Scholtz's Say
Weekend Racing Preview with Chris Scholtz: 12th December - 13th December 2025
Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Canterbury and Randwick meetings on December 12 and 13 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.
Best Bets
RACE 1: (6) BLUE BLOOD PRINCE
RACE 4: (7) SHELSTEIN
For Value
RACE 8: (10) AGENDA SETTER
Selections
RACE 1: (6) BLUE BLOOD PRINCE; (1) Four Candles; (2) Powerful Prayer; (7) Like Anything
RACE 2: (3) AIRWORTHY; (8) Wootten It Be Nice; (4) Royal Air Force; (10) You Sexy Thing
RACE 3: (5) MARETH; (7) Performance; (1) Artgirl; (4) Kitesurfing
RACE 4: (7) SHELSTEIN; (10) King Of Dragons; (8) Columbia Blue; (11) Benevac
RACE 5: (2) OAKFIELD WALLABY; (7) Happiness; (1) Let's Fly; (5) Fay's Angels
RACE 6: (5) ELLIPSIS; (3) Couples Retreat; (8) Caffe Florian; (6) Ragga Ragga
RACE 7: (6) BAT OUT OF HELL; (2) Zaphod; (8) Forecaster; (5) Verbil
RACE 8: (10) AGENDA SETTER; (4) Wallenda; (9) Barbray; (8) Miss Spacegirl
Best Bets
RACE 4: (4) SNACK BAR: A difficult program made harder by the forecast of showery weather that appears certain to have an impact on the track rating. This honest 4YO just lacked race fitness against the smart Lyles first-up at Rosehill when he had grounds to lodge a protest that was subsequently dismissed. Has a wide draw but that may be an advantage on an affected track and he'll be hard to beat in this class when you consider his Group form against the likes of Autumn Glow and Lady Shenandoah.
RACE 6 - (9) ROTAGILLA: Happy to stick with this hard fit gelding under conditions that look favourable to continue his rise through the classes after his tough last start win over this distance at Rosehill where he showed real grit to fight back and win with authority under 59kg. Expect him to maintain that form with 2.5kg less and the fact that four of his five wins have been on affected tracks including two at this course.
RACE 9 - (4) FIRE STAR: Has to be a great chance to turn the tables on Brave One from their Newcastle clash over 1300m where the case can be made that he may have won if he had been able to build momentum earlier in the straight. A subsequent trial has improved his fitness, he meets the winner 4.5kg better, likes the sting out of the ground and goes well at Randwick where he has won three times. The soft draw should see him stalk the leaders in a race where the speed will be on from the start.
Selections
RACE 1: (4) HYPERBOLIC; (3) Editing; (1) Fear No Evil; (9) Waku Waku
RACE 2: (17) LADY OLENNA; (8) First Landing; (2) Action King; (11) Joiselle
RACE 3: (13) OUI OUI OUI; (2) Alabama State; (15) Fiorenza; (3) Iron Hawk
RACE 4: (4) SNACK BAR; (2) Axius; (11) Smashing Time; (10) Miss Kim Kar
RACE 5: (1) BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY; (3) Internal Affairs; (5) Vatican; (2) Elio
RACE 6: (9) ROTAGILLA; (2) Pocketing; (1) Collect Your Cash; (4) Sun God
RACE 7: (9) AGE OF SAIL; (3) Future History; (10) Hollywood Hero; (12) Speycaster
RACE 8: (3) ESTADIO MESTALLA; (13) Yorkshire; (11) Rise At Dawn; (1) Gringotts; (4) Robusto; (20) Sabaj
RACE 9: (4) FIRE STAR; (1) Coal Crusher; (12) Weeping Woman; (10) Brave One
RACE 10: (14) AMREEKIYAH; (3) Yes Lulu; (2) Asgarda; (4) Bojangles
RACE 1: (4) HYPERBOLIC: Commanding win second up. Well placed to go on with it.
RACE 2: (17) LADY OLENNA: Caught in traffic when resuming. Gets a sweet run this time from favourable draw.
RACE 3: (13) OUI OUI OUI: Justified heavy support winning first-up. Progressive mare gets in nicely under these conditions.
RACE 5: (1) BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY: Benefits from race experience. Gear change and sharp trial win since.
RACE 7: (9) AGE OF SAIL: Made good ground at Newcastle after going wide. Randwick will suit.
RACE 8: (3) ESTADIO MESTALLA: Tough miler with all the right credentials. Easy mid prep trial has him finely tuned.
