3 minute read
Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney barrier trials at Randwick on July 27.
RANDWICK July 27
20 Heats (Grass/Synthetic)
Course Proper – Soft 5 - 2 x 900m (Group/Listed)
Steeple Grass – Soft 5 - 1 x 735m (Group/Listed)
Randwick A Grass – Soft 5 - 14 Heats – 7 x 1045m (3 Open; 4 2YO); 7 x 735m (2 Open; 5 2YO)
Polytrack – Synthetic - 3 Heats – 2 x 1080m (2 Open); 1 x 780m (Open)
Variety is the spice of racing. We got it all at the Randwick trials on July 27 with the use of four different tracks, two different surfaces, a variety of distances and the appearance of some of Australia's best horses!
The 20 heats were run wide out on the pristine course proper, the lesser steeple grass, the everlasting Randwick A grass and the synthetic Polytrack.
The two course proper (Soft 5) and one steeple grass (Soft 5) heats were restricted to black type horses and really served to remind us that the headline horses will soon be back in action as they featured the G1 stars Verry Elleegant, Stay Inside, Kolding, Hungry Heart and Dreamforce plus a strong supporting cast.
HEAT 1 (Course Proper 900m): All honours to the Golden Slipper winner STAY INSIDE with a super impressive win (52.68; 35.44) over his older rivals in his first appearance since the autumn. Oozed class as he settled kindly behind the leader RIODINI before putting the heat to bed in a matter of strides with fluid acceleration at the 200m to sprint clear under no pressure from his rider Tommy Berry. BRANDENBURG looked in top order running through the line strongly for a soft third while VERRY ELLEEGANT, as expected, was ridden with no urgency before putting in strong work over the last 100m under a big hold from James McDonald to finish an excellent fourth. ICEBATH (fifth) also trialled well within herself while it was hard to get a line on KOLDING (sixth) as he performed in similar fashion to his recent Rosehill trial where he went around casually without making any impression.
"The Slipper winner makes a statement."
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 26, 2021
Stay Inside signals a big spring ahead winning a trial at @royalrandwick on Tuesday from Riodini and Brandenburg. Verry Elleegant finished in fourth. @tabcomau @Freedman_bros @NewgateFarm @7horseracing pic.twitter.com/Whmo0xqNdc
HEAT 2 (Course Proper 900m): The times tell the tale as this trial was much slower than the first heat (54.03; 35.71), allowing the rising 4YO PRIME STAR to sprint down the outside from the back half and record a visually impressive win over the good mare ADELONG. Full marks to FORBIDDEN LOVE as she was never asked for a serious effort and easily held her ground to finish a soft third. DREAMFORCE (fourth) worked OK to hold his ground but it was hardly a trial to get excited about. The imported stayer NANCHO (fifth), yet to race here but seen in a trial back in March, worked strongly though the line and his progress will be watched with interest. No knock on the talented 2YO FOUR MOVES AHEAD (sixth) who was working well within herself against the older horses under a kind ride. Oaks winner HUNGRY HEART (eighth) dropped to the tail from the start and worked like a stayer over the last 400m.
Prime Star strides away late to win a trial at @royalrandwick over Adelong and Forbidden Love. Also in the heat were Dreamforce, Four Moves Ahead and Hungry Heart. @tabcomau @Freedman_bros @7horseracing pic.twitter.com/ppJoylEW7X
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 26, 2021
HEAT 3 (Steeple Grass 735m): Lacked the depth of the first two heats but a good result for the John Thompson stable with FITUESE beating stablemate MAMARAGAN in good time (43.49; 33.52). FITUESE raced easily on the pace and was never put under full pressure while MAMARAGAN settled out the back and was pushed along over the last 100m as he worked strongly down the outside. VULPINE impressed with a strong third, her rider Jay Ford holding her down after sharing the lead to the last 50m.
A quinella for @JTRacingRwik as Fituese wins a trial at @royalrandwick over Mamaragan with Vulpine in third. Behind the placings were the likes of Glistening and She's All Class. @tabcomau @7horseracing pic.twitter.com/YaLwS2Rnsc
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 26, 2021
In the other open heats on the A Grass those to make the best impression included the easy 1045m heat winners BIG PARADE (61.75; 34.10) and VAN GOGH (64.51; 34.74) and the 735m heat winners ELIZABEEL (43.91; 33.44) and LE LUDE (43.80; 33.53).
A slick piece of work from @jsargentracing filly Elizabeel as she wins a trial at @royalrandwick on Tuesday over Sagrado and Vittoriosa. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/N3qf46cZQt
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 27, 2021
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott had a good morning with their rising 3YOs, winning three 1045m juvenile heats with IN THE CONGO (62.57; 34.46); JOURNALISM (63.31; 35.00) and BLUE STAR BABY (63.93; 35.35). Ron Quinton's I Am Invincible filly GIULIA recorded the fastest win in the 2YO heats over 735m (43.58; 33.06).
Dashing win by @mark_mnracing sprinter Big Parade as @JoshuaParr8 sends him along in a trial at @royalrandwick on Tuesday beating Too Hot To Trot and Socrates. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/92CC9TVL3V
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 26, 2021
NOTED TRIALS
XXX Stay Inside
XX Brandenburg; Elizabeel; Verry Elleegant
X Benaud; Big Parade; Billion Dollar Baby; Blue Star Baby; Bourbon Flyer; Californiasilencer; Deepour; Diamond Soars; Fituese; Forbidden Love; Giulia; In The Congo; Journalism; Le Lude; Left Reeling; Mascherata; Mayrose; Najmaty; Prime Star; Shadow Devil; Testimonial; Van Gogh; Vulpine
In The Congo and Mazu single out to decide their trial at @royalrandwick on Tuesday with the @GaiWaterhouse1 /Adrian Bott youngster prevailing late. Always Praying ran third. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/rGAN7oqlvq
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 27, 2021
