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Maher and Eustace two-year-olds sparkle at the trials.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Setanta (Fastnet Rock) - a brother to dual Group 1 winner Merchant Navy - won his trial at Warwick Farm on Tuesday morning.
The two-year-old colt was purchased by Aquis Farm for $2.3 million at last year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the Segenhoe draft.
The unraced colt, who was having his third public trial, had to be pushed out to the line and eventually beat fellow Aquis Farm-owned colt Breeders' Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) winner Global Quest (More Than Ready) by a neck in the 808 metre heat.
Setanta is out of Group 3 winner Legally Bay (Snippets), who has produced six winners including Merchant Navy and Group 2 winner Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock).
Legally Bay herself is out of two-time-winning Last Tycoon (Try My Best) mare Decidity, making her a half-sibling to Myer Classic (registered as Empire Rose Stakes) (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Bonaria (Redoute's Choice) and Group 3 winner Time Out (Rory's Jester). Decidity also produced four-time winner Chatoyant (Flying Spur), who is herself the dam of Group 3-winning duo Tessera (Medaglia d'Oro) and Montsegur (New Approach).
Legally Bay died at Segenhoe Stud in May last year.
Earlier at the barrier trials another two-year-old trained by the Maher and Eustace team put in a good performance, with Goddess (Fastnet Rock) winning her third trial and second this preparation.
The daughter of Coolmore Stud's Fastnet Rock (Danehill) tracked wide in the 808 metre heat and reacted well to pressure to beat the Chris Waller-trained September Run (Exceed And Excel), who was purchased by Hermitage Thoroughbreds for $380,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, by a length and three quarters.
Owned by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia, the two-year-old filly is out Listed winner Girl Hussler (Hussonet) making her a half-sister to Group 1 winner Manuel (Commands) and Group 3 winner Taking Aim (Choisir).
Girl Hussler has a yearling by Snitzel (Redoute's Choice) and having missed to I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) last season, she was most recently served by Widden Stud-based stallion Zoustar (Northern Meteor).
Also at the barrier trials on Tuesday, the Chris Waller-trained Group 1 winner Nature Strip (Nicconi) won his star-studded 900 metre trial, with Everest (1200m) winner Yes Yes Yes (Rubick) finishing a good third, while multiple Group 1-winning mare Alizee (Sepoy) ran home an untested fourth.
