WYONG September 2

RACE 2: (8) Sumatra

RACE 5: (4) Martini Crusader

RACE 6: (9) Sur La Mer (EW)

RACE 8: (3) Tinka's Lad (Value)

QUADDIE

RACE 5: 4-11-2-3

RACE 6: 9-5-12-11-2-4

RACE 7: 1-9-7-2

RACE 8: 3-2-7-10-11

RANDWICK September 2

RACE 1: 8-4-3-9

RACE 2: 11-6-7-8

RACE 3: 4-11-9-8

RACE 4: 9-7-1-5

RACE 5: 8-1-4-2

RACE 6: 3-6-1-7

RACE 7: 4-1-3-11

RACE 8: 9-15-1-14

RACE 9: 13-5-14-1

RACE 10: 13-14-8-17

BEST BETS

RACE 5 (8) ANDERMATT: The key factors are aligning for this lightly raced sprinter with a track no better than a Soft 7 as the forecast of another 15mm of rain through Friday into Saturday enhances his chances of making it five first-up wins from five attempts. When you add in James McDonald's unbeaten record on this 5YO (3/3), his unbeaten 1000m record (2/2), a proven liking for Randwick (1-2-3) and an excellent win in his prep trial it makes a compelling argument to favour him with a significant 4kg weight advantage over some big names who will need to be at their absolute best.

RACE 6 (3) PARIS DIOR: This Pierro filly is top shelf and I will be backing her to win everything she runs in through the spring up to 1600m - and maybe longer! Her only autumn start in April saw her put away a quality field of fillies with classy determination in the G2 Percy Sykes over this course and distance on a heavy track and her top stable have her primed for a similar performance after giving her a measured prep with two strong trials where she kept plenty in reserve. She won two from four last season and could easily have been unbeaten if luck had gone her way in her two second placings.

RACE 7 (4) PROFONDO: Like the thinking of his stable to target this race over the Chelmsford Stakes after his excellent first-up placing in the G1 Winx Stakes over this same course and distance when he endured a three wide run. Moved up to win at the 250m before his condition faltered and he is certain to a tougher nut to crack this time from a kind draw with his improved fitness. Seems this is his track – he won the Spring Champion Stakes in his only other Randwick start – and with just six career starts behind him the signs are positive that he is ready to realise his full potential as a mature 4YO.

FOR VALUE

RACE 2: (11) MICRONA: Rarely disappoints under higher weights at the provincials. Very fit and will get his chance with 1.5kg under the limit.

RACE 9: (13) ARBITRATION: Genuine improver. Ran into a smart one when second last time in this class over this same course and distance.

PLAYING THE QUADDIE

RACE 7:  Last year's winner (1) ZAAKI will be very popular as a first leg anchor due to his high profile and the limited number of chances among his rivals. Loved (4) PROFONDO's first-up placing in the Winx Stakes and he's a big threat with obvious improvement from his good draw. (3) CONVERGE is primed off strong trials. He is a Randwick Guineas winner and 3YO form doesn't come much better. A fitter (11) ICEBATH will relish the soft conditions but when will she ever win? Trial watchers will be keen on (9) YEARNING.

RACE 8: Hardly a vintage weight-for-age field with the majority staying types getting ready for longer targets. It makes the import (9) SUREFIRE the horse to beat after his classy first-up win at Rosehill (fast closing sectional) as he is the type who will get better with racing through the spring. (15) MONTEFILIA has good fresh form at wfa and she runs well for Jason Collett. Invariably produces her best in soft conditions. How can you rate (1) MO'UNGA on his first-up effort?  Wins this at his best but he's testing the faith. (14) BENAUD was good first-up in the Winx but obviously wants longer. Looking for the upset….perhaps (4) STOCKMAN or (10) NO COMPROMISE.

RACE 9:  (5) SILENT IMPACT holds the key as he is best when fresh. Good trials and he has the talent to be better than this grade. (13) ARBITRATION is a must inclusion. Race fit improver and the Pizarro form is strong. Midweek winner (14) HELL I AM meets tougher rivals but good stable has him in the right form. Respect the Melbourne credentials of (1) PIONEER RIVER but a 5kg weight increase is a stiff ask. (4) GEO and (6) STARMAN are big queries first-up.

RACE 10: Sorting out the Waller team is half the challenge. Sticking with (13) WICKLOW as he goes well for Avdulla and a soft tick over trial last week indicates he has freshened up well with five weeks since his last start win. Waller has a very fit last start winner over this course and distance in (14) NIFFLER. Expect a better showing from (8) ALCYONE while (17) OPACITY is at his best over this course and distance and gets right down in the weights from 60kg.

SKINNY PLAY: 1/3/4; 1/9/15; 5/13/14; 13/14

GOING WIDE: 1/3/4/11; 1/4/9/10/14/15; /1/4/5/6/13/14; 8/13/14/17/18

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – September 2-3

WYONG FRIDAY: Poetic Drama (R3)

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Starman (R2); Eduardo (R5); Masked Crusader (R5); Malkovich (R5); Andermatt (R5); Zaaki (R7); She's Extreme (R6); Paris Dior (R6); Russian Conquest (R6); Wingardium (R6); Converge (R7); Yearning (R7); Knight's Order (R8); Silent Impact (R9); Wicklow (R10); Kiss The Bride (R10); Sacramento (R10)

MOONEE VALLEY SATURDAY: In The Congo (R5); Gravina (R7)

HAWKESBURY SATURDAY: Another Alibi (R6); Shadows Of Love (R7)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Capo Strada; Hawaii Five Oh; Old Flame, Waterford; Stick To Your Guns; Pantonario; Kipsbay; Zou Tiger; Cholante; Kin; Ang Pow; Anamoe; Sumatra; Forms Of Fear; Headwall; Bayezid; Duchy Of Savoy; Stromboli; Junquiera; Golden Fighter; Euphrates Dream.

