3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney and provincial barrier trials at Rosehill on June 7 and Gosford on June 4.

ROSEHILL June 7

Soft 7; Inside Grass

18 Heats; 5 x 1030m (2 Open; 2 2YO; 1 Maiden); 6 x 900m (2 Open; 4 2YO); 7 x 894m (4 2YO; 2 3YO; 1 Maiden)

This could be a trial set that provides a host of winter winners as there were some above par performances across all ages.

Egg Tart (Chris Waller): Surprised to see this dual G1 winner preparing for winter racing but as she is a rising 6YO it seems they may be giving her a last campaign before she heads to stud. She only had short break after she last raced in March and her classy last 400m sprint to win her 1030m heat indicates she still has plenty offer.

Papal Warrior (Peter & Paul Snowden): impressive Fastnet Rock colt won his 1030m heat in easily the fastest of the five over the trip by almost a clear second (1.04.17; 35.90), cruising to the line 4.5 lengths clear under the kindest of rides from Tommy Berry. He’s now won two trials since his only start when placed at Rosehill in February and clearly has the talent to win races.

Frosty Rocks (Bjorn Baker)/True Detective (Chris Waller):  The unraced FROSTY ROCKS had his fourth trial for his second win while TRUE DETECTIVE added depth to their 894m heat as he was equally as good running second in his first outing since he won on debut at Rosehill in February. The big grey FROSTY ROCKS took control from the start and showed sharp acceleration off the turn before he was eased to record good time (55.36; 35.50) for the session. Behind him there was no urgency about the work of TRUE DETECTIVE who closed nicely to be beaten two lengths with plenty in hand. Trust this is reliable form.

Sylvia's Mother (Team Hawkes): Classy prospect motored through her 894m trial in her first outing since she finished fifth in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes in February tha came after she won four of her first five starts. She was coasting five lengths off the leaders at the 400m then went up a gear to quickly round up the leaders with Tommy Berry in cruise control over the last 100m but still running the quickest closing sectional (55.41; 35.20). She’s black type quality.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Egg Tart; Papal Warrior; Frosty Rocks; True Detective;  Sylvia’s Mother

X Misteed; Danawi; Martha Heights; Improvement; Charlayne; Just Jessie; Enfleurage; Poetry In Motion; Lola Mae; Destiny’s Son; Mercury; Kordia; Splendid Surprise;  Haut Brion Her; In Lighten Me; Miss Goodnight.

GOSFORD June 4

Soft/Heavy; Course Proper

4 Heats x 1000m (3 Open; 1 Maiden)

These trials were abandoned after four heats due to atrocious visibility and heavy conditions. The times reflected the conditions, being four to five seconds slower than average.

The few that did cope well enough with the conditions included HERMOSA REWARD, COMMUTE, SNEAKY FELLA, NEWSFAN and IPSUM.

The Tracey Bartley-trained Sneaky Fella finished second in his heat but creates most interest as he won his only start at Kembla Grange in 2017 beating Strome. This was his first trial in 10 months and he seems to have obvious talent if they can hold him together.