3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney and provincial barrier trials at Warwick Farm and Gosford on July 6.

WARWICK FARM July 6

Polytrack; Synthetic

6 Heats – 2 x 1175m (1 Open; 1 Maiden); 4 x 740m (2 2YO; 2 Open)

Hard to get excited about mid winter synthetic trials.

The well exposed ACADEMY worked strongly for an easy win in his open heat over 1175m (70.30; 34.56) while the quickest 740m heat was won by the Mark Newnham-trained 2YO MONTE DRIFTER, who chased keenly to get the better of the leaders in his trial.

A 2YO take make an impression in his 740m heat was the unraced BROKEN HILL from the Hawkes stable. He bombed the start and was six lengths behind the second last horse after 200m but impressed with his strong surge along the inside over the last 200m to be finish less than two lengths from the winner DUSKY DANCER. Liked the way he ran right through the line under a good hold.

NOTED TRIALS

X Academy; Arctic Thunder; Broken Hill; Monte Drifter; Shapur

GOSFORD July 6

Course Proper; Heavy 8

18 Heats – 7 x 1000m (3 Open; 2 Maiden; 2 2YO); 11 x 800m (7 2YO; 2 Open; 2 Maiden)

With 18 trials the track deteriorated due to the traffic and made conditions tough for runners in the late heats.

Star of the show – again – was the class act TRUMBULL in the first trial of the day. He's always a risk from the gates but this time he jumped a lot better than his prior trial at Wyong, coming out almost on terms and settling six lengths back on the inside before Tommy Berry angled between horses at the 400m. He picked them up in a couple of strides and worked well within himself to cruise to a soft 1.5 lengths win the fastest 1000m heat (62.00; 37.59).

The other good open company heat over 1000m was won by CATESBY (62.46; 37.93) in good style. OXFORD TYCOON was the one taking the eye with his strong third after tracking wide as he could have won the trial if Jay Ford had given him rein over the last 200m.

There were some nice 2YO trials but none better than the performance of Godolphin's Lonhro filly LAURELIN to win the fastest 800m heat for the age group (49.17; 36.87). She was very confident in the conditions and had plenty in reserve scoring by 3.6 lengths.

BOJACK put the best time on the board in the open 800m heats (49.06; 36.74), but he was under pressure over the last 200m in the deteriorating ground late in the session to get the better of the unextended runner-up ENFLEURAGE. Godolphin stablemates GAULOIS and IOLANTHE also had an easy time behind the speedy NEVER SECOND in the other open heat over 800m (49.88; 37.16)

NOTED TRIALS

XX Trumbull; Laurelin; Oxford Tycoon

X All England; Beckons; Bojack; Catesby; Enfleurage; Gaulois; Hauraki Gulf; Have Mercy; Lady Fraulein; Oakfield Hiawatha; Omni Man; Picarones; Visions; Yatsumi.