Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for The Everest (Randwick) and Caulfield Cup meetings on October 18 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.

CAULFIELD October 18

Rail 3 Metres; Good 4 (7.40am Friday – Weather Outlook Fine)

CAULFIELD CUP (Race 9)

(15) HALF YOURS: Can't get away from his excellent prep runs. Weighted to win.

(4) MEYDAAN: A lot of quality in his UK form. Tough stayer.

(10) DEAKIN: Strong Turnbull effort showed he was on song. Sure to appreciate the handicap conditions.

(17) VALIANT KING: Impressive Flemington win when the high pressusre in front played to his strengths. Hard to beat if it's run to suit.

(3) MIDDLE EARTH: Strong trial in the Turnbull. Gets out to his right trip.

(6) LAND LEGEND: His build up has been perfectly timed. Needs 2400m.

(1) VAUBAN: Unlucky in the Metropolitan. This is his best distance.

Best Bets

RACE 4: (2) TENTYRIS

RACE 6: (3) ARABIAN SUMMER

For Value

RACE 1: (3) ICARIAN DREAM

RACE 5: (9) STOKKE

RACE 8: (11) WARNIE

Selections

RACE 1: (3) ICARIAN DREAM; (9) Sulek; (5) Bacash; (4) Call Da Vinci

RACE 2: (5) ENGINE OF WAR; (7) Arabian Prince; (9) Deal Done Fast; (2) Miewa

RACE 3: (3) JUST A JOURNEY; (5) After Summer; (9) Morisu Ojo; (2) Yum

RACE 4: (2) TENTYRIS; (1) McGaw; (3) Raging Force; (6) Ripley

RACE 5: (9) STOKKE; (12) Akaysha; (5) New York Lustre; (4) Hi Dubai

RACE 6: (3) ARABIAN SUMMER; (7) Zealously; (1) Rey Magnerio; (5) Pisanello

RACE 7: (1) APOCALYPTIC; (10) Karinska; (4) Getta Good Feeling; (3) Ole Dancer

RACE 8: (11) WARNIE; (2) Private Eye; (1) Here To Shock; (6) Media World

RACE 9: (15) HALF YOURS; (4) Meydaan; (10) Deakin; (17) Valiant King; (3) Middle Earth; (6) Land Legend

RACE 10: (5) ABOUNDING; (1) Miraval Rose; (10) Tuileries; (2) Splash Back

RANDWICK October 18

Rail 3 metres; Good 4 (7.30am 17/10 – Storms/Showers forecast late Friday)

THE EVEREST (Race 7)

(9) JOLIESTAR: Dynamic sprinting mare with a super course and distance record. Drawn to unleash off expected hot pace.

(1) KA YING RISING: Ratings have him top of the world but it's a big mountain to climb away from home. He'll make them chase.

(5) WAR MACHINE: Gets better with every run. Will finish hard off a kind run on the back of the speed.

(2) BRIASA: Huge talent. Has a lethal sprint but needs cover from his awkward gate.

(4) JIMMYSSTAR: Backmarker with a big finish. Can run over the top if the speedsters overcook it.

(10) LADY SHENANDOAH: Valley trip was a mistake. Sure to appreciate the return to this big track where she boasts an impressive record.

(8) ANGEL CAPITAL: Untapped ability. Can let down with huge strides, will relish the fast pace.

(12) TEMPTED: Only 3YO has stood up against her own age. She's good but this is a different level.

Best Bets

RACE 2 – (6) MORE FELONS: Produced the run of the race to come from last for fourth in the G1 Metropolitan over 2400m here two weeks ago in a glowing return to form at just his third start following 16 months on the sidelines. No horse in the Metropolitan field matched his closing sectionals and he meets all those rivals between 4.5kg and 6.5kg better under the set weight conditions. Should go on with it as he won multiple staying races in the UK up to 3300m.

RACE 4 – (7) PERFUMIST: Soared to a new peak when dominating from start to finish over this course and distance on October 4 in faster time than the Epsom winner Autumn Glow, marking a return to the form that saw her land four wins in succession in her last prep. Seems certain to adopt similar tactics and is weighted to repeat meeting those she beat on up to 5kg better terms.

RACE 6 – (15) GENEROSITY: Former Perth mare has impressed with luckless efforts in her two Randwick starts since coming from WA to join the Waller stable. Never tested when locked away first-up in the G3 Concorde (1000m) then was the one closing best late when third behind Joliestar and Briasa in the G2 Shorts (1100m), a standout form line in this Everest consolation. Count on a clever ride from McDonald to offset her awkward gate.

Selections

RACE 1: (6) CHATTERLEY; (7) Panova; (3) Snitzel Dancer; (5) Samarelle

RACE 2: (6) MORE FELONS; (9) Sam Hawkens; (2) Soul Of Spain; (7) Travolta

RACE 3: (5) SWIFTFALCON; (10) Magnatear; (4) Ducasse; (6) Vivy Air

RACE 4: (7) PERFUMIST; (8) Shohisha; (5) Aberlour; (10) Idle Flyer   

RACE 5: (7) GALLANT STAR; (11) Clear Thinking; (3) Compelling Truth; (6) Boston Rocks

RACE 6: (15) GENEROSITY; (7) With Your Blessing; (8) Ostraka; (12) Disneck

RACE 7: (9) JOLIESTAR; (1) Ka Ying Rising; (5) War Machine; (2) Briasa; (4) Jimmysstar; (10) Lady Shenandoah

RACE 8: (11) GERRINGONG; (1) Linebacker; (9) Sabaj; (7) Lord Penman  

RACE 9: (1) MR BRIGHTSIDE; (10) Fangirl; (11) Pride Of Jenni; (6) Pericles

RACE 10: (4) SIR ARTIE; (18) Money Team; (7) Kerguelen; (10) World Alliance

Why They Can Win:

RACE 1 – (6) CHATTERLEY: Soft trial since promising first-up placing. Progressive filly gets McDonald.

