Chris Scholtz previews the Epsom Handicap meeting at Randwick on October 4 with best bets and selections for all races plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.

RANDWICK October 4

Best Bets

RACE 5 – (19) IDLE FLYER: Early odds may look skinny but the price reflects the quality of this promising Dundeel mare's impressive wins since resuming. Did it easily first-up over 1250m on the Kensington before showing an electric turn of foot to put away a BM78 field over 1400m at this course on September 20 when she posted the fastest last 200m of the day. She's looking for this extra trip and is well placed to tackle the class rise with a handy 4.5kg drop to the limit weight.

RACE 6 – (1) APOCALYPTIC: She's been the star of the Princess Series, proving a class above her rivals with strong wins in the G2 Furious Stakes (1200m) and G2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) that point to her having no trouble progressing to this distance. She's an ideal anchor for multiple bets as history tells you superior fillies dominate their own sex at level weights.

RACE 7 - (2) BRIASA: Loomed as the winner but a cracking pace just found him out first-up when he was run down late by Joliestar in the G2 Shorts over 1100m at this course on September 20. It was similar to his first-up placing in the autumn before he outclassed a crack field with a dominant win in the G1 TJ Smith over this course and distance in April, his fifth win from six starts over 1200m. Expect a similar performance.

Selections

RACE 1: (8) HIGHBORN HARRY; (11) Otono; (2) Claim The Crown; (9) Agita

RACE 2: (4) I'M YA HUCKLEBERRY; (2) Eviction Notice; (6) Incognito; (8) Revengeance

RACE 3: (10) SHIKI; (7) Masvingo; (8) Oh Yes She Did; (12) Yvonne's Joy

RACE 4: (11) NEXT JEN; (1) Without Peer; (6) Ruination; (7) Attica

RACE 5: (19) IDLE FLYER; (10) Time Quest; (13) Perfumist; (15) Glad You Think So

RACE 6: (1) APOCALYPTIC; (5) Queen Of Clubs; (8) Enviable; (2) Artistic Venture

RACE 7: (2) BRIASA; (1) Jimmysstar; (6) Private Harry; (4) Mazu

RACE 8: (4) AUTUMN GLOW; (10) Swiftfalcon; (6) Willydoit; (2) Pericles

RACE 9: (13) ROYAL SUPREMACY; (4) Changingoftheguard; (17) Travolta; (10) Etna Rosso

RACE 10: (5) DISNECK; (10) Kerguelen; (9) Getafix; (18) Cosmonova

Why They Can Win….

RACE 1 - (8) HIGHBORN HARRY: All the better for his solid first-up effort. Track and distance will suit.

RACE 2 - (4) I'M A HUCKLEBERRY: Strong trial win in good time. Should test his fast stablemate.

RACE 3 - (10) SHIKI: Professional winner of the fastest trial. Natural runner.

RACE 4 – (11) NEXT JEN: Tackles the colts with weight advantage. Distance suits with blinkers on.

RACE 8 - (4) AUTUMN GLOW: First 1600m start with weight and barrier factors against her but she is special. Rely on a good ride.

RACE 9 - (13) ROYAL SUPREMACY: Rating up to his classy UK form. Strong prep and race maps to suit his style.

RACE 10 - (5) DISNECK: Inside gates have done him no favours this prep. Loves a clear crack at Randwick.  

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL WATCH RUNNERS – October 4-6

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Eviction Notice (R2); I'm Ya Huckleberry (R2); Shiki (R3); Jimmysstar (R7); El Castello (R8); Cloudland (R10); Getafix (R10); Shangri La Spring (R10)

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Knightsbridge (R2); Willaidow (R9)

KEMBLA GRANGE SATURDAY: Beechworth (R2); Micro Magic (R3); Flaxlands (R3)

WARWICK FARM MONDAY: Swift Legend (R2); Hurstville Zagreb (R4); Istolea Merc (R5); Inoue (R5); Imperial Force (R6); Zealously (R6)

