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Chris Scholtz reviews barrier trials at Warwick Farm on October 8 and Newcastle on October 9.

WARWICK FARM October 8

Heavy 8/Inside Grass

14 Heats – 2 x 1200m (1 Open; 1 Maiden); 6 x 794m (4 2YO; 2 Open); 6 x 791m (1 Open; 5 Maiden)

Some nice efforts in the heavy conditions in the 2YO heats where the winner to capture most attention was Gary Portelli’s Time For War colt TIME TO REIGN, a half-brother to his 2017 Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign. Ben Melham came from Melbourne for the ride with the Magic Millions-bound youngster in control by a clear margin from the jump and coasting home to a comfortable 3.3 lengths win in 48.34 for the 794m. His time was a tick slower than the Peter and Paul Snowden’s Fastnet Rock filly ANAHEED (48.26) in the fastest 2YO heat but he came home in the quickest last 600m (34.80) of the four juvenile heats.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

GREYSFUL GLAMOUR (Markl Nenwham): Promising filly was back home from her last start win over 1800m at Flemington and her strong third in her 1200m heat indicates she is still on an upward spiral. She sat well off the leaders three wide and was held together while making strong headway, running through the line with plenty to offer. She is obviously in good form.

TANIKO (James Cummings): Settled in last three with stablemates Epidemic and Spectroscope before he taken widest on turn and sailing down the outside, skipping through the going to round up the leaders so quickly that she had a soft two lengths to spare on the line. She had just four starts last season for a provincial maiden win and certainly looks capable of rising above that class.

MARSUPIAL (James Cummings): Failed first up in Melbourne last month but we know he’s better than that and this trial win confirms that he can turn his form around when next produced. Settled behind pace before he was eased out five wide on the point of the turn under a big hold and from there he had plenty in hand getting the better of his rivals.

BELLE OF CLONMEL (Jason Coyle): We were taken by the Warwick Farm trial win on September 24 of this maiden mare and she repeated with a convincing performance in this 791m heat. She was keen to go after being held up behind the leaders in the first half and had her rivals well covered when ease into the clear over the last 400m, impressing with her relaxed manner and economical action in the heavy going.

RESTRAINED (James Cummings): Unraced Lonhro 3YO has had five trials over the last 12 months, indicating that he may have had some issues, but there is some obvious ability. Settled in back half before he easily split runners on the turn and accelerated quickly while still on the bit to cut back a six lengths leader to 0.2 lengths on the line in the fastest of the five maiden heats over 791m.

NOTED TRIALS: Greysful Glamour; Anaheed; Paris; Intrepidacious; Time To Reign; Disruptor; Monsieur Sisu; Ronstar; Taniko; Epidemic; Marsupial; So Magic; Beware; Knight Arrow; Benfica Maid; Belle Of Clonmel; Restrained; Lucky Louie; Evict; Lolliepop.

Time To Reign was ultra impressive in winning his trial at Warwick Farm this morning with in the saddle for The 2YO colt is a half to Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign. pic.twitter.com/IqSixF7HI4

— Sky Racing October 8, 2018

NEWCASTLE October 9

Soft 5/15 Heats

Course Proper: 4 x 900m (4 Open)

Beaumont: 11 x 800m (2 Open; 1 2YO; 8 Maiden)

Some notable types won open heats in good style (ROYAL TUDOR, GUARD OF HONOUR, BON AMIS) but one that stood out was the promising KING LEAR, the Tony Newing-trained sprinter who was having his second trial since he won two races in seven days at the Grafton carnival in July. From a clear last in his 900m heat he railed up under a sweet hold and coasted the last 100m for a soft win. Ready to go on with it.

NOTED TRIALS: Pierina; Royal Tudor; King Lear; Articus; Bon Amis; Guard Of Honour; Kedah; Havenot; Schooner Or Later; Kohinoor Road; Bedivere; Engadine; Rain Song; Laguna Mountains.