Black type preview: Randwick, Hastings & Riccarton

No doubt about him now

Randwick, G1 Colgate Optic White S., $500,000, 1600m

Samadoubt (Not A Single Doubt) has been a star of the early spring and followed up his G1 Winx S. success with another bold front-running display to claim the G2 Chelmsford S.

He’s showed he’s no one hit wonder and as a winner up to 2000 metres the distance isn’t going to worry him. The only worry is the going, which clouds a number of form lines.

Not so Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) who has improved with each run this preparation and third-up he can be expected to be at peak fitness. He still needs to improve to reel in Samadoubt, but a wet track certainly closes the gap.

Happy Clapper (Teofilo {Ire}) loves this course and distance and was very good when runner-up in the Winx. He’s since won a trial and importantly he has won three times when second-up in the past.

Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) didn’t flatter when resuming and a rain-affected track will be her best friend while stablemate Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}) is classy at best and might prove the value runner in this line-up. She got home well in the Chelmsford after drawing a wide barrier.

Dreamforce (Fastnet Rock) won the G2 Tramway H. untested, but this will be a much sterner test while the Kiwi visitor Danzdanzdance (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was a bold fifth when resuming in the G1 Tarzino Trophy and a mile will be more to her liking.

Pierata to go one better

Randwick, G2 Bowerman’s Office Furniture Shorts, $500,000, 1100m

Pierata (Pierro) was outstanding when he rattled home for a close second in the G3 Concorde in his first run off of a break. With reasonable luck from an awkward gate he promises to be right here at the business end again.

Redzel (Snitzel) just clung on to beat Pierata at their last meeting and he’s an obvious player as he has won three times on heavy going so conditions shouldn’t unduly bother him.

Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) is new to the open sprinting ranks, but everything he has achieved in such a short career points to him being a handful and is another to have had the benefit of a couple of trial outings.

Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}) is a multiple Group 1 placed sprinter with an imperious fresh record so he’s not to be taken lightly while Graff (Star Witness) is a strong hope on his Concorde effort, but with a question mark over him due to the track.

Libertini hard to ignore

Randwick, G2 Darley Tea Rose S., $200,000, 1400m

Libertini (I Am Invincible) may not have been as dominant last time out as expected, but she got the job done and as it was only her second outing this time in she’s likely to be all the better for the run. The major query is her handling the ground.

Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) is a progressive type and won twice last season before a resuming run for second behind a smart one in Yao Dash (Smart Missile), who is unbeaten, and out to this trip will help her.

Anaheed (Fastnet Rock) was sound when third in the G3 San Domenico S. and she looks better placed against her own sex while Let It Pour (Redoute’s Choice) has yet to win, but has placed in the best of company and should be thereabouts again.

Flit (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) was runner-up in the G2 Silver Shadow S. and wouldn’t have to improve to be a player and Subpeonaed (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) has been strong in the lower grades and is versatile with form on wet and dry tracks.

Kolding to run hot

Randwick, G3 Bill Ritchie H., $140,000, 1400m

Last season’s G2 Queensland Guineas winner Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) was very good in his seasonal debut, finishing fifth in the G2 Tramway S. and should be fitter for the outing.

Stablemate Star Of The Seas (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) was also sound in the Tramway and he gives Chris Waller a powerful hand in this race.

The New Zealand-trained mare Avantage (Fastnet Rock) won the G3 Birthday Card S. on her last visit to Sydney and her resuming run at home was good off a wide run. She has also won two of her three second-up runs.

Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) made a solid Australian debut when fifth in the G3 Show County and has since been kept up to the mark with a trial. It doesn’t look like he will take long to hit the board from his new quarters.

Former WA mare favoured

Randwick, G3 The Agency Real Estate Kingston Town S., $160,000, 2000m

Come Play With Me (Blackfriars) gave an excellent account of herself when runner-up in the G3 Premier’s Cup in her first start for Chris Waller since relocating from Western Australia.

Natural improvement should see her hard to stop from going one better while stablemate Shraaoh (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was unsighted on resuming and is likely to be more competitive over this trip.

Another Waller runner in Carzoff (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) is going well, as is Girl Tuesday (Street Cry {Ire}) and they both have race fitness on their sides. Finche (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a definite improver following his eye-catching effort for fifth in the G2 Chelmsford S.

Scarlet Dream (Sebring) and Supernova (GB) (Intello {Ger}) were both runners-up at their latest appearances and should again be competitive, perhaps more so with those outings to improve fitness levels.

Belle to rule supreme again

Hastings, G1 Windsor Park Plate, NZ$200,000, 1600m

Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) will start a short-priced favourite and rightly so after her dominance of the sprinter-milers in the weight-for-age division.

She showed impressive improvement on her fourth placing in the G1 Foxbridge Plate when resuming on an off track to a better surface in the G1 Tarzino Trophy when she was untouchable. From a good gate she is going to take some beating.

Two progressive types in Cutadeel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) and Vigor Winner (Declaration Of War {USA}) are last-start winners and they promise to give strong accounts. The former won an open handicap over a mile off a spell and he’s sure to have tightened up with the outing.

Vigor Winner won in a lower grade on the first day of the carnival in a style which suggested he’s not going to be out of place while Wyndspelle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) is greatly deserving of a top title having placed numerous times in Group 1 company.

His run in the Tarzino for second was excellent and the step up to 1600 metres will favour him, as it will Hello It’s Me (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who is unbeaten in two appearances this campaign.

An upset in this line-up seems an unlikely outcome, but one for slightly better odds is Shadows Cast (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}). He had to work hard from the outside gate to race handy in the Tarzino and did well to run fourth and he’s draw much closer in this time.

Aretha to strike winning note

Hastings, G3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders’ Gold Trail S., $70,000, 1200m

Aretha (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) showed her quality last season with success in the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. and a pair of Group 1 placings. She will resume here, but with the benefit of two lead-up trials she looks primed to go close.

Her stablemate Birdsong (NZ) (Snitzel) was an impressive winner in her only appearance as a 2-year-old and she too has trialled well to give Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman a quality hand.

Bavella (Snitzel) is capable of figuring in the finish if she gets come luck from a wide alley while Trifolium (Krupt) was beaten for the first time at Wanganui, but she’ll improve and isn’t to be under-estimated.

Kali (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) are an in-form pair for Tony Pike and major players while Apellant (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) had a tough run when beaten on her return and she might be a sharp improver.

Federer to serve out

Riccarton, Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle S., NZ$50,000, 1200m

Miss Federer (NZ) (Swiss Ace) was beaten in her seasonal debut on the track, but she was forced to race three wide and still kicked on strong behind Woodcote Lass (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}), who will be a major threat again.

The Coolmore colours will be sported aboard Folk Dress (Pierro) and she is a strong chance off the back of her good form last season and a recent trial win. Bronte Beach (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) was fourth on a wet track when resuming and a better surface will help her.

Intimidate (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) has the drop on a lot of these as far as race fitness is concerned and that will stand her in good stead while All About Magic (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) is a genuine filly and certainly in the hunt for the minors.