Scholtz's Say
Warwick Farm Selections, Trial Watch and Blackbook Report - 18th February 2026
Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Warwick Farm meeting on February 18 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports for February 18-21.
For Value
RACE 2: (3) Lorax
RACE 6: (7) Dolce Dior
Selections
RACE 1: (4) ALPHARD; (2) Gus The Great; (3) Sarapo; (6) Satirically
RACE 2: (3) LORAX; (8) Naadra; (4) Wolf Gap; (12) Venetian Queen
RACE 3: (3) NAZWAH; (2) Straand Beauty; (5) Silencio Porfavor; (4) The Escape
RACE 4: (8) SARRISMO; (6) Tarzing; (3) Crossbow; (10) Cuban Cigar
RACE 5: (5) DECORUM; (2) Lancelot Du Lac; (1) Tazima; (3) Clyde
RACE 6: (7) DOLCE DIOR; (10) Twisted Love; (8) Doradus; (11) De Louviere
RACE 7: (6) LONG LEGS; (8) Totoka; (9) Profoundly; (10) Snitzel Dancer
NOTED TRIAL WATCH RUNNERS – February 18-21
WARWICK FARM WEDNESDAY: Wolf Gap (R2); Lorax (R2); Naadra (R2); Gone To Gowings (R2)
CAULFIELD WEDNESDAY: Trapdoor (R7)
HAWKESBURY THURSDAY: Stand My Ground (R4); Oui Oui Oui (R7); Miss Busslinger (R7)
CANBERRA FRIDAY: Farcolo (R6)
CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Mister Martini (R1); Iron Will (R3); True To Form (R7)
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Arriving Home (R3); Hezdarnhottoo (R3); Northern Eyes (R4); Transcend (R4); Pinito (R5/R9); Dr Hook (R6); Euripedes (R6); Shiki (R6); Just Fine (R7); Sam Hawkens (R7); Attica (R8); Autumn Boy (R8); Ninja (R8); Oh Diamond Lil (R9); Mareth (R9); Kerguelen (R10); Hawker Hall (R10); Tonkin (R10)
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Pericles (R7); Jedibeel (R9)
WYONG SATURDAY: Frostisen
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Weeping Woman; Amreekiyah; Mal Coupe; Soverato; Caesar; Written In Wrath; Fierce; Providence; Gravel Road; Celui; Tempted; Agrarian Girl; She's Assort; Banjora; Charka; Ausbred Hed'N'Tail; Signor Tortoni; Journeyman; Decorum; God Save The King; Willaidow; Sixties; Chilly Girl; Easiest Choice; St Faith's; On One; Bryant; Harry's Evidence
WARWICK FARM February 16: In a strong open heat over 795m (47.85; 34.43). KERGUELEN performed with merit sitting three and four wide and holding his ground under no pressure.
ROSEHILL February 12: Exciting 3YO NINJA is set to bounce back from his controversial Magic Millions defeat after a classy win in the fastest of the two black type heats over 1000m on the course proper (58.02; 33.01). The speedster WAY TO THE STARS led them up but NINJA was in cruise control settling third before working well within himself to gain the upper hand over the closing stages. PERICLES tracked wide to finish an easy fourth. PINITO will be improved after covering ground three wide for fourth. There were five 2YO heats over 900m with several winners looking set to make their mark when produced. The youngsters making the best impression were DR HOOK (55.01; 34.60) and EURIPEDES (54.64; 34.66).
NEWCASTLE February 12: In the fastest of the nine heats over 1000m (61.27; 33.84) MISS BUSSLINGER surged to the line under a hold for a close second, to G1 winner Gringotts, showing she is in good form to go on from her last start win in a BM64. The fast sprinter HAWKER HALL showed he has not gone backwards since his Magic Millions win at the Gold Coast, breezing through his fast 850m heat (48.19; 33.68) for a dominant 3.5 lengths win that sets him up for his next sprint assignment. Maidens taking the eye including the heat winner FROSTISEN.
CANTERBURY February 6: Honest mare OH DIAMOND LIL is ready to go fresh after another quality piece of work to win the fastest 1106m heat (66.55; 34.78) by a big space. Her rivals couldn't go with her over the last 600m as she ran freely to cruise home unextended by more than five lengths. Sharp filly SHIKI, back from the Magic Millions, led her 899m heat easily before showing classy acceleration to sprint away from the chasers and coast home in the fastest time of the morning (54.06; 34.96). Her speed has her ready for anything up to 1200m. A strong open heat over 902m was won by HEZDARNHOTTOO (54.38; 34.33), a talented performer not seen at the races for 12 months. G1 winner BUCKAROO had an easy time putting in his best work over the last 200m to finish fourth. JEDIBEEL was too classy for his rivals in his 902m heat (55.48; 34.47), breezing home in slow time. In a 3YO heat (54.34; 34.29) the soft fourth of MARETH took the eye.
