3 minute read

Chris Scholtz reviews barrier trials at Gosford (September 28); Randwick (September 28) and Rosehill (October 2).

ROSEHILL October 2

Good 4/Inside Grass

11 Heats – 3 x 1030m (1 Open; 2 Maiden); 8 x 900m (2 2YO; 3 Open; 3 Maiden)

FOUR TO FOLLOW

DISRUPTOR (Gary Portelli): Dissident youngster was second at the Randwick trials on September 17 to the Breeders Plate winner Dubious and improved off that with this impressive heat 900m win despite doing plenty wrong. Up on the speed before running wide on the point of the turn and took 100m to balance before sprinting past the leaders for a strong win in a fast closing sectional. Has the ability.

DYSLEXIC (Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes): A tearaway leader ensured this 900m heat was a true test and the quality of this mare stood out as she cut back a five lengths lead over the last 200m to 0.3 lengths on the line with Tommy Berry keeping plenty in hand. Set to fulfil the promise she showed last season.

REGIMEN (James Cummings): Nice tradesman-like win by a good type set to climb the classes. Sat second outside the lead, forged to lead under a hold and not extended to hold off a late closer in his 900m heat. His time of 55.18 (last 600m 34.80) was slow but gave the impression there was plenty in the tank. Note that he was a good first-up winner last campaign.

VAHVUUS (Chris Waller): This was the third trial for this unraced Congrats filly and her improvement was obvious as she controlled the heat from the front and got clear of the chasers under her own momentum for a soft 1.8 lengths win in the fastest of the 900m heats (53.91/last 600m 34.40). The fact that she beat the highly regarded Tell Me, an impressive trial winner in her own right, adds merit to the quality of this form.

[NOTABLE TRIALS: Stealth Sniper; Disruptor; Still Single; Sophelia; River Bird; Revenire; Dyslexic; Egyptian Symbol; Kawaikini; Regimen; Blue Tycoon; Vahvuus; Tel Me; Checksum; Brazilica; Vedder; Nordicus; Adana.

RANDWICK September 28

Good 4; Kensington (1 heat)/Randwick Grass (14 Heats)

Kensington (1 Open x 845m markers out 10m); Inside Grass – 1200m (1 Open); 1050m 6 x 105om (2 Open; 4 Maiden); 7 x 735m (3 2YO; 3 Maiden; 1 Open)

FIVE TO FOLLOW

PERFORMER (Chris Waller): rated 3YO looked fresh and focused as he split runners late to finish a close second in the open heat over 845m on the Kensington track. Had plenty to offer through the line and suggest his will be a lot sharper when next produced.

OZARK (James Cummings): His close-up fourth in a blanket finish to his open heat over 1050m was the eye catcher as he joined in on the outside of a line of four in the last 200m but was never asked for a full effort while those inside him were under pressure. Won first-up last prep and looks capable of a repeat.

LOVED ONE (John O’Shea): Nice effort from a maiden who had only one start at Newcastle in July. He was given plenty of time to find his feet in his 1050m heat then made his run wide from the 400m, putting in very nice work over the last 10m for a strong second. Stable likes to be patient with these distance types.

NAPOLEON SOLO (Peter & Paul Snowden): Showed promise when placed at Canterbury in July and loks ready to go on from that as this was an excellent performance to run the fastest time of the 1035m heats (1.03.62/last 600m 35.20) with a surging finish. He was well back on settling and was giving a previous smart trial winner FLYING LEGEND three lengths start inside the last 200m before reeling him in with some big bounds. Talented.

INVINCIBLE VISION (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott): Won his heat at the Randwick trials on September 17 but showed the benefit fo that experience as this was as good as any 2YO has trialled in Sydney this season. He was dominant and his classy action stood out as cruised through his last 300m like a professional with a lot in hand. His 1.3 lengths margin was flattering to his rivals.

NOTABLE TRIALS: Performer; Gibraltar Girl; Ozark; Beacon; Zenardini; De Valera; Loved One; Napoleon Solo; Speedycom; Invincible Vision; Evening Slippers; Espaaniyah; Hussterical; Valiant.

GOSFORD September 28

Course Proper/Soft 6/Rail Out 6 Metres

1 1200m (Open); 2 x 1000m (1 Open/1 Maiden); 9 x 800m (1 2YO; 2 Open; 6 Maiden)

One trial of note that featured the Kosciuszko contenders VICTOREM and AFTER ALL THAT and the talented WAITANDWATCH, a winner of five of eight starts. WAITANDWATCH took control from the jump and dictated easily to win the 1000m heat by a sosft two lenbgths under no pressure. Impressive and sure to be hard to beat first-up. Port Macquarie-trained VICTOREM has already won a trial at Taree and this time was given the easiest of times for the first 600m, sitting well back off the speed before working into the trial from the 400m. Found the line in great style closing 200m, making ground quickly last bit - just what you want to see from a horse being prepared to go 1400m first-up. AFTER ALL THAT was very similar, also being given easy time through the first half and never given full rein at any stage to run home along the rail and finish 1.5 lengths behind Victorem.

NOTABLE TRIALS: Waitandwatch; Victorem; After All That; Wild Kingdom; Artie’s Rose; King Lear; Bright Future; Fudgewedge; I Am Teflon; Niccirose; Sizzleonthebridge; Macal; Magnolia Power.