Chris Scholtz previews the Golden Slipper and All Star Mile meetings at Rosehill and Flemington on March 19 with selections and best bets plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.
ROSEHILL MARCH 19
GOLDEN SLIPPER (Race 8): The figures the fillies have returned through the season in Sydney have been superior to the colts and the quality of that form has been substantiated by the Melbourne performances of (9) Revolutionary Miss. The Blue Diamond time figures are solid and says the form of the first four from that race should hold up against the local youngsters in an even year. However I am a sticker for the key lead-up races in Sydney and have little between (16) SHE'S EXTREME and (12) FIREBURN as my favoured pair as they returned excellent ratings in their Sweet Embrace and Magic Night wins on seriously affected tracks. They have the fillies weight advantage (22 of the last 36 placegetters in the Golden Slipper have been fillies) and will get a lot of favours from their low draws. (2) SEJARDAN is clearly the best Sydney colt and the Slipper always suits a big finisher – his chances depend on the track pattern not playing against those coming from the back half. Blue Diamond winner (1) DAUMIER is a foolproof type who maps well and should enjoy a good passage while (5) JACQUINOT with blinkers on is the one with the most upside from Caulfield but will be another conceding his rivals a start. Silver Slipper winner (3) BEST OF BORDEAUX is a natural runner and will drive hard for the lead but others will be pressing. His speed will take him a long way but he will be vulnerable over the last 100m. Happy to oppose the unbeaten (8) COOLANGATTA as there is speed across the board and the intense early pressure may see her posted wide from her awkward gate in a much deeper field than she met in the Magic Millions. She will need to be special to beat history and win without a start in nine weeks since her Gold Coast success.
GOLDEN SLIPPER SELECTIONS: SHE'S EXTREME 1; Fireburn 2; Sejardan 3; Jacquinot 4; Daumier 5.
RACE 2 (4) MAZU: Going for three straight since been gelded and hard to oppose him under these favourable conditions. He has returned figures worthy of a Group winner in his two recent victories at Rosehill and Randwick and while he meets a classy rival in BACCHANALIA he has the edge in race fitness and a favourable draw to camp on the back of the speed. He lost a plate in his most recent win over 1200m at Randwick but it made no difference to the way he put away his opposition in the heavy ground.
RACE 3: (13) SUREFIRE: Expect this lightly raced import to go on with it from his impressive first-up win in Australia when he swamped his rivals over 2000m at Randwick after being held up. It was his fourth win from only six starts with his UK form featuring a 2400m win at Ascot in his only start over the trip giving confidence that he is going to get better as his distances increase. He's meeting some tough seasoned rivals in what should be a strong guide to the Sydney Cup but can see nothing but upside in this stayer with the drop in weight to the 53kg limit.
RACE 4 (6) GALAXY BELLE: Backing the Surefire form to stand up with this honest mare well placed to land a win after her luckless second to that import over 2000m at Randwick. That placing came after a similar unlucky third under a big weight over 1800m on the Kensington track, form that is good enough to test this field of evenly matched mares. She'll have no concern with the track conditions and just needs to get clear air at the right time as she will be strong at the finish.
Selections
RACE 1: 8-3-14-13
RACE 2: 4-5-8-14
RACE 3: 13-5-10-6
RACE 4: 6-1-2-5
RACE 5: 5-6-1-4
RACE 6: 1-2-4-3
RACE 7: 12-8-9-3
RACE 8: 16-12-2-5
RACE 9: 7-15-14-11
RACE 10: 9-6-7-11
FLEMINGTON March 19
VALUE PLAYS
RACE 2: (8) ZORRO'S DREAM: Open to more improvement of his Adelaide win..
RACE 6: (15) PINSTRIPED: Tragedy beaten in the Australian Guineas. Good enough to test his older rivals.
RACE 9: (9) ZAC DE BOSS: Rising in class but rates well off last start Sandown win.