WARWICK FARM February 3: Another set on soft ground featuring three black type trials on the course proper. In Heat 1 (1000m) JUST FINE, having his second trial after his long break from racing, had no trouble leading at his own speed and was unchallenged in the run to the line (61.98; 36.29). In Heat 2 (1000m) Caulfield Guineas winner AUTUMN BOY was responsible for the eye catcher with his strong third under a big hold from James McDonald, an effort that showed he had taken plenty of benefit from his first-up trial. G1 winner ATTICA (4th) tracked three wide and was under pressure to hold his ground over the last 200m. Godolphin sprinter KERGEULEN won twice for Joe Pride in the spring and he is set for more success in his coming campaign after an excellent performance in his 820m open heat on the inside grass (48.98; 34.13). Having his first trial since he won at Randwick in October KERGUELEN worked well within himself to finish third in a positive start to his autumn prep. Another good sprinter OUI OUI OUI did it well to win the open heat over 1207m on the inside grass (74.47; 35.70). In the 2YO trials the 817m heat winner GONE TO GOWINGS showed good pace from start to finish to hold off challengers in good time (48.09; 33.75.
ROSEHILL January 29: The fastest 900m heat was won by MISTER MARTINI (54.29; 34.61) in his first trial since his only race start last August. His progress should be monitored. In the 2YO trials a strong second placing by LORAX in his heat (55.21; 34.99) confirmed his earlier good trial form.
RANDWICK January 27: In his 900m black type heat on the course proper (54.39; 34.71) PERICLES covered more ground than the first pair in his first trial since the spring. He looked in fine condition doing his best work through the line ahead of a nice trial from PALMETTO. Michael Freedman won both 2YO heats over 740mn with NAADRA (44.33; 33.64) a youngster certain to benefit from the experience.
HAWKESBURY January 23: Classy sprinter JEDIBEEL was the standout winning his open heat over 800m. In a nice return since his spring campaign he worked well within himself to share the lead and do all that was required in the sprint to the line (48.24; 33.07). His overall time was standard but he is closing split was the fastest of the six 800m heats. Keep an eye out for the return of the former Kiwi TRANSCEND after he put in nice work late for a soft fourth in his open 800m heat (48.01; 33.42). He won twice in NZ before he was heavily backed in his first local start at Randwick for Michael Freedman.
WARWICK FARM January 22: In the second black type heat over 900m (53.14; 34.45) we saw genuine pace in the heavy conditions as OH DIAMOND LIL and Willaidow cleared out to lead by eight lengths on the turn. They kept running with Willaidow holding a narrow advantage to the line. AUTUMN BOY had a very easy trial finishing fourth.
RANDWICK January 15: The 1200m open heat created interest as it saw the ex-William Haggas import SAM HAWKENS win the trial (74.73; 35.34) in his first appearance for the O'Shea/Charlton stable. The winner of four races in the UK up to 2800m had the one spring start for Haggas in the ATC St Leger at Randwick in October and is a stayer to keep a close watch on through the autumn.
WARWICK FARM January 9: A lovely return trial by the G1 winner ATTICA to finish fifth in his 800m heat in a perfect start to his autumn prep.
RANDWICK October 20: In a deep open heat over 1050m (64.04; 34.29) PINITO had an easy time out the back but took the eye with strong late work through the line.
BLACKBOOKERS (Selected February 14 - Follow Next 3 Starts)
AELIANA; BIRDMAN; KARINSKA; SABAJ; SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET; VERONA ROSE
BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – February 18-21
CAULFIELD WEDNESDAY: Conscience (R6)
CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Thames (R5); Jack Duggan (R6)
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Bayou Music (R4); Salty Pearl (R5); Leica Lucy (R7); Alibaba (R8); Chayan (R8); Geegee's Mistruth (R9); Red Galaxy (R10)
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Jack Duggan (R1); Iceman (R1); Thames (R3); Pride To Follow (R3); Flying Bandit (R5); Thunderlips (R5); Touristic (R7); Bandi's Boy (R10); Scampi (R10)
DOOMBEN SATURDAY: Zondee (R10)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: 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; Mare Of Mt Buller; Saint George; Hedged; Willie Oppa; Rey Magnerio; Electric Impulse; Bella Corazon; Bestower
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