3 minute read
Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney barrier trials at Warwick Farm on March 11 and 14.
WARWICK FARM March 14
Inside Grass/Heavy 8 –
16 Heats – 3 x 1200m (2 Open; 1 Maiden); 3 x 816m (3 Open); 3 x 813m (1 Open; 2 2YO); 3 x 810m (3 2YO); 4 x 807m (4 Maiden)
Polytrack/Synthetic
4 Heats – 1 x 1175m (Open); 3 x 740m (Open)
Heavy conditions for the 16 heats on the inside grass with the rails becoming a no go zone as the session progressed. Riders found the better going from middle to wide.
GULF OF LION (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott): The big session provided few highlights apart from an impressive win by this unraced Thronum gelding. Made big improvement from his first trial to win the fastest 810m heat (48.26; 34.01) by a commanding 3.6 lengths after tracking three deep from the start. He was very comfortable in the conditions as he extended over the last 300m, spreading the field out with big margins at the finish.
The Waterhouse/Bott team also won another 2YO heat over 813m (49.20; 34.90) with the well exposed PANTONARIO, a filly who has been placed in three starts against quality opposition. Her turn shouldn't be far away after she let down from midfield with a strong sprint over the last 250m after travelling four deep from the start.
The fastest 816m heat (48.70; 34.20) was won by NIMBOSTRATUS, an interesting Irish-bred 4YO mare by Wootton Bassett. She won as a 2YO in Ireland and then raced in California for 12 months where she won twice over six furlongs at Santa Anita and now lands in Sydney in the Annabel Neasham stable. Her prospects look good as she travelled strongly in the lead and had something in hand through the line.
Not unusual to see Bjorn Baker's team perform well on their home track with smart wins by his stablemates QUIET RIOT (fastest in the 813m heats/48.56; 33.93), previously noted Exceed And Excel 2YO filly GINGER'S GAL (unbeaten in three trials – soft win in her 813m heat/48.74; 34.45) and the maiden pair DIVINE OKAY (48.31; 33.98) and SINALOA (48.88; 34.78) in their 807m heats.
John O'Shea would also be happy with the 810m heat wins by his youngsters KING OF NAPLES (49.51; 35.10) and ZOU TIGER (48.83; 34.27) while the majority of the Godolphin runners contested Polytrack heats over 740m where their standouts were the heat winners VILANA (45.00; 34.28) and SHIRSHOV (44.96; 34.06) and placegetters CAMINO REAL, SALAMANDERS and ULTRA.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Gulf Of Lion
X Chenzel; Divine Okay; Flat Heaven; Frank Express; Ginger's Gal; King Of Naples; King Of The Castle; Laroupe; Milk Man; Nimbostratus; Olmedo; Pantonario; Penitent; Quiet Riot; Shirshov; Sinaloa; Vilana; Way To The Stars.
WARWICK FARM March 11
Polytrack; Synthetic
9 Heats – 2 x 1175m (2 Open); 7 x 740m (3 2YO; 2 Open; 2 Maiden)
Normal service resumed after the deluge that disrupted scheduled trials for more than a week.
BACCHANLIA (James Cummings): First appearance since he completed a three win streak in the Gosford Guineas in December. Settled behind on the rails behind the speed set by PARACHUTER and took advantage of the inside running to get the better of his rivals in the last 100m under no pressure. Time was average (45.06; 34.24) but he did it in style and had plenty more to offer through the line.
A slick performance from speedy @PrideRacing mare Ballistic Lover to win a trial at Warwick Farm on Friday over Pascal while Paulele recovered from a dip at the start to run third. @tabcomau @tricoloursR pic.twitter.com/G2iBjbUBTG
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 10, 2022
BALLISTIC LOVER (Jospeh Pride): She is a fast mare with plenty of class. Looks primed to add the impressive form she displayed over the spring with a brilliant win in the fastest 740m heat (43.25; 32.74), leading easily and under no pressure to extend her margin to more than four lengths over the runner-up PASCAL over the last 200m. The merit of her win can be drawn from the performance of the classy PAULELE to finish third. He was four lengths off the winner in midfield at the 600m and while he was not put under pressure to chase he was more than eight lengths behind at the finish.
BEST OF BORDEAUX (Kacy Fogden): The final Golden Slipper lead-up for this talented colt. Bypassed the 2YO heats to take on older horses in the fastest of the two open heats over 1175m (72.19; 35.06) and didn't disappoint with a strong win after things went against him from the start. He was tardy into stride and was ridden up to sit three wide, running keenly with his mouth open as Sam Clipperton tried to get him to settle. Stamped his class on the trial by extending strongly off the turn to head off the leader PIPPALI and still went to the line with something in hand. WELSH LEGEND was the best of the others having another quiet trial before working home for a soft fourth.
Unbeaten @kacyfogden colt Best Of Bordeaux warms up for the Golden Slipper with a trial win at Warwick Farm on Friday. After sitting wide the colt ran down Pippali with Irish Sequel in third. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/MhU8IsJOs2
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 10, 2022
The second 1175m heat was won by the accomplished Group winner IMAGING (72.62; 36.50), doing enough to get the better of much lesser performed rivals. His Waller-trained stablemates STRAIGHT ARRON and MIGHTY WILLIE took the eye with their efforts.
The fastest of the three 2YO heats over 740m was won by unraced Star Witness gelding SEPTIME (44.83; 34.01), sustaining good speed after a slow start in his first trial. I was impressed by the strong closing second of the unraced Capitalist gelding ENFORCED in his second trial.
Unraced Waller stablemates LAMORLAYE (45.51; 34.26) and CADETSHIP (46.37; 34.66) won the other 2YO heats. Snitzel filly LAMORLAYE is a natural runner and has obvious prospects after scooting away to an easy win by more than six lengths. CADETSHIP led his trial and did enough to hold off a good trial from the runner-up VOLDEMORT.
Fastnet Rock filly MYSTIC MERMAID was placed in her only start to date in September and she should soon pick up a maiden win after trialling well within herself to win the fastest maiden heat over 740m (45.13; 34.34). She has a lovely relaxed action that conserves energy.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Bacchanalia; Ballistic Lover; Best Of Bordeaux
X Enfolded; Imaging; Lamorlaye; Mighty Willie; Mystic Mermaid; Norman; Septime; Straight Arron; Voldemorte; Welsh Legend.
