Chris Scholtz reviews barrier trials at Hawkesbury on October 14 and Warwick Farm on October 15.
WARWICK FARM October 15
Inside Grass; Heavy 8
14 Heats – 3 x 1200m (2 Open; 1 Maiden); 3 x 795m (3 Open); 3 x 792m (2 2YO; 1 Maiden); 2 x 789m (2 Maiden); 3 x 785m (3 Maiden)
Melbourne trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent continue to increase their focus on Sydney racing, winning both 2YO trials. A couple of maidens impressed with confident work in the heavy conditions.
KING OF DRAGONS (Gary Portelli): He was tabbed when he won a trial last season before one start in June. Again showed he has talent by leading comfortably in his 789m heat and never coming under pressure to record an easy 2.2 lengths win in the fastest time of the session (45.98; 33.51).
Other maidens who handled the conditions confidently in their heats included HIGHWIRE FLYER; ROMAN FORUM, SHELSTEIN, MEADOWBROOK and PAPARACHA.
Price/Kent youngsters dominated the two juvenile heats over 792m. Their I Am Invincible x Snitzerland filly CHISHOLM posted faster time (46.49; 33.34) than her stablemate SPACE RIDER in the colts heat (47.46; 34.14) where the closing effort of the runner-up HILLIER took the eye.
Classy pair AMOR VICTORIOUS and ROBUSTO trialled well in their 1200m heats. ROBUSTO covered ground but had a bit on his rivals in his heat while AMOR VICTORIOUS was 10 lengths off the tearaway winner FELIX MAJESTIC at the 600m and closed him down to 1.5 lengths at the finish.
A couple of new imports took the eye with easy trials in their open trials. Keen to follow the progress of QUEUES LIKELY, a G3 winner in Germany now with Bjorn Baker who worked to the line for third behind FELIX MAJESTIC and AMOR VICTORIOUS. The Waller-trained MODESTY, a 5YO by Dubawi with one win in the UK from five starts, had an easy time under no pressure in a 795m heat won by NOT THAT EASY.
NOTED TRIALS
XX King Of Dragons
X Amor Victorious; Chisholm; Dashing Legend; Excess Capital; Highwire Flyer; Hillier; Meadowbrook; Midnight Dynamite; Modesty; Not That Easy; Paparacha; Proud Image; Queues Likely; Robusto; Roman Forum; Shelstein
HAWKESBURY October 14
Inside Grass; Good 4
6 Heats - 3 x 1000m (1 Open; 2 Maiden); 3 x 800m (2 Open; 1 Maiden)
A small set of six trials featured some nice efforts from the Godolphin team.
BARTOLF (John O'Shea/Tom Charlton): Lightly raced So You Think colt looks ready for a good 3YO season after a sharp win in his 1000m heat (59.33; 32.89). Settled fifth three lengths off the lead before going widest at the 400m and sprinting from the 200m for a strong win. He raced only twice last season for a maiden win at Scone and two trials since he last raced in July should see him well placed by a smart stable first-up.
BLUE ILLUSION (James Cummings): Impressive win by this Blue Point 3YO in the fastest of the three 800m heats (46.70; 32.47). Placed in three of his six starts last season in good company, he was too sharp for his rivals leading under a hold and showing sharp acceleration off the turn to run through the line 2.5 lengths clear with plenty in reserve. Hard to beat in a suitable maiden.
TAMERLANE (James Cummings): It's a rare day when this reliable 7YO doesn't trial well. Went about his business in his usual confident style, sitting a length off the leader before responding well when called on to go home best in his 800m heat (47.03; 32.76) under a soft ride.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Bartolf; Tamerlane; Blue Illusion
X Amusing; Concoction; Left Field; Pereille
