Racing
Saturday's Rosehill Preview with Chris Scholtz - March 14
Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Coolmore Classic meeting at Rosehill on March 14 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports.
Best Bets
RACE 2 – (4) TAZIMA: Lightly raced import on the rise. He's contested two unsuitable races since resuming followed by a quiet barrier trial that has him primed for the step up to 1900m. Gets J Mac and rates to win on the progressive form he displayed in his first Australian prep last year when he won third up over 1800m before placings in strong form races.
RACE 4 - (5) CENTRAL EUROPE: Impressive Frankel colt ran up to the hype about his promising trials with a luckless debut second in the G2 Skyline Stakes at Randwick where he surged late to miss by only a nose after he was blocked for clear running at the vital stage. His pedigree and profile tells you he will be better as a 3YO but he could easily springboard off this race into the G1 Sires Produce (1400m) at Randwick next month. However it will be hard to pass up the lure of next week's Golden Slipper if he qualifies.
RACE 8 – (9) FIRESTORM: Back for a second tilt at this G1 feature after she just failed to run down her top shelf stablemate Lady Shenandoah in 2025. She loves racing at Rosehill where she has won three times and is set for another big effort after he excellent first-up sixth in the G2 Guy Walter (1400m) at Randwick where she was at a disadvantage over the last 300m on the slower inner lanes. The Guy Walter form is strong and she'll relish a clear crack at them on her home track with 3.5kg less weight.
RACE 1: (13) AUDREY'S LANE; (2) Mailata; (9) Zaragoza; (14) Jambalaya
RACE 2: (4) TAZIMA; (3) Unleeshing; (5) The Western Front; (6) Iceman
RACE 3: (4) HARDANGER; (3) Pembrey; (1) By Choice; (2) Lumbini
RACE 4: (5) CENTRAL EUROPE; (2) Warwoven; (1) Star Of Jamaica; (3) Plagiarism
RACE 5: (5) WOOTTON VERNI; (4) Soul Of Spain; (1) Vauban; (3) Just Fine
RACE 6: (4) KING'S SECRET; (3) Flying For Fun; (2) Kerguelen; (6) Don't Hope Do
RACE 7: (1) SIXTIES; (6) Top Reward; (3) West Of Swindon; (10) Panova
RACE 8: (9) FIRESTORM; (12) Shohisha; (5) Arctic Glamour; (1) Lazzura
RACE 9: (6) LORD PENMAN; (7) Enxuto; (2) Militarize; (1) Globe
RACE 10: (14) MODELLA; (11) Captain Furai; (18) Amreekiyah; (12) Sovereign Hill
RACE 1 – (13) AUDREY'S LANE: Trialling well. Good fresh and conditions are favourable.
RACE 3 – (4) HARDANGER: Slow inside lane dulled her Sweet Embrace finish. Fitter and drawn to suit on a fairer track.
RACE 5 – (5) WOOTTON VERNI: Respecting the J Mac lead. Bolted away with a G3 over 2000m last time they teamed.
RACE 6 – (4) KING'S SECRET: Building a strong record and yet to reach his ceiling. Excellent trials.
RACE 7 – (1) SIXTIES: Not keen on the price but he's the obvious one on current ratings.
RACE 9 – (8) LORD PENMAN: Stiffer test but he drops to the limit weight. Full of upside off his first-up win.
RACE 10 – (14) MODELLA: Talented mare well placed after her pleasing return in stronger Group company.
