3 minute read
Chris Scholtz pinpoints future winners from barrier trials at Randwick on February 17 and Hawkesbury on February 18.
RANDWICK February 17
A Grass; Good 4
13 Heats – 1 x 1200m (Open); 7 x 1050m (3 Open; 2 2YO; 2 Maiden); 5 x 743m (2 Open; 2 2YO; 1 Maiden)
A February trial win does not make an autumn but it might mark a turning point for the struggling Group 1 winner September Run.
In an earlier review I made mention of the disappointing trial effort (no blinkers) of this mare at Randwick on February 7, noting that she was a long way from the form that saw her blitz her rivals in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington in 2020.
This time SEPTEMBER RUN had the shades back on and there was plenty of intent about her work in her open heat over 1050m as James McDonald tracked the speed before coming off the back of the leader ROBODIRA at the 300m and immediately putting the Waller-trained mare under a ride.
He had to ride her along and it took all of 200m for her to get the upper hand from a quietly ridden ROBODIRA on the line in reasonable time (63.15; 34.50). It was not inspiring work with the superior trials in her heat coming from the runner-up and the classy sprinter AIM surging home for a strong third.
The star of the session was the talented 3YO gelding DRAGONSTONE, showing he is a Group winner in waiting as he cruised to an impressive win his open heat over 1050m (63.67; 34.56).
Promising sprinter Dragonstone sails down the outside to claim Villiers runner-up Ellsberg in the last stride with Astero in third in a trial at Randwick on Thursday. They clocked 1:03.67 for the 1050m. @tabcomau @mark_mnracing pic.twitter.com/ZyBP4YaSkX
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 16, 2022
Tyler Schiller let the speed go before peeling to the outside and letting DRAGONSTONE pull his way past the leaders over the last 200m without applying any pressure. It was super work as the classy Group performer ELLSBERG was under pressure trying to go with DRAGONSTONE over the last 100m.
In the open trials over 743m the placings by the Snowden stablemates NAJMATY and CALIFORNIA ZIMBOL a really took the eye. The filly NAJMATY had plenty in reserve working to the line for second behind LEGEND I AM in her heat (43.68; 33.17) while the Group winner CALIFORNIA ZIMBOL looked strong through the line finishing second to the racy Snitzel filly CHIMES in the quicker heat (43.61; 33.35).
CALIFORNIA ZIMBOL has been off the scene for nine months but this big girl is a super first-up performer and this trial indicates she in a good place heading into the autumn.
Custodian, a @FreedmanRacing trained $1.15m half-brother to Profondo, leads all the way in his first trial at Randwick on Thursday, from Fashion Legend and Sleigh Queen in 1:03.46. @tabcomau @jmeharron @mmsnippets pic.twitter.com/b0mn2bZr50
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 16, 2022
There were four 2YO trials with the unraced winners of the two 743m heats PRETTY SHAMROCK (43.98; 33.38) and WINNERTAKESITALL (44.40; 33.80) and placegetters CALIFORNIA TOUCH and KOTE making the best impression. The juvenile heats over 1040m heats were won by unraced pair CUSTODIAN (63.46; 34.61) and MATCHA LATTE (63.71; 34.72). The latter beat only two rivals but the Choisir colt did it with style to score by more than five lengths.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Dragonstone
X Aim; Beep Test; California Press; California Touch; California Zimbol; Comrade Rosa; Custodian; Elizabeel; Kote; Matcha Latte; Pretty Shamrock; Najmaty; Robodira; Shadow Devil; Star Patrol; Winnertakesitall
HAWKESBURY February 18
Inside Grass; Good 4
13 Heats – 1 x 1250m (Open); 4 x 1000m (2 Open; 2 Maiden); 7 x 800m (1 Open; 3 2YO; 3 Maiden)
A couple of G1 winners added some class to an average set of trials.
TREKKING led the usual Godolphin contingent at Hawkesbury trials, improving on his recent first-up trial to finish a strong second in his 1000m heat won by I'M DIVINE in pedestrian time (59.71; 33.89).
Thousand Guineas winner YEARNING finished a distant second in the fastest 100m heat won by the tearaway BROOKS BATTLE (58.49; 33.46) but there was a lot to like about the way she trialled, settling out the back before sprinting to the line over the last 100m. BROOKS BATTLE opened up from the jump and was in another postcode leading by eight lengths turning for home before coasting home by seven.
The Godolphin team always perform well at Hawkesbury trials and this session was no exception. Lightly raced filly SPEECH and the good mare KATALIN recouped off recent defeats with good work to finish 1-2 in their 800m heat (47.96; 33.l34) while the 2YO pair BLACK IRISH, an imposing Exosphere filly, and EXCURSION impressed with their placings in their 800m heats.
NOTED TRIALS
X Black Iris; Brooks Battle, Emperor; Excursion; Have Mercy; I'm Divine; Jukebox Flyer; Katalin; Pacific Force; Speech; St Best; Trekking; Yearning.
