3 minute read
Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney barrier trials at Warwick Farm on August 7 and Randwick on August 11.
RANDWICK August 11
Synthetic Polytarck
16 Heats – 1 x 1250m (Open); 11 x 1080m (5 Open; 6 Maiden); 4 x 780m (1 Open; 3 Maiden)
Heavy turf conditions forced these trials to be switched to the synthetic track. However the morning lost its star attractions when three heats for the Group and Listed horses scheduled for the course proper were postponed to the Kensington track on Friday.
There were still some notables on display in the open company heats while the maidens featured some lightly raced 3YOs with plenty of potential, albeit with the usual warning to take synthetic trial form on trust.
I AM SUPERMAN (Peter and Paul Snowden): Certain we are yet to see the best of this Irish import but should not have to wait long after he showed his class to win the only 1250m heat with authority, surging to the line with a lot in reserve. His two recent trials leave no doubt that he has improved since his first Australian prep last season.
I Am Superman lets down well on the poly in his trial this morning and looks to have come back in great order this prep for @SnowdenRacing1 with @mcacajamez in the saddle pic.twitter.com/iGOblR6d4O
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 10, 2020
SOMETHING FAST (Anthony Cummings): Most eyes in this 1080m open heat were on the star 2YO from last season KING'S LEGACY having a quiet time in his first trial as a 3YO but this lightly raced 6YO - five wins from only 10 starts - was very good tracking deepest all the way to record a narrow but unextended win. He didn't come up in the autumn but this effort indicates he can return to the impressive winning form he displayed late last year.
Something Fast @CummingsRacing holds off Aspect Ratio to win heat 5 @royalrandwick with dual G1 winner King's Legacy having an easy time in fourth. @tabcomau @jmeharron pic.twitter.com/WXlReo5f7v
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) August 10, 2020
ZANZIDANCE (Mark Newnham): Promising maiden filly was in cruise control to record a dominant 4.5 lengths win from the front in her 1080m trial in the fastest of the six maiden heats over the distance (63.36; 34.25). She has now won two recent trials on the synthetic at Randwick and will be a certain winner if she can convert this form to the turf.
DENIKI (Mark Newnham): Another maiden filly with obvious potential for the Newnham stable. She was costly in two race starts in the autumn but she has now won three trials and this effort again confirmed that she has the talent to win races. She was never under pressure to record a soft win in her 780m heat, slipping home with a fast closing sectional (45.56; 33.21).
NOTED TRIALS
XX Deniki; I Am Superman; Something Fast; Zanzidance
X Adelong; Aspect Ratio; Bartley; Big Parade; Encountabull; Invincible Ninja; King's Legacy; Laure Me In; Legend I Am; Loveland; Octagon; Rock Amore; Sacred Captain; Strike; Think It Over; To Your Health.
A @SnowdenRacing1 @Chinahorseclub quinella in Heat 2 @royalrandwick with Strike winning his second Polytrack trial this prep over the big boy Aim down the outside and Dubai Star third. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/BMszElTgds
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) August 10, 2020
WARWICK FARM August 7
Inside Grass/Polytrack; Soft 7
17 Heats; Inside Grass – 4 x 1200m (2 Open; 2 Maiden); 6 x 806m (3 Open; 3 Maiden); 6 x 802m (6 Maiden); Polytrack – 1 x 740m (Open)
The veteran king of Sydney barrier trials BALL OF MUSCLE is now in his 10th year but showed he retains plenty of zest with a soft win his 806m heat in his favoured soft/heavy conditions. Would you believe this was his 30th barrier trial since he started racing in 2013 and he's won 22 of them – if only we could bet on trials!
His time and splits (47.82; 33.90) were among the best of the morning but the talented HAUT BRION HER set the time standard in the 806m heats (47.72; 33.89) with a classy win in her first trial since she won at Flemington last spring. There were strong trials behind her from FASIKA and YAMAZAKI.
The 11 maiden heats over varying distances produced some notable performances in testing conditions. O'MUDGEE was responsible for the fastest overall 1200m heat win (73.44; 35.98) but his closing sectional was slow compared to the two open heat winners RUBY TUESDAY (73.53; 35.34) and NIMALEE (73.88; 35.30).
The maidens to make an impression in the shorter trials included the 806m heat winners PARACHUTER (47.84; 33.85), COMPORTA (47.98; 34.47) and RUSSBUSS (48.08; 34.29) while ROCKETING BY (47.70; 34.03) and the fluent ZOUSPECTRE (47.24; 33.53) were standouts in the 802m heats.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Ball Of Muscle; Haut Brion Her; Zouspectre
X Barrichello; Beach Baby; Comporta; Exotic Ruby; Fasika; Lord Olympus; Nimalee; O'Mudgee; Parachuter; Patrolling; Pippali; Rocketing By; Ruby Tuesday; Russbuss; Who Shot Maggie; Yamazaki; Wicked Willy.
