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Trial Watch Reviews: 26th February - 4th March 2024

by By Chris Scholtz , one month ago

3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney and provincial barrier trials at Warwick Farm (February 26), Hawkesbury (February 27), Newcastle (February 28), Rosehill (March 1) and Wyong (March 4).

THINK ABOUT IT
THINK ABOUT IT Picture: Steve Hart

WYONG March 4

Course Proper; Good 4

12 Heats – 5 x 1000m (3 Open; 2 Maiden); 7 x 845m (2 Open; 3 2YO; 2 Maiden)

Runners from the Ciaron Maher and Godolphin stables added depth to a standard provincial session.

Local filly JAMAKIN MONEY added to her reputation as a trial star with another fast heat win over 845m (50.18; 34.03) in her first appearance since a similar performance in September. She raced once 12 months ago and has had obvious problems but she will certainly win a maiden when she returns to racing.

Talented city winners GARZA BLANCA, DIAMOND DEALER and ATTRACTABLE were too classy for their rivals in their heats.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Jamakin Money

X Attractable; Audette; DIamond Dealer; Divine Bene; Garza Blanca; Jared; Lilac; Lutetia; Rhettara    

 

ROSEHILL March 1

Inside Grass; Good 4

12 Heats – 4 x 1030m (2 Open; 2 Maiden); 8 x 900m (2 Open; 3 2YO; 1 3YO; 1 C1/Maiden; 1 Maiden)

No Group trials on the course proper but there was plenty of quality in the open heats featuring several noted Group performers.

The Hawkes stable is building nicely for the carnival with six heat wins. Their proven Group performers ZEYREK (1030m – 64.03; 35.01), FLYING CRAZY (900m – 54.72; 34.33) and REMARQUE (900m – 55.12; 34.42) posted strong open heat wins while they also picked up 2YO and maiden heats over 900m with promising trio AGENDA SETTER (55.43; 34.97); MADAM INSTRIFE (55.14; 35.04) and BUNDELLA (54.21; 34.98).

A feature was the classy return of the G1 winner SUNSHINE IN PARIS after a setback cut short her spring campaign.

SUNSHINE IN PARIS (Annabel Neasham): A lovely first-up trial by this top class mare in her first appearance since she won the G2 Sheraco Stakes in the early spring. No intent to put her under pressure as she went about her business finishing a soft fifth in a strong 900m heat won by FLYING CRAZY (54.72; 34.33). No doubt she will improve lengths with the benefit of this trial.

BUNDELLA (Hawkes Racing): Unraced 3YO by Deep Field has now won two trials in the style of a classy young prospect. Showed he had trained on well from his first trial win at Rosehill on February 15 to easily run down a tearaway leader under a soft ride in the fastest 900m heat (54.21; 34.98), setting him up for a bold debut.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Bundella; Sunshine In Paris

X Agenda Setter; California Sunrise; Cigar Flick; Coastwatch; Eagle Nest; Flying Crazy; Holmes A Court; I Am Breathing; King Of Roseau; Left Field; Madam Instrife; Remarque; Useapin; Walking Painting; Zeyrek;

 

NEWCASTLE February 28

Beaumont; Soft 7

18 Heats – 2 x 1200m (2 Open); 7 x 1000m (4 Open; 3 Maiden); 9 x 800m (3 Open; 3 2YO; 3 Maiden)

Ciaron Maher added some class to this session with several of his autumn prospects performing well in their heats.

Among them were the classy DETONATOR JACK; GRINGOTTS and PRINCESS RAYAA.

As usual Kris Lees rolled out a big team with the majority having easy trials.

NOTED TRIALS

X Aquafire; Bethsheba; Canamble; Convincebility; Crickets Chirping; Detonator Jack; Gringotts; Infancy; Justice Please; Karedada; Miss Busslinger; Overriding; Princess Rayaa; Rum Diary; Rustic Steel; Silvanito; Turf Fever

 

HAWKESBURY February 27

Inside Grass; Good 4

16 Heats – 1 x 1200m (Open); 7 x 1000m (2 Open; 2 2YO; 3 Maiden); 8 x 800m (2 Open; 4 2YO;  2 Maiden)

A strong session for the Godolphin and Bjorn Baker stables each winning four heats.

James Cummings sent out a strong team of Godolphin runners, winning heats with DIABELLI; STANISLAUS; PINITO and ZAPATEO. ZEITUNG, PORTRAY and COMMEMORATIVE also earned a place in the blackbook with their soft efforts.

Bjorn Baker and the Waterhouse/Bott stable dominated the 2YO and maiden heats.

Baker's best included the fast heat winners HEZDARNHOTTOO and SOHO ARTIST and placegetter I AM SEZ while heat winner ZOUBELLE and HALLET were the picks of the Waterhouse/Bott team.

HEZDARNHOTTOO (Bjorn Baker): Impressive second trial by this unraced Too Darn Hot youngster to win his 800m heat (47.25; 32.94). Other heat winners went faster but he was very sharp sprinting hard to the line over the last 200m.   

LAVISH EMPIRE (Peter & Paul Snowden): Freshened since his successful visit to the Gold Coast in January, he put in impressive work closing strongly from the rear for a close second in his 1000m heat won by DIABELLI (60.13; 34.12). Never put under pressure and looks in good order to continue his rise through the grades.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Lavish Empire; Hezdarnhottoo

X Bellenth; Blitzkrieg; Commemorative; Cosmic Lad; Fire Lane; Hallet; I Am Sez; Imperial Force; Miss Hellfire; Pinito; Portray; Soho Artist; Stanislaus; Yamato; Zapateo; Zeitung; Zoubelle;

 

WARWICK FARM February 26

Inside Grass; Good 4

14 Heats – 3 x 1299m (1 Open; 2 C1/Maiden); 3 x 805m (3 Open); 4 x 802m (4 2YO); 4 x 799m (3 Maiden; 1 C1/Maiden)

Everest winner THINK ABOUT IT commanded the spotlight with his trial placing.

Having his second trial since the spring, he was allowed to settle wide and back in the second half in his open heat over 805m before working impressively to the line over the last 200m to finish third.

The heat was won in fast time by BUTCH CASSIDY (46.97; 33.09) with the handy sprinting mare WINNING VERSE working well within herself for a soft second.

Other open heats over 805m were won by the unbeaten 3YO colt THE NOVELIST (47.12; 33.57) and the free running filly PORTA ROMANA (46.41; 33.01). It was a pleasing return by THE NOVELIST who has had obvious issues since he won his first two starts as a 2YO in late 2022 including a G3 in Brisbane.

PORTA ROMANA, who has had only two starts for a maiden win at Newcastle, showed brilliant gate speed to lead the G1 star MAZU by six lengths in her heat, a margin that was reduced to two lengths at the finish. MAZU was solid through the line but it's been 22 months since he won his last race.

A couple of nice 2YO trials over 802m by unraced youngsters included a fast heat win by the country trained MIC DROP (46.86; 33.34) and placings by BLUE VEIN and PERSPIRATION.

WINSTON HILLS (Matthew Smith): Stood out in the 1200m trials with his surging finish from well off the pace to win his heat (73.26; 35.41). Has a win and three placings from his first four starts and looks to have a good future.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Winston Hills

X Artifactx; Blue Vein; Mic Drop; Perspiration; Porta Romana; Rubikins; Super Zippi; The Novelist; Think About It; Tuileries; Winning Verse


Racing and Sports

tags

Gallops Trials winners Rosehill Hawkesbury Newcastle Wyong Warwick Farm

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