3 minute read
Chris Scholtz reviews barrier trials at Newcastle on December 30 and Warwick Farm on January 3.
WARWICK FARM January 3
Inside Grass; Good 4
16 Heats – 3 x 1200m (2 Open; 1 Maiden); 4 x 801m (4 Open); 4 x 799m (4 2YO); 5 x 797m (5 Maiden)
Polytrack – 2 Heats 1 x 1 x 1175m (Open); 1 x 740m (Open)
Nice trials from some good class performers while the 2YO and maiden heats stirred plenty of interest.
Bjorn Baker's brilliant mare BONITA QUEEN is a ready to run first-up while a couple of his unraced maidens are set for winning debuts.
BOLD BIDDER (Bjorn Baker): Unraced Fastnet Rock 3YO took the eye when placed in his first trial on December 10 and made excellent improvement to win his 797m heat in good time (46.80; 33.74). Tracked wide under a strong hold while sharing the lead before extending easily from the 300m to run away with the trial with plenty in reserve.
BONITA QUEEN (Bjorn Baker): Gee, she can run quick over a short course! Bounded in front from the gates and was held back for the first 400m before her natural speed saw her sprint away with her 801m heat under no pressure to score by a soft 4.3 lengths (46.80; 32.82). Hard to catch in a short course sprint, especially against her own sex.
GOLDANE (Bjorn Baker): Another impressive trial win by this unraced Winning Rupert filly to back up her debut trial at Rosehill on December 10. Dictated from the front in her 797m heat (46.64; 33.49), travelling well within herself and extending easily off the turn with an economical action. She cruised home by more than two lengths with plenty to offer.
TOMCAT FLOWERS (Jarrod Austin): This maiden 4YO deserves a special mention as he really should have a win on the board as erratic running cost him a win at Queanbeyan at his latest start when he veered to the outside fence and was eased out of it. Did everything right in his 797m heat, posting the fastest time of the session (45.72; 33.0`) as he sped to a soft 4.4 lengths win without coming off the bit to gain his clearance to race again.
The open heats over 801m saw some well performed gallopers tune up for their pending returns with nice trials, among them the heat winners WILLAIDOW (46.84; 33.43) and WATEGOS (47.70; 33.34). The classy sprinter SCHWARZ looked in good form working easily in his heat to finish third.
The four 2YO heats over 799m were won by BEIWACHT (47.21; 33.56); NAMASTE (46.98;33.31); GIDDY GIRL (47.19; 33.69); and SPLASH OF STEEL (46.81; 33.48).
Scone-trained SPLASH OF STEEL, a trial winner at Muswellbrook early in the season, made an impression and looks well prepared for his debut. Godolphin's BEIWACHT is a good type by Bivouac and his strong win indicates he has come on well from his early educational trials.
In the heat won by NAMASTE the closing work by the previously noted WODETON and KERBER, a stylish filly by I Am Invincible, really took the eye. The racy filly GIDDY GIRL did everything right to win her heat after she refused to run and was pulled up after 200m in her first trial at Hawkesbury.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Bold Bidder; Bonita Queen; Goldane; Tomcat Flowers
X Beiwacht; Giddy Girl; Kerber; Mailata; Mrs Maree; Pewter Pearl; Schwarz; Splash Of Steel; The Agent; Wategos; Willaidow; Wodeton
NEWCASTLE December 30
Course Proper; Good 4
10 Heats – 2 x 1200m (2 Open); 7 x 900m (3 Open; 4 Maiden); 1 x 800m (2YO)
NOTED TRIALS
X Brilliant Knight; Dalaalaat; Gold Capital; Hard To Say; Koios; Odaka; Overriding; Shaggy; Torendosetta