3 minute read
Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney and provincial barrier trials at Gosford on May 18 and Rosehill on May 20.
ROSEHILL May 20
Inside Grass; Heavy 8
14 Heats – 4 x 1030m (2 Open; 2 2&3YO); 10 x 900m (1 Open; 6 2YO; 1 3YO; 2 Maiden)
Despite the heavy conditions this set should provide several good winter prospects.
LAWS OF INDICES (Annabel Neasham): Given a month to freshen up after his good autumn carnival campaign, this classy import impressed with a surging finish to be beaten a half length in his 1030m heat (64.81; 35.94). Settled back between runners and was full of running with little room to move for much of the last 400m before Rachel King angled him into the clear. Ran through the line in great style that sets him up for a trip to Brisbane where he could be a real Stradbroke Handicap threat.
PARLAYED (Hawkes Racing): This American Pharaoh filly was placed in her first two starts in the spring and won't be long breaking her maiden after this impressive 900m heat win (55.57; 35.82). She was awkwardly placed eight lengths back in a packed field before Willie Pike angled her into the clear turning for home. Let down with a quick turn of foot to pick up the leaders quickly over the last 200m and win with something in hand.
PETULANT (Hawkes Racing): Promising Starspangledbanner filly won two of her first three starts in the summer and should go on with it after a super win in her 900m heat for 3YOs. Showed excellent acceleration to come from off the speed and quickly make up four lengths in the last 200m, running easily past the leaders for a soft win in fast time (55.10; 35.15).
It was a good morning for the Hawkes stable with SHENTHARA, a 2YO filly by Not A Single Doubt, also making a good impression with a classy win in 900m heat in her first trial since she debuted with a fifth at Randwick in February. The time was slow (57.00; 36.31) but it doesn't detract from the way she dictated the heat under an easy ride from Willie Pike.
The fastest win in the six 2YO heats over 900m was recorded by OPERATIVE (55.00; 34.95), an unraced Written Tycoon colt from the Waller stable who was too sharp for his rivals, sprinting home 3.3 lengths clear under an easy James McDonald ride.
OMAR is a sharp short course runner who posted the quickest 900m heat time (54.35; 34.52) in a strong open trial where the closing efforts of WILD PLANET, QUEEN BELLISSIMO and KING OF SPARTA took the eye.
Adrian Knox Stakes winner HONEYCREEPER really took the eye with her effort in the fastest of the four trials over 1030m (63.55; 35.19) won by the strong front runner MR DEPENDABLE. Hugh Bowman kept her under a big hold and it was obvious she was cruising as she ran strongly through the line in fifth place in a solid prep for her tilt at the Queensland Oaks.
Previously noted 2YO trial winners CAPALETTI, WINGARDIUM and PYROIS remain under notice after repeating with solid wins in their heats.
It should be noted that the wayward 3YO gelding DIAMOND FLARE (late Dickson Horse) had been placed under a fourth suspension for bad barrier behaviour when a late scratching at Hawkesbury the previous day. The embargo was lifted after he did everything right at the gates before jumping smartly. He was then put under pressure to win the maiden heat over 900m (55.14; 35.01).
NOTED TRIALS
XX Laws Of Indices; Parlayed; Petulant
X Bite Your Tongue; Cappeletti; Honeycreeper; King Of Sparta; Mr Dependable; Omar; Operative; Osipenko; Pool Pony; Queen Bellissimo; Shenthara; Sorgente; Wild Planet
GOSFORD May 18
Course Proper; Heavy 9
18 Heats – 11 x 800m (5 2YO; 3 Open; 3 Maiden); 1 x 1200m (Open); 6 x 1000m (3 Open; 3 Maiden)
All Star Mile winner MUGATOO created interest with his second trial appearance in 12 months but the 7YO again showed he is still well short of peak condition finishing a well beaten third in his 1200m heat.
While having no more than a working gallop, the Kris Lees-trained gelding was ridden along from the 400m and could not go with the winner KISS SUM when that horse circled the small field from last to be beaten more than four lengths.
Four Pillars winner Kiss Sum, for @TBartleyracing and @Grantbuckley30, picks them up on the turn and beats Ashman and Mugatoo to win a trial at Gosford on Wednesday. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/Eb5l568izQ
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) May 17, 2022
Lees had a good trial session winning five heats. NO LAUGHING MATTER won a strong 1000m heat in good time (61.52; 37.12), picking up a tearaway leader at the 300m and going to the line generously after he was given a crack with the whip to keep his mind on the job. Mark down the placegetters SAQUON and the winner's stablemate LOCH EAGLE as others to follow out of this good heat.
Lees won another 1000m open heat with ENCHANTED HEART (62.40; 36.86) where the effort of JACQUINE REWARD to finish third in his first trial for 12 months after stable changes had a lot of merit.
The fastest 1000m heat was won by Tony Newing's speedster INVINCIBLE LAD (61.44; 37.14). He was running from the jump and eventually scored by more than six lengths in his first trial since February, a hitout I'm sure will have the stable aiming him at a suitable sprint at the Grafton carnival.
In the 800m heats the Lees-trained ASHERLA recorded a soft win in good time (50.09; 36.57) in her first trial since January. She has shown plenty of talent with two wins to date and I expect to her make further progress.
The fastest open heat over 800m heat was won by the lightly raced ALIBI DOT COM (49.68; 36.06), railing through from behind the pace for a strong win under a good hold in a heat where the placegetters I WANT ONE and CRUEL SUMMER also went through the line in good style.
In the five 2YO heats over 800m the Allan Denham-trained RAMONES, a Zoustar gelding having his second trial, showed the speed that wins races by clearing out to a big seven lengths win (49.70; 35.60). The merit of his performance is on the clock as no other youngster went under 50 seconds in the 800m heats.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Asherla; Ramones; No Laughing Matter
X Alibi Dot Com; Antarctic Pride; Brudenell; Conrad; Cruel Summer; Exo Angel; Highly Ambitious; Invincible Lad; I Want One; Jacquine Reward; Justina; Loch Eagle; Saquon; Wolves
