Selections, Best Bets, Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports from Chris Scholtz for the Winter Challenge meeting at Rosehill on July 19.

ROSEHILL July 19

Best Bets

RACE 3: (2) HIGHWAY STRIP: Lightly raced Goulburn-trained 3YO was runner up in two strong C3 Highways at Randwick in December and January before a spell. That's superior form to what he meets in this easier C2 contest with two good Canberra trials having him in prime condition to resume.

RACE 6: (7) TUILERIES: Classy prospect well placed to resume. Grades above her rivals winning back to back at Canterbury and Randwick in December before a luckless seventh as favourite in the Listed Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast where she was posted from the outside gate. Good trials have her ready.

RACE 10: (6) KING OF ROSEAU: Rebounded from his only failure this preparation for a surging win over this course and distance on June 14 under 59kg. He's since had a strong 1050m trial that sets him up perfectly for a repeat performance with a 3kg drop in weight to counter the rise in class. Suited by genuine pace.

Selections

RACE 1: (9) SAPLING; (6) Alphard; (11) Spice Prawn; (2) Portofino

RACE 2: (11) PRETTY TAVI; (2) Denman Star; (8) Close Encounter; (6) Harry's Bar

RACE 3: (2) HIGHWAY STRIP; (12) Poseidon's Son; (6) Ritzsun; (4) Shropshire Lad

RACE 4: (8) NARBOLD; (11) Sister Daae; (4) Hell To Pay; (2) Mr Verse

RACE 5: (10) AXIUS; (5) Spying; (8) Unstopabull; (6) Yoshinobu

RACE 6: (7) TUILERIES: (9) Useapin; (3) West Of Dalby; (6) Art's Alive

RACE 7: (10) FIOPROSPERO; (6) Impunity; (3) Good Banter; (9) Gentileschi

RACE 8: (3) CORNICHE; (2) With Your Blessing; (8) Storm The Ramparts; (4) Our Kobison

RACE 9: (11) SALTCOATS; (1) Robusto; (4) Accredited; (10) Thunderlips

RACE 10: (6) KING OF ROSEAU; (14) Little Cointreau; (12) Kerguelen; (3) Cloudland

Why They Can Win….

RACE 1: (9) SAPLING: Progressing well for smart provincial stable, Brings strong winning form with race fitness.

RACE 2: (11) PRETTY TAVI: Holds ample scope for improvement off her luckless first-up placing. Better draw helps.

RACE 4: (8) NARBOLD: Plenty of merit in his Canterbury placing. Suited under these conditions with 4kg less.

RACE 5: (10) AXIUS: Beat subsequent winner with style when resuming. Rises in class but he's the one on the up.

RACE 7: (10) FIOPROSPERO; Solid grounding for this trip. One of many chances.

RACE 8: (3) CORNICHE: Group winner back from a long break. Set for this off three classy trials.

RACE 9: (11) SALTCOATS: Warmed up nicely late when resuming and has a good second up record. Can threaten with his light weight.

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – July 19-20

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Portofino (R1); Spice Prawn (R1); With Your Blessing (R8); Corniche (R8); Danny's St Darci (R8); Catch The Glory (R8); King Of Roseau (R10)

GOSFORD SATURDAY: Say Yes (R2); Valilee (R5)

HAWKESBURY SUNDAY: Don't What Me (R3)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Custom; Grand Prairie; Southern Heiress; Straand Beauty; Nazwah; Caesar; Infusion; Bev's Nine; 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

TRIAL POINTERS

HAWKESBURY July 7: A couple of smart performances but none better than the stunning heat win by unraced 4YO VALILEE. The Adelaide gelding, trained by Jake Hull, has been in the blackbook since his early trials last December when he showed good promise in heats at Newcastle and Hawkesbury. He's obviously had issues to remain unraced but there will be high anticipation when he makes his debut after this stunning trial win by an official 11.7 lengths in the fastest heat over 800m (46.83; 33.56). He did it so easily running more than 1.5 seconds faster than the next best time in the 800m heats, dropping his head from the start and cruising all the way under a cold ride from Mitchell Bell. Sharp win by Too Darn Hot filly SPICE PRAWN, tracking the speed on the fence before railing inside the leaders on the turn and cruising away with her 1000m heat (60.56; 34.85) to win unextended by more than two lengths. Expect good improvement on what she showed in her first two starts in March.

ROSEHILL July 4: : Dual Group winner CORNICHE was too classy for his rivals in his third trial since last spring. He impressed in his earlier trials and was better here, jumping to front and being held back to them until striding away under no pressure over the last 250m for a flattering three lengths win in his 1020m heat (64.27; 35.01). Keen to follow in coming starts.

HAWKESBURY June 10: In the fastest 1000m heat Godolphin's classy Group winner CORNICHE put in a strong trial under a quiet ride in preparation for his return to racing.

WARWICK FARM May 26: CORNICHE was a classy Group winner as a two and three-year-old but things went amiss after only one start as a spring 4YO. Did all that was required to win his 824m heat (49.49; 34.71) and is sure to take benefit from the trial, his first since October.

NEWCASTLE December 4: The speedy 800m winner VALILEE (45.49; 33.31) will be well placed in a suitable provincial maiden.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – July 19-20

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Highway Strip (R3); Amusing (R4); Useapin (R6); Fioprospero (R7); Assailant (R7); Robusto (R9)

EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Berezka (R2); Lead Me On (R8); Defiant Spirit (R9)

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Mormona (R7); Relentless Voyager (R8); Euphoric (R8)

SUNSHINE COAST SUNDAY: Defiant Spirit (R3)

TAREE TUESDAY: Show 'Em Howl (R5)

BLACKBOOKERS

(Selected July 12 - Follow Next 3 Starts)

CELERITY; CROSSBOW; FEDERER; SALT LAKE CITY

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Don Diego De Vega; Epic Proportions; Stay Silent; Fortunate Kiss; 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