Chris Scholtz previews the Rosehill meeting on July 2 with selections for all races plus Quaddie Analysis, Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports.
ROSEHILL July 2
TRACK/WEATHER
Track rating downgraded from Soft 6 (Friday 8.30am) to Soft 7 (Saturday 7.30am) after track received almost 9mm of rain in 24 hours. Heavy rain is forecast for Sydney's western suburbs through Saturday. Selections updated 8.30am Saturday.
MULTI
RACE 6 (8) KANAZAWA: Two excellent efforts since resuming should have this talented 3YO gelding ready to go to a new peak. Finished hard late when he was beaten a nose first-up over 1200m at Randwick when tackling a heavy track for the first time then again gave away too much leeway over 1400m at that course when third behind the in-form Jo Jo Was A Man in a stronger BM78 when posting the best closing sectionals. Raced once over this course and distance for a strong second in this class before his latest spell and after only six career starts he still holds plenty of scope for improvement. Love his breeding for a wet track, being by Lonhro out of a Commands mare.
RACE 8 (14) NAVAL SEAL: Came off his good Victorian form to record a dominant BM72 win over this course and distance on June 18 when he took the short way home sticking to the fence. Rises to a BM 78 but gets the weights in his favour with 2.5kg less due to the a smart switch to claiming apprentice Tyler Schiller reducing his handicap to only 51kg, giving him a big advantage over his main rivals. Should have no problems with a wet track as he's had four of his five career starts on affected ground including his maiden win at Ballarat in the heavy.
Selections
RACE 1: 4-1-9-18
RACE 2: 4-1-3-7
RACE 3: 10-12-1-15
RACE 4: 1-5-6-7
RACE 5: 5-6-8-3
RACE 6: 8-7-2-5
RACE 7: 8-4-6-1
RACE 8: 14-8-2-1
RACE 9: 12-16-6-2
RACE 10: 7-14-13-1
THE QUADDIES
RACE 3: The race fit (10) DARALINA BELLE is the safe play with proven wet credentials (2-3-6) and plenty of depth around her luckless recent placings in Melbourne and Sydney. Will entertain the enigmatic (12) AIR TO AIR (barrier risk) to run well fresh at odds off two nice provincial trials. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 15 can go into wide exotics.
RACE 4: Why do they include ugly races like this in quaddie legs! Topweight (1) OUR CANDIDATE hasn't won for ages (35 months!!) but he likes it wet and can break the drought if he runs up to his last start second over 2400m at Warwick Farm where he pressed the subsequent black type winner Shameless Miss. Conditions will also be favourable for the tough mare (5) BLACK QUEEN - she's fitter and has been looking for this trip. (3) DICK WHITTINGTON and (6) MONREAL rate OK but they are questionable in seriously affected ground. 4 and 7 could win without surprising - it's that sort of race!
RACE 5: Unbeaten filly (5) SHADES OF LOVE is a real talent and finds herself well placed from the inside gate in this field first-up. Her trials have been super and she's won her only wet track start - you just have to trust the rail to be no disadvantage. Big watch on the lightly raced (6) PIZARRO first-up. No doubting his ability and the speed across the board in this field could see him finish over the top. Right race for a fitter (8) PETULANT but she's facing a tough run from wide gate with all the pace drawn underneath. 1, 2 and 3 (blinkers on) have softer draws and are in the mix for the multiples.
RACE 6: (8) KANAZAWA on top for all the right reasons – ready to peak and expect him to relish the wet conditions. Wary of (7) AND WE DANCED fresh after 35 days between runs on a favourable wet deck – right set up for this filly to make up for some costly defeats. (2) LEASE has come up well but up sharply in weight in this class. Should go for the lead with (11) LOLLY YEATS. (5) FLASH FLOOD an improver in the wet?
RACE 7: Very competitive fillies and mares race to start the main quaddie. (8) RIDUNA is improving with every start and rates well off her easy front running Newcastle win second up under a big weight. Likely to get an aggressive ride to take advantage of her weight advantage over good wet trackers (1) NICCI'S FLING and (4) PER INAWAY, the pair with the obvious stronger city form. Don't give up on the costly (6) STEEL DIAMOND as her best is good enough for this class. The local debut of import (5) SOFFIKA creates interest off a soft provincial trial.
RACE 8: The light weight after the claim and wet conditions make a compelling argument for the lightly raced (14) NAVAL SEAL. With those factors in his favour he has nothing but upside off his easy last start win over this course and distance. Waller players must also include his stablemate (8) ZING as he ticks a lot of boxes under the wet conditions. Likewise (2) LA CHEVALEE will improve sharply in the wet. 1 and 9 next best.
