Chris Scholtz previews the Rosehill and Flemington meetings on March 12 with selections and best bets for all races plus Trial Watch and Blackbook reports for March 12-14.

ROSEHILL March 12 *

BEST BETS

RACE 2 (2) SHE'S EXTREME: Stamped herself as a quality filly when producing the best finish for a strong second in the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at Randwick after a luckless debut fourth. Showed she can handle testing heavy conditions and her outside draw reads as a positive as she can avoid the traffic. She clearly holds plenty of scope for improvement and it should be noted her stable has a knack with fillies at this time of the year. SWIFT SWEET should have won at Canterbury and is a must for the quinella.

RACE 3 (3) MAGIC: It's obvious the Hawkes team have been handling this colt with kid gloves and why not when he cost $2.5 million as a yearling! He had three well-spaced trials leading up to his debut when he showed real class to recover from a poor start and surge home in the soft ground for second in the G2 Silver Slipper over 1100m at this course on February 19. He is sure to appreciate the extra trip and with less depth in this field it reads like the Hawkes boys have timed his bid for a Golden Slipper berth to a nicety.

RACE 6 (11) FANGIRL: Her odds are no luxury but if you need an anchor for multi bets she's the one. Class above them.

FOR VALUE

RACE 5 (10) GRAVINA: Did the right thing for us winning first-up in the heavy over 1200m at Randwick in his first outing as a gelding and happy to stay with him even if this race is an afterthought (late entry) due to meeting cancellations. He's now won four of his five starts on soft and heavy tracks, has not missed a place in his last eight starts and while he is coming back to 1100m he's well treated dropping 4.5kg to the limit weight of 53kg. Can swamp them late in the favourable heavy conditions as there will be no shirking in this field with the likes of SPACEBOY and RULE OF LAW engaged.

RACE 8 (12) PROMISE OF SUCCESS: This has been her target race. She's had plenty against her in her two lead-ups but this time the conditions can work in her favour.

RACE 10 (14) BENAUD: Lightly raced 3YO is ready to bowl them over. Can hit them for six and show he's a genuine Derby contender.

SELECTIONS*

RACE 1: 6-10-8-1

RACE 2: 2-10-13-6

RACE 3: 3-9-1-2

RACE 4: 1-3-2-7

RACE 5: 10-5-2-9

RACE 6: 11-12-1-5

RACE 7: 4-5-1-3

RACE 8: 12-8-15-6

RACE 9: 11-14-13-9

RACE 10: 14-12-7-16

FLEMINGTON March 12 *

BEST PLAYS

RACE 4 (1) MERCHANT PRINCE: Blue Diamond performance points to him coming into his own over this trip on the big track.

RACE 5: (4) ARGENTIA: Plenty of excuses second up. Perfect trip for her but must save on YEARNING.

RACE 6: (3) LOST AND RUNNING: He's flying. Ready to be counted as a G1 star.

RACE 7: (3) SPANISH MISSION: Moody has this class stayer worked out. Right race at this stage of his prep.

RACE 8: (3) KISSONALLFORCHEEKS: Expect Perth form to stand up. Stable knows what is required in Melbourne.

SELECTIONS*

RACE 1: 5-8-9-3 

RACE 2: 4-9-1-3 

RACE 3: 6-8-9-7  

RACE 4: 1-7-6-13

RACE 5: 4-1-9-11

RACE 6: 3-14-2-6

RACE 7: 3-2-12-11

RACE 8: 3-14-11-10

RACE 9: 5-8-10-11

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Oakfield Twilight (R1); Dalaalaat (R1); Wealthy Investor (R3); Atishu (R8); Spaceboy (R5); Remarque (R5); Ma And Pa (R9)

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Zarastro (R3); Quantico (R6); Fourhometwo (R8)

GOSFORD SATURDAY: Propel Motion (R1); Oxford Vision (R1); Rapid Response (R1); Insurrection (R3); Nominator (R3); Pretty Shamrock (R3); Florida Sky (R3); California Touch (R3); Thalassophile (R4); Kinloch (R7); Zorocat (R7); Majestic Shot (R7); Great News (R7); Calgary Queen (R7)

CANBERRA SUNDAY: On The Lead (R6); Aim (R7); Warby (R8); Custodian (R8)

CANBERRA MONDAY: I Am Me (R4); Cape Breton (R6)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Willinga Beast; Loch Eagle; Forbidden Love; Fireburn; Gravina; Jukebox Flyer; Endorsement; Fire; Champions League; Character; Arthur Francis; Home Affairs; Mazu; Expat; Omni Man; Why Big Bry; Psychiatrist; I Am Brazen; Stoical; Stray; Lord Heron; Camino Real.

TRIAL POINTERS

RANDWICK March 3: The race fit last start winner CAPE BRETON showed he is holding his form well with a comfortable win in his 1080m heat (64.14; 35.06). ATISHU, under a ban after her "Chautauqua act" at Randwick, satisfied stewards with her trial performance after she jumped cleanly in her 1080m heat. No intent to compete and worked nicely to the line – she's going well!