TRIAL POINTERS

ROSEHILL August 23: Last spring's Thousand Guineas winner YEARNING looked in great order finishing second in her 1030m heat won by the lightly raced ANOTHER ALIBI (63.06; 34.37). She dropped back to last under a quiet ride from Willie Pike before railing through from the 400m with a classy surge that carried her past the bulk of the field in a matter of strides. Stretched out freely under no pressure in a sure sign she has come up in good form. MASKED CRUSADER contested a classy open heat over 900m and looked strong hitting the line best from off the pace for a strong third.

HAWKESBURY August 22: It was standard work for ZAAKI in his 1000m trial for Group horses on the course proper (59.67; 33.36) and it was no shock to see him edged out by War Eternal after they matched strides for the last 400m. James McDonald kept him under restraint in a trial that was obviously designed to be no more than conditioning exercise. ANDERMATT was responsible for trial of the morning, showing his class with a powerful last 200m to overhaul the running leader in the fastest 800m heat on the inside grass (47.36; 32.80) under a big hold from James McDonald. Lovely work that has him ready to run to his best fresh.

RANDWICK August 19: MALKOVICH kept his remarkable unbeaten record of 13 wins in barrier trials intact taking out the 850m heat for Group and Listed horses on the Kensington track by almost five lengths. He was held back in the first 400m before sprinting away from his rivals and running very fast closing sectionals (49.62; 32.40). He's undoubtedly one of Sydney's fastest sprinters and will be hard to beat in anything he contests up to 1100m. The G1 Champagne Stakes winner SHE'S EXTREME took the eye with her effort in the Malkovich trial. She was allowed to drift back and sit four wide at the rear and while beaten some nine lengths she worked nicely under no pressure over the last 400m. In the open heats over 742m veteran sprinter EDUARDO was beaten narrowly by the ex-Hong Kong winner Joyful Fortune in fast time (43.72; 33.40).

WARWICK FARM August 15: IN THE CONGO led as expected in his 813m heat (48.61; 34.31) and did all that was required to score by just over a length. It was solid work but not as impressive as his first-up trial win at Randwick. Behind him the one taking the eye with another soft trial was Godolphin's talented performer GRAVINA. Stablemates SACRAMENTO and CONVERGE closed off nicely over the last 200m to fill the placings behind Dajraan in the fastest of the three heats over 1209m (73.15; 35.65).

ROSEHILL August 12: ZAAKI made his return in 900m heat for Group horses with a solid third, showing up from the start to share second in the run and holding his ground well.

WARWICK FARM August 5: MALKOVICH had too much speed for his rivals in the 900m black type heat on the course proper (53.83; 35.38) beating the subsequent Memsie Stakes winner Snapdancer - good form! The old warrior EDUARDO looked as good as ever in his comeback trial on the inside grass. He's now a 9YO but showed he has lost none of his natural speed by leading for a comfortable win in his 816m heat (48.85; 34.50). The time wasn't flash against lesser opponents but he worked easily and could have gone quicker.

RANDWICK August 2: IN THE CONGO used his natural speed to lead up the Group heat over 900m and was never under pressure to record a soft win (54.64; 37.10), a strong indicator that he is in the right form to add to his perfect fresh record when he resumes. However many would rate the closing second of Randwick Guineas winner CONVERGE as the better trial. He settled five lengths off his stablemate in midfield on the inside before railing up and cutting the margin 1.2 lengths on the line with plenty in reserve. SILENT IMPACT was given a solid test to lead and win a slow 742m heat (44.55; 34.01) in a trial where the effort of GRAVINA took the eye. Group winning filly PARIS DIOR ran through the line in great style to finish third in her 742m heat (43.97; 33.61).

GOSFORD July 29: Sydney Cup winner KNIGHTS ORDER added a touch of class to this session with an unexpected fresh win in his first trial since April. Tim Clark bounced him out of the gates and he showed surprising dash to lead his 1000m heat and run out a clear winner in good time (62.52; 37.09). It's always a good sign when a stayer can sprint well at the start of their preparations.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

Eligible Blackbook Runners – September 2-3

WYONG FRIDAY: Katalin (R6); Dalchini (R6); Sunrise Ruby (R6)

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Opal Ridge (R1); Jal Lei (R3); Toomuchtobear (R4); Rocketing By (R5); In Secret (R6); Profondo (R7); Mo'Unga (R8); Benaud (R8); Opacity (R10)

MOONEE VALLEY SATURDAY: Prix De Turn (R2); Millane (R3); Spanish Mission (R4); In The Congo (R5); Va Via (R6); Sinawann (R7)

DOOMBEN SATURDAY: Aussie Nugget (R7); Snippy Fox (R8); Don't Stop (R9); Pounding (R9)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Tara Jasmine; Salty Rain; 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 27

(Follow for next 3 starts) 

ALEAS: Solid return by a good stayer.

ELEGIST: No luck over the last 300m.

GOLDEN MILE: Nice prospect for longer races.

HERB: Suited midweek.

I'M THUNDERSTRUCK: He's a star. Ideal up to 2000m.

TIJUANA: Capable of a good win.