3 minute read
Chris Scholtz reviews Gosford barrier trials on May 31.
GOSFORD May 31
Course Proper; Soft 5
16 Heats – 6 x 1000m (3 Open; 3 Maiden); 10 x 800m (6 2YO; 2 Open; 2 Maiden)
Not a lot of depth in the open heats but the 2YO trials should throw up some nice youngsters as they featured some good types from top stables.
The six 2YO heats over 800m contained runners from the Godolphin, John O'Shea, Bjorn Baker Joe Pride; Kris Lees, Maher and Eustace, Gary Moore and Brad Widdup stables, an indication of how many unexposed youngsters the big stables still have on their books at this late stage of the season.
Well bred @JohnOSheaRacing colt I Am Lethal, out of Group 1 winner Steps In Time, wins a trial at @gosford_races on Monday from Cool Encounter and Dethroned. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/b8cmCXzCzR
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) May 31, 2021
ASHERLA, an Astern filly from the Lees stable who was placed in her first two starts in January, worked well within herself to win the fastest 2YO heat (48.53; 35.83) and should soon be placed to advantage. The John O'Shea-trained I AM LETHAL was another good heat winner (48.87; 35.99) while his stablemates SENZA DUBBIO and STROMBUS took the eye with their strong efforts under quiet rides and Godolphin's RETRIEVAL also impressed with his placing.
Bjorn Baker won two juvenile heats with the speedy pair JOYZEL (49.68; 36.33) and SABIETTE (49.28; 36.15) in slower times.
Unraced @Leesracing youngster Pop Magic wins a trial at @gosford_races on Monday over @JohnOSheaRacing's Senza Dubbio, having his first trial, with @godolphin colt Retrieval a nice third. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/RiltZTRkfl
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) May 31, 2021
The fastest open heat over 800m was won by Matt Smith's fast mare KOONUNGA (48.14; 35.42) but I quite liked the strong second in her heat by the lesser performed 4YO gelding OUR FOX, the winner of just one race from only nine starts. Appeals as one for the provincials.
Smart provincial mare TAWFIQ LASS did all that was required to win her 800m heat in slow time (49.19; 35.92) where the efforts of the placegetters ATTRIBUTION and NIGHT OF POWER were equally good.
In the 1000m trials the maiden winners upstaged the open class heats by running faster times. LOCH EAGLE went quickest to win his heat in the fast time (60.76; 36.61) but the heat win by SYZYGY STARS (61.83; 37.42) had merit and he appeals as one to watch for in a suitable maiden.
In the open heats over 1000m quiet trials by TRAJECTION, LINGUEE and BLACK BOLT caught the eye.
NOTED TRIALS
X Asherla; Attribution; Black Bolt; I Am Lethal; Joyzel; Linguee; Loch Eagle; Night Of Power; Our Fox; Retrieval; Rubinocchi; Rusconi; Senza Dubbio; Strombus; Syzygy Stars; Tawfiq Lass; Trajection; Wicked Wench.