Chris Scholtz previews the Rosehill meeting on August 13 with selections for all races, Playing The Quaddie, Trial Pointers and Blackbook runners.

ROSEHILL August 13

Best Bets

RACE 4 (6) CONSCRIPT: Gets all the ticks as he is the obvious leader in this small field, gets weight relief with the claim for Tyler Schiller and certain soft track conditions (rain forecast) are ideal. Kept fresh since he ran fast sectionals from the front beating three subsequent winners over 1100m at Randwick on July 9 (wet) under 58kg and with 4kg less after the claim will be hard to run down with the rail out an extreme 7 metres.

RACE 7 (5) LOVELY ESTEEM: Improving imported mare has taken the eye in her four Australian starts for the Waller stable and he has her primed to peak with expected improvement from her last start third against her own sex over this course and distance on July 30. She's back against the males this time but she's down in weight and with James McDonald sticking rates to win meeting the July 30 winner Elusive Jewel 2kg better.

RACE 8 (3) SPACEWALK: Came up a length or two short of the top youngsters last season but everything about him pointed to him  being better as a 3YO. He's been well prepared through three excellent prep trials and will get favourable soft conditions as his standout efforts last season saw him win his maiden and place in the G3 Kindergarten and Listed Lonhro Plate on seriously affected tracks. Godolphin always seems to find the right colt for this race (Bivouac; Astern, Paulele etc.) and with plenty of pace in this field J Mac can give him a soft run from his favourable draw.

Selections

RACE 1: 3-4-9-6

RACE 2: 11-3-6-2

RACE 3: 11-1-9-6

RACE 4: 6-4-5-8

RACE 5: 5-4-8-7

RACE 6: 8-3-5-7

RACE 7: 5-12-13-2

RACE 8: 3-1-5-11

RACE 9: 8-9-4-6

RACE 10: 5-2-9-10

For Value

RACE 1: (3) RUSSLEY CROWN: Impressive Scone win. Has upside.

RACE 3: (11) BULLET WING: Can measure up off a good provincial win.

RACE 6: (3) OSCAR ZULU: Well placed to run to his best.

PLAYING THE QUADDIE

RACE 7: Could be a muddling pace after scratching of designated leader. Imported mare (5) LOVELY ESTEEM is set to peak at her fourth Australian run and weights favour her to turn the tables on the very fit (2) ELUSIVE JEWEL. Another import (12) SOFFIKA on a 7-day back up and ready to improve. (13) MONFELICITY raced flat second up after an excellent first-up win – can easily figure. Note they are four mares taking on the fit males (4) DR EVIL and (9) RONDINO. They like soft ground and are holding form well.

RACE 8: (1) SEBONACK and (3) SPACEWALK are the quality pair from last season. They have top riders from good gates and their strong trials point to them being ready first-up. (5) KIBOU has come up favourite on potential. He has trialled well enough since his impressive back to back wins in easier grades. (11) ZOUKERINO looks capable after posting good figures in his debut win in a midweek maiden. Spacewalk's stablemate (6) TROACH is a last start course and distance winner from the front but will be under more pressure in this company. The other filly (7) MISS HELLFIRE took the eye in her recent trial.

RACE 9: The very fit (8) KALINO dominates the market as he is well placed to continue his good run of recent form. This looks a good progression after he went five weeks between runs when back in distance last time. (9) JUST A JEDI is the value runner as he can only improve over this more suitable distance after a strong first-up placing at 1200m in heavy ground. Consistent (4) MARNIX will also be fitter after going 42 days before his good placing at this course two weeks ago. (5) CANASTA is struggling but will have fans as he should get an uncontested lead. Be wary of sharp improvement from (1) OPACITY, (6) LOVEPLANET and (9) TWO BIG FARI (blinkers on!).

RACE 10: The promising (5) SHADES OF ROSE stifles the betting after her easy win here two weeks ago. She is an obvious anchor the quaddie as she should cross and lead. Have to include (2) THE BIG EASY as he did run her down over this course at her previous start and meets her on better terms. (9) Godolphin runner (9) CLOUDY is the value as she will enjoy a good run from her soft draw and rates well off her first-up placing at Caulfield. (1) QUICK TEMPO and (10) NEVER SECOND are obvious inclusions for extended exotics.

