Manawanui could hardly have been more impressive
Photo by Racing and Sports
SR 3: Kiwi raider (1) ZARA DANCER is first-up but hits Sydney off a trial win over 1050m at home on 9 August. Treat warily as his stable has a good record in Sydney and he boasts Group form last season. A fresh (5) FISCAL also needs longer but he sprinted up well over 800m in a Warwick Farm heat on 11 August.
SR 4: The key trial pointer here is the much improved effort by (7) SKYTRAIN to easily win an 800m heat at Warwick Farm on 11 August that indicates he is back on his game after recent starts in difficult conditions. (5) LEICA LARRIKIN won a 1200m heat on the same day but looks in need of racing. The best from Randwick is (8) LIGHT BRIGADE, with the Waterhouse stable keen on his first-up chances as he has worked keenly since his second to Descarado in a 1200m heat on his home track on 5 August. Country star (9) IZABABE has been prepared with an easy trial second at Gilgandra where the report is he could have won if allowed to run.
SR 5: The exciting prospect (3) MANAWANUI was the star of the Rosehill trials on Monday when he unleashed a great turn of foot to win a 1030m heat by 10 lengths, a clear indication that he has done well since his last win in May. (8) IRISH TIMES was not far off some of the good ones last season and looked in good order winning an 800m trial at this course on 11 August.
SR 6: The pick of the many trials from the resuming horses was last week's Warwick Farm heat win by (10) ILOVETHISCITY which pointed to him being on song for this, but that was before the setback in his preparation on Tuesday. All the other resuming horses, many being stayers, have had easy trials with (1) BLACK PIRANHA worth noting as he wasn't asked to chase Manawanui when a distant third behind that colt in his big win at Rosehill on Monday.
SR 7: Excellent trial placings at Randwick by (1) ELITE FALLS and at Warwick Farm from (2) STREAMA have this pair ready to show their class first-up. On the other hand (3) PANE IN THE GLASS and (6) AEROBATICS were never asked for any serious work in the same heat as Streama at Warwick Farm so don't take their efforts on face value.
SR 8: Trial form is a big key to this race with the Warwick farm set on 11 August producing an impressive 800m win from Flight Stakes winner (5) SECRET ADMIRER over Streama while (4) RED TRACER and (1) JERSEY LILY were equally good finishing second and third behind Ilovethiscity over 1000m. Add an easy sixth by Ramornie winner (2) JEREZANA behind Secret Admirer and the trial form is tricky to assess.
Photo by Racing and Sports
MR 5-7 SWEET ELLA (Greg Eurell): The yard seem to be coming along nicely for the Spring and this daughter of Neillo won a trial herself. She's unbeaten and while up in grade, they can jump out of the ground in doing so at three.
MR 6-5 SECRET HILLS (Mick Price) went around in an 800m Cranbourne trial on 8 Aug and looked to do a good job. It looks a very open McKenzie Stks.
MR 7-1 LONE ROCK (Robert Smerdon): Top trainer Smerdon had been using the trials to good effect as normal. The G1 Goodwood Hcp winner trialled her usual quiet self last week but for those worried she did the same thing last time in and went under by a pimple.
QUEENSLAND
BR 7-2 RACING HEART (Robert Heathcote): Came off an excellent campaign last time spread over five months. He won twice and placed six times. Second in a recent Doomben trial can give him a start albeit he has struggled first up.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
AR 1-6 APARDEE (Richard Jolly): Three-year-old gelding making race debut. By Victoria Derby winner Benicio from a mare that was trained by this stable and was a city winner to 1800m. This gelding may improve with more ground but did win a trial here recently which has already seen a winner come through it. Plenty of chances in this race but has the blinkers on and should run a race at odds.
