Scholtz's Say
Weekend Racing Preview with Chris Scholtz: 23rd January - 24th January 2026
Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Canterbury night meeting on January 23 and Randwick on January 24 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.
RACE 1: (7) LADY OLENNA; (5) Barello; (4) Star Prediction; (9) Move She Can
RACE 2: (8) RAJWA; (4) Assumed; (5) Avon Calling; (2) Zousari
RACE 3: (7) WILLINGHAM; (6) Saint Aldwyn; (2) Rhetoric; (4) Eynesbury
RACE 4: (7) RACH; (3) Just Maz; (8) Edge Of Infinity; (6) Magic Flames
RACE 5: (2) BAT OUT OF HELL; (5) Steel Strike; (8) Golden Loom; (6) Roussillon
RACE 6: (3) ASSAILANT; (10) Allegro Miss; (4) Subarctic; (8) Humanity
RACE 7: (10) CATAHOULA; (3) Kimberley Secret; (1) Fine Vintage; (2) Cassiel
Best Bets
RACE 7 – (6) WELCOMETOTHESHOW: Victorian visitor lands here in cracking form seeking his fourth win in succession. Watch the replays and you will see he wasn't entitled to win his last two starts over 1600m at Cranbourne and Flemington as he was in all sorts of bother before a sparkling turn of foot enabled him to take late splits between runners. Smart move to bypass Caulfield and head north as he is well placed in this small field on a spacious track like Randwick.
RACE 8 – (12) STEP ASIDE: Career best effort to win second up over 1300m at this course on December 20 under 58kg before a luckless fourth behind Cool Jakey over this distance on January 3 when he was forced to race three deep in a leader dictated race. At his best when he can be ridden with cover off a fast pace and that should be the playbook for him in this field with the drop to the limit weight and the bonus of a key riding switch from an apprentice to Zac Lloyd.
RACE 10 – (2) ALTHOFF: Came back from a spell with excellent efforts in unsuitable races over 1200m before hitting winning form over 1350m in this class at Wyong when he finished over the top under 58kg. Stepping up to 1400m on this big track is an ideal progression as he rates to win again staying in the same class with less weight after the 3kg claim for Siena Grima.
Selections
RACE 1: (7) HOME AND DRY; (9) Miss Scandal; (2) Zambales; (10) Satin Summer
RACE 2: (11) RATHORAN; (9) Kingston Charm; (10) Tenbury Wells; (2) Promitto
RACE 3: (15) MICRO MAGIC; (10) Kingdom Undersiege; (11) Show 'Em Howl; (5) Joiselle
RACE 4: (6) SISTER DAAE; (8) Bella Corazon; (1) Pretty Powerful; (5) Cinsault
RACE 5: (6) SOUNDS UNUSUAL; (11) Trapalanda; (2) Elliptical; (8) Furious
RACE 6: (4) APPLAUD; (3) Bundeena; (1) Gatsby's; (11) Highway Strip
RACE 7: (6) WELCOMETOTHESHOW; (7) Rolling Magic; (8) Jamberoo; (3) Sun God
RACE 8: (12) STEP ASIDE; (5) Whinchat; (7) Fire Star; (3) Matcha Latte
RACE 9: (5) SUPER NORWEST; (3) Candlewick; (11) Beside The Ocean; (4) Diddle Dumpling
RACE 10: (2) ALTHOFF; (5) Interjection; (9) Miss Hades; (13) Miss Spacegirl
RACE 1 – (7) HOME AND DRY: Well prepared filly with a favourable gate. Just one of several with good trial form.
RACE 2 – (11) RATHORAN: Ready for this trip after taking the eye in higher class. Big value in this company.
RACE 3 – (15) MICRO MAGIC: No favours in his city visits. Drawn to get the right run this time.
RACE 4 – (6) SISTER DAAE: Nice effort fresh and J Mac sticks. Well placed to improve.
RACE 5 – (6) SOUNDS UNUSUAL: All the better for his recent racing. Right conditions after his Wyong placing.
RACE 6 – (4) APPLAUD: Going well and gets J Mac. Back to 1200m suits.
RACE 9 – (5) SUPER NORWEST: Impressive first-up beating subsequent winners. Should hold that form.
