RANDWICK September 17
RACE 5 (5) CROSS TALK: Bypassed the Cameron at Newcastle on Friday with good reason as back to 1400m at Randwick on an affected track is the perfect script for this gelding to add to his impressive record that has seen him win five times – all on soft or heavy- and never miss a place in eight starts. They include a win and a second over this course and distance and his strong Canterbury trial last week was timed perfectly to make up for the month since his game third over 1600m at Hawkesbury under 57.5kg. Drops to the limit here and Tim Clark can use his tactical speed to lead or take the sit if others want to take it up.
RACE 6 (5) ZOUGOTCHA: The fillies form has taken shape and it doesn't come any better than the convincing 1.3 lengths win by this girl in the G2 Silver Shadow over 1200m at this course four weeks ago in testing conditions. She accounted for the subsequent Group winners In Secret and North Star Lass and her excellent Rosehill trial on September 6 ensures she is up to the mark for the step up to 1400m. The others will find it hard to close the gap at level weights with the big riding switch to James McDonald a clear indication she is now the number one seed among the fillies in the Waller stable.
RACE 10 (13) DEVIL'S THROAT: Good value in a tough race as I can see nothing but improvement from this progressive 4YO after he made light of 60kg to record a strong first-up win over 1250m on the Kensington track on August 24 when he added to his growing record on affected tracks. Drops 7.5kg from a good draw and has the figures to test this field carrying 1.5kg under the limit after the claim for Reece Jones.
Selections
RACE 1: 16-4-10-2
RACE 2: 6-15-4-1
RACE 3: 8-7-9-2
RACE 4: 13-8-2-16
RACE 5: 5-8-9-7
RACE 6: 5-2-4-1
RACE 7: 3-1-10-9
RACE 8: 1-2-4-8
RACE 9: 9-12-13-1
RACE 10: 13-5-14-9
CAULFIELD September 17
RACE 2: (6) XTRAVAGANT STAR - Good last season. Looks ready after winning three recent jump outs.
RACE 5: (6) MISS HELLFIRE (EW) – Rates well on Sydney/Gold Coast form. Looking for 1400m.
RACE 7: (15) I WISH I WIN (EW) - Impressive Australian debut. Can rise to this class.
RACE 8: (4) CHAIN OF LIGHTNING - Keeps rising to the challenge. Will take a good one to end her unbeaten run.
RACE 9: (11) CURRAN (EW) – Typical late finish when resuming. Likes Caulfield.
CAULFIELD QUADDIE
RACE 6: 13-1-14-9
RACE 7: 18-15-10-9
RACE 8: 4-8-5-2
RACE 9: 11-1-9-4
PLAYING THE RANDWICK QUADDIE
RACE 7: A real showdown between two of the best with J Mac's decision to stick with (3) ANAMOE enough for me to side with the young star over the older (1) ZAAKI. Both were equally good winning first-up for McDonald, they both run to their best at Randwick and their soft/heavy records are impeccable. It's sure to be tactical as McDonald will be well aware that ZAAKI will be hard to run down if well rated in front by Tommy Berry. Waller stablemates (9) FANGIRL (fastest last 200m of the day) and (10) HINGED were good behind ANAMOE when resuming and like him they also have had subsequent trials to fit them for the mile. HINGED is the best value as she is unbeaten second up and the step up to 1600m on an affected track after 20mm of rain since Thursday will suit her style. Need to see positive runs from (5) PROFONDO and (6) DUAIS to maintain confidence in their spring prospects.
RACE 8: Renewal of the best rivalry in Australian racing - the 8YO NATURE STRIP meets 9YO veteran EDUARDO for the ninth team in the last two years with the score 5-3 in NATURE STRIP's favour including their last three meetings! It's just 95 days since NATURE STRIP proved beyond doubt that he is the best sprinter in the world with his huge win at Royal Ascot and he looked a picture trialling up for an impressive second in his recent trial at Canterbury. Can't go against him but expect EDUARDO (he beat NS in this race last year!) will make him fight for it after his super first-up win two weeks ago against a lesser field. (4) MAZU was a revelation in the autumn winning five straight after he was gelded, capped by his G1 win in Brisbane. Now he has to mix it with the benchmarks but if they miscue he can certainly get home over the top of them after two good trials. (7) OVERPASS will be cheeky first-up after showing excellent pace to beat NATURE STRIP in his Canterbury trial while (9) ATHELRIC posted strong figures against EDUARDO when resuming and is a must inclusion for extended exotics. Good trials by (8) LOST AND RUNNING and the 2020 winner (6) CLASSIQUE LEGEND off a long break but it's clear The Everest is their target race.