QUADDIE
RACE 6: 15-2-1-12
RACE 7: 10-9-4-5
RACE 8: 8-1-4-6
RACE 9: 9-16-5-3
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Bacchanalia (R2); Best Of Bordeaux (R8); In The Congo (R9); Ballistic Lover (R9); Steinem (R10)
KEMBLA GRANGE SATURDAY: Parrying (R1); Son Of Sampson (R4)
SCONE SUNDAY: Voldemorte (R1); Protostar (R3)
ORANGE SUNDAY: Sinaloa (R5)
NEWCASTLE TUESDAY: Parrying (R7)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Comrade Rosa; I Am Me; Kinloch; Nominator; Propel Motion; Willinga Beast; Loch Eagle; Forbidden Love; Fireburn; Gravina; Jukebox Flyer; Endorsement; Fire; Champions League; Character; Arthur Francis; Home Affairs; Mazu; Expat; Omni Man.
TRIAL POINTERS
WARWICK FARM March 11 (Polytrack): BACCHANLIA made his first appearance since he completed a three win streak in the Gosford Guineas in December. Settled on the rails behind the speed and took advantage of the inside running to get the better of his rivals in the last 100m under no pressure. Time was average (45.06; 34.24) but he did it in style and had plenty more to offer through the line. BALLISTIC LOVER is primed to add the impressive form she displayed over the spring after a brilliant win in the fastest 740m heat (43.25; 32.74), leading easily and under no pressure to extend her margin to more than four lengths over the last 200m. The merit of her win can be drawn from the performance of the classy PAULELE to finish third as he was four lengths off the winner at the 600m and while he was not put under pressure to chase he was more than eight lengths behind at the finish. BEST OF BORDEAUX bypassed the 2YO heats to take on older horses in the fastest of the two open heats over 1175m (72.19; 35.06) and didn't disappoint with a strong win after he was tardy into stride and was ridden up to sit three wide. He was running keenly with his mouth open as Sam Clipperton tried to get him to settle but stamped his class on the trial by extending strongly off the turn, going to the line with something in hand.
RANDWICK March 3 (Polytrack): A strong second trial from Golden Rose winner IN THE CONGO, leading and working through his gears for a soft win in his 1080m heat (64.74; 34.62). Classy imported Frankel mare STEINEM has excellent Group form up to 1600m and her impressive second in her 1080m heat augers well for her coming campaign despite the slow time (65.50; 34.31).
RANDWICK February 7: In a black type heat over 900m on the course proper (54.08; 35.25) BIG PARADE was restrained to sit wide outside the pace and was OK finishing a solid third.
HAWKESBURY February 1: BALLISTIC LOVER really progressed as a quality short course sprinter in the spring and looks set for another good campaign after stamping her class on her 800m heat, tracking wide but having them well covered to the line.
WARWICK FARM January 20: The fastest of three 1200m heats was won by the unraced maiden PARRYING (73.20; 37.23), who opened up a big lead and coasted home by more than four lengths for his second win in four trials.
BLACKBOOK REPORT
Eligible Blackbook Runners – March 18-19
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Luncies (R3); Forgot You (R6); Private Eye (R7); Laws Of Indices (R7); Hilal (R7); Away Game (R9); Brooklyn Hustle (R9)
FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Through Irish Eyes (R1); Express Pass (R2); I'm Thunderstruck (R6); Mr Brightside (R6); Pinstriped (R6)
GOLD COAST SATURDAY: Smart 'N' Sexy (R7)
ASCOT SATURDAY: Sluice Box (R9)
TRENTHAM SATURDAY: Charms Star (R5)
SCONE SUNDAY: Edit (R7)
YARRA VALLEY SUNDAY: Maseratie Bay (R7)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Blackcomb; Mac 'N' Cheese; Duais; Star Of Michelin; Kinloch; She's Extreme; Zeyrek; Finance Tycoon; Comica; War Eternal; Rose Quartz; Mightybeel; Devil's Throat; Stray; Desert Icon; Worthily; Gogol; Easy Campese; Overpass.
Blackbookers – Selected March 12-13
(Follow for next 3 starts)
AIDENSFIELD: Well placed in Queensland.
DAISIES: Excellent prep for longer targets.
DOUCEUR: Never tested. Open to big improvement.
SO YOU SEE: Talented filly. Strong classic prospects.
SWIFT SWEET: Will get her chance in something easier.
WARBY: Strong debut in the Black Opal.
WORDY: Gassed by an impatient ride. Should have won.
