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Chris Scholtz previews Derby Day at Randwick on April 2 with selections for all races, his Doncaster Mile summary plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.

RANDWICK April 2

DONCASTER MILE: Pleased to see the Victorian-trained first emergency (21) BANKERS CHOICE gain a start in a typically wide open Doncaster. His George Ryder fourth after a wide run in the traditional WFA lead-up (14 of the last 20 winners started in the Ryder) had Doncaster written all over him as he drops 9kg to only 50kg and will relish the testing heavy conditions. I'm all over high class 3YOs in the Doncaster – 16 of the last 38 winners come from the age group – and (20) CONVERGE is top of the bill as he is already a dual G1 winner over 1600m who gets in with only 49.5kg. He should have more as he could not be penalised for his Randwick Guineas win in the heavy and coming back to this trip on his home track from his Rosehill Guineas second is a big plus. Another strong contender from Victoria is (19) MR BRIGHTSIDE. He's a genuine miler – five wins at the trip – and has been set up for this target race by running well under tough weight scales in Melbourne. His impressive soft track record says he should have no issues with the heavier conditions. (2) I'M THUNDERSTRUCK is a class act primed for a peak performance after his tough second in the All Star Mile where the slow pace played against him. Boasts a perfect in the money record in four soft/heavy starts and he was too good for numerous rivals in the Golden Eagle in his only previous Sydney appearance. Flying mare (16) FORGOTTEN LOVE loves heavy going and is another in light with only 50kg after escaping penalties for her classy WFA wins at her last two starts. She's obviously in superior form to last autumn when she was 7th in the Doncaster as a 3YO but the distance remains a query as they rarely shirk it in Doncasters and she is unlikely to get the favours she has received in her recent sit and sprint victories up to 1500m. Including (6) LAWS OF INDICES, (12) KISSONALLFORCHEEKS, (13) NUMERiAN and (17) JUST FOLK in extended exotics.

DONCASTER SELECTIONS: BANKERS CHOICE 1; Converge 2; Mr Brightside 3; I'm Thunderstruck 4; Forgotten Love 5.

RACE 2 (3 STRAIGHT ARRON: No doubt this rising star has had autumn carnival races on his agenda since his debut win over 1400m at Sandown in early January. Verified his potential when he resumed over 1400m at Warwick Farm on March 23 where he surged home in heavy conditions for an impressive second after a slow start saw him ridden quietly from the back. He worked through the line like a colt certain to relish 1600m on the bigger Randwick track.

RACE 3 (12) MAMOUNIA: Godolphin won the Adrian Knox-Oaks double two years ago with Colette and have this filly primed to emulate that feat. This Medaglia D'Oro filly stamped herself as an Oaks contender when she ended her first prep in December with an impressive win over 2000m at Newcastle and she was unlucky not to win in heavy ground when a resuming second in a hot form race over 1300m at that course on March 5. She then missed a vital prep run in the Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) but was more than adequate in her subsequent Rosehill trial and the Godolphin team has no doubt she will be one of the strongest over this trip in a race that suits emerging fillies with light weights.

RACE 10 (10) A VERY FINE RED: The Mazu form is strong and sees this filly is well placed back to her own sex with expected improvement from her resuming third behind that classy 3YO in the Listed Fireball Stakes (1100m) at this course on March 5 when she made ground from midfield. She won second up on a soft Kensington track in the spring and an excellent Warwick Farm trial in heavy ground since her Rosehill placing has her ready to repeat. Her middle draw in the big field should be an advantage as you can expect riders to be tracking wide in the heavy ground by the end of the day.

SELECTIONS

RACE 1: 4-1-10-3

RACE 2: 3-1-2-9

RACE 3: 12-4-7-5

RACE 4: 6-2-4-5

RACE 5: 1-6-7-8

RACE 6: 12-10-13-7

RACE 7: 5-1-15-8

RACE 8: 1-2-9-3

RACE 9: 21-20-19-2

RACE 10: 10-5-7-12

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Asteria (R1); Ginger's Gal (R1); Roots (R3); Shalatin (R6); Showcourt (R6); Eduardo (R8); Just Folk (R9); Robodira (R10); Sneaky Five (R10); A Very Fine Red (R10); Heresy (R10) 

BENDIGO SATURDAY: I Am Superman (R8)

GOULBURN SATURDAY: Zain's Girl (R1); Didrikson (R3); Zeminnika (R6); Divine Kamehalani (R6)

SCONE MONDAY: Oakfield Mahogany (R7)

HAWKESBURY TUESDAY: Vancouver's Crown (R4); Bush (R4); Captain Bond (R4); Czar (R4)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Strombus; Jamesonheart; Norman; Vilana; Voldemort; Sinaloa; Comrade Rosa; I Am Me; Kinloch; Nominator; Propel Motion; Willinga Beast; Loch Eagle; Forbidden Love; Fireburn; Gravina; Jukebox Flyer; Endorsement; Fire; Champions League.

