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Quick Thinker wins his heat while Neasham's stable star Zaaki trials quietly in his
In the first heat at the Warwick Farm barrier trials on Monday, run over 1100 metres, the OTI Racing-owned 2020 Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Quick Thinker (So You Think) made his first appearance since an unplaced run in the Lord Mayor’s Cup (Gr 3, 1800m) at Eagle Farm back in May.
He took the lead from the barriers under Paul Whitmore and was shaken up after rounding the home turn to hold off the challenge of Maurice’s Medad (Maurice), on his inside, scoring by a head in a time of 1:08.11. Attorney (Makfi) was a length further back in third. The Annabel Neasham-trained Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Mo’unga (Savabeel) had a quiet trial and finished last of the four runners.
Mo’unga is due to make his seasonal reappearance in the Winx Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Randwick on August 21.
In heat three, Mo’unga’s stablemate Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux) was making his first public appearance since winning the Q22 (Gr 2, 2200m). From the barriers, he was taken back to last of the five runners, where he remained, warming up well to pass his stablemate Wisdom Of Water (Headwater) in the closing stages. The heat was won by the Joe Pride-trained Private Eye (Al Maher) who had raced prominently throughout and beat Bowery Breeze (Excelebration) by a neck in a time of 52.14 seconds for the 900 metres.
Zaaki is likely to have another trial ahead of his intended first up run in the Tramway Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at Randwick on September 4.
Heat seven saw the Richard Litt-trained Profondo (Deep Impact) pull away in the straight in an eye-catching trial. Settled in third, he let down in the straight and beat Torun (Medaglia d’Oro) by a length with another two and a half lengths back to Hyperyield (Nicconi) in third. The time for the 740 metre trial was 42.89 seconds.
Profondo is out of Honesty Prevails (Redoute’s Choice) and was bought by Litt for $1.9 million from the draft of breeder Arrowfield Stud at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He has been patiently handled by Litt, with Monday’s trial his third and first this preparation.