Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Rosehill meeting on February 1 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.

ROSEHILL February 1

Best Bets

RACE 6 (5) KAPAKIRI: Excellent first-up placing over 1500m at this course added to his strong record on his home track. Winner here up to 2400m last prep – significantly the last time he was ridden by James McDonald – and that reunion is an added plus as he will find the rise to 2000m an ideal step for him second up.

RACE 8 (7) DISNECK: Impressive second in a 900m trial at this course on January 23 showed he continues to thrive since he completed a trio of classy 1200m wins at Randwick a month ago.  No qualms about the change of venue as he's a two time winner at this course and he'll relish coming off a strong pace with 4kg less than his latest win.

RACE 9 (12) EYE OF THE FIRE: Had to contend with the slower ground but was still best through the line when a closing second over 1100m at this course two weeks ago carrying 60kg. Hasn't missed a place in three Rosehill starts and well placed to add to that record returning to 1200m with 4.5kg less weight.

Selections

RACE 1: (9) TAPA KICK; (1) Imatruestar; (2) Adolphus; (12) Rapbidash

RACE 2: (9) POCKETING; (7) Spicy Hotpot; (11) Pretty Tavi; (3) SIlentsar

RACE 3: (3) BURMA STAR; ((7) Tropic; (2) Fermoy; (1) Blitzburg

RACE 4: (3) TEMPTED; (9) Snitzel Miss; (1) The Playwright; (4) Daphnes

RACE 5: (6) POLYGLOT; (3) Lilac; (14) Alliri; (1) Panic

RACE 6: (5) KAPAKIRI; (3) Age Of Sail; (10) So Newchee Thinks; (12) Piggyback

RACE 7: (2) BUNKER HUT; (6) Infatuation; (14) Lady Boss; (11) Step Aside   

RACE 8: (7) DISNECK; (9) Accredited; (3) Iowna Merc; (2) Brudenell

RACE 9: (12) EYE OF THE FIRE; (14) Spring Lee; (7) With Your Blessing; (6) Time To Boogie

RACE 10: (18) FOR VICTORY; (8) Yorkshire; (12) Sandpaper; (16) High Blue Sea 

Why They Can Win….

RACE 1: (9) TAPA KICK - Never out of a place in 11 starts. Sure to improve after carrying big weight first-up.

RACE 2: (9) POCKETING - Promising 3YO heading for higher grades. Freshened with an excellent trial.

RACE 3: (3) BURMA STAR - Classy trials. He has progressed strongly since his spring debut.

RACE 4: (3) TEMPTED - Professional filly. Soft trial win confirmed her improvement.

RACE 5: (6) POLYGLOT - Posted strong figures first-up. Holds the advantage with that run behind him.

RACE 7: (2) BUNKER HUT - Has convictions but so do the others. Hard fit and drawn to enjoy best run.  

RACE 10: (18) FOR VICTORY - Nothing more than a trial last Saturday when never clear. Must be with him at the price.

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – January 31-February 1

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Pocketing (R2); Burma Star (R3); Tropic (R3); Hillier (R3); Tempted (R4); Make Mine Moet (R4); Snitzel Miss (R4);  Lilac (R5); Disneck (R8); Willaidow (R8); Our Gold Hope (R8); Overriding (R9); Dalalaat (R9); Aberlour (R10) 

SANDOWN SATURDAY: Tashi (R9)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Barracuda (R1)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Memoria; Prorata; Yiska; Schwarz; Forbidden Riff; Soho Artist; Polyglot; Wodeton; Mailata; Shaggy; Bonita Queen; Flying Thinker; Goldane; With Your Blessing; Rivellino; Abuse Of Power; Manaajem; Gallo Nero; Spicy Hotpot; Stratafy; Pallaton; Merchant Gold; Monarchs Brae

TRIAL POINTERS

ROSEHILL January 23: TASHI and POCKETING are worthy of attention after good efforts in the open heats over 1030m. In the open heats over 900m the standouts were TIME TO BOOGIE and the race fit DISNECK finishing 1-2 their trial (54.13; 33.62). The 2YO heat winners SNITZEL MISS (54.59; 34.59) and TEMPTED (55.12; 34.65) can be followed with confidence while TROPIC (2nd), a nice trial winner early in the season, showed promise with his effort in his heat (55.28; 35.12).

