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Chris Scholtz reviews the Rosehill trials on February 14.

ROSEHILL February 14B

BLACKBOOK: CHANDANA; RED EXCITEMENT; SONGLIKE; SINGLE BULLET; SEZANNE; STAR OF MONSOON; INFERENCE; ARTEMIS ROSE; BLACK MOSAIC.

After a run of quality trials featuring leading Group horses things came back a cog for this set but there were still several stand out performances from lightly raced prospects. The 2YO heats over 90m threw up some sharp performances.

HEAT 1: NIKITAS has been struggling to regain his Brisbane form for Chris Waller but was given a stern hitout here to lead the 1030m heat and made to work to the line. Remains to be seen if it is enough to switch him on come race day. Stablemate CHANDANA was the eye catcher running home strongly for second under a light ride in a solid back up to her excellent performance when resuming. Gosford Cup winner RED EXCITEMENT trucked through the trial under a big hold and could have been in the finish if tested. His sixth was just a clean out to gear him up for Saturday’s Parramatta Cup at Rosehill.

HEAT 2: Nothing of note here in a slower 1030m heat than the first. GAMBLER’S BLUES was OK running second.

HEAT 3: Maiden trial over 1030m. The winner MANDOLIZE tracked three wide and was solid but the Jason Coyle stablemates SIREN’S FURY and USENA took the eye with the way they hit the line late.

HEAT 4: Slow 900m heat won by STAR WARS who did his best work in the last 80 metres. BE LIKE DAD was under no pressure running third while the class runner MACKINTOSH was given a very easy time back in the field in his first trial this campaign.

HEAT 11: Easy trial from the Victoria Derby colt INFERENCE to finish behind the leading pack. Just worked to the line under his own steam. The other strong trial came STAR OF MONSOON who went to the line under no pressure for fourth.

HEAT 12: Featured the good filly SEZANNE who went through the motions to finish second to ZELADY’S NIGHT OUT. The winner cleared out to lead by five lengths and was never challenged but the latter only hacked through her work running on from the turn and will be ready to improve sharply when next produced.

HEAT 13: Became a two horse trial when ARTEMIS ROSE and ALL POINTS WEST cleared out from the 600m. ARTEMIS ROSE led and always had the second horse covered. It was a strong win in good time. BAYSA worked to the line nicely for third and could have finished closer if asked for a serious effort.

HEAT 14: Another trial dominated by the leaders but both the winner WRITTEN IN VAIN and SEXY EYES were put under pressure to drop the field from the turn. The eye catcher came from SO SPLENDID running through the line strongly for third under a quiet ride.

HEAT 15: This was the third trial for the winner BLACK MOSAIC and he looks to have a future after dominating this trial from the front. Still looks raw but showed talent to extend under a hold over the last 300m and win by more than four lengths in good time. EIGHT OVER was also good finding the line for the second with little urging.

HEAT 16: PRODIGY held on to win in slow time. Best efforts came from SPRING CREEK ROAD who was a closing third and had plenty to offer and ESCAPADO who was given a soft time running home from the back.

THE 2YOs (All heats 900m)

There were six 2YO heats and Bjorn Baker, Gerald Ryan and Gary Moore won two each.

Baker’s SONGLIKE sprinted fast from third on the turn to win by a soft two lengths in easily the fastest of the 2YO heats after Ryan’s DIDN’T MENTION IT led by three lengths. The winner was the only youngster to break 35 seconds for her last 600m and is smart.

Baker’s other winner PAPER TRADE was second fastest of the 2YOs but eight tenths slower than Songbird. She led but her effort was overshadowed by the impressive second of Gary Portelli’s classy colt SINGLE BULLET who really impressed with the way he hit the line in the last 50 metres. He is set to go to the Black Opal Stakes in Canberra on March 5.

Gerald Ryan’s two heat winners were ZA ZI BA, who led and ran faster time than stablemate ACQUME. The latter’s time was very slow but she was strong through the line and did win with something in hand.

It was the same with Gary Moore’s pair as SOLAR PATCH ran much slower time in his heat than stablemate MR KYLIN. REFLECTIVITY and CAMPAIGN were good behind Solar Patch while AUGUSTUS and ASTORIA were equally as good behind Mr Kylin.