3 minute read

Chris Scholtz - Early Thoughts

R&S Contributing Editor Chris Scholtz takes a look at tomorrow’s Sydney racing.

SELECTIONS

Warwick Farm Race 3 - 7 Heart Conquered

Progressive young sprinter can take another step forward when he bids to repeat his last start win over this same course and distance on November 28 when he led easily and had no trouble coping with a heavy track.

He’s now won both his starts on affected tracks and looks nicely placed again with only a kilo over the limit under similar conditions.

Warwick Farm Race 4 - 9 Solo Mission

Sound efforts in four starts since resuming should have this honest stayer at his peak for this assignment under conditions he should relish due to his solid record on affected tracks.

Performed well behind the classy Sky Boy in unsuitable race before his last start when he closed off strongly for third over 2400m behind his in-form stablemate Mazaz at Rosehill. Gets his chance here with a handy 5kg drop in weight.

Warwick Farm Race 9 - 11 Bel Sonic

Victorian trainer Jason Warren has been patient waiting for the right Sydney race for this talented 4YO and he gets his wish with the conditions certain to suit this gelding admirably.

Added to his strong record with an impressive first-up win under 59kg in a deep Magic Millions event over 1100m at Ballarat on November 24 and showed he has since made good progression with an eye-catching second in a Randwick barrier trial last Monday.

This strong finisher boasts excellent form on soft tracks and should get his chance from a good draw with abundant early pace in this field.

BLACKBOOK UPDATE from 15 December (Horses to follow at their next three starts)

Military Zone - Needed the run. Quality type.

Savvan - Strong return by a capable mare.

Roman Son - Working into form. Ready for step up in distance.

Really Swish - Would have gone close with a clear go at right time.

Naantali - Found 1100m too short resuming. Certain to benefit.

Wenner - Got to the line nicely. Scope to improve.

Recent Blackbook winners - Miss Norway; Our Crown Mistress; My Nordic Hero; Kentucky Breeze; Firsthand; Chapter And Verse; Bleu Roche; Shillelagh; Newsfan; Royal Celebration.

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS for 22 December

Warwick Farm (Sat) - Araaja (R4), Solo Mission (R4), Strome (R6), Spectroscope (R7), Easy Eddie (R9), After All That (R9) and Viceroy (R9)

Flemington (Sat) - Demolition (R6) and Creedence (R8)

Eagle Farm (Sat) - Mishani Vaidra (R2) and Cruze (R7)

Morphettville (Sat) - Civil Disobedience (R5)

TRIAL WATCH HORSES

Warwick Farm (Sat) - Deterge (R1), Twentyfour Carat (R1), Difficult To Get (R3), Sparky Lad (R5), Invinzabeel (R7), Sure Knee (R8), Dissolute (R9), Intuition (R9), Tessera (R9), Schubert (R9) and Coonawarra (R9)

Sparky Lad (Warwick Farm 11 December) - A strong mid prep trial from this handy type should have ready to improve sharply next time out when he’ll be third up. Settled five lengths back on the rails and ridden quietly until it opened up for him from the 300m where he stuck to inside and made ground quickly with Tommy Berry keeping him under a tight hold. Went to the line better than the winner in the quickest of the two 1200m heats.

Tessera (Rosehill 4 December) - Had his stablemate INTUITION on his outside for company as the pair worked strongly in the lead from the 600m and went to the line with nothing between them. Tessera was always traveling well within himself while his stablemate was niggled to gain the upper hand in the latter stages with their last 600m (34.50) the equal quickest of the day. Good signs that he working back to his early form.

Eagle Farm (Sat) - Dubious (R1) and Sasso Corbaro (R7)

Newcastle (Sat) - The Drake (R2), Verlan (R7) and Isilmo (R8)

Chris’ final observations and full audio preview of all Sydney races will be available after 9.30am Saturday on the R&S website and tweeted by @ScholtzRacing.