HAWKESBURY January 20 The 2YO to make the best impression was Godolphin's Exceed And Excel colt BURMA STAR, a good second to the classy filly Icarian Dream in his only spring start in October. His surging finish under no pressure to win the fastest of nine heats over 800m (45.00; 32.80), peeling off the backs of a line of leaders with a fast closing sectional confirmed he is ready to make an impact when he resumes.

WARWICK FARM January 20: Heavy conditions for three black type heats over 900m on the course proper. Untapped filly LILAC ran away with the fastest of the three heats, showing sparkling dash over the last 200m to win by six lengths with the rest spread out over another 10 lengths. She progressed quickly to a black type win at her fourth start in the spring and is going to be well placed against her own sex when she resumes. Another classy bit of work from OUR GOLD HOPE to work home for third in this heat, confirming she is building for a strong campaign. The A grass trials were run on a Soft 7 where the standout winner was the lightly raced BARRACUDA in his second trial for his new trainer Jarrod Austin. The former Waterhouse/Bott-trained 3YO had only one start under their care as a 2YO, finishing a heavily backed fifth in the Magic Million Debut at the Gold Coast 12 months ago. In his first trial for Austin he finished second in a Warwick Farm heat on January 3 and improved to dominate this maiden trial over 795m, scoring by a soft four lengths in fast time (46.93; 33.56). Shifted wide from the 600m and had plenty in reserve working to the line. Other A grass heat winners to make an impression included ABERLOUR (1200m 73.41; 35.81) and WILLAIDOW (798m 47.90; 33.75).

ROSEHILL January 7: Hard to miss an easy trial by classy Group performer OUR GOLD HOPE in her first appearance since she was placed in the G1 Queensland Oaks last June. She finished sixth under no pressure in her 900m heat (54.52; 34.42), working through the line in fine style that augers well for her prospects as she gets into her preparation.

WARWICK FARM January 3: The open heats over 801m saw some well performed gallopers tune up for their pending returns with nice trials, among them the heat winners WILLAIDOW (46.84; 33.43) and WATEGOS (47.70; 33.34).

ROSEHILL October 18: The only 2YO heat over 900m was won by TROPIC (54.36; (34.89), a Zoustar colt from the Waller stable who looks well prepared for his debut.

WARWICK FARM October 15: In the 2YO colts heat (47.46; 34.14) the closing effort of the runner-up HILLIER took the eye.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

ELIGIBLE BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – January 31-February 1

SANDOWN SATURDAY: Samuel Langhorne (R3); Empressive Enuff (R4); New York Scandal (R4); Tashi (R9); Coeur Volante (R9); Cheval Chic (R9); Lethal Thoughts (R10)

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Kapakiri (R6); For Victory (R10)

SAPPHIRE COAST SUNDAY: Associate (R7)

SUNSHINE COAST SUNDAY: Zoular (R1)

BLACKBOOKERS – Selected January 25                

(Follow for next 3 starts)                                                                                                  

HIGHWAY STRIP; HUSK; POCKET FULL; QATARS CHOICE; TERMAGANT; YET HE MOVES

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Cosmonova; Zondee; Is It Me; Flying Mikki; West Of Africa; Yorkshire; Emmadella; In Summer; Rapt; Lord Of Biscay; Jedibeel; Queen Air; Danny's St Darci; Arapaho; Riot And Rose; Port Lockroy; Nadal; I'mintowin; Estadio Mestalla; Rey Magnerio; Spirit Of Camelot; Light Infantry Man; Herecomesthestar