Scholtz's Say
Sydney Racing Preview with Chris Scholtz: 13th February - 14th February 2026
Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Canterbury and Randwick meetings on February 13 and 14 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.
Best Bets
RACE 2: (3) Maybe Moet
RACE 3: (4) Caesar
For Value
RACE 7: (4) Slinky
Selections
RACE 1: (3) DEFENDANT; (8) Saytara; (2) Viva Mauricio; (5) Willy Or Wong He
RACE 2: (3) MAYBE MOET; (7) Manaajem; (8) Nymphadora; (6) Lady Yarrow
RACE 3: (4) CAESAR; (2) Bryant; (6) Aisle Two; (3) Is It Spectacular
RACE 4: (8) CENTENARIO; (6) Suit Of Armour; (9) Kenmare Bay; (7) Mirra Impact
RACE 5: (10) LADY OLENNA; (3) Shalaa Gold; (12) Strada Varenna; (2) Shaggy
RACE 6: (8) EMBALLEE; (4) Oakfield Mamselle; (3) Pillow Fight; (1) Gentileschi
RACE 7: (4) SLINKY; (10) Starboard; (5) Spirit Of Camelot; (2) Monte Kate
RACE 8: (13) FAST TRACK; (4) Sister Daae; (10) Soverato; (9) Throttle Response
Best Bets
RACE 5 – (10) CROSS TASMAN: Climbed quickly through the grades after resuming with three successive wins from 1250m to 1500m before the sequence came to an end when he was narrowly outpointed by his stablemate Pippie Beach in this class at Rosehill on January 31, the nose result very much thanks to a smarter ride on the winner. With only 1kg more he rates to rebound under favourable conditions.
RACE 7 – (1) ANGEL CAPITAL: Top class 4YO is starting a prep that could elevate him to the top of the sprint ratings after a luckless spring in the best G1 company. He's unbeaten in four first-up starts and to my eye has been responsible for the best trials among the Waller team resuming here. Good speed through the first half will set this up for him to unleash late.
RACE 10 – (4) GETAFIX: Plenty of talent but he's had numerous excuses through his career, especially in his two black type starts since resuming. Held up over the last 400m and never got the chance to contest his latest start in strong Magic Millions company over 1400m at the Gold Coast. He's a Randwick winner and I like his chances in this class from a kind draw as he carries weight well.
Selections
RACE 1: (8) WARRIOR FOR PEACE; (4) Holy Hell; (2) Silent Call; (10) Regal Problem
RACE 2: (2) RANTAN; (1) Mal Coupe; (11) Sea Admiral; (5) Everyone's A Star
RACE 3: (5) CIARON'S STAR; (9) Sequinned; (4) Miss Chanel; (2) Persian Wonder
RACE 4: (5) DUVANA; (4) Sovereign Hill; (11) Miss Kim Kar; (10) Off The Press
RACE 5: (10) CROSS TASMAN; (6) Just Party; (13) Furious; (16) Captain Furai
RACE 6: (1) APOCALYPTIC; (3) Artistic Venture; (2) Savvy Hallie; (5) Sunrays
RACE 7: (1) ANGEL CAPITAL; (3) Joliestar; (5) Caballus; (4) Lady Shenandoah
RACE 8: (7) AUTUMN GLOW; (8) Stefi Magnetica; (3) Lindermann; (1) Ceowulf
RACE 9: (2) MANAAL; (8) Countyourblessings; (10) Lilac; (1) Lazzura
RACE 10: (4) GETAFIX; (14) Aerodrome; (7) Althoff; (13) Gatsby's
RACE 1 - (8) WARRIOR FOR PEACE: No luck since resuming. Will get his chance from good barrier.
RACE 2 - (2) RANTAN: Classy trial win. Ready to perform on his home track.
RACE 3 - (5) CIARON'S STAR: Promising debut doing best work late. Sure to benefit from the experience.
RACE 4 - (5) DUVANA: Flying for new trainer since he was gelded. Well placed again with 3kg claim.
RACE 6 – (1) APOCALYPTIC: Super trials by this top shelf filly. Too good for these at level weights.
RACE 8 – (7) AUTUMN GLOW: Faultless record. This is a good test first-up but can't go against her.
RACE 9 – (2) MANAAL: G1 winner with a great record at this course. Rarely disappoints when fresh.
NOTED TRIAL WATCH RUNNERS – February 13-14
CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Manaajem (R2); Is It Spectacular (R3); Caesar (R3); Soverato (R8)
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Vetwelve (R2); Mal Coupe (R2); Rantan (R2); Zoo Dazzler (R3); Give Her Strength (R3); Amreekiyah (R4); Apocalyptic (R6); Artistic Venture (R6); Wootton Lass (R6); Angel Capital (R7); Caballus (R7); Ceowulf (R8); Lindermann (R8); Stefi Magnetica (R8); Weeping Woman (R9); Tuileries (R9); Aerodrome (R10); Berkshire Shadow (R10); Sunshineinmypocket (R10)
FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Beiwacht (R8); Marhoona (R8)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Written In Wrath; Fierce; Providence; Gravel Road; Celui; Tempted; Agrarian Girl; She's Assort; Banjora; Charka; Ausbred Hed'N'Tail; Signor Tortoni; Journeyman; Decorum; God Save The King; Willaidow; Sixties; Chilly Girl; Easiest Choice; St Faith's; On One; Bryant; Harry's Evidence; Way To The Stars; Twisted Love; Just Maz; Rajwa; You're The Choice
CANTERBURY February 6: Exciting win by smart runner RANTAN in his fast 902m heat (54.54; 34.57). Came from off the pace with impressive acceleration between the 400m and 200m to easily run past the leaders, surging away for an effortless win by more than three lengths. Must be hard to beat in his right class when produced.
