Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Canterbury night meeting on February 14 and the Apollo Stakes meeting at Randwick on February 15 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports.

CANTERBURY February 14

Best Bets

RACE 4: (1) LITTLE BAIA

RACE 6: (11) WEEPING WOMAN

For Value

RACE 5: (7) UNITED KINGDOM

RACE 7: (4) KEITEL

 Selections

RACE 1: (5) ETERNAL; (2) La Roja; (1) Island Dec; (7) Lutetia

RACE 2: (1) AUTOMNE TREE; (2) Bendrodt; (7) Gyra; (5) Super Eclipse

RACE 3: (6) JUST GLAMOROUS; (11) Magnucat; (2) Ragga Ragga; (5) Laurel Hill

RACE 4: (1) LITTLE BAIA; (3) Hinchinjive; (7) Gendarmerie; (6) Jessandi

RACE 5: (7) UNITED KINGDOM; (9) Missile Seeker; (11) Tiger Town; 12) Atelier

RACE 6: (11) WEEPING WOMAN; (6) Massila; (2) Ardvaark; (1) One Destiny

RACE 7: (4) KEITEL; (6) Junqueira; (10) Sisterhood; (9) Huon

RACE 8: (11) O'ZIGGY; (8) Go Troppo; (3) Monarchs Brae; (10) Victory Roll  

RANDWICK February 15

Best Bets

RACE 5 (5) JOLIESTAR: Super sprinting mare ticks all the boxes as she loves Randwick and boasts an outstanding fresh record of three wins from four first-up attempts. She blew them away in fast time over this course and distance when starting her spring campaign and two easy trials have her ready for a similar performance. Just be wary of the weather as she really needs track conditions to be on the positive side of a Soft 5 to produce her best.

RACE 7 (7) LADY SHENANDOAH: Stood out as Sydney's best spring filly when she beat the colts first-up in the G3 Ming Dynasty (1400m) before a hollow three lengths win in the G1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at just her fourth career start. Poised to go on with it after two sharp trials, showing her sprinting class to easily beat Switzerland in her latest 900m heat. If the weather turns take confidence from her placings over 1000m and 1200m on heavy and soft tracks at her first two starts.

RACE 10 (10) PERFUMIST: This rapidly improving filly has been one of Sydney's summer stars, winning four in succession in her rise from a C1 win in the country in November. She's dominated her own sex in her three city wins with free running tactics, easily beating subsequent winners by big margins on both good and soft tracks, and while she faces deeper opposition this time she is a clear ratings winner with the advantage of a 3kg allowance.

Selections

RACE 1: (11) CATCH THE GLORY; (3) Winning Proposal; (1) Rush Hour; (12) All Too Lucky

RACE 2: (2) ADOLPHUS; (3) Tapa Kick; (12) Oneforian; (10) Magnace

RACE 3: (4) HILLIER; (2) Pallaton; (5) United States; (10) Skyhook

RACE 4: (1) YORKSHIRE; (17) Father's Day; (18) Miss You Ella; (16) Zondee

RACE 5: (5) JOLIESTAR; (2) Magic Time; (4) Iowna Merc; (6) Olentia

RACE 6: (5) CIGAR FLICK; (8) Spring Lee; (2) Commemorative; (4) Kundalini

RACE 7: (3) LADY SHENANDOAH; (2) Manaal; (11) Shohisha; (1) Lady Of Camelot

RACE 8: (5) VIA SISTINA; (6) Fangirl; (1) Ceolwulf; (7) Atishu

RACE 9: (9) EYE OF THE FIRE; (7) Bunker Hut; (11) Yiska; (1) Disneck

RACE 10: (7) PERFUMIST; (11) Matter Of Honour; (4) El Rocko; (6) Panic

Why They Can Win….

RACE 1: (11) CATCH THE GLORY - Strong winner first-up. Expecting plenty of improvement off that effort.

RACE 2: (2) ADOLPHUS - Best work through the line last time. Ready for this trip.

RACE 3: (4) HILLIER - Strong debut placing. Good figures and he benefits from the experience.

RACE 4: (1) YORKSHIRE - Skinny odds but the allowance has him well placed to continue the roll.

RACE 6: (5) CIGAR FLICK - Honest mare will appreciate return to her own sex. Fast pace suits, wet track will help.

RACE 8: (5) VIA SISTINA – Sprinted best when she beat a similar G1 field this course and distance to start her spring campaign. She's since gone to the top of the tree.

RACE 9: (9) EYE OF THE FIRE – Fit and honest with a favourable draw. Can't ask for much more in this field. 

