Search

show me:

Trial Watch Reviews: 26th July - 1st August 2023

by By Chris Scholtz , 9 months ago

3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney and provincial barrier trials at Gosford (July 26), Randwick (July 28) and Canterbury (August 1).

PERICLES winning the Stow Storage Autumn Classic (Hillside) at Sandown in Australia.
PERICLES winning the Stow Storage Autumn Classic (Hillside) at Sandown in Australia. Picture: Racing Photos

CANTERBURY August 1`

Course Proper – Good 4

16 Heats – 3 x 902m (3 Open); 5 x 1100m (3 Open; 2 Maiden); 4 x 899m (2 Open; 2 Maiden); 4 x 896m (4 Maiden)

Some high class heats kicked off a session that saw a number of spring prospects make good impressions.

HEAT 1 (902m): The heat contained six G1 winners but the finish was all about one horse, the Rosehill Guineas winner LINDERMANN. After his impressive placing in his return trial at Rosehill on July 21 this trial was as good as you want to see from a horse on the cusp of a big spring campaign. He looked to have lengths in reserve working outside the leader PRINCESS GRACE before taking the upper hand in the last 200m under a hard held ride from Jay Ford, giving the impression he could have gone a lot quicker. (54.68; (32.98). MADAME POMMERY also took the eye working through the line with good intent for an eager third. Golden Slipper winner SHINZO is sure to benefit from his easy fourth with no knock on the soft work from KING COLORADO, DIAMIL and MONTEFILIA.

IKNOWASTAR (Bjorn Baker): A brilliant win by the Bjorn Baker-trained 4YO in the second open heat over 902m. He was keen to run from the start with Rachel King letting him stride away from the pack to lead by a big space, a margin he maintained as he ran fast time over the last 400m to score by eight lengths (52.77; 32.98).

EXTREMELY LUCKY (Chris Waller): Could be a real star in the making for his new trainer with the former South Australian showing his class to work home strongly from last in the third 902m heat (53.42; 33.70) for an impressive third, backing up a similar performance when he was second at Rosehill in his first Sydney trial on July 21.

PERICLES (James Cummings): Oozed class winning his 1100m heat (67.94; 34.35) in his first trial since the autumn. Settled three pairs back before James McDonald allowed him to work easily into the trial three and four wide from the 500m. McDonald sat cold as he joined the leaders, allowing him to cruise through the line for a soft win with a lot in hand. Sure to be a key spring player.

Chris Waller is a keen supporter of Canterbury trials as all horses get use of the course proper.

He won heats with the good filly OLENTIA and promising maiden pair CARRAZANA and YET HE MOVES. All three can be followed with confidence.

NOTED TRIALS

XXX Lindermann

XX Extremely Lucky; Iknowastar; Pericles

X Bonita Queen; Carrazana; Devil's Throat; First Landing; Madame Pommery; Narwhal; Olentia; Short Shorts; Writty; Yet He Moves;   

RANDWICK July 28

17 Heats

Course Proper (Soft 5) – 2 x 1000m (GBroup/Listed); 1 x 900m (Group/Listed)

Randwick A Grass (Soft 6) – 1 x 1200m (Open); 8 x 1045m (3 Open; 1 Maiden; 4 2YO); 5 x 742m (1 Open; 4 x 2 & 3YO)

Another round of three black type trials on the course proper to get things started for some major spring contenders.

HEAT 1 (1000m): Good speed set by the quality filly NORTH STAR LASS with the G1 winner GOLDEN MILE sitting on her back. He was made to work to the line to get the upper hand for a solid win (60.78; 34.72) to follow up his impressive third in his Hawkesbury trial. NORTH STAR LASS moved smoothly and her two trials have her primed to for a bold first-up showing.

HEAT 2 (1000m): A field of five, four of them imports, with the So You Think 4YO PERFECT THOUGHT doing it nicely in front from the start for a strong win, responding when called on and doing enough for a solid win (61.16; 35.22). He appeals as an ideal type for the Epsom Handicap and other good 1600-2000m races. English Derby runner-up HOO YA MAL, having his first trial since his Melbourne Cup 12th in November, worked home strongly for last in a typical staying trial.

HEAT 3 (900m): Class is constant and it was clearly evident when the multiple G1 winner ALLIGATOR BLOOD returned with an impressive display, sitting second outside the leader QUEEN OF THE BALL before extending under no pressure for a soft win (54.82;34.95). CALL DI put in nice work late for a strong third.     

There was plenty of talent on display in the A grass trials from rising three and four-year-olds.

GARZA BLANCA (Maher/Eustace): He's an I Am Invincible 4YO with plenty of scope to improve on what he has done to date judging by sharp 1045m heat win in the fastest time over the distance (63.30; 35.04). Sat off the pace and gave the leaders several lengths start before showing a sharp turn of foot to sprint past them quickly and put the trial to bed. NINGALOO STAR also impressed with a fast closing third.

A LOT A LIP (Waterhouse/Bott): A super first trial win in her 742m heat (44.26; 33.82) by this unraced Exceed And Excel filly. Travelled sweetly in the lead and was given a kind ride to record a soft win over Butch Cassidy, a good winner last season.   

Other heat winners to make an impression included CAPITAL ASSET, BUCKS PARTY, XIDAKI, WRITE THIS WAY and KEY LEGEND.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Alot A Lip; Alligator Blood; Garza Blanca 

X Alcabeel; Avebury; Alvina's Luck; Bucks Party; Call Di; Capital Asset; Critique; Gelatin; Ironback Artie; Key Legend; Mexico; Miss Couver; Ningaloo Star; North Star Lass; Perfect Thought; Write This Way; Xidaki;

GOSFORD July 26

Course Proper; Soft 5

18 Heats – 8 x 1000m (2 2YO; 3 Open; 3 Maiden); 10 x 800m (5 2YO; 3 Open; 2 Maiden)

Expect this set to be the source of some good provincial winners.

VIACONI (Kris Lees): This unraced Nicconi 3YO is primed for a big debut after recording his second trial win to go with his earliuer success at Wyong. Travelled smoothly behind a pair of leaders before easily rounding them up over the last 200m, working to the line with plenty in reserve to win the fastest of the eight heats over 1000m (62.36; 37.30).

SALISANO (Nathan Doyle): Promising 4YO mare won two of her first three country starts early in the year and looks set to go on with it after an excellent win in her 1000m heat (63.28; 36.72). Missed the start and was three lengths last after 100m but made ground quickly under no pressure to be third at the 500m before peeling widest on the turn. Responded well when called on to find the line in good time with the feature being her quick closing sectionals.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Viaconi; Salisano

X Cauvery; Dalaalaat; Hale Bopp; Hell Of A Show; Isledon; Linguee; Miss Cartel; Paris Manhattan; Razeta; The Bopper; The Escape

<
Racing and Sports

tags

Gallops Trials Randwick Canterbury Gosford Alligator Blood winners Lindermann Shinzo Chris Waller

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au