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Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney and provincial barrier trials at Hawkesbury (February 15); Randwick (February 16) and Gosford (February 17).
GOSFORD February 17
Course Proper; Heavy 8
19 Heats; 1 x 1200m (Open); 5 x 1000m (3 Open; 2 Maiden); 13 x 800m (6 2YO; 3 Open; 4 Maiden)
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott brought the class to this set of trials, led by their notable Group performer DAWN PASSAGE.
This was his second trial and he looked strong going through his gears to run out an easy winner over his stablemate JUST THINKIN' in the fastest 1000m heat (62.25; 36.59).
Kim Waugh's top notch performer TRUMBULL is also set to resume in style after a super win in his 1000m heat where he won hard held by 1.7 lengths and could have gone much quicker (62.49; 37.44).
Waterhouse and Bott also produced a smart youngster TATTOOIST for her first trial over 800m. The American Pharaoh filly sped over the trip in good time (50.42; 36.56) and had plenty in hand beating a nice effort from the runner-up LEADING LADY.
Another unraced youngster RUPERTAAR, a Winning Rupert filly from the Bjorn Baker yard, also impressed winning her heat with good speed over the last 600m in the quickest of the 2YO heats over 800m (50.07; 36.04). Mark down TIDAL IMPACT from the Damien Lane stable as another 2YO winner with excellent prospects after he ran away from his rivals over the last 200m in heat 800m heat (51.21; 36.90)
No surprise to see the talented SIR ELTON record the fastest 800m heat win (50.06; 36.15), backing up his recent Wyong trial win as he works towards his return to racing after a long break.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Dawn Passage; Trumbull
X Antarctic Pride; Bonython; Cantrell; Gemmahra; In The Blink; Leading Lady; Liberty Sun; Mix; Rupertaar; Safado; Sammy; Sir Elton; Tattooist; Tidal Impact; Valiant Lad; Wandabaa
RANDWICK February 16
Randwick A Grass; Soft 7
15 Heats; 1 x 1200m (Open); 9 x 1050m (5 Open; 2 2YO; 2 Maiden); 5 x 742m (3 2YO; 2 Open)
Golden Slipper winner FARNAN captured all the attention in his comeback trial, duly showing his natural speed to run out a comfortable winner of his 1050m heat in slow time (64.30; 34.55). His progress will be monitored with interest as he is expected to trial again before resuming.
Mark Newnham's team won six heats including the three 2YO trials over742m with a smart unraced trio DRAGONSTONE (42.69; 33.17); RUSSIAN STANDARD (42.84; 33.56) and WHY DOUBT (43.24; 33.53). The was an excellent first first trial by DRAGONSTONE, a Mikki Isle gelding, as he jibbed when the gates opened and gave up a start before working through the field easily to get the better of a nice filly NAJMATY. They both have good prospects.
Newnham's older stars GREYSFUL GLAMOUR and SPLINTEX always trial well and were in good winning form in their heats but the stars of the morning were John O'Shea's unbeaten 4YO prospect LOST AND RUNNING and CAPTIVANT, the exciting 2YO colt by Capitalist from the Snowden stable.
LOST AND RUNNING (John O'Shea); The winner of his first two starts late last season has been given plenty of time to develop and the patient plan should reap dividends as he toyed with open company rivals in the fastest 1050m heat (62.37; 35.21) to back up the his equally good trial win at Randwick on February 5. Ready to go.
CAPTIVANT (Peter & Paul Snowden); The Victory Vein winner in the spring is set to play a big hand in the coming 2YO races after another sharp trial win over 1050m (63.27; 35.59) by a soft 3.25 lengths. This time he was showed more early dash than his recent trial win at Randwick on February 5 when he swept home from last, indicating that he is focused and primed to take on whatever the Snowdens have planned for him.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Captivant; Lost And Running
X Bound To Win; Conscript; Criaderas; Dragonstone; Farnan; Forbidden Love; Greysful Glamour; Jen Rules; Kermanding; Magnitudo; Marboosha; Mazu; Najmaty; Poignant; Russian Standard; Splintex; Sweet Deal; Why Doubt
HAWKESBURY February 15
Inside Grass; Soft 7
16 Heats – 2 x 1250m (2 Open); 4 x 1000m (1 2YO; 1 Open; 2 Maiden); 8 x 760m) 5 2YO; 1 Open; 2 Maiden)
Nothing special about this set.
Best of the 1000m trials came from the Mark Newnham-trained LORD OLYMPUS getting the better of stablemate TIME FOR VICTORY in the open heat in the fastest time of the four over the distance (59.73)
The pick of the five 2YO trials over 760m was a fast win by EUPHRATE'S DREAM (45.99). The unraced DIO was responsible for a nice trial finishing second in his heat won by SUBSITITUON in quick time (45.95).
Best of the maidens was a strong win by the well performed BEYLIKS in the fastest of the 760m heats (45.07). Surely he will be winning a race this prep.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Beyliks
X Dio; Euphrate's Dream; Lord Olympus; Paratrooper; Patrolling; Stevio; Substitution; Time For Victory