ROSEHILL August 27
RACE 1: 12-9-1-5
RACE 2: 2-6-4-8
RACE 3: 1-5-8-9
RACE 4: 2-7-15-8
RACE 5: 10-6-9-1
RACE 6: 5-4-3-6
RACE 7: 14-9-12-8
RACE 8: 11-8-2-3
RACE 9: 1-7-9-3
RACE 10: 8-2-3-4
Best Bets
RACE 3 (1) BORN A KING: Went to a career high winning easily under 59kg in this grade over this course and distance on June 18 before a switch to Melbourne where he dropped back to 1600m on a slow surface at Flemington on August 6 and didn't have the sprint in his legs to match Lyrical Lad over the last 200m after seven weeks between runs. Sure have tightened up with that run and favorably placed back on his home track with the benefit of a 3kg allowance for the rising apprentice star Dylan Gibbons.
RACE 5 (10) GRACE AND HARMONY: This above average mare, remembering she won a good class Listed race as a 3YO, returned in great style when she steamed to the line under 59kg for a close second to Yukon over 1300m at Randwick on August 6. She recorded the fastest last 400m and 200m splits of the day on a slow surface and not surprisingly the form behind her from that race has been franked by the subsequent winners Pizzaro and Niffler. That form line underlines how well placed she is under these conditions with a 6kg drop to the limit weight.
RACE 9 (1) BEST OF BORDEAUX: Rates as Sydney's best 2YO colt from last season after his Group wins in the Silver Slipper and Canonbury Stakes before his only loss when second in the G1 Golden Slipper when he led and beat and all but the swooper Fireburn on a heavy track. Has done all his racing at Rosehill and the form he displayed in his most recent trial for his new rider James McDonald when he ran away from older Group horses for a soft win over 1000m at this course says he is primed to fly fresh. This son of Snitzel is now owned by Coolmore and partners and they have plenty riding on him to go on with it this season.
For Value
RACE 1 (12) AFEWCHOICEWORDS: Generous odds for a progressive last start winner from a top country stable. Gets McEvoy and can settle close up from a soft draw.
RACE 4 (2) NOBLE SOLDIER: Has excellent Midway form since resuming and well placed to go one better than his last start second at this course. Should respond to the strength of his new rider Hugh Bowman.
PLAYING THE QUADDIE
RACE 7: Tricky first leg so load up. The race fit last start winners (7) YUKON (leader), (8) KALINO and (9) AEECEE EXPRESS (leader) have the superior current ratings but the key runner is the lightly raced resuming import (14) WATERFORD. He made an impact winning his first Australian start at Warwick Farm (heavy track) in the autumn and his trials have been good - market forces will tell you plenty about his chances. Riding switch (Bowman on) is significant for (12) GRACILISTYLA – good first-up and sure to be fitter. Betting should also be monitored for (1) KALAPOUR, another promising import resuming off a soft trial at Wyong.
RACE 8: Hard to assess fitness levels with six of the 11 resuming. They include the Waller-trained (2) BASQUIAT, a key runner after two solid trials with J Mac an interesting booking as he will ride the 3YO 1kg overweight. His highly regarded stablemate (11) CONQUEROR had excuses when resuming over 1400m at Randwick – loads of upside but back in trip to 1300m is not ideal. Conversely a fitter (8) KIBOU will be tough to run down over this more suitable distance with 3kg less than his game fourth in the Listed Rosebud over 1100m at this course two weeks ago. The tricky one to assess is (3) SHALATIN – trialling well and could blow them away if he delivers on his obvious potential.
RACE 9: Cannot look past (1) BEST OF BORDEAUX as the one to beat based on his top class form last season and the manner of his recent trial win over older Group horses with McDonald riding. Expect the Rosebud form of the unbeaten (7) ZOUKERINO and (9) SPACEWALK (cost himself the win but wide gate here is not ideal) will stand up as they have an edge in race fitness. (2) SWISS EXILE (good trials) and the unbeaten pair (3) PROMITTO and (5) NETTUNO have all been well prepared to perform fresh.
RACE 10: Scratchings have made this an easier assignment for the exciting mare (8) SHADES OF ROSE to make it three straight. Goes up another grade over an extra 100m but she remains well weighted and the good draw gives J Mac the option to take a sit if the widely drawn pair (3) MAOTAI (more focused as a gelding) and (4) CONSCRIPT cross for the lead as expected. (2) EASY SINGLE has his first go at 1200m but he is fit and honest and is also drawn to save his energy for a late surge like he did when he won over 1100m here a month ago. (12) CATESBY can run a race at big odds with no weight from an inside gate.
