3 minute read
Chris Scholtz reviews provincial barrier trials at Gosford on October 13 and Hawkesbury on October 17.
HAWKESBURY October 17
Inside Grass; Soft 5
18 Heats – 1 x 1250m (Open); 7 x 1000m (3 Open; 4 Maiden); 10 x 760m (1 2YO; 3 Open; 6 Maiden)
A high quality set of trials featuring some rising stars and a strong batch of very promising maidens.
BRUCKNER (Ciaron Maher/David Eustace): Not seen since last spring when he went from a maiden success to a G3 win to a G1 second in the Coolmore Stud Stakes. Top stable has the 4YO entire by Snitzel ready to make up for lost time following knee surgery after he trucked through his 760m heat in great style, sitting three wide and letting rip off the turn to run away with the trial in the fastest of the 10 heats over the distance (44.33; 32.23).
CAPPALETTI (Gerald Ryan/Sterling Alexiou): This Capitalist colt was one of the standouts among the maiden heat winners over 760m, stretching out with style over the last 200m like a good horse (44.83; 32.92). Suggest he is a lot better than his only start on a heavy track in June.
NORWEGIAN BLISS (Nathan Doyle): Newcastle trainer has his hands on a real talent in this unbeaten 5YO mare. She's won six from six and the way she cruised through her second trial since April says she is ready to extend the winning streak. Posted the fastest time in the 1000m heats (58.97; 33.45) extending easily over the last 300m to win by a soft 1.7 lengths.
"This is an impressive trial."
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 16, 2022
Unbeaten @ndoyleracing mare Norwegian Bliss wins a 1000m hitout at @hawkesburyrc on Monday, defeating Anythink Goes and Mycah Leon. @tabcomau @BaramulStud pic.twitter.com/5FL2KC93hx
KOBE ROCKS (Bjorn Baker): Sharp return from a break by this talented runner, leading with ease and sprinting to the line to hold off some handy rivals in his 760m heat (46.00; 33.51).
WHINCHAT (David Pfeiffer): This Russian Revolution colt has now won four trials since his debut third at Newcastle in June. From three wide early he pulled his way to the lead after 200m and was dominant over the last 400m, running through the line under a big hold.
The session also featured impressive trials by several promising types already in the blackbook after previous noted trials. They include the 760m heat winners BLACK ON BEAUTY (45.87; 33.49); IOWNA MERC (45.05; 33.27); SHEZANALISTER (44.52; 32.81) and INVEST IN LOVE (44.82; 32.88).
The only 2YO heat over 760m featured a strong win in slow time (47.06; 34.33) by CAFE MILLENIUM, a robust Not A Single Doubt colt typical of the breed who found the line strongly from off the pace to get the better of the pacy GIGALOT.
An eye catching trial from the 2YO field this morning at Hawkesbury! The time was 47.06 for the 760m.
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 16, 2022
1⃣Cafe Millennium
2⃣Gitalong
3⃣Monte Tiana pic.twitter.com/z2rqkmLaQx
Libertini's promising brother HAWAII FIVE OH – one of many who failed to cope with the heavy bog at Randwick on October 8 - was always in control of the only heat over 1250m, looking a lot more tractable running out a soft winner over the good stayer DR DRILL in slow time (76.31; 33.70).
The 1000m heats featured notable wins by RAINBOW CONNECTION (59.07; 33.13) and ATMOSPHERE (60.37; 34.11).
NOTED TRIALS
XX Bruckner; Cappelletti; Kobe Rocks; Norwegian Bliss; Whinchat;
X Airman; Atmosphere; Black On Beauty; Cafe Millenium; Grange Rock Star; Hawaii Five Oh; Invest In Love; Iowna Merc; Jojo Was A Man; Kobe Rocks; Little Baia; Notions; Queen Bellissimo; Rainbow Connection; Shezanalister; Slipside; Surrenders;
GOSFORD October 13
Course Proper; Heavy 8
14 Heats – 7 x 1000m (3 Open; 4 Maiden); 7 x 800m (1 2YO; 2 Open; 4 Maiden)
A session that featured a classy 3YO and a batch of nice maiden prospects.
Trainer John O'Shea sent his Golden Rose placegetter ZOU TIGER to Gosford for a tick over trial in an open heat over 1000m. It was evident he was here for the exercise and was given a very easy time by Kerrin McEvoy working to the line full of himself to finish an impressive third in the fastest heat over the distance won by handy type OTTILIE (61.59; 36.25).
The good mare FRENCH BONNET worked strongly to win another 1000m heat (61.77; 36.31) with OAKFIELD ARROW also impressing with a close second. Both are Midway winners and look in good form to resume.
French Bonnet's trainer Kim Waugh had a pleasing morning rolling out several impressive maiden heat winners. She won three of the four maiden heats over 1000m with MISTY DREAMS (62.30; 36.87), CHIPPER (63.01; 37.05) and SELFLESS ACT (63.25; 37.16), a trio primed to run well when produced at the provincials.
The Damien Lane-trained OAKFIELD BLUE BELL is another maiden with positive prospects. She is an unraced 4YO mare by Extreme Choice but has obvious talent judging by the way she cruised through her 1000m heat to win by five lengths in fast time (62.18; 37.13).
The 2YOs had first use of the track in their 800m heat with a pair of I Am Invincible youngsters dominating. The filly INFATUATION led and held on to beat the colt MISTY LEGEND in the fastest of the seven heats over the distance (48.93; 34.60). The runner-up missed the kick by two lengths, sped up to sit outside the winner and looked much stronger going to the line with something in reserve.
Other 800m heat runners to make an impression included ASPEN CHASE, ONE WAY STREET, DELEXO, HARD TO SAY, COSMIC FIELD, UNCLE ALF and COUNTER MOVE.
The talented DELEXO turned in one of the best trials of the morning finishing a strong second in the 800m heat won by STARBORETA (49.93; 35.49), tracking widest and working to the line under a cold ride in a trial that points to him being ready to sprint well fresh.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Zou Tiger; Delexo
X Aspen Chase; Chipper; Cosmic Field; Counter Move; French Bonnet; Hard To Say; Misty Dreams; Misty Legend; Oakfield Arrow; Oakfield Blue Bell; One Way Street; Ottilie; Selfless Act; Uncle Alf