NOTED TRIAL WATCH RUNNERS – March 11-14
KEMBLA GRANGE FRIDAY: Long Legs (R7)
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Tazima (R2); Hellenic Belle (R3); Amazone (R4); King's Secret (R6); Flying For Fun (R6); Lazzura (R7); Vivy Air (R7); Globe (R9); Cristal Clear (R9); Perfumist (R10)
GOSFORD SATURDAY: Young Mister Grace (R8)
GOLD COAST SATURDAY: Scampi (R5)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Stand My Ground; Two Excel; Our Queen; Castlejohn; The Next Episode; Satono Glow; Gangsta Granny; Generosity; Beadman; Paradoxium; Cavallo Park; Southend; Shangri La Impact; Royal Silver; King Of Roseau; Campione D'Italia; Buffalo; Bubbles Up; Kerguelen; Pericles; Ninja; True To Form; Wolf Gap; Weeping Woman; Amreekiyah; Mal Coupe; Soverato; Caesar; Written In Wrath
RANDWICK March 5: In the open class heat over 1200m (72.64; 35.07) high class Group winner GLOBE won his second Sydney trial by a dominant four lengths, working strongly in a far better performance than his earlier trial win at Rosehill on February 23. The quality mare VIVY AIR also looked in good form working home nicely for second. LAZZURA was another classy Group winner to impress, finishing an easy second with plenty in reserve in her 1050m heat (63.25; 34.25) where the winner PERFUMIST had to work for the victory, perhaps because she was held up and sat off the leader rather than running out to a big lead as she did in her previous trial win.
WARWICK FARM March 2: Smart mare FLYING FOR FUN is set for a good campaign after an impressive win in her 822m heat (49.06; 33.31). She was cluttered up behind a line of leaders until well into the straight where she had to ease across heels to get clear running. Given room she strode out strongly to reel them in quickly and charge through the line full of running. Unraced Hellbent filly HELLENIC BELLE was an impressive winner of her second trial in the fastest of the three 2YO heats over 820m (48.67; 34.39), leading with ease and not under any pressure to win by almost three lengths. Expect a good debut. The 822m heat won by Stardom (48.81; 33.98) was a strong heat with a nice trial by SCAMPI. In the 1206m heats VAUBAN finished second in his heat (74.03; 35.94) but was under a whip ride from the 500m to make ground. In the shorter 822m and 820m heats those making a good impression with promising trials included the talented KING'S SECRET.
ROSEHILL February 23: PERFUMIST showed she's in the right form to add to her excellent record in her first trial since November, easily running to a big lead and travelling sweetly to cruise home by three lengths in a fast 900m heat (53.80; 34.04). Victorian star GLOBE, having his first Sydney trial since he won over 2000m at Caulfield in the spring, worked well enough and responded to riding to win his 1030m heat (61.33; 34.46). Keen to watch the progress of the Waller youngster AMAZONE after a solid effort in a deep 2YO trial won by Paradoxium.
WARWICK FARM February 16: Juveniles to impress with promising efforts included the previously noted HELLENIC BELLE. Top stayer VAUBAN was plain finishing sixth in his 1200m heat. Prefer to see what he can do when he resumes before making a judgement on his autumn prospects.
WARWICK FARM February 3: A set on soft ground featuring three black type trials on the course proper. In Heat 1 (1000m) VAUBAN (5th) covered ground and came under a ride over the last 300m.
BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – March 13-14
KEMBLA GRANGE FRIDAY: Charcoals (R6)
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Iceman (R2); Central Europe (R4); High Alert (R4); Kilbrannan (R7); Federalist (R7); Thunderlips (R9)
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Foujita San (R1); Salty Pearl (R9)
GOLD COAST SATURDAY: Scampi (R5); Smexy (R8)
BLACKBOOKERS (Selected March 7 - Follow Next 3 Starts)
DIAMETER; EVAPORATE; INKARUNA; JUJA KIBO; LITZDEEL; PHILIA; SEPALS; TOO DARN DISCREET
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Chidiac; Pinito; Scheelite; Chayan; Supercilious; Birdman; Verona Rose; My Phar Lady; Green Fly; Warrior For Peace; Bengal Diamond; Fingers Hunter; Assailant; Furious; Alibaba; Paradise City; Bella Montagna; Miss Busslinger; Spanish Treasure; Althoff; Onavuitton; She's Within; Cool Jakey; Somewhere
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