GOING SKINNY: 5-12-13/1-3-5-11/4-8-9/5

PLAYING WIDE: 2-4-5-12-13/1-3-5-6-11/1-4-6-8-9/1-2-5-9

TRIAL WATCH REPORT

NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – August 10-11

ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Backrower (R2); Munitions (R4); Katalin (R4); Artie's Aura (R5); Kibou (R8); Spacewalk (R8); Sebonack (R8); Miss Hellfire (R8)    

CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Man In The Mirror (R5); Ebhaar (R6); Lady Laguna (R6); Lomandra (R6); I Am Superman (R8)

KEMBLA GRANGE SATURDAY: Ignacio (R2); Overthrow (R5); Forms Of Fear (R5); Headwall (R6); Repeal (R6)

WYONG TUESDAY: Artie's Aura (R3); Givara (R5); Overthrow (R5); Sacred Field (R5); Time To Boogie (R5); Forms Of Fear (R5); Pantoniario (R6); Miss Faberge (R6); Acappella Sun (R8)

RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Bayezid; Duchy Of Savoy; Stromboli; Junquiera; Golden Fighter; Euphrates Dream; Diamond Diesel; Zoukerino; Silvakia; Bold Mac; Willinga Freefall; Overlord; Waverider Buoy; Vientiane; Hell I Am; Headwall; Airman; Alpha One; True Crime; Humble Star; Alberich; Beer Palace.

TRIAL POINTERS

WARWICK FARM August 5: The talented SPACEWALK impressed with his strong third in a classy black type heat over 900m on the course proper, finishing off nicely after covering ground in a sterling prep for the coming 3YO races. He's been well prepared by three trials since June. Annabel Neasham has a running maiden prospect in the unraced OVERTHROW. He won a Warwick Farm trial last month and cleared out with a fast win in his 813m heat (48.16; 34.14) by almost seven lengths. The quickest time in the three 816m heats was recorded by the pacy ACAPPELLA SUN (47.66; 33.15). 

RANDWICK August 2: The exciting 3YO KIBOU clearly took the time honours in the 742m heats with a strong win after covering ground (43.97; 33.61). EBHAAR was one of the boom 2YOs of last season and her sharp trial win over 1050m (63.53; 35.21) ensures she will again attract plenty of attention when she resumes. She was eager to run opening up a big lead in her heat while stablemate MISS HELLFIRE warmed to her task from the back half in the last 100m and impressed with the way she ran through the line for second.

ROSEHILL July 29: Noted Group horse I AM SUPERMAN was an impressive winner of his open heat over 1040m (64.54; 35.85), sitting at the rear before peeling to the outside and showing a classy turn of foot to reel them in and win with something in hand. SEBONACK showed his class to put away his rivals in his 900m heat (55.17; 35.69), William Pike giving him an easy time as he extended smoothly from midfield to get home over the top of them under no pressure.

WARWICK FARM July 22: In a classy heat over 740m that included several G1 winners (43.12; 32.95) the ex-Godolphin runner MUNITIONS broke away with the winner Not Another Reiby and looked good finishing second in his first trial for his new trainer Richard Litt. Followed up with a strong Warwick Farm trial win over 816m on August 5.

GOSFORD May 18: All Star Mile winner MUGATOO made his third trial appearance in 12 months but the 7YO was well short of peak condition finishing a well beaten third in his 1200m heat. He was ridden along from the 400m and was beaten more than four lengths. Went better when he finished a close third in his more recent trial over 1000m at Scone on July 27.

BLACKBOOK REPORT

Eligible Blackbook Runners – August 13/14

ROSEHILL: Russian Warrior (R2); Katalin (R4); Dalchini (R4); Lovely Esteem (R7); Soffika (R7); Opacity (R9); Cloudy (R10)

CAULFIELD: Chief Altony (R1); Americain Angel (R2); I Am Bene (R4); Sinawann (R7); Polanco (R9)

EAGLE FARM: Tarps (R5); Zing (R8)

KEMBLA GRANGE: The Seven Seas (R2)

BENDIGO SUNDAY: Pounding (R7)

RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Veranskova; Berkeley Square; Pizarro; Lord Ardmore; Honey Pot; Tow The Line; Midnight In Tokyo; Kanazawa; Daralina Belle; Searchin' Roc's; Go Wandji; Thron Bone; Stormy Rock; Wicklow; Skyman; Jojo Was A Man; Vinco; Political Debate; Sibaaq; Vitruvius; Surreal Step.

Blackbookers – Selected August 6

(Follow for next 3 starts)

EDIT: Needs a big track.

GRACE AND HARMONY: Quality mare. Back in good form.

JAL LEI: Going well. Deserves better luck.

KNIGHT MARINER: Strong prep for something longer.

SOFFIKA: Ready to produce her UK form.

STAGEMAN: Open to obvious improvement.