3 minute read
Chris Scholtz reviews barrier trials at Warwick Farm on January 16, Gosford on January 17 and Randwick on January 22.
RANDWICK January 22
KENSINGTON; Good 4 – 4 x 850m (4 Open)
RANDWICK A GRASS; Good 4 - 8 x 1050m (2 2YO; 3 Open; 3 Maiden); 6 x 741m (2 2YO; 1 Open; 2 3YO Fillies; 1 Maiden)
POLYTRACK – 1 x 1080m (Open); 1 x 780m (Open)
All the focus was on the 2YO heats where the Waterhouse/Bott and Snowden stables turned out some of their best youngsters.
In no particular order the 2YO heats featured numerous early season talents including SHANGRI LA EXPRESS; PROST; MANAAL; ESPIONAGE; BODYGUARD; FEARLESS; MANOS and LADY OF CAMELOT.
The fastest 850m heat winner on the Kensington track was PROST (48.45; 32;62) in a strong trial that also featured his boom Waterhouse/Bott stablemate SHANGRI LA EXPRESS and classy colts MANAAL and ESPIONAGE. The latter pair really took the eye with their late work through the line under no pressure.
Snitzel colt Prost edged out his unbeaten stablemate Shangri La Express in nice time in the third trial!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 21, 2024
The time was 0:48.45 / 0:32.62 for the 850M.@GaiWaterhouse1 pic.twitter.com/67gwO9vbV4
The John O'Shea trained LINEBACKER won the other 850m heat in slower time (49.32; 32.87) but will certainly improve with the experience.
In the two 2YO trials over 1050m on the A Grass the Snowdens collected the trifectas in both heats. Their classy pair FEARLESS and BODYGUARD repeated their recent trial quinella at Canterbury with another 1-2 finish in the quicker of the two trials (61.81; 34.00) while COUNTEROFFENSIVE had a bit on his rivals in the other heat (61.90; 33.76) and is one to keep an eye on.
Counteroffensive takes heat 6 comprehensively with @TommyBerry21 in the saddle!@NewgateFarm @Chinahorseclub @SnowdenRacing1 pic.twitter.com/owZe9lQWd8
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 21, 2024
In the shorter 741m heats the flying filly LADY OF CAMELOT was again too quick for her rivals to score by almost three lengths (42.44; 32.56) but it was another Waterhouse/Bott speedster ALINEA that really took the eye with her impressive win in the faster 741m heat (42.40; 32.37).
ALINEA (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott): Really shone with her impressive win by a soft 3.4 lengths in the fastest 741m heat of the morning (42.40; 32.37). Never came off the bit and looked to have a lot more to offer over the latter stages.
The Written Tycoon Alinea shows an abundance of speed to win her trial over the 740M!@GaiWaterhouse1 pic.twitter.com/X3KM4QTTaG
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 21, 2024
In the open and maiden heats for the older horses the better winners included SMART LEGEND, MERCHANT LADY, BIOGRAPHER, SILVER CLIFF and KALLOS. It was a morning to watch for soft trials with nice efforts from MUMBAI MUSE, MORAVIA, TAMERLANE, GAYLORD, MADAM ROSELYN, ALVINA'S LUCK, MR MIDNIGHT and ZOURIPPER.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Alinea
X Alvina's Luck; Biographer; Counteroffensive; Espionage; Gaylord; Kallos; Linebacker; Madam Roselyn; Manaal; Merchant Lady; Moravia; Mr Midnight; Mumbai Muse; Silver Cliff; Smart Legend; Tamerlane; Zouripper
GOSFORD January 17
Course Proper; Soft 7
18 Heats – 1 x 1200m (Open); 8 x 1000m (3 Open; 1 2YO; 4 Maiden); 9 x 800m (3 Open; 3 2YO; 3 Maiden)
NOTED TRIALS
XX Private Harry; Sleeping Lion
X Annotate; Black Tiara; Capital Dancer; Confess Our Dreams; Dame Cartland; French Bonnet; Kervette; La Roja; Totoka
WARWICK FARM January 16
16 Heats - Course Proper; Inside Grass/Heavy 8
Course Proper - 2 x 900m (2 Group/Listed)
Inside Grass – 2 x 1200m (1 Open; 1 Maiden); 4 x 799m (3 Open; 1 2YO); 4 x 796m (4 2YO); 4 x 793m (3 Maiden; 1 Open)
Some classy types began their autumn preparations in the two black type heats over 900 metres on the course proper.
Heavy conditions prevailed, ensuring all runners had no more than working gallops with both heat run in pedestrian times.
The high class fillies TIZ INVINICBLE (55.50; 35.46) and LEARNING TO FLY (55.53; 35.59) won the course proper heats, both doing it easily as none of their rivals were put under5 any pressure to make it a contest. LAZZAGO was another good filly to work home strongly for third in the heat won by TIZ INVINCIBLE.
The first trial from Warwick Farm was stacked with stars!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 15, 2024
We saw Tiz Invincible win the trial ahead of Buckaroo, Lazzago, Think It Over, Fangirl and Militarize. pic.twitter.com/M6sXkDAVlN
How good was it to see Learning To Fly back on track today and winning her trial!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 15, 2024
Griff, Encap, Riff Rocket, Atishu and Espiona followed her to the line over the 900M.@CoolmoreAus @TomMagnier @ANeashamRacing pic.twitter.com/u2OgRHC3px
An unraced filly from the Waterhouse/Bott production line was a standout in the 2YO heats.
CHATEAU MIRAVAL (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott): This unraced Zousain filly is yet another natural talent from the top 2YO stable. Having her first trial since she was placed in an early trial at Randwick in October she looked an above talent travelling easily in the lead and never coming off the bit to win her 796m heat (47.63; 34.64) by 2.5 lengths with plenty in reserve.
The @YulongInvest owned Chateau Miraval won her with the ears pricked in Trial 11!@GaiWaterhouse1 pic.twitter.com/9EtEagmFFe
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 16, 2024
The Inglis Nursery winner Odinson won his trial nicely under @mcacajamez for the @cmaherracing operation! pic.twitter.com/1yNAZBkaif
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 15, 2024
Other heat winners to make an impression included FRILLED winning the fastest 799m heat (47.22; 33.96) and the 2YOs ODINSON (799m 47.63; 34.35), EMBASSY (796m 47.23; 34.22) and AND FOUND (796m 47.99; 34.68).
NOTED TRIALS
XX Chateau Miraval
X And Found; Blue Illusion; Capabelle; Embassy; Field Marshal; Frilled; Lazzago; Learning To Fly; Mad Darcey; Odinson; Super Chilled; Tiz Invincible; Whinchat
