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Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney barrier trials at Canterbury on July 2.
CANTERBURY July 2
Course Proper; Heavy 10
18 Heats – 3 x 1100m (2 Open; 1 Maiden); 6 x 900m (3 Open; 3 2YO); 6 x 895m (6 2YO); 3 x 890m (3 3YO)
Winter trials on heavy tracks can be unreliable but with I will be dumbstruck if this set does not throw up some good class winners as we head into the better races early next season.
It was no surprise to see riders progressively take wider lines as the session progressed due to the heavy conditions, even with the rail out an extreme distance. The barriers were moved in five metre increments after the first nine heats over 900m to give the runners in the last nine heats better footing at the start.
There were some excellent trials from several rising three-year-olds while a couple of nice imports gave notice that they are building strongly towards their coming campaigns.
BRIGANTINE (James Cummings): Expect improvement on his first two starts the next time this Astern colt goes to the races. Travelled wide under an easy ride in his 895m heat and extended impressively under no pressure to cruise to a 3.4 lengths win in one of the fastest trials of the morning (56.39; 36.60). There was also plenty to like about the way the runner up COASTWATCH ran to the line late.
LARKSPUR RUN (James Cummings); Shamardal filly recorded two Canterbury placings and a Newcastle win in February in her first prep. Looks certain to make her mark as a 3YO judging by the way she cruised to an easy 2.6 lengths in the fastest 900m heat of the morning (57.53; 37.34). Covered extra ground but easily went through her gears to run past the leaders.
SIR CRACKLE (Bjorn Baker): Unraced boom horse kept his unbeaten record in three trials intact with another big win in his fast 895m heat (56.70; 36.69). Jason Collett was content to ease back and sit second behind a running leader and didn't flinch as the Choisir gelding railed through to take the lead turning for home. From there Collett was a passenger as this youngster loped to the line with plenty in the locker to score by a soft 3.1 lengths. Note that the third horse was 11 lengths way – that's worthy form!
Another good heat winner was the unraced I Am Invincible colt GOVERNOR, who had taken the eye with a strong finish in his first synthetic trial at Warwick Farm. This time he was a lot sharper, taking up the lead and having no trouble holding his rivals in his 895m heat (57.90; 39) for a soft win. The eye-catcher behind him was the late surge by the runner up CIRCLING, a Vancouver colt having his first trial.
The two open company 1100m heats were won by the imports ZIEGFIELD (70.32; 37.79) and SURF DANCER (70.25; 36.94).
French winner ZIEGFELD was well fancied when he made his Australian debut in February and his strong trial win points to him being ready to make his mark when he resumes. SURF DANCER is a three-time UK winner by Lope De Vega and also looks a likely type for races in the 1600m-2000m range.
Imported galloper Ziegfeld for @godolphin crosses the line first - just ahead of 2020 Black Opal winner Barbaric - in the opening trial of the morning at Canterbury. @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/EOF5FaNVyF
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 1, 2021
I also liked the soft third by another import AMISH in a strong 900m heat won by the good mare BEST STONE (57.62;36.93). She had plenty in reserve as she got the better of the pacy SPACEBOY, who also worked well within himself with Kathy O'Hara intent on giving him an easy trial.
Classy Godolphin stablemates ZAKAT and VIRIDINE also weren't at their top to finish first and second in their slower 900m heat (58.89; 37.10) where BIGBOYROY also worked strongly under a grip to finish third in his first appearance since December.
The 3YO heats over 890m that concluded the session featured strong wins by the former New Zealand winner TONY BE (57.67;37.03) and promising maiden PERLANT (57.63; 36.90). The costly OVERLORD won the third 3YO heat in much slower time (59.05; 38.33).
NOTED TRIALS
XX Brigantine; Larkspur Run; Sir Crackle
X Ashim; Best Stone; Bigboyroy; Circling; Coastwatch; Devil's Throat; Governor; Kordia; Outback Diva; Panzarella; Perlant; Spaceboy; Surf Dancer; Starman; Tony Be; Turgenev; Viridine; Zakat; Ziegfeld; Zakat
