3 minute read
Chris Scholtz previews the Winx Stakes meeting at Randwick on August 21 with best bets and selections for all races plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.
RANDWICK August 21
Best Bets
RACE 5: (13) Nags To Riches (EW)
RACE 9: (3) Tailleur (EW)
RACE 10: (8) Bigboyroy (EW)
For Value
RACE 6: (3) Jamaea
RACE 8: (2) Think It Over
RACE 1: 17-3-8-6
RACE 2: 2-9-7-8
RACE 3: 4-16-3-7
RACE 4: 11-7-4-2
RACE 5: 13-10-8-12
RACE 6: 3-1-9-8
RACE 7: 8-6-1-11
RACE 8: 2-3-12-1
RACE 9: 3-8-10-7
RACE 10: 8-5-11-12
RACE 5 (13) NAGS TO RICHES: Looking for the one on the up and this lightly-raced mare fits the bill after her excellent first-up win over 1100m on the Kensington track that took her growing record to three wins from only six starts. She swept home over the top of them with the fastest last 400m of the day when resuming and with Tom Sherry's claim she will have a handy weight advantage on her rivals. Her black type placing in the Denise's Joy at Rosehill in April underlined her potential and you have to respect her trainer's excellent strike rate (12 wins from last 40 starters).
RACE 9 (3) TAILLEUR: It's rare to see a classy Godolphin performer resume without a trial but be warned – there is a plan at play here! This specialist sprinter flies when fresh and James Cummings has plotted her return by sending her to Hawkesbury on August 9 for an "unofficial" jumpout where she did all that was expected of her against some talented stablemates. She's finished worse than second only once in nine career starts and one look at her brilliant course and distance stats tells you how well placed she is against her own sex from a perfect draw with the gun jockey on board.
RACE 10 (8) BIGBOYROY: Making him the pick of multiple runners from the Waller stable in a wide race because he reads so well with expected improvement from his first-up second over 1300m at Rosehill (soft 5) a month ago when he was a beaten only a head in this class by the subsequent winner Frosty Rocks. He won second up last prep off a similar four weeks break and is clearly at his best on good tracks (14-3-4-5). It's also a big confidence booster to see James McDonald stick with him as he has won three races on the 5YO.
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
Noted Trial Runners
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Smart Image (R5); Four Moves Ahead (R6); Mallory (R6); Swift Witness (R6); Rock (R7); Private Eye (R7); Embracer (R7); Le Lude (R7); Prime Star (R7); Splintex (R7); Verry Elleegant (R8); Think It Over (R8); Mount Popa (R8); Brandenburg (R8); Great News (R9); Elizabeel (R9); Vulpine (R9); Every Rose (R9); Fituese (R9); Forbidden Love (R9); Ballistic Lover (R9); Emanate (R9); Written Beauty (R9); Soldier Of Love (R10); Atishu (R10)
MOONEE VALLEY SATURDAY: Hilal (R6); Athelric (R6)
NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Governor (R2); Elusive Eagle (R5); Roccaforte (R6)
NOWRA SUNDAY: Salute To The Sun (R5); Minister (R6); Way To The Stars (R6)
TAMWORTH SUNDAY: Foxstorm (R7)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Berdibek; Conrad; Tycoon Hallie; Riva Del Sol; Ingratiating; Laure Me In; Big Parade; Hamoon Star; Mascherata; Capital Reign; Coodarady; Journalism; Kingsheir; Destination; Paulele; Ausbred Flirt; Nags To Riches; Ballistic Moon; Bruckner.
TRIAL POINTERS
ROSEHILL August 13: WRITTEN BEAUTY is right on her game for her return to racing. It was a pleasure to watch her cruise to a 4.6 lengths win in the fastest of nine 892m heats (54.30; 34.33). Chris Waller has a good addition to his spring team in the classy Kiwi mare ATISHU. The multiple black type winner improved on her first trial for the stable with a strong to win in her 1030m heat on Inside Grass (63.82; 35.64).
WARWICK FARM August 9: In the black type heat over 900m PRIVATE EYE travelled three deep in the line of four leaders to the turn and had plenty in hand getting the upper hand late for a strong win (52.14; 33.69). He has now won two trials that point to him sprinting well when he resumes. BALLISTIC LOVER cruised to a strong win her 740m heat on the polytrack in good time (43.06; 33.51). She tracked four wide in the lead under a big hold and strode comfortably to the line under a soft ride.
