Chris Scholtz reviews trials at Randwick and Newcastle on October 22.
RANDWICK October 22
Randwick A Grass; Good 4
14 Heats – 1 x 1200m (Open); 6 x 1045 (2 Open; 4 Maiden); 7 x 742m (2 Open; 2 2YO; 3 Maiden)
Impressive wins by some talented performers.
BODYGUARD (Peter Snowden): This $1.6 million colt obviously enjoyed being back home and will be a different prospect the next time he goes to the races. Turned around his first-up form at Flemington with a classy win by almost seven lengths in the fastest 1045m heat (61.36; 33.11), running clear from the start under a big hold and trucking through his last 600m after his rider Zac Lloyd could not hold him any slower.
GRAM (James Cummings): He was costly in his first three starts last season but the trial form of this imposing Exceed And Excel gelding is too good to ignore. Having his first trial since July, he travelled easily behind the leading bunch in his 742m heat (43.80; 33.29) before peeling to the outside at the 300m and running home over the top of them with big strides under a tight hold. He's better than maiden class.
JEDIBEEL (Btrad Widdup); He's the type you would love to own, being a model of consistency who puts in every time with six wins and six placings from his 14 starts. Enjoyed a short spell after he won at Rosehill in July and looks ready to go again after an impressive win in a fast 742m heat (43.42; 32.96), picking them up easily over the last 200m under no pressure.
The free running MANUSCRIPT won the fastest 742m heat (43.21; 32.70) while the Capitalist filly LADY PANKHURST (44.36; 33.99) was slightly quicker than the Spirit Of Boom colt EXTRACTOR (44.43; 33.83) in the two 2YO heats where there was little to get excited about apart from a strong effort from the by the Godolphin colt GAEILGE.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Bodyguard; Gram; Jedibeel
X American Starlet; Call Me Sassy; Danneman; Gaeilge; Jamabalya; Kerguelen; Manuscript; Quartz Legend; Secure; War Star; Zealously
NEWCASTLE October 22
Course Proper; Soft 6
17 Heats x 940m (7 Open; 1 2YO; 10 Maiden)
An unraced 3YO added to his impressive trial record.
PRIVATE HARRY (Nathan Doyle): Unraced Harry Angel colt is building a strong trial profile, having won four of his five trials since January. He'll be well found when he goes to the races after running away with this 940m trial by more than four lengths in the fastest of the 17 heats over the distance (55.26; 33.94).
NOTED TRIALS
XX Private Harry
X Autumn Burst; Brudenell; Buffalo; Cutepi; Fiorsum Fred; Irish Bliss; Peak; Sky Lab; So You Suggest
