Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Winx Stakes meeting at Randwick on August 23 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.

RANDWICK August 23

Best Bets

RACE 5 - (6) SALTCOATS: Showed the benefit of his prep runs to dominate the deferred Prelude over 1800m on the Kensington on August 13 when he added to his strong record on affected surfaces. Rises 2.5kg but he again gets his favoured heavy conditions and can't see anything in this field holding his scope for improvement as he rises to 2000m, a trip he tackled three times for a win and two placings.

RACE 6 - (4) AGARWOOD: The Waterhouse/Bott stable took aim at the spring with this classy filly after she posted impressive wins in her first two starts on soft and heavy tracks at Warwick Farm and Randwick in May. She has come back looking the goods with two easy trial wins in soft going that ensures she has done the necessary work to tackle 1200m first-up. Her record to date suggests that she is an above average wet tracker.

RACE 7: CIGAR FLICK: Huge respect for her unbeaten stablemate Autumn Glow but this honest mare will never get a better chance to post a Group win as she strikes her favoured track conditions at the peak of her form. Made amends for a string of luckless performances in strong form races when she revelled in the ground to swamp her rivals over this course and distance last month, carrying 58kg for her fourth win on soft and heavy tracks. With 5kg less she rates as the value bet with her fitness edge.

Selections

RACE 1: (12) DIVINE BENE; (8) Against The Law; (5) Signor Tortoni; (2) So Good So Cool

RACE 2: (2) EXIT FEE; (8) Xcessive Force; (5) Neil; (11) Signatories

RACE 3: (9) WUDZZ; (1) Juja Kibo; (5) Bluestone; (7) Impunity

RACE 4: (6) IRON MAN; (7) Lugh; (2) Kerguelen; (9) Boltsaver

RACE 5: (2) SALTCOATS; (6) Belvedere Boys; (9) Hasty Honey; (10) Good Banter

RACE 6: (4) AGARWOOD; (3) Savvie Hallie; (1) Within The Law; (6) Queen Of Clubs

RACE 7: (7) CIGAR FLICK; (4) Autumn Glow; (3) Manaal; (9) More Territories

RACE 8: (3) GRINGOTTS; (9) Via Sistina; (12) Aeliana; (2) Ceowulf

RACE 9: (6) CORNICHE; (5) General Salute; (10) Bandi's Boy; (4) Lazzura

RACE 10: (9) KAPAKIRI; (5) Glad You Think So; (11) Narbold; (12) Mornington Pier

Why They Can Win….

RACE 1 – (12) DIVINE BENE: Bounced off a trial win to score easily in the heavy at Newcastle. Big record over this distance.

RACE 2 – (2) EXIT FEE: Has convictions but he's well placed to rebound. Trust him to run to his best.

RACE 3 – (9) WUDZZ: Proven this trip and has good heavy form at Randwick. Rates well in this class.

RACE 4 – (6) IRON MAN: Suited in this company and goes well fresh. Heavy conditions present no issues. 

RACE 8 – (3) GRINGOTTS: Trials indicate he has been set for this. Confident ability in wet conditions.

RACE 9 – (6) CORNICHE: Classy sprinter all the better for his resuming effort. Ready to go for his new stable.

RACE 10 - (9) KAPAKIRI: Impressive midweek win in the heavy. Quick back up suits a very fit horse.

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL WATCH RUNNERS – August 23-26

RANDWICK SATURDAY: So Good So Cool (R1); Agarwood (R6); Queen Of Clubs (R6); Autumn Glow (R7); Manaal (R7); Bonita Queen (R7); Imposant (R7); Gangsta Granny (R7); Gringotts (R8); Ceowulf (R8); Via Sistina (R8); Lindermann (R8); Aeliana (R8); Encap (R9); General Salute (R9)   

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Forcefilly (R1); Farnciful (R1); Cavalry (R4); Michelangelo (R4); Decorum (R4)

GOULBURN SUNDAY: Decorum (R6); Wooton Verni (R7)

NARROMINE SUNDAY: Blind Squirrel (R1)

NEWCASTLE TUESDAY: Forcefilly (R1); Sam The Rocket (R3); Magenta Skies (R3)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Better Late; Skyhook; Private Eye; Savvy Hallie; Cantiamo; Ohope; Cuban Cigar; Balmain Darling; Barbarossa; Slinky; Ravenclaw, The Novelist; Johnny; Nashville Jack; Kerber; Skyglider; Amreekiyah; King Of Roseau; Valilee; Custom; Grand Prairie; Southern Heiress; Straand Beauty; Nazwah; Caesar; Infusion; Bev's Nine

TRIAL POINTERS

CANTERBURY August 18: LINDERMANN has been working strongly in his prep trials, finishing third in his 1100m black type heat with plenty in reserve. In the 900m bl;ack type heat the flying mare BONITA QUEEN showed her usual speed to open up a big margin on the field (56.65; 36.93) before she came back to them over the last 200m to win the heat by 1.4 lengths. The talented GANGSTA GRANNY was among the better open heat winners while maidens to keep tabs on include CAVALRY and MICHELANGELO.

