3 minute read
Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney barrier trials at Rosehill on May 21.
ROSEHILL May 21
Inside Grass; Soft 5
12 Heats – 2 x 1030m (1 Open; 1 2 &3YO; 10 x 895m (1 3YO; 3 Open; 5 2YO; 1 Maiden)
The highlight of the morning was another brilliant speed display by the Bjorn Baker-trained 3YO MALKOVICH.
Baker must be dismayed that Sydney offers no sprint races over distances shorter than 1000m as it's doubtful few if any current sprinters could match this colt in a short course dash.
MALKOVICH (Bjorn Baker): After winning his recent Rosehill trial over 900m by 10 lengths in the fastest time of the session he did it again to score in his 895m heat, this time slipping away from his rivals under a cold ride from Rachel King to win by 8.5 lengths. He put six lengths on the field in a twinkling when allowed to run from the 450m with his time of 52.73 (33.36) almost two seconds faster than the next best 895m heat.
AIM (Peter & Paul Snowden): Quality 3YO is going a lot better than his recent runs suggest with his dominant win the fastest of the two 1030m trials (63.06; 35.16) a strong pointer to his prospects if he heads to Brisbane. Showed his class to extend strongly from off the pace over the last 200m and run past the leaders under a soft ride from Hugh Bowman.
PORT LOUIS (Maher/Eustace): After two placings and a fifth in the G1 Champagne Stakes he may be the best winter 2YO maiden in Sydney but not for long as he looked in great order running home from last under a quiet Hugh Bowman ride to finish second in the 1030m heat for 2 and 3YOs won by the unraced TYROL (63.78; 35.69). Good prospect.
FANGIRL (Chris Waller): The fastest of the five 2YO heats over 895m was won by the Bjorn Baker-trained CAIOLA but it was this unraced Sebring filly from the Chris Waller yard that grabbed all the attention. She worked strongly to the line under a big hold and could have won the trial if called on by Tommy Berry. It was a big improvement on her first trial in February and is a filly to follow through the winter months.
DRAGONSTONE (Mark Newnham): Another impressive runner-up in his 2YO heat won by HONEY DEW (55.27; 35.90). Made an impact winning his first trial in February and this effort to work home in great style from the rear underlined his potential.
The efforts of the Waller stablemates CELTIC HARP and ESPIONA to run 1-2 in their 2YO heat (56.28; 36.51) were also noteworthy performances that auger well for their race prospects.
The open heats over 895m featured strong wins by CISCO BAY (54.62; 35.17) and HE'S A HOTSHOT (55.68; 35.41) but it was easy to see a number of their rivals were having quiet trials. The most notable behind CISCO BAY were KORDIA, FUNSTAR and NIGHT OF POWER while DEADLY IMPACT, SAMBRO and INANUP had a lot to offer behind HE'S A HOTSHOT.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Aim; Dragonstone; Fangirl; Malkovich; Port Louis;
X Broken Arrows; Caiola; Celtic Harp; Cisco Bay; Comporta; Deadly Impact; Espiona; Fangirl; Funstar; Garmish; He's A Hotshot; Honey Dew; Inanup; New Arrangement; Off Shaw; Kordia; Night Of Power; Soprano; Steel Diamond; Tyrol.
