Chris Scholtz reviews the Rosehill barrier trials on January 17.

ROSEHILL January 17

Chris Waller was undoubtedly delighted by the way his champion mare Winx performed in her barrier trial, but it would be interesting to know how he felt about the effort of stablemate Endless Drama in the same heat.

While Winx captured all the media attention Waller must have been thrilled to see Endless Drama perform just as well as his champion in a fine warm up for his autumn campaign.

It was a super trial from the import, who has had just the one start in Australia last spring.

The great mare Winx ran through the line to finish third in her trial @rosehillgardens. Great to see her back! pic.twitter.com/qfhKD0loTw

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 16, 2017

ENDLESS DRAMA was fancied to win the G1 Emirates Stakes (2000m) first-up but failed to run up to his lead-up trial win by eight lengths at Cranbourne, running last in the weight-for-age feature.

Judging by his return in this trial it would be foolish to be too severe on his Flemington performance as it was hard to miss they way he extended alongside WINX over the last 100m without being put under any pressure.

He actually edged past her on the line to finish second behind the impressive sprinter Music Magnate in a hit out that many onlookers felt upstaged his celebrated stablemate.

MUSIC MAGNATE, who resumes this weekend in the Expressway Stakes at Randwick, could not have been more impressive running clear of his rivals from the start and traveling well within himself while maintaining a three lengths advantage to the line. His time of 52.8 for the 900m was almost half a second quicker than any other heat on the day.

He is flying and his rivals in the Expressway Stakes will know they are in a race.

Another strong trial was a 3YO heat where the first four home were the quality quartet of CRAFTY COP, CELLARMAN, DEFCON and COMIN’ THROUGH.

CRAFTY COP led and was always in control to win under a soft ride. He struggled in his second prep last year but suspect he is a now a lot stronger and focused.

Black Opal winner DEFCON sat midfield and showed his class to hit the line strongly late for a closing third. He won first-up in the spring and looks primed to come back in similar form.

The Chris Waller pair CELLARMAN and COMIN’ THROUGH are shaping well for their autumn campaigns. The latter is a potential G1 winner and was out for an easy conditioning trial.

Other horses to follow from the Rosehill trials:-

PARIAH: This could be as 2YO right out of the box. He’s a $700,000 Redoute’s Choice half brother to the dual G1 winner Melito, is trained by the Snowdens and has the look of a colt ready to burst on the big race scene when produced. Was having his second trial over 900m and oozed class as he surged past the leader in the last 200m. From there he only did what was required to win with plenty in reserve.

GRETNA: Looks ready to fire fresh after cruising through her trial. Sat outside the lead before easily running to the lead at the 300m and from there was in cruise control. Obviously going well.

AQUATIC: Still a maiden but that is likely to change quickly after he showed an impressive turn of foot to sprint fast along the inside in the last 100m for a sharp win in good time..

TAJ MAHAL: Settled in the back half but quickly sliced through the field turning for home and was full of running through the line to finish a close second. Showed he was up to Group company in the spring.

STORM FORCE: Maiden with two placings from two starts on soft tracks last winter. On a good track he led his heat easily and kicked away like a nice horse so it will be interesting to see what he is capable of on top of the ground under race conditions.