RANDWICK August 6: The session featured three black type heats on the course proper. In the only 1000m heat EMBRACER was much sharper than in his previous first-up trial, leading comfortably from start to finish in good time (58.42; 34.69). Should run well fresh under the right conditions. The strong second by SPLINTEX in his first hitout since he raced in Brisbane indicated that could go to a new level this prep. BRANDENBURG (3rd) moved nicely in his second trial since he ran in the Doomben Cup while promising 3YO filly FOUR MOVES AHEAD settled last and sliced between runners late under a ride for an eye catching fourth. In the first 900m heat the classy FITUESE had too much speed over the short course (52.41; 34.45). She's now a fully matured 5YO and her two recent trial wins have her set to fly when she resumes. In the other 900m heat the eye catchers came from PRIME STAR (4th) and FORBIDDEN LOVE (5th). Both were having their second trials and there was no intent to put them under pressure over the last 200m. The fastest 1050m heat on the A Grass was won by SMART IMAGE (62.98; 34.31). He was given a strong hitout to take off from last at the 400m and reach the lead inside the 200m before peaking on his run. LE LUDE (63.96; 34.01) and SWIFT WITNESS (63.59; 34.34) won open heats over 1050m, both doing enough to get honourable mentions.
WYONG August 2: The standout winner was the talented GREAT NEWS. He is set to win a good race this campaign after turning his 1000m heat into a one horse affair, pulling his way to a big lead before the turn and cruising home by almost six lengths in the fastest heat of the morning (58.59; 33.74). They don't trial much better!
ROSEHILL July 30: The eye catchers in the 900m heats were the spring prospects MOUNT POPA and ROCK. They looked in first class order enjoying easy exercise in their heats. Class act HILAL did all that was required to win his heat in slow time (55.78; 35.06) while MALLORY was another quality youngster from last season to trial nicely.
RANDWICK July 27: Two black type heats over 900m were run wide out on the course proper. In the first heat BRANDENBURG looked in top order running through the line strongly for a soft third while VERRY ELLEEGANT, as expected, was ridden with no urgency before putting in strong work over the last 100m under a big hold to finish an excellent fourth. The second heat was much slower than the first (54.03; 35.71), allowing the rising 4YO PRIME STAR to sprint down the outside from the back half and record a visually impressive win. Full marks to FORBIDDEN LOVE as she was never asked for a serious effort and easily held her ground to finish a soft third. A strong open heat over 735m on the steeple grass was won by the quality mare FITUESE after she travelled easily on the pace and was never put under full pressure. VULPINE impressed with a strong third, being held down after sharing the lead to the last 50m. ELIZABEEL (43.91; 33.44) and LE LUDE (43.80; 33.53) recorded good wins in the 735m heats on the A Grass.
WARWICK FARM July 23: The classy G2 winner EVERY ROSE sat behind the leaders but always had them covered, striding clear in her 800m heat for a soft 2.7 lengths win that points to her being in the right form to sprint well fresh.
ROSEHILL July 16: WRITTEN BEAUTY took control of her heat after 200m and did it well within herself to score by a soft 3.7 lengths in the fastest of the 10 heats over 900m, being the only winner to go under 55 seconds and running a slick last 600m in the heavy conditions (54.74; 34.78). WAY TO THE STARS should come on from his sharp 900m heat win (55.27; 35.07) where he showed good natural pace. He did that by recording another smart trial win at Warwick Farm on August 3 in the fastest heat over 802m (48.33; 34.20).
BLACKBOOK REPORT
Eligible Blackbook Runners – August 21
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Battleground (R1); Badoosh (R4); Loveplanet (R4); La Grisa (R4); Trifaccia (R6); Rock (R7); Handspun (R10); Love Tap (R10)
MOONEE VALLEY SATURDAY: Petruchio (R4)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Vinco (R4)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Super Effort; Bella Nipotina; Arctic Thunder; Hi Stranger; Chat; Kutayha; Furrion; Criminal Code; Blondeau; La Chevalee; Our Playboy; Harpo Marx.
Blackbookers – Selected August 14
(Follow for next 3 starts)
ANIMATE: Nice return. Honest performer.
BACCHANALIA: Should pick up a suitable 3YO event.
BARADE: Solid first-up effort. Good stayer.
CEPHEUS: Strong work late. Sure to improve.
PENSATO: Getting fitter. Looking for more ground.
SUPERSTORM: Did enough. He'll be better for the run.
