

RACE 7 - (15) GOOD BANTER: Another throw of the dice with this enigmatic mare as she is getting out to 2000m for the first time this prep with the conditions certainly in her favour as both her wins have been on heavy tracks. It's been 14 months since her last win but that was in the G3 Adrian Knox over this distance at Randwick where she revelled in the heavy ground to beat the subsequent Oaks winner Autumn Angel, a performance that rates highly for this class. An easy tick over trial since her last start over 1600m has her primed to find that form.

Selections

RACE 1: (1) RAGING FORCE; (11) Horseshoe Hill; (9) Marchon; (5) Just Awesome

RACE 2: (10) CLOSE ENCOUNTER; (1) Iron Man; (3) Zouripper; (7) Equilibrist

RACE 3: (6) EXIT FEE; (7) Powder Man; (10) Let's Go Brandon; (4) Lunaite

RACE 4: (1) CODETTA; (10) Amusing; (4) Diddle Dumpling; (2) Smashing Time

RACE 5: (5) TARPAULIN; (4) Shall Be; (1) Storm The Ramparts; (2) Deprivation

RACE 6: (3) QUEEN OF THE MILE; (5) Lonhro's Queen; (1) Hi Dubai; (10) Savagery Vibe

RACE 7: (15) GOOD BANTER; (8) Cormac T; (14) Gentileschi; (9) Naval Commission

RACE 8: (11) KING OF ROSEAU; (8) World Alliance; (14) Dollar Magic; (13) Cosmonova

RACE 9: (13) GREEN FLY; (10) Thunderlips; (2) Welwal; (8) Whinchat

RACE 10: (10) BRAVE ONE; (5) Kerguelen; (8) Little Cointreau; (12) Sacred Rocks

Why They Can Win….

RACE 2 - (10) CLOSE ENCOUNTER: Strong winner second up. Fitter again and will relish race factors.

RACE 3 - (6) EXIT FEE: Professional Highway competitor. Brings the best form after pleasing first-up placing in this class.

RACE 4 - (1) CODETTA: Excuses in both placings this course since resuming. Rates to win under favourable conditions.

RACE 6 - (3) QUEEN OF THE MILE: Strong to the line in fast sectionals when resuming. Excellent second up credentials.

RACE 8 - (11) KING OF ROSEAU: Surged through the line winning over 1300m here last time. Favorably weighted for the rise in class.

RACE 9 - (13) GREEN FLY: Impressive winner this course in the heavy when resuming. Primed off soft trial to threaten under light weight.

RACE 10 – (10) BRAVE ONE: Classy win at Randwick when he did it the hard way. Open to more improvement.

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – July 5

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Barking Mad (R1); Caesar (R1); Marchon (R1); Tarpaulin (R5); Bunker Hut (R8); Fleetwood (R8); Anythink Goes (R10)

WYONG SATURDAY: Bev's Nine (R2); Miss Trentino (R2); Tequisoda (R6); Tong Ho (R6); City Gold Banner (R8)

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Inhibitions (R3)

GOULBURN MONDAY: Bev's Nine; From The Peak

CANTERBURY WEDNESDAY: Portofino; Fairway To Heaven; City Gold Banner; Beside The Ocean; Infusion; Tequisoda; Miss Trentino; Barking Mad; Marchon; Panova; From The Peak

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Romeo's Choice; Rockbarton Max; Efharisto; Getafix; Axius; Raging Force; Mirai San; Dunleary; Herman Said; Sunday Tycoon; Big Papa; Just Awesome; Glorious Moments; Horseshoe Hill; Diddle Dumpling; World Alliance; Indefensible; Sapphire Rose; Aix En Provence; Headley Grange; Regimental Colours; Frosty Girl; Raging Force; Point Score; Change My Address; Prima Bella; Caballus; Oh Diamond Lil

TRIAL POINTERS

RANDWICK June 27: In the 1050m heats runners that took the eye with easy trials included ANYTHINK GOES

CANTERBURY June 23: Chosen trainers will be anxious to know how the Godolphin team will be broken up when James Cummings walks out the door as they are going to be handed some readymade winners. Among them will be the talented 3YO TARPAULIN, who recorded a classy win in his 900m heat (54.62; 35.91) to follow up his easy resuming trial at Hawkesbury. Could have led but Kerrin McEvoy was content to sit outside the leader under a big hold. Responded like a good horse when given a little squeeze over the last 200m to comfortably hold his rivals and win with plenty in reserve. Others include the race fit FLEETWOOD, who worked easily for a good second.

ROSEHILL June 20: Impressive trials from a couple of youngsters that can be followed with confidence into the winter. A stunning debut trial by Wootton Bassett gelding MARCHON. He settled a clear last and was still seven lengths off the lead at the 300m in his 900m heat (56.00; 35.58) before angling to the outside where he showed an electric turn of foot to sprint home over the top of his rivals under a cold ride. The time was slow but to the eye he did it in second gear so it will be interesting to see what he can do under race conditions. INHIBITIONS worked to the line in good style to finish second in the fastest of the four 1030m heats (62.99; 35.16). In the 2YO heat over 1030m CAESAR held an advantage to the line with TONG HO creating an impression with his late work to the line.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – July 5

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Show 'Em Howl (R3/R4); Codetta (R4); Amusing (R4); Miracle Spin (R7); Assailant (R7); Guzumped (R7); Whinchat (R9); Testator Silens (R9)

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Vellasmachine (R7); Detonator Jack (R8)

SUNSHINE COAST SATURDAY: North Of Eli (R1); Lead Me On (R4); Beau Dazzler (R6); Warnie (R7); Fortunate Kiss (R7); Sunset Dreaming (R7/R9); Don Diego De Vega (R8)

ROCKHAMPTON SATURDAY: Bettcha The Crown (R7); Harbourmaster (R7)

BLACKBOOKERS

(Selected June 28 - Follow Next 3 Starts)

BELVEDERE BOYS; BLANCHLAND; BEREZKA; GENERAL SALUTE; GODFATHER; KINGSTON CHARM; MORMONA

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Sound It Out; Getafix; She's Unusual; Stylish; Terilee; Zaszou; Adiella; Shockletz; Oh Too Good; Splash Back, Salty Pearl; Bring Forth; Spione; The Inflictor; Sunshine In Paris; Mary Eliza; On Display; Gentileschi; Photograph; Charm Stone; Regal Azmon; Jimmysstar; Movin Out