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Chris Scholtz reviews the Rosehill and Wyong barrier trials held on February 27.
Two sets of trials on same day on heavy tracks with some top metro stables sending big teams to Wyong where Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott runners won nine of the 18 heats.
At both sets it was the 2YOs that commanded most attention, with good reason as there were some classy prospcts on show.ROSEHILL
BLACKBOOKERS: RIGHTEOUS MAN; BEZEL; COCOEXCEL; ALIZEE; ORDOS HONOR; MENARIHEAT 1 (Open/1030m): Comprehensive win by RIGHTEOUS MAN. Tracked three wide, picked up leaders and extended strongly. Behind him were three very good Godolphin trials from IT'S SOMEWHAT, an easy fourth, and two new imports ANCIENT HISTORY (keen, held up) and FLOODLIGHT (worked to line) who impressed with their late work and could have done a lot more.
HEAT 2: (Open/1030m): BEZEL stood out here, running much faster than the first heat and given a good test to prove his first-up flop was well behind him. Made strong run under a hold from midfield and did it well within himself to get the better of leader MY COUNTRY. Expect big form turn around when next produced. Liked the way TENORINO found line for third while classy VELADERO not asked for anything serious, finishing a soft fourth.HEAT 3: (Maiden/1030m): Gerald Ryan pair COMFORTABLE and GOTHENBURG dominated as they got right away from the others in good time. Both look solid maiden prospects.
HEAT 4: (Open/900m): COCOEXCEL led under no pressure, travelled well and kicked strongly without any effort. She’s a trial star and better than race form. Going well. Group star JAPONISME travelled kindly and had another easy trial for third. He is getting a measured prep for his return to racing. PIRAPALA finished off strongly from wel back for second while COTTAGE had more to offer in fourth. VANBRUGH did it easy out the back and was given a conditioner working to the line.HEAT 5: (Open/900m): Solid winl from the impressive ZUMBELINA. She is likely to take plenty from this first trial since resuming. Her Waller stablemates CROSS STITCH (3rd) and the imported LIFE LESS ORDINARY (6th) did enough to warrant keeping an eye on them as they progress. MATERNAL (5th) was quite OK for Godolphin.
HEAT 6: (Open/900m): MARENOSTRO did enough to win and is obviously going well but time was slow and it was a bunched finish with a length between the first five. Can’t take much out of this on face value.HEAT 7 (2YO Filies/900m): Big win by Astern’s sister ALIZEE and make no mistake – she is a talent! It was a slowly run first half, she settled well back three and four wide giving the leaders six lengths but from the 250m picked them up under a soft ride so easily that it makes you wonder how she was beaten on debut. Will be given her chance to make it to the Slipper through the Magic Night Stakes.
HEAT 8 : (2YO Filies/900m); A much faster fillies heat and the Waller-trained winner ORDOS HONOR is a nice Fastnet Rock with a future. Led and was very sharp over her last 300m to win clearly. FARSIGHT and PERSIA were the best behind her.HEAT 9: (2YO Fillies/900m): LA CHICA ROSA was another Waller winner but ran a second slower than her previous stablemate. However she did it well within herself to win by a margin and obviously could have gone faster.
HEAT 10: (2YO C &G; 900m): Even lot with BOYISH leading and holding an advantage to the line in slow time. ASSIMILATE and MEROVEE did enough to suggest they have prospects.HEAT 11: ALL TOO HUIYING responded to the addition of winkers, trialling strongly to get the better of TERRITORIAL in slowest of all the 2YO heats. The work of DISSOLUTION and GRETZKY behind the first pair was OK.
HEAT 12: (2YO C & G/900m): MENARI made up for missing his race last Saturday with a super trial that underlined his class. Sat off the speed early then went up a gear when required to easily open up a five lengths break over the last 200m under no pressure. Put the time on the board as well. AL MAH HAHA and AUGUSTUS were OK behind him.HEAT 13: (Maiden 3YO Fillies/900m): LIFELINE PRINCESS won in slow time. Waller stablemates PRINCESS WILDFIRE (2nd) was the better trial, finding the line in good style after tracking three wide.
HEAT 14: Maiden/900m): Another slow heat win by BEST GUESS. Better efforts behind him by NICOCHET (2nd) making up ground after slow start, and MISSILE STRIKE (4th) and WESTON (5th) doing it well within themselves.WYONG
The Waterhouse/Bott team were dominant but Kris Lees. Kim Waugh and Brett Partelle would have been happy with some of their result.BLACKBOOKERS: SENSE OF OCCASION; TWIST TOPS; WILCANNIA; POWERLINE; HETTY HEIGHTS; SORT AFTER; SERENA BAY; LANKAN PHARAOH; ROY’S COMMAND; OUR CROWN MISTRESS; PARIS FOR ME; SAVAPINSKI; TRUST ME.
SENSE OF OCCASION: Strong 1200m heat win by the Villiers winner.TWIST TOPS: Found line easiuly for soft second behind stablemate Raido over 1000m.
WILCANNIA; Cruised in the lead and opened up for soft win in fastest of the 1000m heats.POWERLINE: Always had leaders covered in his 1000m heat. Strong win.
HETTY HEIGHTS: Impressive finish to win over 845m, coming from back half and going to the line with plenty in the tank to beat SORT AFTER, who also trialled strongly. Form worth following.SERENA BAY: Sat outside the lead and did all that was required to win 845m heat. Nice filly.
LANKAN PHARAOH: Worked three wide al the way and responded to riding to get the better of his rivals. ROY’S COMMAND was given a very easy time in third and could have made it interesting.OUR CROWN MISTRESS: Already in the blackbook and this only confirmed her talent. Cruised in second and went clear easily for soft win in fastest of six 2YO heats. Readymade winner.
PARIS FOR ME: Promising maiden filly did it well within herself for a hard held win. Should be winning this prep for Brett Partelle.SAVAPINSKI: Responded to riding to forge clear for fast 845m heat. Being by Savabeel should hold scope for plenty of improvement.
TRUST ME: Another sharp 845m maiden heat winner from the Partelle yard.