RACE 9: Excellent placings from the strong mare (12) EASIFAR in her two runs since resuming and rates to win with a 2.5klg drop in weight off her last start second over this course and distance. She has the wet form and expect the weights could be telling in a testing race as she receive between 3.5kg and 5kg from other obvious players (1) LACKEEN, (2) LORD ARDMORE, (6) WAIRERE FALLS and (7) YIYI. Her danger will be the well weighted (16) WICKLOW, scratched from Race 8 in a clear pointer to stable confidence in his chances in this event. Strong trial win by (3) LOVE TAP points to improvement second up.
RACE 10: (7) TAMERLANE is building convictions but he is fitter and is sure to be fiutter for his first-up placing in a high rating race at Randwick. (1) TITANIUM POWER goes for two on the bounce over the course and distance. Expect him run boldly from the front again but he will be vulnerable under his big weight. (11) PAPAL WARRIOR, (13) FASTCONI, (14) CALGARY QUEEN and (15) OVERLORD can handle the conditions and offer value for the wider players.
TRIAL WATCH REPORT
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS – July 2-5
ROSEHILL SATURDAY: Oakfield Arrow (R3); Shades Of Rose (R5); Pizarro (R5); Love Tap (R9); Yiyi (R9); Opacity (R10); Overlord (R10)
NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Jasiri (R3); Thrill To Brazil (R3); Headwall (R5)
PORT MACQUARIE SATURDAY: Denarvi (R2)
MUDGEE SUNDAY: Cinque Torri (R1); Hayami (R8)
GOULBURN TUESDAY: Boston City (R7)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Airman; Alpha One; True Crime; Humble Star; Alberich; Beer Palace; Brudenell; Reach For Gold; The Milky Bar Kid; Eponymous; Tashi; The Himalayas; Rita May; Cliff's Art; Waihaha Falls; Resistible; Osipenko; Kiku; Pinnace; Parlayed; Kibou; Saquon; Cinderella Days.
TRIAL POINTERS
ROSEHILL June 20: The big grey LOVE TAP failed to fire first-up in Melbourne but was back on his game to post an easy five lengths win in his 1030m heat (62.19; 34.79), indicating he will be a lot fitter next time out. Took up the running to lead comfortably and would like to see him ridden this way the next time he goes to the races. Unbeaten filly SHADES OF ROSE is a genuine talent. She won her first three starts in January and February, graduating from country wins to a city success, and this effort showed she had come on nicely from her recent first-up trial when she was given a soft time. This time she tracked the leader before accelerating with style at the 400m to run to the line almost five lengths clear under a quiet ride from Tim Clark in easily the fastest of the 10 heats over 900m (53.09; 34.02). The maiden heat win over 900m by BOSTON CITY (54.35; 34.84) indicates that he could be a big improver on the form he displayed in his first race start last month. CINQUE TORRI is worth following on the strength of his fastest 1030m heat win (62.04; 34.49).
WARWICK FARM June 10: Unraced Dream Ahead youngster HEADWALL returned as a gelding for his second trial and looked much improved form the version we saw at the start of the season. Open to improvement on his strong work to win his 808m heat in good time (48.20; 34.12).
ROSEHILL June 7: The Hawkes stable has a nice maiden prospect in the unraced 4YO mare JASIRI after she worked to the line strongly in the maiden heat over 898m heat after missing the start by two lengths. She reaffirmed her potential with another strong placing from the back in a fast trial at Rosehill on June 20. In the open heats over 900m the Waller-trained OVERLORD was given a solid hitout to win his heat (54.51; 34.98)
RANDWICK June 3: . The 3YO heat over 742m (45.07; 34.28) saw the promising PIZARRO warm up late to finish third, putting in strong work over the last 100m.
RANDWICK April 19: PIZARRO could not be missed splitting runners late for a strong fifth in his 1050m heat after making up good ground from the rear. He won his maiden at his third start before a break and will not surprise to see him progress quickly through the classes.
BLACKBOOK REPORT
Eligible Blackbook Runners – July 2
ROSEHILL: Daralina Belle (R3); And We Danced (R6); Kanazawa (R6); Lord Ardmore (R9); New Arrangement (R9); El Buena (R10);
FLEMINGTON: Il Affare (R1); Liberated Girl (R3); Florescent Star (R7)
SUNSHINE COAST: Sweet Thomas (R6); Salateen (R8)
BELMONT PARK: Searchin' Roc's (R5)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Go Wandji; Thron Bone; Stormy Rock; Wicklow; Skyman; Jojo Was A Man; Vinco; Political Debate; Sibaaq; Vitruvius; Surreal Step; Brosnan; Extremely Lucky; Zapateo; Twin Stars; Soxagon; Rustic Steel; Premium Choice; Aleas; Indifference; Rights Of Man.
Blackbookers – Selected June 25
(Follow for next 3 starts)
BELSIELLE: Determined finish took the eye.
CHIEF ALTONY: Pilot error. Should have won.
KAMITORI: Developing filly. Won't be a maiden for long.
LIGHTNING JACK: Ready to show his best. 1600m will be ideal.
SINBA: Had excuses. Will be better for the run.
TURBEAU: Capable winter performer. Suited up to 1600m