WARWICK FARM February 3: Another set featuring three black type trials on soft ground on the course proper. In Heat 1 over 1000m (61.98; 36.29) CEOWULF put in good work under an easy ride to finish third. In Heat 2 (1000m) the racy mare LILAC ensured this was run at a good clip, keeping up the pace to hold an advantage to the line. In Heat 3 over 900m COAL CRUSHER led easily and when he gets his own way in a short course trial they aren't going to run him down (54.54; 35.84). Another super trial from ANGEL CAPITAL to close off strongly for second that says he is ready for a bold first-up performance. JOLIESTAR gets a pass mark for her easy third but ANGEL CAPITAL made the best impression with his work over the last 100m. WEEPING WOMAN was another who went around under a good hold.
ROSEHILL January 29: The course proper trial for black type horses saw a stunning win by the talented sprinter CABALLUS. He's been an easy to like sprinter for a long time and he may be on the verge of rising to new heights after winning the black type trial over 1000m by almost 13 lengths! He strolled to the front and was doing it easily to open up an eight lengths lead at the 600m, bearing in mind the others were distance horses starting off their preps. He cruised down the running in fast time (60.56; 34.26) that has him ready to perform in his next sprint assignment. The open heat was saw the costly AMREEKIYAH work with purpose to score a strong win (62.65; 35.07) with nice work from the third placegetter SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET.
RANDWICK January 27: In the first black type heat over 1000m on the Kensington there was no great pressure applied as JUST FEELIN' LUCKY led at a leisurely speed from start to finish (58.07; 33.52). The trial to impress was strong work under a hold from LINDERMANN to finish second. Heat 2 (900m) was the slowest of the two short heats (54.39; 34.71) with Golden Slipper winner MARHOONA left alone to dictate the pace. She easily held an advantage to the line from AUTUMN GLOW, who showed the benefit of her first-up trial to track the winner from the start and work home nicely for second. CEOWULF was out for conditioning work in his first trial since he won at Flemington in November. In Heat 3 (900m) there was genuine pace from the start with BEIWACHT having company through the first 800m before he asserted himself over the last 200m (53.96; 34.30) to win the trial. APOLCALYPTIC put in another big trial under a tight hold to finish third ahead of MANAAL and LADY SHENANDOAH having easy trials. In the 1050m heats on the A Grass trials worth noting included the heat winner WOOTTON LASS (63.08; 33.84) and a promising placing by AERODROME.
WARWICK FARM January 22: Heavy conditions on the course proper for two black type trials over 900m. The first was a slow heat (54.86; 35.01) won in good style by STEFI MAGNETICA from VERONA ROSE. STEFI MAGNETICA sat outside the lead before sprinting to the line with VERONA ROSE joining in from the 200m after going widest on the turn. ANGEL CAPITAL found his legs for the first 300m then made ground quickly from the 600m with the advantage of the inside running. Was never asked for a serious effort as the first pair got clear. In the faster Heat 2 (53.14; 34.45) genuine pace from the leaders saw JOLIESTAR settle a distant third and hold her position without being asked to do any chasing.
RANDWICK January 15: In the black type trials over 850m on the Kensington all the Chris Waller runners had nothing more than conditioning work with easy trials by AUTUMN GLOW, LADY SHENANDOAH; BEIWACHT, LINDERMANN and AELIANA. Heat 1 was the slowest of the three heats (52.41; 34.86) with SHANGRI LA BOY leading clearly and maintaining his advantage to the line. The one to impress was APOLCALYPTIC working well within herself to take ground of the winner under no pressure. AUTUMN GLOW (5th) tracked wide and had an easy time hard held to the line. Michael Freedman supplied the trifecta in the fastest of the three heats (51.18; 34.02) with a quietly ridden MANAAL finishing second after leading comfortably. LADY SHENANDOAH (4th) and BEIWACHT (5th) had plenty in reserve tucked in behind them.
ROSEHILL January 13: Capitalist gelding CAESAR posted a win and two placings from his first three starts last year. He's ready to build on his early promise after a classy win in his 900m heat (54.22; 34.32), cruising past the leaders from four lengths off the lead at the 400m for the softest of wins with plenty in reserve. MAL COUPE, a star last winter when he won four races on soft and heavy tracks, made a strong return in his first trial since August winning his 900m heat (54.78; 34.59) with authority after sitting three deep outside the lead. In the fastest 900m trial (53.73; 34.25) the stayer MANAAJEM was doing his best work through the line.
BLACKBOOKERS (Selected February 7 - Follow Next 3 Starts)
ALIBABA; BEL MERCI; CHAYAN; LADY EXTREME; MY PHAR LADY; PLYMOUTH; VICTORIOUS SPIRIT
BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – February 14
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Warrior For Peace (R1); Changing Colours (R4/R5); Queen Of Clubs (R6); Angel Capital (R7); Getafix (R10)
FLEMINGTON SATURDAY: Scheelite (R7); Real Class (R10)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Dream Lantern (R4); Green Fly (R7)
COFFS HARBOUR SUNDAY: Arctic Legend (R6)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Bengal Diamond; Fingers Hunter; Assailant; Furious; Alibaba; Paradise City; Bella Montagna; Miss Busslinger; Spanish Treasure; Althoff; Onavuitton; She's Within; Cool Jakey; Somewhere; Mare Of Mt Buller; Saint George; Hedged; Willie Oppa; Rey Magnerio; Electric Impulse; Bella Corazon; Bestower; Ruska Roma; Aviatress
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