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Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney barrier trials at Randwick on July 9.
RANDWICK July 9
Randwick A Grass; Soft 7
12 Heats – 1 x 1200m (Open); 6 x 1050m (1 Open; 4 2YO; 1 Maiden); 5 x 735m (1 Open; 4 2YO)
The eight 2YO heats provided an interesting blend of unraced youngsters mixing it with several who have made their mark in black type company plus a gelding who is yet to beaten in five trials.
Mark Newnham's Capitalist gelding RUSSIAN STANDARD won his fifth trial with another strong display in his 1050m heat (64.65; 36.13), cruising home by 4.2 lengths. It's obvious he is much better than his failure on debut at Gosford back in February. The filly NEW YORK GAL, beaten at Canberra at her only start, was an impressive second reeling off a fast last 200m as she sprinted hard to the line from midfield.
DICKSON HORSE, OUR BELLE FILLE, KICKATORP and VILLADEN were other youngsters to take the eye in their 1050m heats.
The fastest 1050m trial was the maiden heat won by SHAOLIN TEMPLE (64.53; 36.31) by more than four lengths. It was a stylish effort but this was his best result in four trials since February. There were some creditable efforts behind him from LEGEND RULES and the winner's stablemates SINGLE TONITE and HOOST.
The quickest 735m heat was won by MAZU (44.12; 34.35), a fast Maurice colt who won at Canterbury before a G3 placing in the autumn in the Pago Pago Stakes. He was keen to run but was held down by Tommy Berry and worked well within himself over the last 200m.
There was a notable first trial by the unraced Sebring filly ALWAYS PRAYING. She let down strongly from off the pace to win her 735m heat with plenty in hand in good time (44.56; 34.28). The Group placed filly LATINO BLEND was a good third.
Other 2YOs to make an impression in the 735m heats included YASAMINE, MASCHERATA, WHY DOUBT, CHOIX DE LA MER, HOMBRE and HAMAKI.
The open heat over 735m marked the return of the talented five time winner BIG PARADE. He won the trial narrowly in good time (44.59; 34.75) under a well held ride from Josh Parr after matching strides all the way with WARMTH, an unraced 3YO filly by Hinchinbrook who was having her first trial. She has obvious prospects as she also had plenty in hand matching BIG PARADE over the last 200m with more than four lengths to the third horse.
The accomplished sprinter BRAVE SONG was too classy for his rivals in the open heat over 1200m, leading easily and striding away for a soft 5.2 lengths win (75.73; 35.42). The Snowden team have given him two trials and he is ready to run boldly when produced in a suitable sprint. While he handled these soft conditions I suspect the Snowden team would prefer to run him on a good track.
NOTED TRIALS
X Always Praying; Big Parade; Brave Song; Construct; Deep Reef; Dickson Horse; Fayerra; Hamaki; Hoost; Hombre; Kickatorp; Legend Rules; Mascherata; Mazu; New York Gal; Our Belle Fille; Shaolin Temple; Russian Standard; Single Tonite; Villaden; Warmth; Why Doubt; Yasamine.