RACE 10: (14) AMREEKIYAH: Good mare will be all the better for her first-up Kembla effort on a heavy track.
NOTED TRIAL WATCH RUNNERS – December 12-14
CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Airworthy (R2); Mareth (R3); Sacrosanct (R3); Performance (R3); Overshadow (R3); King Of Dragons (R4); Ragga Ragga (R6)
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Fear No Evil (R1); Miss Kim Kar (R4); Althoff (R4); Art Volant (R3/R4)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Way To The Stars (R6)
NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: Tetsu Belle (R2); Dynast King (R3); Cinsault (R7)
HAWKESBURY SUNDAY: Seven Days (R3); Manukau (R4); Valilee (R7); Royalify (R7)
NOWRA SUNDAY: Valiant Dreamer (R5); Firepop (R6); Sacrosanct (R6)
ORANGE MONDAY: Seven Days (R2)
NEWCASTLE TUESDAY: All Stars (R2); Tetsu Belle (R3)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Paradoxium; Nullabor Jane; Aroha Stone; Chix; Hellbent On You; Ice Kool; Big Papa; Pentagon; Columbia Blue; Simply Nutbush; Spywire; Lennox; Daring Fellow; Seeiaye; Apex; Myriad; Plaintiff; Jarrito; Tuned; Storm Season; Prize Writer; Me Me; Swordplay; Autumn Glow; Long Legs; Casserousse; Stefi Magnetica
TRIAL POINTERS
CANTERBURY December 2: Harry Angel 4YO KING OF DRAGONS has one win from seven starts but his trial form has always been good and his impressive win in the fastest 900m heat (53.12; 33.69) has him primed to improve his record this season. He's fast – he led this trial by six lengths and coasted home by almost four – and will be well placed in the right class up to 1200m. The 1100m open heats saw a strong win by FEAR NO EVIL (66.52; 34.71). CINSAULT was a maiden winner in July in her ninth and final start for James Cummings – after eight minor placings! She's ready to resume after two trials for her new trainer Michael Freedman, showing sharp form to work home over the top of the fast leader WAY TO THE STARS in a strong open heat over 900m (54.23; 34.29). Other Michael Freedman-trained Godolphin runners to make a good impression were the easy 890m maiden heat winner MARETH (54.85; 35.01) and MANUKAU, responsible for excellent late work to finish fourth in his open heat over 890m (53.,99; 34.84). Numerous maidens took the eye including heat winner FIREPOP.
RANDWICK November 21: Heat winner AIRWORTHY (63.76; 34.75) impressed in his 1050m maiden trial. Maidens to take the eye in these heats included the Godolphin pair MANUKAU and MARETH having their first trials for their new trainer Michael Freedman.
ROSEHILL November 18: Veteran sprinter WAY TO THE STARS has raced only twice in 12 months showed stunning form to win his trial by almost 15 lengths. He is now a 7YO but showed he has lost none of his speed by clearing out to win his 900m heat by a massive 14.2 lengths. Unsurprisingly it was the quickest time of the session (53.67; 33.28) and suggests he will boldly fresh, being a four time winner when first-up.
HAWKESBURY November 17: Maidens to take the eye in the 800m heats included ALL STAR, SEVEN DAYS and PERFORMANCE.
BLACKBOOKERS (Selected December 6/7 - Follow Next 3 Starts)
CHARGING COLOURS; ELECTRIC IMPULSE; ELLIPTICAL; PUGLIA; SEAFALL; WILLIE OPPA
BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – December 12-13
CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Kitesurfing (R3)
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Editing (R1/R10); Alabama State (R3/R10); Motoscafo (R3); Hollywood Hero (R7); Duke De Sessa (R8); Enxuto (R8); Bandi's Boy (R9); Beauty Charge (R9); Amreekiyah (R10)
PAKENHAM SATURDAY: Biancelli (R4); Electric Impulse (R6); Firm Agreement (R7); Skippers Canyon (R7); Big Swinger (R10)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Benzou (R4); Tribeca Star (R5); Coco Jamboo (R7); Zaszou (R9)
ASCOT SATURDAY: Regal Statue (R6); Rey Magnerio (R9)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Bella Corazon; Bestower; Ruska Roma; Aviatress; Dirty Grin; Brave Call; Brave One; Inkaruna; North Of Eli; Harlem Queen; Grafterburners; Sabaj; Caballus; Jimmysstar; Observer; Chergui; Half Yours; Ole Dancer; Tentyris; Clear Thinking; Point Barrow; Disneck; Navy Pilot; Federer
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