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Chris Scholz reviews Rosehill barrier trials on February 21 plus Trial Watch and Blackbook Reports for meetings from February 23-26.
ROSEHILL February 21
Inside Grass; Good 4
11 Heats – 4 x 1030m (2 Open; 1 2YO; 1 Maiden); 7 x 900m (2 Open; 3 2YO; 2 Maiden)
A strong session that saw a fallen star hit his straps and previously noted trial runners confirm their potential with strong performances.
ALLIGATOR BLOOD (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott): He's back - if you can trust this trial form! His dominant trial was ample proof of the progress made by this talent packed gelding from his first trial placing since his switch to Tulloch Lodge. He had no trouble leading his 1030m heat at his own speed before sprinting up a fast last 400m to score by more than six lengths (61.50; 34.13) with Tim Clark giving him a kind ride.
Alligator Blood stretches out under @clarkyhk to win a trial at Rosehill on Monday by 6-1/4 lengths from Arranmore with Reggiewood in third. @tabcomau @GaiWaterhouse1 pic.twitter.com/ARi4iL7ZeE
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 20, 2022
GREECE (Ciaran Maher/David Eustace): If an unraced youngster is going to jump out of the box and shake up the Golden Slipper picture in a season lacking a star juvenile than this I Am Invincible filly is the one! Her excellent win in the fastest of the four 1030m heats (61.19; 34.84) confirmed the class she displayed in her first trial win over 900m at this course on February 10 when we suggested she was a potential star. Loved the way she settled smoothly behind the leader BOHEMIAN DAISY, moved up easily to join her turning for home and cruised away for the softest of wins by more than three lengths. Note that the runner-up beat the others just as easily, she has black type form….and she has finished a well beaten second to Greece in both trials.
"And Greece is the word this morning."
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 20, 2022
That's two trial wins for the $1.2m I Am Invincible filly, trained by @cmaherracing. @mcacajamez send the @CoolmoreAus youngster home to win a trial at Rosehill on Monday over Bohemian Daisy and Reggie's Folly. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/wSj57PJwAZ
REMARQUE (Hawkes Racing): With only the one win from his first five starts the boom might have faded a tad but his first trial since September was a reminder that the best may still lie ahead for this imposing Snitzel colt. William Pike was content to sit outside the leader until well into the straight before surging clear to record the fastest 900m heat win (53.96; 33.93). CALGARY QUEEN closed off nicely for second but the margin flattered her as Pike had a mountain of horse under him and held him back over the last 100m. Late finishing efforts from SIGNORE FOX and SIX AGAIN took the eye while the G1 winner KOLDING was in a trial of his own out the back doing his own thing with nice work over the last 200m.
ZARASTRO (Chris Waller): He was a brilliant winner of a Rosehill trial on February 10 by five lengths but this time James McDonald kept a lid on his speed in his 900m heat (54.31; 34.23) and as a result the colt was keen to run through the middle stages. He did all that was required to win the heat by 1.5 lengths but the runner-up SMIRNOVA was equally as good with this unbeaten filly also working well within herself to back up her similar first-up placing at the Rosehill trials on February 10. Robust Redoute's Choice gelding MA AND PA reeled off four win on the bounce up to 1600m in his last campaign and he is a must to folloow as he was the one taking the eye with his late work through the line in a positive start to his autumn prep.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Alligator Blood; Greece; Remarque
X Auckland; Bohemian Daisy; Cannon; Dubai Showgirl; Lubrication; Ma And Pa; Nominator; Ring Ahoy; Shirvo; Signore Fox; Six Again; Smirnova; Zarastro
TRIAL WATCH REPORT – February 23
NOTED TRIAL RUNNERS
SANDOWN WEDNESDAY: Fire (R4)
NEWCASTLE THURSDAY: Standing Order (R3); Endorsement (R6); Oakfield Storm (R6); Black Bolt (R8)
LOOKING AHEAD
CANBERRA FRIDAY: I'm Divine; Jukebox Flyer; St Best; Winnertakesitall; Ferrari Man
CANTERBURY FRIDAY: Brooks Battle; Beep Test; Ferrari Man; Chipper; Black Bolt; Kinloch; Standing Order; Emperor; Kote; Jukebox Flyer; Winnertakesitall
RANDWICK SATURDAY: Atishu; Emperor; Aim; Have Mercy; Quantico; Nimalee; Gravina; Dalaalaat; Brosnan; Custodian; Kote; Fireburn; Forbidden Love; Lady Laguna; Man In The Mirror; Robodira; I'm Divine; Yearning
CAULFIELD SATURDAY: Yearning; Wild Ruler; Zarastro; Minhaaj;
DOOMBEN SATURDAY: Welsh Legend
NEWCASTLE SATURDAY: I'm Divine; Endorsement; Jukebox Flyer; Ferrari Man
RECENT TRIAL WATCH WINNERS: Character; Champions League; Arthur Francis; Home Affairs; Mazu; Expat; Omni Man; Why Big Bry; Psychiatrist; I Am Brazen; Stoical; Stray; Lord Heron; Camino Real; Fangirl; Le Gai Soleil; Lost And Running; Coastwatch; Mayrose; Xtravagant Star; Maotai; Paulele; Super Bright; Fleet Air Arm; Rocklily.
