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Chris Scholtz reviews the Sydney barrier trials at Randwick on March 29 and Warwick Farm on April 1.

 

WARWICK FARM April 1

 

 

Heavy 8; Inside Grass/Pro Ride

 

 

19 Heats; Inside Grass 3 x 1200m (2 Open; 1 Maiden); 6 x 794m (3 Open; 3 2YO); 8 x 791m (4 2YO; 1 3YO; 3 Maiden); Pro Ride 1 x1175m (Open); 1 x 740m (Open)

 

 

Heavy conditions and not a lot to enthuse about. Canberra Guineas winner Final Award and the promising filly Kylease showed they are both holding their winning form with quality efforts while Spaceboy, a youngster who had a boom on him when he raced early in the season, returned looking a more complete package with a strong heat win.

 

 

NOTED TRIALS

 

 

XX Final Award; Spaceboy; Kylease

 

 

X Archedemus; Significance; White Moss; Ronstar; Lanciato; Savatiano; Single Blonde; Vedic; Kahlo; Estrado; Absolute Control; Disruptor; Secretively; Gorgons; A Room Somewhere; Re Edit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RANDWICK March 29

 

 

Soft 5; Randwick A Grass

 

 

17 Heats – 1 x 1200m (Open); 9 x 1045m (4 Open; 3 2YO; 2 3YO Maiden); 7 x 742m (1 Open; 4 2YO; 2 3YO)

 

 

The open heats created a lot of interest with numerous Group performers tuning up for the Randwick carnival. The G1 stars commanded the spotlight but there were some equally smart trials from lesser performed rivals that auger well for their future prospects. There were also some nice trials among the 2YOs but the maiden heats were average standard.

 

 

OPEN HEATS

 

 

HEAT 1 (1200m): The big gun Happy Clapper was back from Melbourne and dispelled any concerns about his well-being with an impressive heat win, going through his gears strongly over the last 200m to easily make up six lengths on the leaders. However it was a bunched finish with some equally strong efforts behind him. Promising 3YO Declarationofheart (2nd) matched the winner to the line while Fun Fact (4th) more than held his own against better performed rivals. Doncaster candidate Life Less Ordinary also took the eye having a very easy time of it buried away in the pack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next stop The Championships and another date with for Happy Clapper in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes after his trial win on Friday. pic.twitter.com/7wlxhRoL9E

 

— The Championships March 28, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEAT 2 (1045m – 1.03.40; 34.60): Crack 3YO Zousain took the honours with a robust display, taking control over the last 200m. However the placegetters were the scene stealers, especially the runner-up Reelem In Ruby who is only a maiden winner but made an impression with her strong finish under a quiet ride. Top class mare Shoals also ran into it under a big hold and was given a very easy time late to finish third.

 

 

HEAT 3 (1045m – 1.03.20; 34.50): This was the best of the open heats with Lindsay Park’s G1 winner Vega Magic turning on the speed from the start to lead throughout. I saw him first hand in an exhibition gallop at Albury the previous week and the improvement in his coat and overall condition in just seven days was noticeable. Behind him were some notable trials from the highly talented Military Zone (2nd - very strong through the line) and multiple G1 winner Santa Ana Lane, his fourth hard to miss as he motored home from the rear with a very quick closing sectional. Fox Swift (3rd) held her own against this classy lot and can be well placed under benchmark conditions against her own sex while Osborne Bulls (7th) went through the motions without being asked for a serious effort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vega Magic, Santa Ana Lane and Osborne Bulls will meet again in Saturday TJ Smith Stakes after their trial on Friday. Nice trial from Military Zone too pic.twitter.com/OoYJ1bZCKj

 

— The Championships March 28, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEAT 4 (1045m – 1.03.80; 34.80): Trapeze Artist was the big name here and didn’t disappoint as he was given a solid test, sitting outside the leader Irithea and asked to do just enough to get the upper hand in the closing stages, notably without his race day blinkers. The pair to follow out of this heat are the Godolphin 3YO Laburnum (3rd) and Charretera, a stylish fourth after covering ground and finishing off like a nice horse. He’s a maiden winner from only three starts and is definitely one to follow through the grades.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reigning TJ Smith champ Trapeze Artist wins his trial under without his trademark blinkers. pic.twitter.com/Rp7XmkxCXg

 

— The ChampionshipsMarch 28, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEAT 5 (1045m – 1.02.80; 34.90): Early speed resulted in the classy Lean Mean Machine running the quickest time over this distance. Did all that was required to win by a clear margin but there was a lot to like about the efforts of the lesser performed placegetters Let Me Sleep On It and Southern Lad with the latter the one taking the eye with his closing effort from well off the pace.

 

 

HEAT 11 (742m – 44.10): The only open heat over this distance featured the top class speedster Ball Of Muscle and he led as expected but was overhauled on the line by Gibraltar Girl, a mare who invariably produces good trials when she is fresh. The time was only average for the session and she was flattered by Glyn Schofield giving Ball Of Muscle a very easy time and sitting cold over the last 100m. Egyptian Symbol (3rd) is another good trial performer who could have done a lot more if asked for a serious effort while the lightly raced former Kiwi High Shine (6th) is one to watch out for when he gets into his first local campaign.

 

 

2YO HEATS – These heats were mostly dominated by runners from the Snowden and Mark Newnham stables. Most notable were the Snowden runners Creator, Daredevil, Brazenpine and California Zimbol while the unraced Splintex – one we noted in a his first trial in December - was the pick of Newham’s three 2YO heat winners. Classy colt Castelvecchio only got going late in the heat won by Brazenpine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Millennium winner Castelvecchio works home out wide in his trial ahead of Group 1 where he is pic.twitter.com/4vLccyWaft

 

— The ChampionshipsMarch 28, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTED TRIALS

 

 

XX Happy Clapper; Reelem In Ruby; Military Zone; Santa Ana Lane; Creator; Brazenpine; Splintex

 

 

X Declarationofheart; Life Less Ordinary; Zousain; Shoals; Vega Magic; Fox Swift; Laburnum; Charretera; Lean Mean Machine; Let Me Sleep On It; Southern Lad; Daredevil; Lady Legend; De Valera; Gibraltar Girl; Ball Of Muscle; California Zimbol; Minted; Statuesquely.