GOULBURN TUESDAY: Yoweri (R5); Rose Of Fenway (R5); My Bella Vista (R5)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Hayek; Ripley; Shangri La Boy; Marhoona; Extreme Diamond; Argryos; Fortune; Joliestar; Oh Diamond Lil; Our Queen; Master Of The Air; Tempted; Fire Star; Pericles; Headwall; Apocalyptic; Angel Capital; Twinkling Star; Fierce; Attica; Whatalegacy; Raging Force; Banjora; Autumn Glow; Via Sistina; Better Late; Skyhook; Private Eye

TRIAL POINTERS

RANDWICK September 26: SWIFT LEGEND was unplaced in his first three starts last season but improvement is imminent judging by his impressive work to win his 1045m heat in good time (62.95; 34.46). A runaway leader was six lengths clear at the 200m before he went through his gears to make up the margin under a soft ride.

NEWCASTLE September 24: CLOUDLAND's winter form was good and he's had a nice freshen for a spring campaign. Worked strongly through his 800m trial winning with plenty in reserve (49.04; 33.70).

ROSEHILL September 23: Everest bound G1 winner JIMMYSSTAR went about his business in confident style with a classy heat win. He's getting a methodical build up to the The Everest with his soft win his 1030m heat (62.15; 34.60) a lovely fit at this stage of his prep. Had no trouble leading and while the time wasn't the quickest he did it easily and looked in top order running through the line 1.2 lengths clear.

RANDWICK 2YO TRIALS September 22: Just nine heats and 60 runners at the annual trials for unraced 2YOs with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott dominating with six winners. Only three winners went under 50 seconds for the 850m with the overall quality down on recent years. Speed wins 2YO races with EVICTION NOTICE (49.53; 33.19) showing brilliant natural pace to run away with his heat by almost eight lengths. His stablemate I'M YA HUCKLEBERRY (49.54; 33.28) was another of the better winners among the colts. SHIKI was the best of the fillies, sitting outside the lead and working strongly to the line in the fastest of the nine heats (49.46; 33.46).

RANDWICK September 16: Smart Harry Angel 4YO ZEALOUSLY must be followed after winning his first trial since June, working better than the G1 star Overpass to win the fastest 740m heat (43.50; 33.19) under a soft ride.

ROSEHILL September 9: Notable 900m heat winners included IMPERIAL FORCE (54.17; 34.02) while runners to take the eye with their late work included ISTOLEA MERC.

WYONG September 8: The four open heats over 1000m saw some promising trials with SHANGRI LA SPRING from the Waterhouse/Bott yard ridden along for the last 400m to gain the upper hand for a narrow win in the fastest time (58.82; 34.84).

WARWICK FARM September 4: Maidens to keep an eye include MICRO MAGIC and MY BELLA VISTA.

ROSEHILL January 7: Unraced youngster YOWERI was a good winner of his 900m heat (55.50; 35.29).

BLACKBOOK REPORT

BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – October 3-6

MOONEE VALLEY FRIDAY: Rich Dottie (R4)

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Queen Of Clubs (R6); Ceolwulf (R8); Pier (R8); Willydoit (R8); Depth Of Character (R8); Verona Rose (R8); Lord Penman (R8); Flying Bandit (R9); Wategos (R10); Disneck (R10)

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Haaracaine (R1); Stoli Bolli (R1); Arabian Prince (R3); Movin Out (R5); Inkaruna (R6); Post Impressionist (R7); Bur Dubai (R7); Land Legend (R8); Helix (R10)

DOOMBEN SATURDAY: Larrikin Rogue (R7)

MORPHETTVILLE SATURDAY: La Defense (R4)

BENDIGO SUNDAY: Vellasmachine (R7)

WARWICK FARM MONDAY: Hurstville Zagreb (R4)

BLACKBOOKERS (Selected September 26/27 - Follow Next 3 Starts)

FARNICLE; FLYING BANDIT; MEMO; OLE DANCER; POINT BARROW; UNSPOKEN

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Navy Pilot; Federer; Gala Queen; Gilded Water; Half Yours; Reflect; Pareto; Zelgaria; My Gladiola; Desert Lightning; Apocalyptic; Changingoftheguard; Bunker Hut; Show Em Howl; Bullion Boy; Monkhana; Point Barrow; Saltcoats; Monte Supreme; Relentless Voyager; Crossbow; Useapin; Amusing; Robusto; Lead Me On