3 minute read
Plenty of equine stars were out at the trials on Tuesday, gearing up for Autumn campaigns.
Nearly a dozen individual Group One winners showed their stuff at the Warwick Farm trials on Tuesday with the first three heats for group and listed horses on the course proper stacked with talent.
The first trial, over 1000m, was won by Godolphin gelding Pericles, who was last seen running second to Japanese raider Obamburumai in the Golden Eagle. Under a Zac Lloyd grip, he edged out Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Griff, who was having his second trial.
There wasn't much separating the rest of the field with Think It Over, Militarize, Fangirl, Riff Rocket, Buckaroo and Atishu, all having their second trial for the campaign, given an easy time of it.
Fangirl was perhaps best of the closers and Kerrin Mcevoy is happy with where she's at after two trials.
"Nice feel. Just a cruisy day out, she warmed up and came up on the bridle, her best work was the last bit so, exciting time of the year… she felt exactly the same as when I previously sat on her, she's a quality race mare in her own right and I'm sure there's a good campaign ahead of her," McEvoy told SKY Radio.
While Pericles looks right on track to try and break his Group One duck, it was the fillies who stole the show with plenty to look forward to, with the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) on February 17th a likely kick off point for a few that trialled well.
Both Learning To Fly and Tiz Invincible won their respective heats having also taken out their first trials on January 16th.
Learning To Fly, who missed the Spring through injury, was given a slight amount of rein and responded well, running by Gary Portelli's Kimochi and Group 1 Flight Stakes winner Tropical Squall, who was placed under a bit of pressure.
Also in that heat was exciting colt King's Gambit, who is set to resume in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m). He still raced somewhat ungenerously but worked home well for fourth ahead of Coal Crusher, Cascadian, who had just one run in the Spring, and Madame Pommery.
They ran a slick time of 52.41 compared to the next heat won by Tiz Invincible in 54.66, but the multiple Group 2 winner trucked up beautifully under James McDonald, holding off the fast-finishing Encap, just ahead of Don Corleone, Group 1 The Metropolitan winner Just Fine and classy colt Cylinder, who worked to the line strongly under a tight grip and looks to have come back well.
