Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney barrier trials at Randwick on May 16.
RANDWICK May 16
Randwick A Grass (Heavy 8): 15 Heats (2 x 1200m (Open); 7 x 1050m (2 Open; 3 2YO; 2 Maiden); 6 x 742m (1 Open; 4 2YO; 1 Maiden)
Polytrack: 5 x 1080m (3 Open; 1 2YO; 1 Maiden); 6 x 780m (1 Open; 3 2YO; 2 Maiden)
A big session made up of 15 heats on the A grass turf and 11 on the Polytrack.
AMONT (Jim & Greg Lee): First trial by this Headwater gelding was all you would want from an unraced 2YO. Jumped to the front in his 742m heat and scooted along under a big hold to open up a clear lead and run to the line more than three lengths clear untouched in the fastest time of the six heats (44.60; 34.70) over the trip. Worth noting that he stayed on the rail in the heaviest going around the bend where most runners through the morning were tracking wider.
CROSS TALK (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott): This ex Kiwi 4YO continues to impress and surely will build on the impact he made in his first two local starts in November. He's now won two recent trials in dominant fashion, taking control of this 1200m heat (75.49; 36.20) from the start and doing it with ease over the last 400m as he extended his winning margin to more than eight lengths.
MISS DIOR (Peter & Paul Snowden): This speedy 5YO mare went out for a spell in winning form in September and looks ready to go again after a sharp win in her 742m heat (45.30; 35.10), leading comfortably from the start and having plenty in reserve to score by a soft 1.9 lengths. She's a short course specialist with all her four wins at 1000m.
The classy Group performers PRIVATE EYE (2nd) and I AM SUPERMAN (3rd) did enough in their open trials over 1050m won by BEND THE KNEE and SHADOW DEVIL to have them in good shape for their intended Brisdbane targets.
The 2YO heats over 1050m on the A grass saw strong wins from talented trio CALGARY STAMPEDE (66.48; 36.96); CALIFORNIACHOICEST (65.98; 37.80) and KIBOU (66.01; 37.08). The Waterhouse/Bott youngster KIBOU was unplaced in the Breeders Plate when well fancied in his only appearance at the start of the season but is unbeaten in three trials and it's obvious he has the talent to win races.
While AMONT was a standout in the 742m heats for the 2YOs, the other heat winners TRAGARA (45.35; 34.92); TAILWINDS (45.48; 35.17) and ASVA (46.34; 36.04) all did enough to be noted as youngsters with good prospects.
James Cummings preferred to give the majority of his runners their trials on the polytrack. He sent out 12 starters and won four of the six heats including the three 2YO trials over 780m with VIBURNUM (45.74; 33.68); EMRYS (46.34; 34.24) and YOSHINO (46.87; 34.69). Other Godolphin runners to take the eye included TAMERLANE, CLOUDY, PINNACE, NANSHE and SPARKLERS.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Amont; Cross Talk; Miss Dior
X Asva; Beer Palace; Californiachoicest; Carartie; Cloudy; Deceive; I Am Superman; Jal Lei; Kibou; King Adviso; Pinnace; Shadow Devil; Tailwinds; Tamerlane; Tashi; Tragara; Viburnum; Waihaha Falls; Zip On By
