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Chris Scholtz reviews the Randwick barrier trials on Monday August 13.
There were three quality heats run on the Kensington track featuring a number of spring contenders but the morning was marred by Blake Shinn’s fall in the tenth heat that left him with neck fractures and facing a long spell out of the saddle.
It’s bad luck for the popular rider, especially after he rode his Doncaster Mile winner HAPPY CLAPPER in the first trial of the day over 1250m where the big gelding did his usual thing working strongly to the line under a soft ride to finish a pleasing fourth.Happy Clapper’s trial was won by the race fit MISTER SEA WOLF but the two runners with the flashing lights were the placegetters BLACK ON GOLD and SEDANZER, both having their first trials since their Sydney and Brisbane wins over 2000m and 2200m in June.
I doubt BLACK ON GOLD has ever gone better in a trial. He looked a picture of health and his hard held second augers well for what may be his best prep, especially when he gets on his favoured firm tracks. SEDANZER scooted home out wide from the back half and also had plenty to offer through the line, an equally good pointer to her prospects with the word being she is set to go straight to Melbourne for her first-up assignment.After we saw Super Too turn on the jets in her 10 lengths heat win at Warwick Farm on Friday the classy mare INVINCIBLE STAR did something similar in her 850m heat on the Kenso after Tim Clark put the peddle down from the jump. She cleared out to win by 9.8 lengths in a quick 48.99 (last 600m 33.08) for her second trial win since resuming. She is obviously flying towards her return after her long break since she pushed Merchant Navy to the limit in the Coolmore Stakes at Flemington last spring.
Behind her the efforts of ZOUSAIN and KAEPERNICK caught the eye as they worked to the line well within themselves in strong starts to their spring preps. Further back the good mare DIXIE BLOSSOMS and Oaks winner YOUNGSTAR were just clearing the pipes in soft starts to their preps.
Shinn won the other Kensington heat over 850m on the classy 3YO NEUTRALITY, who was always in command to win by a soft 2.5 lengths from older rival ARBEITSAM in 49.39 (last 600m 33.20). Neutrality showed plenty in his two starts last season and expect him to a big player when he resumes in a suitable 3YO sprint as he always travelled better than Arbeitsam and had him well covered on the line.Neutrality’s well-regarded stablemate TCHAIKOVSKY also impressed with his strong third, hitting the line better than the Group winner LEAN MEAN MACHINE who looked in need of this hitout. The real eye catcher came from the unbeaten filly PRETTY IN PINK who was cuddled in midfield behind the speed and went to the line under double wraps from Tye Angland in a most encouraging start to her campaign.
FIVE TO FOLLOW
BLACK ON GOLD (Chris Waller): Super trial from this good looking gelding to finish a close second to his race fit stablemate Mister Sea Wolf in the quality 1250m heat on the Kensington track. He went out in winning form over 2000m in June and this impressive effort indicates he could be in for his best campaign. Well documented that he prefers firm tracks.INVINCIBLE STAR (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott): She’s a brilliant mare and judging by her form in her two trial wins after her long break she is flying towards a winning return to racing. Her Merchant Navy form is top class and I suspect she is on the radar of those remaining Everest slot holders still looking for the right horse.
PRETTY IN PINK (John O’Shea): Exciting filly made a big impact winning her only two starts last season and this stylish trial effort indicates she is primed to go on with it through the spring. Few horses trialled better on the day as Tye Angland gave her the easiest possible time of it over the last 200m.VULCAN (Les Bridge): Third trial from this unraced Denman 3YO and he has got better each time, winning this heat with authority after sitting three wide off the pace and responding like a nice horse when called on by Tim Clark, leaving those doing the chasing under pressure.
EXCELLENT DESIGN (John Thompson): Promising Exceed And Excel mare was spelled after a Warwick Farm maiden win at only her second start in January and this trial effort over 740m against some well performed rivals is a strong indicator that she has developed nicely with her long spell. Tracked three wide outside the leaders under a big hold and was always traveling better than those inside her down the running, only to be beaten on the line by the prolific winner Lake Lugarno who was pushed out in her first trial for her new trainer Bjorn Baker.NOTED TRIALS: Sedanzer; Happy Clapper; Zousain; Kaepernick; Neutrrality; Tchaikovsky; Wild Impact; Drachenfels; Invictus Prince; Rose Of Savannah; Killer Instinct; Carambola; With Purpose; Castel Sant’Angelo; Zenardini; Maggie Miss; Alison Of Tuffy; Lady Legend; Discombe.