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Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney barrier trials at Rosehill on October 4 and Randwick on October 8.
RANDWICK October 8
Course Proper (Good 4) 1 x 1000m (Group/Listed)
Randwick A Grass (Good 4) – 2 x 1200m (2 Open); 6 x 1050m (3 Open; 3 Maiden); 7 x 740m (1 Open; 2 2YO; 4 Maiden)
A star studded black type heat featured nine G1 winners including four Everest candidates.
Rarely do you get a race field with nine G1 winners engaged let alone a barrier trial. The 1000m heat on the course proper came at the right time for the nine top class winners in the middle of their preps for some rich targets.
Golden Slipper winner LADY OF CAMELOT took the honours, sitting outside a line of three from a wide gate and doing just enough to get the better of LADY LAGUNA and PRIVATE EYE by a neck without any coming under full pressure in reasonable time (58.48; 34.08).
Only three lengths covered the nine at the finish. None were put to the test as they held their positions from start to finish. SUNSHINE IN PARIS looked good finishing an easy fourth while CELESTIAL LEGEND with blinkers applied was more focused as he put in his best work this prep to finish fifth. AMELIA'S JEWEL found the line nicely for sixth while the Waller trio of ZOUGOTCHA, JOLIESTAR and FANGIRL all had typical easy work together over the last 400m. FANGIRL was eager to run through the line as she eased off heels.
Forced to nominate the pick of the heat I would give a slight nod to SUNSHINE IN PARIS. I also liked the work of LADY LAGUNA and JOLIESTAR.
The A Grass trials saw the maiden 3YO MANUSCRIPT run fast to post the quickest time of the seven heats over the distance (42.34; 31.94). Next best was a nice trial from the Godolphin youngster COMEDY in the fastest of the two 2YO heats (43.55; 32.81).
A strong trial from promising 3YO EMIRATE saw him record the fastest win in the six heats over 1050m (63.09; 34.15).
Other maidens to make a good impression included DORADUS, STRONG TRADE, CANDLEWICK and TRUE AMOR.
NOTED TRIALS
X Ahururi; Candlewick; Doradus; Drift Net; Emirate; Joliestar; Lady Laguna, Manuscript; Money From The Sky; Pisanello; Strong Trade; Sunshine In Paris; True Amor
ROSEHILL October 4
Inside Grass; Soft 5
15 Heats – 5 x 1030m (2 Open; 3 Maiden); 10 x 900m (3 Open; 2 2YO; 5 Maiden)
An interesting session that featured a couple of Everest candidates but not without some controversy.
The classy Everest entry I AM ME had an easy time finishing third in the fastest 1030m heat (60.63; 34.21) won by HIGH OCTANE but was later found to have bled from one nostril. She is under an embargo until she passes a trackwork test while an inquiry is pending into the late notification 48 hours after the trial by her trainer Ciaron Maher.
Another Everest entry STEFI MAGNETICA contested a 900m heat (55.00; 34.70) and got a pass mark with her closing second behind ADMITTED, a promising 3YO from the Godolphin stable. ADMITTED, a winner on debut at Bendigo last season before starting favourite in the Maribyrnong Plate, impressed with his strong work to lead throughout under a big hold and hold an advantage over STEFI MAGNETICA, who ran on from five lengths off the pace but was shaken up over the last 100m to make ground.
The take away from this trial is to watch for ADMITTED to make his return as he is eligible for low class restricted races.
KING OF SPARTA (Peter Snowden): He's a first-up specialist and looks ready to go after a stylish win in his 1030m trial (62.65; 34.39) to back up his first-up placing in a Canterbury trial on September 24. His trademark turn of foot was evident as he let down quickly from behind the pace to win by almost two lengths under a soft ride.
REMARQUE (Hawkes Racing): Rarely disappoints in his trials and showed he is ready to rebound from his first-up failure with a strong win in a deep 900m heat (54.66; 34.46). Led under a hold from start to finish and could easily have extended his margin over SLINKY and SWITZERLAND. The eye catcher behind them was a surging fourth from last by SETON HALL, a maiden winner last season with bright prospects.
Bjorn Baker's flier OVERPASS was another top shelf sprinter to trial well, showing his customary speed to lead throughout in the fastest heat over 900m (53.79; 33.86) where the effort of FRONT PAGE to finish second under no pressure showed he is the right form to chase a third successive win in the Kosciuszko.
There were two heats for the 2YOs over 900m with the Zoustar filly HAD IT ALL posting quicker time (55.41; 35.04) than the colts heat won by BURMA KING (54.63; 34.75). HAD IT ALL showed nice acceleration to run past the leaders from off the pace but suspect the colt holds bigger scope for improvement.
The maiden heats were chock full of good trials. Mark down the winners MAYWEATHER, SHARON DRIVE, AMAZING EAGLE and REVOLT and placegetters FIRST MISSION, TASMAN BAY, MAID OF MOOLAH, HOPPER and POINT AND SHOOT as good prospects for early wins.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Admitted; King Of Sparta; Remarque
X Amazing Eagle; First Mission; Front Page; High Octane; Had It All; Hoo Ya Mal; Hopper; I Am Me; Maid Of Moolah; Mayweather; Overpass; Point And Shoot; Revolt; Sharon Drive; Seton Hall; Tasman Bay; Unleeshing