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Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Randwick and Flemington meetings on February 27 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports.

FLEMINGTON February 27

RACE 4: (3) Laverod (EW)

RACE 5: (2) Fabergino

RACE 8: (13) Celestine (EW)

RACE 9: (10) Paul's Regret (EW)

QUADDIE

RACE 6: 11-7-5-1

RACE 7: 3-4-2-5-1

RACE 8: 13-3-6-7

RACE 9: 1-3-8-10-11-14

RANDWICK February 27

RACE 3: (3) Mallory (EW)

RACE 5: (7) Icebath

RACE 6: (7) Colette

RACE 7: (9) La Mexicana (EW)

RACE 8: (10) Great House

RACE 1: 9-2-6-5

RACE 2: 2-1-6-4

RACE 3: 3-1-5-2

RACE 4: 10-11-6-7

RACE 5: 7-4-9-6

RACE 6: 7-6-1-4

RACE 7: 9-7-3-1

RACE 8: 10-13-12-7

RACE 9: 5-8-1-2

RANDWICK MULTI

RACE 3 (3) MALLORY: Taken by the way with this robust Not A Single Doubt filly progressed from her spring debut behind Enthaar in the G3 Gimcrack Stakes over 1000m at this course to record an impressive first-up win in the G3 Widden Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on January 30. She had no trouble with the soft ground and a subsequent easy trial has her primed for the step up to 1200m, a distance she should relish judging by the way she found the line last time.

RACE 5 (7) ICEBATH: This is the ideal chance for this quality mare to post her first Group win as she drops a significant 3kg off her strong first-up third under 57kg in the G3 Triscay Stakes over 1200m at this course on February 13. She's missed a place only once in seven starts on affected tracks including her unlucky second in the Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill last spring when she was beaten a nose by multiple G1 winner Colette. Rates as the one to beat on that form.

RACE 6 (7) COLETTE: The Oaks and Golden Eagle winner added to her reputation as a superior performer on affected tracks when she ran away from Kolding and Verry Elleegant for a stunning first-up win in the G2 Apollo Stakes over 1400m a this course two weeks ago, posting fast sectionals over the last 600m to set an early wfa standard for the Sydney autumn. She holds as much scope for improvement as her major rivals and must be hard to beat again under similar conditions.

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

Noted Trial Runners – February 26-27  

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Shaquero (R2); Captivant (R2); She's All Class (R3); Four Moves Ahead (R3); Trumbull (R4); Criaderas (R4); Discharged (R4); Sweet Deal (R5); Master Of Wine (R6); Forbidden Love (R7); Lina's Hero (R9); Bound To Win (R9); Liberty Sun (R9)

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: I Am Superman (R3); Subedar (R4); Lord Olympus (R8); Shout The Bar (R9); Greysful Glamour (R9) 

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Cantrell (R1); Antarctic Pride (R1); Latino Blend (R2); Miss Statement (R2); Happy Candy (R6); Bombasay (R7); Safado (R7)

ARMIDALE SUNDAY: Antarctic Pride (R1); Tidal Impact (R1)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Mazu; Siege; Le Vizir; Subpoenaed; Close To Me; Sebrenco; Much Much Better; Every Rose; Colette; Trinity Missile; Masked Crusader; Tailleur; Nature Strip; Head Of State 

TRIAL POINTERS

GOSFORD February 17: Kim Waugh's top notch performer TRUMBULL is set to resume in style after a super win in his 1000m heat where he won hard held by 1.7 lengths and could have gone much quicker in the heavy ground (62.49; 37.44). Mark down TIDAL IMPACT from the Damien Lane stable as a 2YO with excellent prospects after he ran away from his rivals over the last 200m in his 800m heat (51.21; 36.90)

RANDWICK February 16: Victory Vein winner CAPTIVANT is set to play a big hand in the coming 2YO races after another sharp trial win over 1050m (63.27; 35.59) by a soft 3.25 lengths. This time he showed more early dash than his earlier trial win at Randwick on February 5 when he swept home from last, indicating that he is focused and primed to take on whatever the Snowdens have planned for him.

HAWKESBURY February 15: Best of the 1000m trials came from the Mark Newnham-trained LORD OLYMPUS winning in the fastest time of the four heats over the distance (59.73)

ROSEHILL February 11: Magic Millions Classic winner SHAQUERO recorded a narrow win over boom colt Remarque in their 900m heat (54.30; 34.75). SHAQUERO was on pace from the jump and was never put under pressure when challenged. In the fillies heats FOUR MOVES AHEAD worked strongly in the lead in her trial for a solid win (54.87; 34.77) while SHE'S ALL CLASS settled back and wide in a faster heat (54.43; 34.75) won by Tattletale and did all that was required to work nicely into third over the last 200m without being asked for a serious effort.

RANDWICK February 5: There were two heats for the Group and Listed horses on the Kensington track. The race fit DISCHARGED did the job in good style in the first heat over 1000m (58.77; 33.76). The second heat over 850m saw John Thompson's good mare SWEET DEAL take the eye with an impressive second. She took plenty of ground off the winner Mamaragan under a big hold, serving notice that she is in the right form to add to her excellent first-up record, especially when placed against her own sex. In the 2YO heats early season winner CAPTIVANT zoomed home from the rear with a fast last 600m to win his 735m heat (43.72; 33.01).

WYONG February 4: The third open heat over 1000m featured a smart win by the talented BOMBASAY (59.79; 34.38) but the standout was the strong second by Kim Waugh's Group star TRUMBULL under a quiet ride from Tommy Berry.

WARWICK FARM February 1: SUBEDAR (4th) impressed with the way he found the line in the course proper heat over 1000m for the black type horses, indicating he has come on well from his first-up placing after a long spell. HAPPY CANDY won the open polytrack heat over 740m in the fastest time of the five heats over the distance (44.22; 33.95).

BLACKBOOK REPORT

Eligible Blackbook Runners – February 26/27

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Sing A Love Song (R2); She's All Class (R3); Reloaded (R4); Discharged (R4); Reelem In Ruby (R5); Emeralds (R5); Tricky Gal (R5); Away Game (R7); Thermosphere (R7); Elizabeel (R7); Kiss The Bride (R8)

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Subedar (R4); Ole Kirk (R7); Dom To Shoot (R7); Cambourne (R7); Chaillot (R9)

MURRAY BRIDGE SATURDAY: Scorched Earth (R6)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: My Swashbuckler (R7)

WANGARATTA SATURDAY: Translator (R8)

BALLARAT SUNDAY: Savvy Lad (R8)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Nimalee; Emanate; Bonaparte; Marsannay; Poetic Charmer; Masked Crusader; Quantum Mechanic; Irish Butterfly; Head Of State; Brutality; Zethus; More Prophets; Grinzinger Allee; Bandersnatch; Housay.

Blackbookers – Selected February 20

(Follow for next 3 starts)

BETTER GET SET: Nice filly for the Brisbane classes.

BROOKLYN HUSTLE: Super first-up. Good sprinter. 

BUTTER CHICKEN: Promising staying filly.

FLAT HEAVEN: No luck. Sure to improve.

IMPECUNIOUS: Expect plenty of upside from this filly.

LUNAKORN: Talented. Can be well placed by top stable.

SHE'S IDEEL: Honest mare back in good form.

THE ELANORA: Has bigger goals over longer trips.