TRIAL POINTERS
HAWKESBURY February: 18: 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.
RANDWICK February 17: Unraced youngsters WINNERTAKESITALL (743m - 44.40; 33.80) and CUSTODIAN (1040m - 63.46; 34.61) were good enough winning two of the four 2YO trials without fanfare.
WARWICK FARM February 14: In the first Group/Listed trial over 1000m specialist sprinter WILD RULER led and won in strong style (59.53; 34.54) to back up his recent trial win at Rosehill and confirm that he is ready to run to his best fresh. FORBIDDEN LOVE was an excellent second, working off the back the leader to close nicely, just the type of trial you would want to see to back up her first-up placing in the Expressway Stakes. Would love to see her placed against her own sex! MO'ÚNGA never competed and was beaten more than seven lengths in a performance that raised more questions than answers about his immediate prospects. In the 2YO heats over 805m Annabel Neasham would have been delighted by the classy wins of her talented pair MAN IN THE MIRROR and LADY LAGUNA. The high priced debut winner MAN IN THE MIRROR posted the quickest time (47.40; 33.94) doing all that was required to beat some smart opposition that included highly regarded FIREBURN (nice third). LADY LAGUNA stamped her class on her heat (47.86; 34.31) over the last 200m, working easily past the leaders.
ROSEHILL February 10: Eye catching efforts by BROSNAN, a big grey son of Snitzel, were noted in earlier trials and he is ready to go to the races after recording his first win in his fourth trial. He's got a lovely action and responded like a professional, extending fluently to score a soft win in the fastest of the four 2YO heats over 900m (54.81; 34.87). Suspect he will come into his own in longer 2YO races. Exciting I Am Invincible colt ZARASTRO was visually the most impressive winner of the morning, cruising to a five lengths lead on the bend under big hold before he was throttled down to amble home by 1.5 lengths from subsequent winner Cape Breton. The time was slow (55.34; 34.63) but that is no reflection on his ability. In the 900m heat for 3YO fillies the unbeaten SMIRNOVA was a close second, going through the line with plenty to offer while Thousand Guineas winner YEARNING worked strongly without being put under pressure.
RANDWICK February 7: In the second Group/Listed heat over (900m; 54.08; 35.25) the quality mare MINHAAJ working to the line in style to win the heat. She is primed to go fresh after two good trials.
WARWICK FARM February 4: In the first Group/Listed heat over 1000m (61.43; 34.63) NIMALEE settled behind the pace and was never asked to make a challenge, finishing a strong second under a big hold. In the other black type heat over 900m (54.15; 34.28) QUANTICO made ground from the rear on the inside and was given a push along over the last 200m get the better of his top class stablemate Lost And Running, form that has since been franked on race day.
ROSEHILL January 31: It's rare to see Nature Strip beaten in a trial so full marks to WILD RULER edging him out in the fastest of two black type heats over 900m on the course proper(53.37; 34.39). He trucked along in Nature Strip's slipstream and got the upper hand in the last bound to win the heat by less than a head.
RANDWICK January 24: MINHAAJ made the best impression in a fast 900m heat won by Malkovich, surging late for a strong second.
WARWICK FARM January 20: In the Group heat over 800m exciting sprinter QUANTICO took the eye with his late work through the line to finish a close sixth, a return that augers well for his autumn prospects. Expect to see him make his mark in good Group sprints.
ROSEHILL January 17: FIRE led for a strong win in the open 902m heat for 3YOs in fast time (52.68; 33.93).
BLACKBOOK REPORT
Eligible Blackbook Runners – February 24
NEWCASTLE THURSDAY: Astero (R7)
PAKENHAM THURSDAY: Comica (R4)
RECENT BLACKBOOK WINNERS: War Eternal; Rose Quartz; Mightybeel; Devil's Throat; Stray; Desert Icon; Worthily; Gogol; Easy Campese; Overpass; Profit; Toomuchtobear; Zoukina; Vespertine; Casino Kid; Mass Destruction; Dzsenifer; Coventina Bay; Five Kingdom; El Padrino; Totally Charmed.
Blackbookers – Selected February 19
(Follow for next 3 starts)
FORGOT YOU: Watch for him over the longer trips.
MAGIC: Excellent debut. Can only get better.
MR BRIGHTSIDE: Ready for a big autumn.
SLUICE BOX: Could have stayed in his box. Never tested.
ZEYREK: Nice start for a staying campaign.
ZAPATEO: Suited against own age and sex.
