Scholtz's Say
Weekend Racing Preview with Chris Scholtz: 19th December - 20th December 2025
Selections and best bets from Chris Scholtz for the Canterbury and Randwick meetings on December 19 and 20 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook runners.
Best Bets
RACE 4: (9) CINSAULT
RACE 6: (3) HOUSE OF CARDS
Selections
RACE 1: (4) ARTGIRL; (3) Ready Forcocktails; (1) Miss Lola; (7) Wootton Way
RACE 2: (2) HEREWARD; (5) Riez Souvent; (1) Man Of Worth; (4) Precise Star
RACE 3: (1) MISS HADES; (4) Emballee; (2) Sister Shay; (5) Emery
RACE 4: (9) CINSAULT; (10) Jaegers; (1) Calga Power; (7) Beechworth
RACE 5: (10) COPACABANA; (2) Bat Out Of Hell; (8) How Much Better; (7) Sisu Spirit
RACE 6: (3) HOUSE OF CARDS; (6) Remember Jack; (4) Zulfiqar; (7) Me Me
RACE 7: (3) HAPPINESS; (1) Éclair Encore; (8) Existential Bob; (2) Lennox
Best Bets
RACE 5 - (10) WILLIE OPPA: Ready to peak after two luckless prep runs. Should relish this course and distance after running out of room last time when doing his best work late over 1500m at Rosehill. With his scope for improvement he appeals at the value odds as he meets the winner Mortal Hero 2.5kg better.
RACE 6 - (3) KING PEDRO: Impressive ex-Kiwi 4YO who was an eye catching sixth in the NZ Derby in March that led to his sale to Australia. Registered his first win for the O'Shea/Charlton stable bolting home by more than eight lengths over 2100m at Gosford last month then showed he is screaming for 2400m with his late surge from last to finish third over 2000m at Rosehill two weeks ago. Has all the upside after his patient build up to this distance.
RACE 7 - (10) KING'S SECRET: Rose quickly last season winning four of his first eight starts – all over this distance. Made an excellent return to finish third from a wide barrier, again over 1100m, at Rosehill where he posted the fastest sectionals from the 600m to the 200m, making a long run deep on the turn from last before peaking late. With a massive 8kg drop in weight he is ideally placed to progress from that effort.
Selections
RACE 1: (3) SHIKI; (2) Warwoven; (6) Norman's Cay; (4) Hardanger
RACE 2: (10) THE MONA LISA; (2) Missile Seeker; (6) Perfect Justice; (14) Trafalgar Square
RACE 3: (9) NAVY BUOY; (6) Stormbringer; (2) Mount Bona; (4) Sacred Mistress
RACE 4: (1) RIPLEY; (6) Lancelot Du Lac; (4) Sanctified; (3) Plaintiff
RACE 5: (10) WILLIE OPPA; (2) Covert Thinking; (6) Mortal Halo; (13) Tequisoda
RACE 6: (3) KING PEDRO; (4) Bestower; (8) Haze; (2) Brave Call
RACE 7: (10) KING'S SECRET; (11) Dollar Magic; (6) Cigar Flick; (7) Appin Girl
RACE 8: (14) JUST PARTY; (13) Sunshineinmypocket; (9) Gallant Star; (15) Mickey's Medal
RACE 9: (11) ALABAMA FOX; (12) Virgil's Gift; (1) Island Dream; (2) Flying Thinker
RACE 10: (6) BARTOLF; (4) Catoggio; (2) Plundering; (3) Step Aside
Why They Can Win….
RACE 1 - (3) SHIKI: Impressive trials since her Gimcrack win. She's all speed.
RACE 2 - (10) THE MONA LISA: Fit mare with the right credentials. Should appreciate her first look at Randwick.
RACE 3 - (5) NAVY BUOY: Excellent improvement since stable switch. Ready for this grade.
RACE 4 - (1) RIPLEY: Rates to win off his black type form. Freshened nicely with an easy trial.
RACE 8 - (14) JUST PARTY: Fast closing sectionals since resuming. Weighted to win off that form.
