3 minute read
Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney and provincial barrier trials at Randwick and Gosford on August 25.
RANDWICK August 25
14 Heats – Soft 5
Kensington – 1 x 850m (Group/Listed)
Randwick A Grass – 1 x 1200m (Open); 8 x 1045m (4 Open; 4 Maiden); 4 x 739m (1 Open; 3 C1/Maiden)
A high class black type trial on the Kensington track featured four G1 winners and a pair of G2 winners.
HEAT 1 (850m – Kensington): A strong return by the imported multiple G1 winner ALCOHOL FREE in her first trial since she contested the Queen Of The Turf in her Australian debut for Waterhouse/Bott in April. Travelled easily a length off the race fit I AM ME and responded well to pick her up under a quiet ride over the last 100m for a narrow win (49.81; 32.79). I AM ME worked well within herself and would have won the trial if asked for a serious effort. Closing off strongly for third was LOST AND RUNNING in an excellent return from his autumn issues with the good filly SUNSHINE IN PARIS improving on her first-up trial for a sound fourth. PRIVATE EYE was not in the trial to compete and had a quiet time finishing seven lengths from the winner with ATISHU.
Alcohol Free and I Am Me head to the line locked together in Heat 1 at Randwick this morning!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 24, 2023
Lost And Running fills third whilst last year's Everest runner up Private Eye has a quiet trial.@Dynamic_WONIT @cmaherracing @GaiWaterhouse1 @YulongInvest pic.twitter.com/hqXFDfmMq7
The open heats over 1045m on the A Grass should also provide some valuable spring pointers.
Last season's high rating youngster RED RESISTANCE had a good blow out showing his natural speed to win his heat in quick time for the session (63.30; 34.49) and the talented sprinter KOTE looks ready to go after doing all that was required to win his heat (64.03; 35.45).
Red Resistance wins his trial leading all the way!@gobloodstockaus @GaiWaterhouse1 pic.twitter.com/DNQWqgH3Lt
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 24, 2023
Among those I expect to make an impact in the near future are a former Kiwi stakeswinner now with Chris Waller and a promising maiden heat winner trained by John O'Shea.
RHYTHM OF LOVE (John O'Shea): Stood out among the maiden heat winners, cruising easily through his 1045m trial with a lovely relaxed action for a soft win in good time (63.69; 35.41). He was placed in two of his first three starts in April and May and with the expectation that progeny by his sire Grunt will hit their straps as 3YOs he looks to have a bright future.
RHYTHM OF LOVE (3 g Grunt - Not A Cherry) wins his 3YO+ Maiden Trial (1045m) at Randwick in a time of 1:03.69 (last 600m: 0:35.41). @inglis_sales @JohnOSheaRacing
— ANZ Bloodstock (@anz_news) August 25, 2023
@racing_nsw pic.twitter.com/UEVF1CQDNg
SALTCOATS (Chris Waller): Former Kiwi 3YO by Ardrossan was placed in his first two starts before winning a Listed race over 1400m, leading to his transfer to Australia. This was his second Sydney trial and he again impressed working well within himself to finish an easy third in a strong 1045m heat won by KOTE (64.03; 35.45). Good type with the potential to win a good race during the spring.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Alcohol Free; Rhythm Of Love; Saltcoats
X Battle Of Vienna; Choice Legend; Giancarlo; Hell I Am; In My Dreams; Kote; Lost And Running; Mayrose; Midori Glory; Mojave Desert; Red Resistance; Tropical Squall
ROYAL TRIBUTE (3 c Snitzel - Jennifer Lynnette) comfortably wins his second August trial; today over 1045m at Randwick in a time of 1:04.36 (last 600m: 0:34.98) The 3YO son of @ArrowfieldStud Champion Sire SNITZEL was a $500k @mmsnippets GC Yrlg purchase by @GaiWaterhouse1 &… pic.twitter.com/G60SEJqIGs
— ANZ Bloodstock (@anz_news) August 25, 2023
TROPICAL SQUALL (3 f Prized Icon - Squalls) led all the way in her 1045m Open Trial at Randwick to win from RAF ATTACK. SALTAIRE ran home well for third. @GaiWaterhouse1 Trial time 1:03.30 (last 600m: 0:34.87) @mmsnippets @GooreeStud @KooringalStud
— ANZ Bloodstock (@anz_news) August 25, 2023
@racing_nsw pic.twitter.com/GwRtikCJsV
His third trial this prep. and CRITIQUE (3 c Written Tycoon - Critique) leads all the way to win an Open trial (1045m) at Randwick from MAYROSE and RAVELLO in a time of 1:03.32 (last 600m: 0:34.79)@GaiWaterhouse1 @mmsnippets @Chinahorseclub @NewgateFarm @TrilogyRacing1
— ANZ Bloodstock (@anz_news) August 25, 2023
pic.twitter.com/ZIysNUPkNm
BRAVELY 3c Zouster - She’s So High) wins his 3YO+ Maiden Trial (1045m) at Randwick in a time of 1:04.24 (last 600m: 0:35.17) @SnowdenRacing1 . The 3YO was a $500k @mmsnippets purchase for @Chinahorseclub @NewgateFarm @TrilogyRacing1
— ANZ Bloodstock (@anz_news) August 25, 2023
@racing_nsw pic.twitter.com/RGbPgwcYBd
GOSFORD August 25
Course Proper – Good 4
13 Heats – 1 x 1200m (Open); 6 x 1000m (4 Open; 2 Maiden); 6 x 800m (1 Open; 1 3YO; 4 Maiden)
The appearance of two G1 performers from the Maher/Eustace stable added some class to this session.
Their imported Doncaster Handicap placegetter NUGGET showed his class with a strong win in the 1200m heat while last season's G1 winner RUTHLESS DAME had nothing more than exercise for an easy sixth in her 800m heat in her first trial since June.
NUGGET was having his second trial since he finished third in the Doncaster behind Mr Brightside and My Oberon in April, sitting behind the pace and working to the line under a soft ride for a comfortable win (75.22; 35.70).
Doncaster third place getter Nugget won his trial nicely this morning at @gosford_races!@cmaherracing pic.twitter.com/NCDpGGqpXW
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 24, 2023
It's not unusual for the Nathan Doyle team to perform well on trial days and this was no exception with the stable winning five heats with CRIPPS TONITE, MY ELOISE; MIDNIGHT OPAL, REIGNING KING and SHE'S A BAD GIRL.
Liked the work of MY ELOISE to win the her 800m open heat in the fastest time of the six heats over the distance (47.98; 34.78) while smart maiden heat wins by the unraced MIDNIGHT OPAL (48.17; 34.91) and the frequently placed SHE'S A BAD GIRL (49.56; 36./06) suggest they will be well fancied when produced in suitable maidens.
MIDNIGHT OPAL and SHE'S A BAD GIRL are by Deep Field and another of his progeny HALE BOPP from the Kris Lees yard is another unraced maiden ready to make a strong debut after three trials.
HALE BOPP (Kris Lees): Unraced Deep Field gelding was tabbed after his earlier Gosford trial and he improved off that to comfortably win his 1000m heat with style (61.41; 36.44). He absorbed pressure from two other runners on his outside for the first 800m and extended easily under a kind ride to run through the line with plenty in reserve.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Hale Bopp
X Audette; Briasa; First Person; Midnight Opal; My Eloise; Nugget; She's A Bad Girl; Wealthofknowledge; Willinga Freefall