WARWICK FARM February 28 (Polytrack): REMARQUE showed he is in the right form for the start of his autumn campaign after his sharp comeback trial win at Rosehill on February 21. Went on with it here to win his 740m heat easily (44.57; 34.40) over lesser rivals but did it with style with his late work the best part of his trial. Nice improvement by I Am Invincible filly I AM ME from her noted trial on February 14. She was placed in two of her first three starts in the spring and should soon drop her maiden status going on the speed she displayed to win her fast 740m heat (43.75; 33.35) by almost eight lengths. She slipped along easily and her economical action suggested she could have gone quicker. ON THE LEAD posted the fastest 740m heat win (43.48; 33.25) with a strong come from behind win.

WYONG February 25: Kim Waugh would have been pleased with a strong placing by GREAT NEWS in her 1000m heat to open her new campaign. ZOROCAT (58.09; 33.92) clocked the fastest 1000m heat win while MAJESTIC SHOT recorded another impressive trial win (59.52; 33.74) and is obviously set to perform first-up. In the heats over 845m the fastest time was posted by the 2YO winner FLORIDA SKY (49.01; 33.26), running home under a ride to beat a quietly ridden WEALTHY INVESTOR. Maidens to make an impression included the 845m heat winner RAPID RESPONSE (50.51; 34.23).

ROSEHILL February 21: REMARQUE's first trial since September was a reminder that the best may still lie ahead for this imposing Snitzel colt. William Pike was content to sit outside the leader until well into the straight before surging clear to record the fastest 900m heat win (53.96; 33.93). ZARASTRO was a brilliant winner of a Rosehill trial on February 10 by five lengths but this time James McDonald kept a lid on his speed in his 900m heat (54.31; 34.23) and as a result the colt was keen to run through the middle stages. He did all that was required to win the heat by 1.5 lengths. Robust Redoute's Choice gelding MA AND PA reeled off four wins on the bounce up to 1600m in his last campaign and he was the one taking the eye with his late work through the line in a positive start to his autumn prep.

RANDWICK February 17: I made mention of the disappointing trial (no blinkers) by SEPTEMBER RUN at Randwick on February 7, noting that she was a long way from the form that saw her blitz her rivals in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington in 2020. This time SEPTEMBER RUN had the shades back on and there was plenty of intent about her work in her open heat over 1050m as James McDonald tracked the speed before coming off the back of the leader at the 300m. He immediately put the mare under a ride and had to push her along to get the upper hand in reasonable time (63.15; 34.50). An improvement but It was not inspiring work. There were four 2YO trials with the unraced winner of a 743m heat PRETTY SHAMROCK (43.98; 33.38) making the best impression. A juvenile heat over 1040m heats was won by the unraced CUSTODIAN (63.46; 34.61).

WARWICK FARM February 14: Unraced juvenile heat winner WARBY (48.31; 34.54) looked the part and holds obvious natural improvement from this first trial experience.

ROSEHILL February 10: ZARASTRO was visually the most impressive winner of the morning, cruising to a five lengths lead on the bend under big hold from James McDonald before he was throttled down to amble home by 1.5 lengths. The time was slow (55.34; 34.63) but that is no reflection on his ability.

GOSFORD February 10: The smart MAJESTIC SHOT performed well with a sharp 800m heat win in good time (48.80; 34.63).

RANDWICK February 4: In the black type heat over 900m (54.15; 34.28) QUANTICO made ground from the rear on the inside and given a push along over the last 200m he got the better of his top class stablemate Lost And Running, form that has since been franked on race day.

WARWICK FARM January 20: In the Group heat over 800m exciting sprinter QUANTICO took the eye with his late work through the line to finish a close sixth, a return that augers well for his autumn prospects. Expect to see him make his mark in good Group sprints.

HAWKESBURY November 22: In the 2YO heats over 800m John O'Shea's Written Tycoon filly PRETTY SHAMROCK impressed sitting three wide outside the lead before showing good acceleration to skip away and win by a soft three lengths (48.62; 34.38).

BLACKBOOK REPORT

Eligible Blackbook Runners – March 12

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: She's Extreme (R2); Magic (R3); Peace Officer (R3); Remarque (R5); Le Baol (R7); Astero (R9); Pale King (R10)

FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Moko (R1); Groovy Kinda Love (R2); Merchant Prince (R4); Brosnan (R4); Biscayne Bay (R5); Swats That (R6); Spanish Mission (R7); Duais (R7); Cherry Tortoni (R8)

EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Star Of Michelin (R3); Caffrey (R9)

GOSFORD SATURDAY: Kinloch (R7)

CANBERRA SUNDAY: Key Largo (R6); Peace Officer (R8)

ECHUCA SUNDAY: Cherry Tortoni (R7)

MORPHETTVILLE MONDAY: Mac 'N' Cheese (R1)

CANBERRA MONDAY: Queen Of Wizardry (R6); Le Baol (R7)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Zeyrek; Finance Tycoon; Comica; War Eternal; Rose Quartz; Mightybeel; Devil's Throat; Stray; Desert Icon; Worthily; Gogol; Easy Campese; Overpass; Profit; Toomuchtobear; Zoukina; Vespertine; Casino Kid; Mass Destruction.

Blackbookers – Selected March 5

(Follow for next 3 starts)

ARCADED: Suited against her own sex.

EXPRESS PASS: Talented sprinter. Best over 1200m.

LUNCIES: On track for a good staying win.

PINSTRIPED: Guineas was a tragedy. He's got the class.

PRIVATE EYE: Rarely disappoints. He'll be fitter. 

QUANTUM MECHANIC: Strong return from a quality mare.