WARWICK FARM August 8: More black type heats. In Heat 1 over 1000m (59.97; 35.64) CEOWULF impressed with his closing effort for second behind subsequent G2 winner Private eye.

RANDWICK August 7: Four strong black type heats. The first over 1000m (64.07; 38.12) was the quicker of the two heats over the distance for the Group horses with a quietly ridden VIA SISTINA finishing nicely for second while Fangirl got into her work late for fourth. In Heat 2 Derby winner AELIANA was responsible for a strong trial, finishing fourth with nice work over the last 200m. The third heat over 850m saw a classy trial from the unbeaten AUTUMN GLOW, closing off in great style under no pressure from the rear to finish third behind Just Feeling Lucky (53.57; 36.47). In Heat 4 over 850m MANAAL trucked through this trial (53.61; 36.29) under a big hold for a classy win in a sure sign she is in good form to resume. The trials on the A grass also produced some notable performances. Runners to take the eye with impressive trials in the 1044m heats included WOOTTON VERNI and the maiden heat winner MAGENTA SKIES, an unraced filly by Frankel with a good future.

GOSFORD August 7: Ciaron Maher sent a band of his G1 winners to this track for a second time for easy trials. GRINGOTTS worked well within himself to win his 1000m heat (62.94; 36.88). Light Infantry Man was beaten for speed but made ground to finish third in the fastest 1000m heat (61.41; 36.26).

ROSEHILL July 29: The 900m heat for the Group horses was won by the leader LINDERMANN (54.89; 34.10) under no pressure.

WARWICK FARM July 25: More prep trials for Group horses getting ready for the new season. In Heat 1 (1000m) ENCAP took the trail and railed through when the leader shifted wide. Sprinted home for a soft win (59.67; 34.61) with Point And Shoot holding his ground to finish third. In Heat 2 (900m) the fast mare BONITA QUEEN ran away with the trial after leading by a big space on the turn. BONITA QUEEN did it again to lead by lengths and win a Canterbury trial on Monday in heavy ground. CEOWULF had an easy condition trial. Unbeaten Wootton Bassett filly AGARWOOD is going to make an impact as a 3YO after a classy win in her 822m heat on the inside grass . Bounded to the front and speared away from them on the turn to coast home untouched by six lengths (48.10; 33.24). Followed up with a trip to Goulburn for an easy win in a race day trial over 800m on August 11 that will add to her fitness.

GOSFORD July 23: Ciaron Maher's G1 winners GRINGOTTS and Light Infantry Man had a day out as their first step towards their spring campaigns. GRINGOTTS contested the fastest 800m heat (34.34) in his first trial since he contested the Doncaster Mile at Randwick in April, working to the line to finish fourth before carrying on with a strong gallop for 400m past the post. Light Infantry Man finished an easy fourth in his 800m heat. Note that Tommy Berry made the trip for just the one ride on George Ryder Stakes winner GRINGOTTS.

RANDWICK July 22: All the focus was on the two black type heats on the Kensington where some of our best Group horses started their preps for the spring. Heat 1 over 850m featured G1 winners VIA SISTINA and Fangirl but they did no more than work easily off the pace. In heat 2 over the same distance (51.20; 33.69) unbeaten filly AUTUMN GLOW did it easily to finish third after covering ground. Like the first heat the big guns including MANAAL, AELIANA and LAZZURA were given easy conditioning trials.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – August 23

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Belvedere Boys (R5); Territory Express (R9); General Salute (R9); Corniche (R9))

MOONEE VALLEY SATURDAY: Lincoln Rocks (R6); Detonator Jack (R8); Stoli Bolli (R9)

EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Berezka (R4); Habeebah (R7); Larrikin Rogue (R8); Zelgaria (R9); Pareto (R9)

BELMONT PARK SATURDAY: Soldanelle (R6)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Michelangelo (R4) 

BLACKBOOKERS (Selected August 16 - Follow Next 3 Starts)

AMREEKIYAH; EXPRESS CLASS; FERMOY; LAND LEGEND; LORD PENMAN; MY GLADIOLA; POLYGLOT

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Monkhana; Point Barrow; Saltcoats; Monte Supreme; Relentless Voyager; Crossbow; Useapin; Amusing; Robusto; Lead Me On; Mormona; Duchess Zou; Don Diego De Vega; Epic Proportions; Stay Silent; Fortunate Kiss; Sound It Out; Getafix; She's Unusual; Stylish; Terilee; Zaszou; Adiella; Shockletz