RACE 3 – (5) SWIFTFALCON: Rates to win on his Epsom fourth. Can be costly but has everything in his favour.

RACE 5 – (7) GALLANT STAR: Fresh specialist and his Randwick form is first class. Ready for this off quality trials. 

RACE 8 – (11) GERRINGONG: Fit mare can use her natural pace from rails draw to exploit weight advantage.

RACE 9 – (1) MR BRIGHTSIDE: Always gives his best under these conditions. Wonderful Randwick record.

RACE 10 – (4) SIR ARTIE: Confident win second up and fitter again. Suited but it's a race of many chances.

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL WATCH RUNNERS – October 18

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Samarelle (R1); Lisztomania (R5); Caballus (R6); Sandpaper (R6); Ka Ying Rising (R7); Linebacker (R8); Mayfair (R8); Point And Shoot (R8)

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Raging Force (R4)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Frankely Sublime (R2); Ernaux (R2); Straight Sets (R3)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Chalet; Sun God; Nitro; Margin Call; Taxation; Real Baker; Rubi's Serve; My Bella Vista; Lightning Glory; Zealously; Istolea Merc; Beechworth; Shiki; Hayek; Ripley; Marhoona; Extreme Diamond; Argryos; Fortune; Joliestar; Oh Diamond Lil; Our Queen; Master Of The Air; Tempted; Fire Star; Pericles; Headwall; Apocalyptic

TRIAL POINTERS

RANDWICK October 7: Hong Kong star KA YING RISING was the focus of attention in his first public appearance in Australia, taking on a super heat on the course proper against six other G1 winners including three of his Everest rivals. He finished third in the 1000m trial, beaten only a half head and a head by LINEBACKER and OVERPASS after tracking widest under an easy ride from Zac Purton. All runners were between six and eight horses off the rail with the time a sharp 58.39, home in 33.67. LINEBACKER finished off nicely to get the upper hand on the line after sitting behind the leader OVERPASS. KA YING RISING, who sweated up noticeably prior to the trial, was best to jump from his wide gate and travelled kindly outside OVERPASS with the latter under pressure from the 400m to hold a slight advantage. Purton seemed a little deflated to be beaten in the trial but to the eye KA YING RISING was travelling sweetly and never came under pressure to hold his ground to the line. His trainer David Hayes was satisfied and expects the trial, his first since he last raced at Sha Tin a month ago, to improve the sprinter's condition with 12 days to the Everest. The first three quickly got away from the other four in the trial. MR BRIGHTSIDE put in solid work over the last 200m to finish fourth about five lengths back. JOLIESTAR was kept under a big hold from start to finish, FANGIRL was also given an easy time while ANGEL CAPITAL fired up and was keen to run when restrained at the rear in the first 200m. Talented sprinter CABALLUS is flying, backing up his first-up trial win at this course on September 26 with another impressive effort to breeze home for second in the fastest 1050m heat (63.11; 33.96). Expect a big fresh performance if he runs up to his trial form. The 1200m heat (73.86; 34.11) was won by the free running MAYFAIR in his first trial following a stable switch from Waterhouse/Bott to Bjorn Baker.

WARWICK FARM October 3: POINT AND SHOOT is a talented galloper but you have to catch him on his right day due to past misdeameanours, principally poor barrier behaviour that has led to embargoes. In his 1207m heat (72.17; 35.32) POINT AND SHOOT closed the margin on the big leader Whinchat from eight lengths at the 400m to 1.5 lengths on the line. He has trialled twice since he stood in the gates at Randwick last month and while he was slow to jump he pleased to come from the rear with impressive work that has him ready to return to the races. Classy 3YO RAGING FORCE regrouped after his recent loss to win his 818m heat (48.64; 33.64) with authority.

RANDWICK September 26: Impressive first trial by classy sprinter CABALLUS since his win in the Ortensia Stakes at the Scone carnival in May. He's good fresh and the manner of his heat win over 745m (44.66; 33.52) points to him enjoying another successful campaign.

RANDWICK September 2: Loved the way quality performer SANDPAPER won his first trial since his trip to Queensland in May, jumping easily into the lead from the start of his 740m heat and travelling well within himself to hold an advantage from start to finish (44.61; 34.37). Sure sign he is in good form to resume.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – October 18

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Flying Bandit (R2); Grebeni (R3); Verona Rose (R4); Clear Thinking (R5); Chidiac (R5); Beauty Charge (R6); Generosity (R6/R7); Jimmysstar (R7); Angel Capital (R7); Lady Shenandoah (R7); Depth Of Character (R8); Lord Penman (R8); Harlem Queen (R8); Pier (R9); Rapt (R10)

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Arabian Prince (R2); Tentyris (R4); Akaysha (R5); Arabian Summer (R6); Pisanello (R6); Ole Dancer (R7); Half Yours (R9); Rapt (R10)

EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Rampant Lion (R7)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Black Run (R7)

TOOWOOMBA SATURDAY: Rampant Lion (R2)

BLACKBOOKERS (Selected October 11 - Follow Next 3 Starts)

AIRMAN; ARABIAN SUMMER; BEADMAN; MORE TERRITORIES; OBSERVER

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Point Barrow; Disneck; 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