3 minute read
While all eyes were rightly placed on TAB Everest champ Giga Kick as he sailed to a trial win at Randwick on Monday, it was hard to miss the fact that another, less heralded, three-year-old who finished just behind him has come back well.
His name is King Of Naples and in his nine starts to date he's shown the potential of a horse who can slide through his grades and reach a good level.
It was the John O'Shea -trained gelding's second trial this time in, he hasn't raced since easily knocking over a Benchmark 64 at Gosford in January, and even though this was just a 1045m trial he held his own with more established gallopers.
He made his run with Giga Kick in the straight and was only given the occasional niggle by Tom Sherry as he ran third, with stablemate and Group 3 winner Quantico rushing home into second place.
King Of Naples broke his maiden status first-up last preparation, and continued to race well through the campaign, and with a rating of 67 he can be placed to advantage when he returns shortly.
Giga Kick did what Giga Kick does, he sat back and was allowed to stride around them and edged away in the style you'd want to see from the Everest champ and last start Group 1 winner.
Still on the O'Shea camp, his handy three-year-old stayer Stroke Of Luck has freshened up since finishing midfield in the Group 1 Australian Derby over 2400m.
He tackled the 1200m trial and while that heat was slowly run he looked comfortable striding into third behind So Dazzling who sat outside the lead.
Pizarro appeared from a freshen up in a 737m trial that was swiftly run and he worked to the line under his own steam into third behind the flying Martial Music. He hasn't raced since the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes and boasts form around Think About It and Mariamia from the late summer.
He's only missed a place twice in 12 starts and relishes some give in the track so he'll be effective when O'Shea steps him out next.
There are plenty of lightly raced or untried two-year-olds emerging late in the season and In My Dreams stamped herself as one with talent in her excellent win over 1045m.
Currently trained by Mark Newnham, the filly absorbed a bit of pressure to the turn but always looked in control as she opened up early in the straight and looked pretty smart to the line running good time. She might debut at Scone and would be worth watching.
No More Lies is an Exceed And Excel filly from the Snowden camp and it was also her second trial as she led all the way to an easy win. She was shaken along to keep the mind on the job but a good pointer is the filly chasing her was Saltaire who travelled well in second.
If there's a small query it's they did clock slow time.
A number of youngsters having their first trials in the 737m scampers will be worth another look – mark down Al Flores (Ron Quinton trains and is out of his former top mare Dixie Blossoms), Galaxy Field and Royal Tribute for further assessment.
Growl is a new addition to the Snowden stable, the hasn't raced since winning at Moonee Valley in March last year, and he showed some improvement into his second trial for the partnership.
He wasn't the best away but worked through he field under mild urgings to run third and with only five starts under his belt he could still have plenty of upside.
Smart Legend is a three-year-old with only two starts behind him and has trialled well previously. There was something about his second placing behind Spiritchaser in a 1045m heat run in handy time, where they beat the rest easily, to say he'll be worth thought when he steps out in a maiden.