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – February 14-15

CANTERBURY FRIDAY: United Kingdom (R5); Aardvark (R6)

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Pallaton (R3); Skyhook (R3); Joliestar (R5); Commemorative (R6); Manaal (R6); Lady Shenandoah (R6); Silmarillion (R6); Declichy Boulevard (R6); Ceolwulf (R7); Via Sistina (R7); Lindermann (R7); Rise Of The Masses (R9); Roma Avenue (R9) 

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Way To The Stars (R8); Traffic Warden (R8)

NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Gaeilge (R1)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Mogul Monarch; Written Scandal; Shirvington; Written Gold; Monkhana; Hurstville Zagreb; Public Attention; Shezanalister; Bellazaine; Gangsta Granny; Marhoona; Spaceballs; Willaidow; Memoria; Prorata; Yiska; Schwarz; Forbidden Riff; Soho Artist; Polyglot; Wodeton; Mailata; Shaggy; Bonita Queen

TRIAL POINTERS

ROSEHILL February 3: The two 1000m heats for the Group horses on the course proper were won by GOLDEN PATH (61.98; 34.27) and the speedster WAY TO THE STARS, the latter running much faster time (58.81; 33.89) after running to a big lead after 200m. The first pf the two Group heats over 900m was won by the progressive filly DANCE TO THE BOOM (55.17; 33.68) doing enough to hold off a wayward LADY OF CAMELOT who wanted to hang in when placed under pressure. They went quicker in the other 900m heat (54.88; 33.78) where the standouts were strong trials from LINDERMANN and JOLIESTAR. Some of Sydney's classier juveniles contested the 2YO heat over 900m on the course proper won by North England in the fastest time of the session (52.96; 33.22). The impressive PALLATON again showed he is top shelf with his easy third, going through the line with plenty in reserve in a perfect tune up for his autumn assault. COMEDY's work was OK to finish fourth. In the 2YO trials on the inside grass the 900m heat winner SKYHOOK (53.83; 34.23) earned attention. The quieter 2YO trials that took the eye included GAEILGE.

WARWICK FARM January 30: A high class set of trials providing worthy pointers to the autumn. Top gun CEOLWULF showed the benefit of his resuming trial to jump keenly and dictate the Group heat over 1000m on the course proper (61.45; 35.28) where his rivals included VIA SISTINA and FANGIRL. He really went through his gears with classy work from the 400m. VIA SISTINA tracked him from the start with no pressure applied to sprint after him from the turn. FANGIRL got into her work in typical style to finish off nicely for third. LADY SHENANDOAH won her 900m heat for the Group horses on the course proper. She worked nicely to spear away from SWITZERLAND over the last 300m in slow time (55.22; 35.22). The late work of ZARDOZI took the eye in this heat.

RANDWICK January 28: The trials were run in heatwave conditions with many runners sweating up profusely prior to their heats. G1 winner MANAAL is on song for a big autumn with her effort to finish second in the first of the two black type trials over 900m on the course proper backing up her recent placing in a Randwick trial on January 14. She settled at the rear before making ground sweetly over the last 200m under no pressure, cruising through the line with plenty to offer. Notable open heat winners over 1050m on the A grass included RISE OF THE MASSES (63.08; 33.80) and JUNQUIERA (63.03).  

ROSEHILL January 23   A worthy session that featured two black type trials over 900m on the course proper. In Heat 1 (55.12; 33.82) the class of top shelf mare JOLIESTAR was evident as she worked to the line easily from off the pace for a soft win. LINDERMANN worked well within himself and OLENTIA was another to take the eye. Heat 2 (55.69; 34.23) saw a good third by Godolphin star TRAFFIC WARDEN, his work over the last 100m a strong start to his prep for the autumn. UNITED KINGDOM is worthy of attention after a good effort in his open heat over 1030m.

WARWICK FARM January 20: A classy list of Group horses contested three black type heats over 900m on the course proper where few were put under pressure due to the heavy conditions. Heat 1 (55.36; 35.23) was a pedestrian heat as all runners held their position from start to finish in a leisurely run trial with Coolmore Stakes winner SWITZERLAND asked for nothing to finish fourth. ATISHU had an easy time out the back. Heat 2 (56.19: 35.60) saw a dominant win by improving filly DECLICHY BOULEVARD in the slowest of the three heats but her strong work points to her progressing from the promise she displayed in the spring. Flight Stakes winner LADY SHENANDOAH did it easily to finish second while VIA SISTINA attracted all the attention with her classy work over the last 100m to finish third under a big hold from Damian Lane. Doncaster winner CEOLWULF (5th) also got into his work late in a trial that is certain to improve his condition. In Heat 3 (54.99; 34.55) FANGIRL worked well within herself to finish fourth in a typical conditioning hitout.     

HAWKESBURY January 20: COMMEMORATIVE is one of the biggest mares in training and her ability matches her size. She was always going to get better with maturity and her resuming trial to finish a hard held third in her 800m heat (46.91; 33.26) augers well for a successful campaign.

RANDWICK January 14: In her 740m heat (43.35; 32.45) the G1 winner MANAAL working easily to the line for a soft third.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – February 14-15

CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Island Dec (R1)

RANDWICK SATURDAY: Tapa Kick (R2); Hillier (R3); Tashi (R6); Declichy Boulevard (R7); 

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Kapakiri (R1); Verdad (R4); Just Folk (R6); Husk (R9); Qatars Choice (R9)

EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Boom Shot (R4); Pocket Full (R7); Ready For Anything (R10); Set To Shine (R10)

GOLD COAST SATURDAY: Rampant Lion (R7)

BLACKBOOKERS – Selected February 8  

(Follow for next 3 starts)

ALGORITHMIC; AUTUMN MYSTERY; DASHING DUCHESS; EVAPORATE; MARE OF MT BULLER; ROCKOLA; TAVOLO

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Termagant; 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