RACE 9 - (11) ALABAMA FOX: Talented mare in her right class. Good trial has her primed to run well fresh.
RACE 10 - (6) BARTOLF: Racing well and gets conditions to suit on a big track. Fast pace suits his style.
NOTED TRIAL WATCH RUNNERS – December 19-21
CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Ready ForCocktails (R1); Cinsault (R4)
GOLD COAST FRIDAY: Lumbini (R5); Modernist (R5)
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Warwoven (R1); Norman's Cay (R1); Shiki (R1); Terra Mater (R7); Cigar Flick (R7)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Icarian Dream (R7)
WYONG SATURDAY: El Qasabi (R1); All Star (R2); Generous Harry (R3)
TAREE SUNDAY: Royal Exile (R1)
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Pretty Powerful; Royalify; Seven Days; Mareth; Airworthy; 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
TRIAL POINTERS
HAWKESBURY December 15: READY FORCOCKTAILS, a Flemington jumpout winner in July, is an unraced Snitzel filly with abundant potential after winning her 1000m heat (60.63; 34.23) with authority. From third on the rail she eased across heels at the 300m and was under a tight rein from Tyler Schiller as she strode easily past the leaders to score by more than two lengths. Just wait for her astute stable to find the right maiden. The fast open heat over 800m heat (46.45; 32.77) had plenty of depth with the strong placing under quiet rides by the talented CIGAR FLICK setting him up nicely for coming races.
RANDWICK KENSINGTON December 9: It's going to take a good youngster to beat Too Darn Hot filly SHIKA up to 1100m after a brilliant win in her 850m heat (49.93; 33.24). Led by five lengths with ease and looked all class cruising to the line, confirming she has made excellent improvement since her debut win in the Gimcrack Stakes. Unraced Too Darn Hot filly NORMAN'S CAY looked the part running faster time (49.76; 33.16) than Shika to win the quickest of the three 2YO heats in her second trial appearance. GENEROUS HARRY is a lightly raced 5YO by Harry Angel who has been off the scene for 12 months but is sure to add to his record after winning two recent trials. Always in command of this 850m heat (50.77; 33.61), tracking three and four wide under a big hold and never coming off the bit to maintain a comfortable advantage to the line.
WARWICK FARM December 8: The quality of the 2YO trials is improving every week with Sword Of State youngster WARWOVEN showing abundant promise with an impressive debut trial. Given time to find his legs, he was fifth at the 400m before extending easily off the turn, striding out freely over the last 200m for a soft win by 1.7 lengths in good time (46.38; 33.31). All Too Hard filly MODERNIST posted the quickest 2YO heat win (45.85; 32.94) with natural speed. The 799m open heat winner TERRA MATER (48.52; 34.45) did all that was required to win her trial. Runners to impress with easy efforts included ICARIAN DREAM.
CANTERBURY December 2: The Waterhouse/Bott team won three of the six 2YO heats with the best of them being a fast 895m heat win by the unraced Russian Revolution filly LUMBINI (54.26; 34.89). It was nice improvement on her first trial and has her ready to go to the races. 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 in a strong open heat over 900m (54.23; 34.29)
HAWKESBURY November 17: Maidens to take the eye in the 800m heats included ALL STAR.
RANDWICK November 21: The 2YO trials over 737m saw the return of Gimcrack Stakes winner SHIKI winning her heat in good style (43.74; 33.60).
WARWICK FARM November 13: Several good maiden trials took the eye including EL QASABI and DIVINE TIMING.
BLACKBOOKERS (Selected December 13 (Follow Next 3 Starts)
ALTHOFF; BELLA MONTAGNA; CHARLEROI; FURIOUS; SCRIPTED; SHALAA'S MOMENT
BLACKBOOK RUNNERS – December 19-20
CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Viva Maurico (R2)
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Callistemon (R2); Willie Oppa (R5); Konasana (R8); Sir Artie (R8); Alabama State (R10)
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Seafall (R3)
EAGLE FARM SATURDAY: Spanish Treasure (R7)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: Rey Magnerio; Electric Impulse; 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
Check out the latest Sydney News