NOTED TRIAL WATCH RUNNERS – January 23-24
CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Assumed (R2); Milk Foam (R2); Rajwa (R2); Saint Aldwyn (R3); Just Maz (R4); Rach (R4)
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Home And Dry (R1); Miss Scandal (R1); Zambales (R1); Oh Yes She Did (R1); Fire Star (R8); Diddle Dumpling (R9); Annie's Rose (R9); Scalextrics (R10)
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: High Alert (R2); Insurrection (R7); Way To The Stars (R7)
NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Twisted Love (R5); Totoka (R7)
WYONG SUNDAY: Harry's Evidence (R2)
WARWICK FARM MONDAY: Bryant (R1); Northy Lad (R1); Gus The Great (R1); Fairway To Heaven (R2); Olivia Twist (R2); Rave About It (R2)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: You're The Choice; Bondasong; Bev's Nine; Melenite; Little Iris; Ferinzo; Asilah; California Command; Gorgeous; Astronomix; Miss Freelove; Whinchat; Nandina; Eye Of The Fire; Countyourblessings; Need Some Luck; Knightsbridge; Capture Me; By Choice; Mamushka; Levelling Up; Roma Green; Royal Exile; Generous Harry; Warwoven; Lumbini; Cinsault
TRIAL POINTERS
RANDWICK January 15: BRYANT, a maiden 3YO gelding by Brutal, having his first trial since June, settled at the rear in his 1050m heat (64.09; 34.96) before making his run four wide from the 600m under a quiet ride. He had plenty in reserve when he joined the leaders in the straight and went home easily to beat the previously noted FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN (another strong trial) in a maiden heat where the form can be trusted.
ROSEHILL January 13: HOME AND DRY won his 2YO heat over 900m in efficient style (55.83; 35.04) while the promising filly MISS SCANDAL confirmed the talent she displayed in her first trial with another notable placing. Among the maidens taking the eye were HARRY'S EVIDENCE, RACH and SAINT ALDWYN.
WARWICK FARM January 9: Maidens to keep an eye on include RAVE ABOUT IT.
ROSEHILL January 2: Unraced filly MISS SCANDAL – having her first trial - ran out to a clear lead in the first 200m of her 900m heat and showed she is above average to match it with the star colt Incognito all the way to the line under a soft ride from James McDonald. They finished well in advance of the others and would not be too concerned that the time (55.31; 34.63) was the slowest of the three 2YO heats. DIDDLE DUMPLING was responsible for a noteworthy effort having a quiet trial in her open heat over 900m.
RANDWICK December 30: Maiden filly FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN was responsible for good trials last season before she was placed in her first start in July before a spell. Showed she has benefitted from the patient approach with smooth work to win her 740m heat (43.53; 33.19) without being pressured under a quiet ride from Tommy Berry. Another trial will have her nicely primed to resume. RAJWA is another maiden to follow with confidence. I was not surprised that the robust Pintubo colt ZAMBALES improved off his first trial to win his 2YO heat over 1050m (63.61; 34.49).
W FARM POLY December 22: Joe Pride had numerous runners showing enough to earn attention when they race including GUS THE GREAT.
RANDWICK December 18: In the fastest of the three 2YO heats over 850m (49.93; 33.70) the effort of ZAMBALES was worth noting.
ROSEHILL September 9: Strong trial from 900m heat winner ASSUMED (56.33; 35.49). It was our first look at the unraced I Am Invincible filly and while her winning time was slow she was under a tight hold from start to finish and shapes as a 3YO with a bright future.
BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – January 23-24
CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Assailant (R6)
PAKENHAM FRIDAY: Paradise City (R8)
GOLD COAST FRIDAY: Shalaa's Moment (R6)
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Elliptical (R5); Sounds Unusual (R5); Furious (R5); Beside The Ocean (R9)
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Paradise City (R4); Alibaba (R2); Express Class (R8); Conscience (R8)
BLACKBOOKERS (Selected January 17 - Follow Next 3 Starts)
ARCTIC LEGEND; CRASH THE PARTY; DOLLY BOOM; FINGERS HUNTER; GETAFIX; SPLASH OF STEEL; TARPAULIN; WEST OF AFRICA
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: 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; Ruska Roma; Aviatress; Dirty Grin; Brave Call; Brave One; Inkaruna; North Of Eli; Harlem Queen
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