SKINNY PLAY: 9-12-14/2-3-8-11/1-7/2-8
GOING WIDE: 1-8-9-12-14/2-3-8-11/1-2-3-5-7-9/2-3-8
CAULFIELD August 27
RACE 4: (12) NICOLINI VITO (EW)
RACE 5: (12) AFT CABIN/(6) JACQUINOT
RACE 8: (12) TOFANE (EW)
QUADDIE
RACE 6: (4) In The Boat/(2) Generation/(7) Shooting For Gold/(5) Not An Option/(11) Little Steve
RACE 7: (7) Passsive Aggressive/(11) Chain Of Lightning/(5) Hellfest/(8) Isotope
RACE 8: (12) Tofane/(2) Cascadian/(14) Snapdancer/(5) Western Empire
RACE 9: (9) Jimmy The Bear/(7) Lunar Flare/(8) No Effort/(10) Desert Icon
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – August 27-30
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Old Flame (R5); Waterford (R7); Shalatin (R8); Lethal Thoughts (R8); Conqueror (R8); Best Of Bordeaux (R9); Swiss Exile (R9)
CAULFIELD SAT: Cascadian (R8); Zeyrek (R8); Snapdancer (R8)
KEMBLA GRANGE SATURDAY: Terrestar (R2); Pantonario (R2); Stick To Your Guns (R3)
WYONG SUNDAY: Hawaii Five Oh (R1)
NOWRA TUESDAY: All Girls (R2)
NEWCASTLE TUESDAY: Asteria (R1)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Kipsbay; Zou Tiger; Cholante; Kin; Ang Pow; Anamoe; Sumatra; Forms Of Fear; Headwall; Bayezid; Duchy Of Savoy; Stromboli; Junquiera; Golden Fighter; Euphrates Dream; Diamond Diesel; Zoukerino; Silvakia; Bold Mac; Willinga Freefall; Overlord.
TRIAL POINTERS
WARWICK FARM August 15: Several promising 3YOs took the eye in their maiden heats including the highly rated SHALATIN finishing a strong second in his fast 806m heat (48.02; 34.39).
ROSEHILL August 12: A high class 1000m trial for the Group horses on the course proper saw one of last season's best youngsters BEST OF BORDEAUX show he has lost none of his natural speed as led by a clear margin from start to finish, doing it easily without being extended (61.03; 36.50). ZEYREK worked well within himself for a strong second
WARWICK FARM August 5: Godolphin star CASCADIAN stood out in the Group heat over 1000m on the course proper, settling out the back as usual before striding strongly to the line to finish an impressive third with Rachel King swinging against him as he ran through the line under a big grip. It confirmed the form he displayed in his first trial and points to him being a big player in any race he contests through the spring. Class mare SNAPDANCER worked well within herself and will take benefit from her second in her 900m black type heat (53.83; 35.38). A standout in the 813m heats was Annabel Neasham's Group 2 winner SWISS EXILE finishing a strong second. He sat off the winner and allowed him to slip clear on the turn before closing strongly in the last 100m under a big hold. Impressed again in a 1045m heat at Randwick on August 19.
RANDWICK August 2: PANTONARIO added to her reputation as one of the best young maidens in Sydney with an easy win in her 1050m heat (64.27; 35.34).
WARWICK FARM July 22 (Poly): In a strong open heat over 740m (43.12; 32.95) CASCADIAN had a quiet time sitting back through the first 600m before running through the line. He was then asked to stretch out for 400m past the post.
BLACKBOOK REPORT
Eligible Blackbook Runners – August 27-30
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Frumos (R2); Grace And Harmony (R5); Caboche (R7);
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Saigon (R2); Polanco (R3); Bankers Choice (R4); Lunar Flare (R9)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Zing (R2); FIre Love (R5); Russian Warrior (R6); Tara Jasmine (R7)
PORT MACQUARIE SATURDAY: Salty Rain (R4)
NEWCASTLE TUESDAY: Magic (R6)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Zou Tiger; Boldinho; Bonaparte; Mayfair Spirit; I Am Bene; Veranskova; Berkeley Square; Pizarro; Lord Ardmore; Honey Pot; Tow The Line; Midnight In Tokyo; Kanazawa; Daralina Belle; Searchin' Rocs; Go Wandji; Thron Bone.
Blackbookers – Selected August 20
(Follow for next 3 starts)
AUSSIE NUGGET: Ready for a step up in distance.
BENAUD: Strong return by a quality stayer.
IN SECRET: Sure to prove herself at the top level.
PROFONDO: Sure to benefit from his excellent placing.
ROCKETING BY: Shaping nicely for a suitable sprint.
WOLVERINE: Will be suited in longer fillies races.