RACE 9: Can make a case for nearly every runner. Derby runner-up (9) BENAUD gets to 2000m third up off two strong wfa runs when track bias was against him. Fitter now and rates to win. (12) SUREFIRE excelled first-up in lesser company over 1400m but couldn't repeat at wfa in the heavy last time over 1600m. Genuine stayer better suited under these conditions. Stablemate (13) ALEAS was hard to miss first-up (best sectionals of the day) and is great value under conditions he will relish. He is destined to win a good race. (5) NO COMPROMISE adds to the strong Waller hand. He's favourably treated under these conditions and is a must inclusion on a soft track. Same can be said for (11) ANGEL OF TRUTH, a proven wet tracker and Derby winner at this course. Sydney Cup winner (1) KNIGHTS ORDER brings the best form off his wfa win in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes when he dictated on a heavy leaders track. Others meet him better but expect him to take it up again with the master pacemaker Tim Clark in the saddle.
RACE 10: Play as wide as you can as this is the toughest race of the day. Liked the return win of (13) DEVIL'S THROAT under a big weight and he is certain to make improvement off that run with a big drop in weight. The very fit (5) MAOTAI is well placed under these conditions and (11) LARKSPUR RUN will appreciate coming back to 1200m and ready to peak after two good placings. The fresh (8) BATTLETON is well placed to run to his best but there is a long list of others resuming that must be respected off good trials, including (14) I AM LETHAL, (9) BRIGANTINE (3) NEVER TALK, (12) STARMAN and (2) DAJRAAN.
SKINNY PLAY: 1-3/1-2/9-12-13/5-9-13-14
GOING WIDE: 1-3-10/1-2-4-9/1-3-5-9-11-12-13/3-5-8-9-11-13-14
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – September 13-14
NEWCASTLE FRIDAY: Condrieu (R2)
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Caboche (R3); Stray (R4); Cross Talk (R5); Lackeen (R5); Zougotcha (R6); Anamoe (R7); Nature Strip (R8); Mazu (R8); Overpass (R8); Lost And Running (R8); Brigantine (R10); Dajraan (R10); Never Talk (R10); Zoushack (R10); I Am Lethal (R10); Starman (R10)
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Osipenko (R4); Written Beauty (R8)
NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Californiasilencer (R4); Tragara (R4); Atlantic Ocean (R5); Cross The Rubicon (R8)
NOWRA SUNDAY: Super Vino (R4); Karaoke King (R6)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Short Shorts; Democracy Manifest; WIllinga Rufio; Remarque; Smart Little Miss; Sir Ming; All Girls; Kiss The Bride; Knight's Order; Eduardo; Zaaki; Capo Strada; Hawaii Five Oh; Old Flame, Waterford; Stick To Your Guns; Pantonario; Kipsbay; Zou Tiger; Cholante; Kin; Ang Pow.
TRIAL POINTERS
WARWICK FARM September 9: ANAMOE brought the star power to the session but all he did was go through the motions to finish a soft third in the quickest of the four 1215m heats (74.94; 34.85). CABOCHE finished a strong second in a good pointer to improvement the next time he goes to the races. The 1215m heat winner LACKEEN (75.25; 35.20) can be followed under suitable conditions. Classy mare WRITTEN BEAUTY won her heat in 818m heat in slower time (49.31; 34.68) after tracking three wide but it was confirmation she has come on well since we noted her eye catching first-up trial last month.