TRIAL POINTERS

WARWICK FARM March 25: Crack sprinter EDUARDO had a tick over trial to keep him up to the mark for his autumn grand final in the TJ Smith. Jumped straight into the lead in his 808m heat and as expected was far too classy for the chasers, doing it at his leisure to score by more than three lengths from the classy G2 winner JUST FOLK after he pulled his way to a five lengths lead on the turn. It wasn't the quickest heat of the morning (48.37; 34.59) but it didn't have to be. The 2YO heats over 805m saw the highly regarded SHALATIN bounce back from the setback that cost him a Golden Slipper start, recording a strong win his heat in slow time (49.09; 35.28). Wasn't put under pressure and did all that was required to get his campaign back on track. The fastest of the four 2YO heats was won by VANCOUVER'S CROWN (48.47; 34.72), another smart youngster who has been gelded. He was a lot more focused doing enough to win with something in hand.

ROSEHILL March 22: Talented filly HERESY won her 900m heat in good time (54.88; 35.17), showing an excellent turn of foot to come off from the speed and sprint to the line easily for a soft win. Trial watchers are getting toey waiting for Exceed And Excel filly GINGER'S GAL to make her debut. Sher's now unbeaten in four trials since October and surely she is ready to go the races after coasting through her 900m heat for another impressive win (55.16; 35.47). Had control form the start and was never under any pressure to extend and win the heat by a soft 2.8 lengths. Watch for a bold showing over the carnival from the Chris Waller-trained 2YO colt SHOWCOURT after his strong win in his juvenile heat over 900m (55.17; 35.64). He was a luckless fourth in the Todman Stakes at only his second race start and this trial has him primed to perform in a race like the Sires Produce. There was plenty of depth in the 900m maiden heat won in good style by DIDRIKSON (55.12; 35.72). Unraced Capitalist colt CAPTAIN BOND went into the blackbook when he won his first trial in December and this impressive win in the fastest 900m heat of the morning (54.75; 35.34) confirms his talent. Travelled easily sitting off the leader before stamping his class on the heat with sweet acceleration to stride clear and run freely to the line under no pressure. Ready to make an impact on debut. The Snowden stable won a combined heat for the 2 and 3YOs over 1050m with unraced youngster CZAR (63.27; 35.93). He has had four trials and his strong work over the last 200m has him ready to go the races.

RANDWICK March 18: A classy piece of work from accomplished Group performer I AM SUPERMAN to win the strong 1200m heat in style (74.85; 34.89). Travelled easily outside the leader and extended smoothly when called to surge clear and score by more than two lengths with plenty in hand.

RANDWICK March 3 (Synthetic): ZEMINNIKA made a really nice trial debut to win her 780m heat in good time (46.27; 33.95), travelling easily on the bit and winning by a soft 1.3 lengths with something in hand.

RANDWICK December 7: ASTERIA could be another standout filly for boom sire Capitalist. This was her first trial and she left no doubt about her natural talent as she sped to a big lead in her 740m heat under no pressure. Kept running sweetly to clock the fastest time of the six heats (43.25; 33.11) with plenty in reserve.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

Eligible Blackbook Runners – March 23

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Luncies (R4); Edit (R5); Magic (R6); Warby (R6); Brosnan (R6); Alegron (R7); Forgot You (R7); I'm Thunderstruck (R9); Private Eye (R9); Law Of Indices (R9); Mr Brightside (R9); Bankers Choice (R9); Arcaded (R10); Zapateo (R10)

BENDIGO SATURDAY: Aktolgali (R7); Celtic Glory (R7); Rock (R8)

EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Bullfinch (R9)

HAWKESBURY TUESDAY: Vancouver's Crown (R4)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Daisies; Athelric; Maserartie Bay; Express Pass; Blackcomb; Mac 'N' Cheese; Duais; Star Of Michelin; Kinloch; She's Extreme; Zeyrek; Finance Tycoon; Comica; War Eternal; Rose Quartz; Mightybeel; Devil's Throat; Stray; Desert Icon; Worthily.

Blackbookers – Selected March 26

(Follow for next 3 starts)

BANDERSNATCH: Solid first-up. Suited up to 1600m.

NEVER NO MORE: Sure to find a suitable Brisbane event.

PREMIUM CHOICE: Luckless second. Expect quick redemption.

RUSTIC STEEL: In good form.

THE MAP: Strong filly. Ready for longer.