Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney barrier trials at Rosehill on September 19, Randwick on September 22 and Warwick Farm on September 25.
WARWICK FARM September 25
Inside Grass; Good 4
15 Heats – 3 x 1207m (2 Open; 1 Maiden); 4 x812m (2 2YO; 2 Open); 4 x 808m (2 Open; 2 Maiden); 4 x 805m ( 3 Maiden; 1 C1/Maiden)
Some classy types enhanced their spring carnival chances with strong trials.
ARGENTIA (Joseph Pride): A lovely trial from this quality mare. Allowed to drift back in her 808m heat (48.01; 34.02) and was six lengths off the leaders before switching to the outside off the turn where she made ground easily without any pressure being applied to finish third. Godolphin's COMMEMORATIVE also trialled up well to finish second to the running winner LET'S GO BRO.
KING'S GAMBIT (Peter & Paul Snowden): A quick back up trial by this classy 3YO after his first-up placing in Melbourne. Back to his usual style off settling last before working easily through the pack to finish third with plenty in reserve in the fastest short course heat of the morning over 808m won by the high class mare I AM ME (47.27; 33.71). He was too keen racing on the speed at Flemington.
YUKAN ROSE (David Pfeiffer): An impressive piece of work by this maiden filly by Brave Smash to win her 808m heat with authority. Sat outside the leader and while the time was standard for the session (48.26; 34.80) there was a lot to like about the way she extended to put the trial to bed over the last 150m.
The Waterhouse/Bott stable continued to dominate the 2YO trials, winning both heats for the juveniles. Their Shalaa filly SOUTHERN CHARM posted the best time with a strong win in her 812m heat (48.22; 34.53) while THE THREE HUNDRED, a colt by I Am Invincible, was ridden out to with his heat in a slower 48.70; (34.50).
NOTED TRIALS
XX Argentia; King's Gambit; Yukan Rose
X Commemorative; I Am Me; Kilbady; London; Look At Moi Kim; Our Little Star; Parisal; Ragga Ragga; Southern Charm; Super Zippi; Trapeze Pleasure; Way To Divine; Vegas Raider
RANDWICK September 22
A Grass; Soft 6
14 Heats - 1 x 1200m (Open); 8 x 1050m (4 Open; 4 Maiden); 5 x 740m (2 2YO; 1 Open; 2 Maiden)
Crack sprinter THINK ABOUT IT continued his Everest build up with an impressive second in his heat over 740 metres.
After winning his first-up trial at Warwick Farm on September 12 he followed up with a powerful finish in the fastest heat over the distance (43.24; 33.08) with his class clearly evident as he got into his work over the last 100m.
He made ground quickly through the line to be beaten 1.3 lengths by WELCOME GYPSY, a lightly raced 5YO mare from the John Thompson stable who won two provincial races last season. She is capable of rising through the grades after travelling sweetly from start to finish for an impressive win.
MELISSA (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott): Fast running Not A Single Doubt mare cleared out for an impressive win in her maiden heat and while the time wasn't flash (63.75; 35.24) it was the manner of her win that made an impression as she pulled her way to a big lead and was never off the bit to score by almost four lengths. Stronger than last season when she was placed once in three starts.
OPAL RIDGE (Luke Pepper): Classy mare travelled from Scone for a pipe opener to her spring campaign and really took the eye with her easy fourth in a fast run open heat over 1050m won by KOTE (62.49; 34.38). Settled off the pace and was always under a good hold working home well within herself over the last 200m.
RENAISSANCE WOMAN (Bjorn Baker): Strong return in her first trial since her classy performances in good fillies races at the Brisbane carnival. Came from well off the pace with an impressive surge to win her 1050m heat in good time (62.76; 34.68).
There were two 2YO heats with the Written Tycoon colt SOVEREIGN HILL winning the colts heat easily in faster time (43.59; 33.18) than the filly EXTREME DIVA (44.11; 33. 79).
NOTED TRIALS
XX Melissa; Opal Ridge; Renaissance Woman; Welcome Gypsy
X Communist; Cotehele; Galaxy Field; Kote; Kovalica; Need Some Luck; Schwarz; Super Chilled; Sovereign Hill; Sunlord; Think About It; Toronomica
ROSEHILL September 19
A Grass; Good 4
15 Heats – 5 x 1030m (3 Open; 2 Maiden); 10 x 900m (3 Open; 2 3YO; 5 Maiden)
A session where numerous maidens showed enough to warrant respect in coming races.
ARCTIC GLAMOUR (Gerald Ryan/Stirling Alexiou): Maiden filly by Frosted showed good potential with placings in her first two starts in June and this trial confirms she is ready to win. Worked home under a soft ride to get the better of her stablemate FACILE in one of the quickest trial over 900m (54.44; 34.66).
DARK HALO (Ciaron Maher; David Eustace): Six trials have this Zoustar colt well prepared for his debut. This was his second trial win in succession, doing it easily to open a big lead and cruise home almost 10 lengths clear in the fastest heat over 1030m (61.55; 35.30).
RUBAMOS (Chris Waller): This good class winner impressed with his closing work for a strong second behind his eager stablemate KAZOU in a fast 900m heat (54.75; 34.47). The winner was keen to run with RUBAMOS travelling kindly and making good ground over the last 100m to be beaten a half length in his first trial since May.
The Ryan/Alexiou stable had good results with a nice team of rising maidens with ARCTIC GLAMOUR, FACILE, GUSTOSISIMO, AZAYAKA and WRITTEN SILK showing good promise. Other maidens to take the eye included TAIPAN LEGEND; WILD BEAU, NO MORE LIES, SWEET PROPOSAL and FIELD OF MYRTLE.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Arctic Glamour; Dark Halo; Rubamos
X Azayaka; Candone; Dark Halo; Facile; Field Of Myrtle; Gustosisimo; Kazou; No More Lies; Petersham; Revolutionary Miss; Russian Conquest; Spacewalk; Sweet Proposal; Taipan Legend; Wild Beau; Written In Code; Written Silk