ROSEHILL September 6: O'PRESIDENT is flying for his new trainer Bjorn Baker with two big trial wins over 900m at Rosehill since his transfer from Chris Waller. Sped away from Mazu and Masked Crusader in his first win on August 23 and was even better this time leading by five after 200m, in front by 10 turning for home and eventually coasting home by more than 13 lengths, running more than two seconds faster than the next best time in the 900m heats (53.13; 33.63). Any horse producing this type of trial is obviously in good form. MAZU improved off his first trial with easy work to win the fastest 1100m heat (63.32; 35.40), doing all that was required to sit outside the leader and get the upper hand under an easy ride
CANTERBURY September 1: NATURE STRIP made his reappearance after his return from the UK and it was like he had never been away! The champion sprinter contested an open 900m heat where OVERPASS led on his own and ran time to clock the fastest 900m heat win (55.49; 36.65) but NATURE STRIP's work to finish an easy second under the softest rides from James McDonald was first class. He eased across to sit off the leader and looked in rude health, an ominous indicator that he has recovered well from his travels. CLASSIQUE LEGEND gets a pass mark for his solid third in his first trial since last year's Everest while LOST AND RUNNING worked through the line best of those behind the first pair. WRITTEN BEAUTY is known for impressive trials and this one certainly took the eye even though she finished only fifth in a sharp 900m trial (57.32; 37.96). She wasn't out to win the trial but it was hard to miss her strong work over the last 200m under no pressure.
ROSEHILL August 23: A strong open heat was won by the free running O'PRESIDENT. Bjorn Baker likes to see his horses run in their trials and that was the case with O'PRESIDENT as he was all business leading from the start and recording the fastest time in seven heats over 900m (53.00; 33.47). All eyes were on MAZU working well within himself in his first appearance since his win in the Doomben Ten Thousand in May. Although beaten 3.25 lengths there was no intent to chase the winner. MASKED CRUSADER looked strong hitting the line best from off the pace for a strong third. Chris Waller's team were having tick over conditioning work and were not asked to compete under quiet rides. STARMAN was among his runners to take the eye.
RANDWICK August 19: I AM LETHAL came from five lengths off the leaders at the 300m under a cold ride from James McDonald to surge past his rivals for a strong win in his 1045m heat (63.71;34.21), reeling off the fastest closing sectionals in the nine heats over the distance. The Group trial on the Kensington saw crack sprinter LOST AND RUNNING finish a solid second in his first trial appearance since his Newmarket Handicap failure in Melbourne in March.
WARWICK FARM August 15: The import DAJRAAN strode out freely to lead his 1209m heat by a big margin. He was always travelling well within himself and coasted home by a soft 2.8 lengths in the fastest of the three heats over the distance (73.15; 35.65).
ROSEHILL August 12: A big 900m heat win by promising sprinter OVERPASS as he bounded clear from the start and led by five lengths after 200m. Rachel King sat quietly as he sprinted to the line almost nine lengths clear of his rivals, posting easily the fastest last 600m sectional of the morning almost a second faster than all the other heats (55.94; 34.00). Excellent work.
RANDWICK August 2: In the 900m black type heat DAJRAAN made an impression with his strong finish out wide for third in a sure sign he will be better this season.
BLACKBOOK REPORT
Eligible Blackbook Runners – September 13-15
NEWCASTLE FRIDAY: Warby (R3); Katalin (R8)
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Herb (R2); Grace And Harmony (R3); Caboche (R3); Ita (R4); Greek Hero (R4); Top Ranked (R5); Wolverine (R6); Profondo (R7); Handle The Truth (R8); Rocketing By (R8); Benaud (R9); Aleas (R9); Munitions (R10); I Am Lethal (R10)
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Port Albert (R2); Saigon (R3); Osipenko (R4); Amenable (R4); Gold Trip (R6); Lunar Flare (R6); Laws Of Indices (R7); Sinawann (R7); Bankers Choice (R7); It'sourtime (R9)
FLEMINGTON SUNDAY: Polanco (R7); Va Via (R8)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: In Secret; Golden Mile; I'm Thunderstruck; Sharp 'N' Smart; Pounding; Aussie Nugget; Don't Stop; Opal Ridge; Tara Jasmine; Salty Rain; Zou Tiger; Boldinho; Bonaparte; Mayfair Spirit; I Am Bene; Veranskova; Berkeley Square; Pizarro; Lord Ardmore; Honey Pot.
Blackbookers – Selected September 10
(Follow for next 3 starts)
BLACK DUKE: Not much luck. Will benefit from the run.
GREAT HOUSE: Nice start to his spring program.
IT'S ME: Good mare going well.
MINSK MOMENT: Fitter next time. Suited up to 1400m.
RUSTIC STEEL: Never tested. Forgive run.
YEARNING: Showed her class. Set for a good spring.
