Scholtz's Say
Boxing Day Preview with Chris Scholtz: 26th December 2025
Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Summer Cup meeting at Randwick on December 26 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.
Best Bets
RACE 1 - (2) MAN OF WORTH: Solid grounding for this trip. Soft draw and weight relief help his chances.
RACE 2 - (13) SNITZEL MISS: Honest filly has the fitness edge. Weighted to win with 3kg claim.
RACE 5 – (8) INDEFENSIBLE: Impressive midweek win. Well placed to progress.
RACE 1: (2) MAN OF WORTH; (5) Konsa; (13) Toussaint; (4) Barcelo
RACE 2: (13) SNITZEL MISS; (5) Makhachev; (12) Performance; (15) Bottle Of Shells
RACE 3: (14) YOU SEXY THING; (13) Tinklejazz; (7) Explicit; (6) Cellarmaster
RACE 4: (5) BESIDE THE OCEAN; (1) Straand Beauty; (7) Royal Air Force; (6) Da Snoop Dog
RACE 5: (8) INDEFENSIBLE; (2) Power Of The Brave; (4) Extravagent Lad; (3) Unique Ambition
RACE 6: (9) WRITTEN SCANDAL; (10) Mamushka; (8) Sequista; (11) Piperita
RACE 7: (4) UNSPOKEN; (5) Tavi Time; (7) Shangri La Spring; (3) Major Beel
RACE 8: (18e) AUTOMNE TREE; (7) Dashing Rupert; (8) Off The Press; (10) Cross Tasman
Why They Can Win….
RACE 3 – (14) YOU SEXY THING: Has had excuses. Will appreciate this course and distance.
RACE 4 – (5) BESIDE THE OCEAN: Impressive on a wet track before spell. Ready for this off good trials.
RACE 6 - (9) WRITTEN SCANDAL: Going well. Drawn to get every chance on her home track.
RACE 7 – (4) UNSPOKEN: Fitter for good prep runs. Good value under favourable conditions.
RACE 8 – (18e) AUTOMNE TREE: Rates highly in an open race.
NOTED TRIAL WATCH RUNNERS – December 26-28
RANDWICK FRIDAY: Grey Belief (R3); Mamushka (R6); Shangri La Spring (R7); Last Command (R8); Hopper (R8); Engine Room (R8)
NEWCASTLE FRIDAY: Levelling Up (R3); Indigo Star (R4); Damons On A Bender (R4)
RANDWICK SATURDAY: By Choice (R3); Half Pipe (R3); Infusion (R7); Signor Tortoni (R8)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Tornado Valley (R6)
GOSFORD SUNDAY: Southport (R1); Sparkling Fire (R1); Mythology (R2); Lady Of The Castle (R2); Lady Tassort (R2); Memo (R5)
ORANGE TUESDAY: Lego Master (R4)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Roma Green; Royal Exile; Generous Harry; Warwoven; Lumbini; Cinsault; Pretty Powerful; Royalify; Seven Days; Mareth; Airworthy; Paradoxium; Nullabor Jane; Aroha Stone; Chix; Hellbent On You; Ice Kool; Big Papa; Pentagon; Columbia Blue; Simply Nutbush; Spywire; Lennox; Daring Fellow; Seeiaye; Apex; Myriad
TRIAL POINTERS
RANDWICK KENSINGTON December 18: HALF PIPE, a $25,000 yearling purchase by Extreme Warrior, showed above average talent to steam home over the top of his rivals for a classy win in the fastest of the three 2YO heats over 850m (49.93; 33.70). He's been given time since his first trial in September and his race debut will be widely anticipated as I expect this to be a strong form heat. BY CHOICE (50.52; 33.81), a Written By filly who won her first trial at Canterbury, was better here, leading easily and extending like a professional over the last 200m to score by more than four lengths. The good filly MEMO trialled well in the fastest 850m heat (49.56; 32.89). going through the line with plenty to offer. SHANGRI LA SPRING was in good form to easily lead his 1250m heat (75.49; 34.37) from start to finish. A number of maidens gave notice of good things to come including previously noted heat winner MYTHOLOGY.
HAWKESBURY December 15: The Ciaron Maher-trained TORNADO VALLEY sat four wide in his 800m heat and there was plenty of merit in the way he had them covered over the last 200m under an easy ride from the Irish jockey Adam Farragher. His time was much slower than the other 2YO heat but it's obvious the G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner is a quality youngster.
RANDWICK KENSINGTON December 9: SIGNOR TORTONI posted the quickest time for 850m in his open heat (49.17; 32.66). SIGNOR TORTONI posted the quickest 850m in his open heat (49.17; 32.66). Tassort mare LADY TASSORT, unraced since one start in 2023, remains unbeaten in trials with her fifth win in her 850m heat (50.10; 33.67) by almost three lengths with plenty in reserve. Hard to beat if they pick the right maiden. LADY OF THE CASTLE (49.63; 33.63) was another maiden heat winner showing she is ready to perform when produced.
WARWICK FARM December 8: The 799m open heat winner ENGINE ROOM (47.17; 33.50) did all that was required to win his trial.
CANTERBURY December 2: Numerous maidens took the eye including heat winner SPARKLING FIRE.
RANDWICK November 21: LADY TASSORT is a 737m maiden heat winner (43.27; 32.99) to create a lot of interest. She raced once in the 2023 Gimcrack Stakes and hadn't been seen since she won two trials in May of 2024. The Waterhouse/Bott trained mare is now unbeaten in four trials and while it's obvious she has had issues she is a natural runner with ability.
HAWKESBURY November 17: David Pfeifer has a nice prospect in SPARKLING FIRE, an unraced Trapeze Artist gelding who made an impression with a big win in his first trial, opening a big lead under no pressure and holding a 4.5 lengths margin to the line (58.71; 32.94).
RANDWICK January 14: In the 2YO heats over 740m unraced filly MYTHOLOGY impressed in her heat making late ground and running strongly through the line for third.
BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – December 26-28
RANDWICK FRIDAY: Miss Busslinger (R6); Unspoken (R7); Touristic (R7)
SANDOWN FRIDAY: Hedged (R6)
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Masvingo (R3); Mare Of Mt Buller (R4); Charleroi (R6/R10); Convergent (R6); Althoff (R8/R10); Elliptical (R9)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Scripted (R1/R9); Tribeca Star (R10)
CRANBOURNE SATURDAY: Saint George (R7); Somewhere (R10)
GOSFORD SUNDAY: Memo (R5); Konasana (R6); Mare Of Mt Buller (R6); Bella Montagna (R6)
BLACKBOOKERS (Selected December 19-20 (Follow Next 3 Starts)
ALTERMATUM; BIG PAPA; CERTIFY; COOL JAKEY; KING PEDRO; PLUNDERING; SAY YOU WILL
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Willie Oppa; Rey Magnerio; Electric Impulse; Bella Corazon; Bestower; Ruska Roma; Aviatress; Dirty Grin; Brave Call; Brave One; Inkaruna; North Of Eli; Harlem Queen; Grafterburners; Sabaj; Caballus; Jimmysstar; Observer; Chergui; Half Yours; Ole Dancer; Tentyris; Clear Thinking; Point Barrow
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