3 minute read
Chris Scholtz reviews barrier trials at Warwick Farm on January 2 and Newcastle on January 5.
WARWICK FARM January 2
Inside Grass/Polytrack; Soft 5
17 Heats – 3 x 1207m (2 Open; 1 Maiden); 4 x 815m (4 Open); 5 x 812m (5 2YO); 3 x 808m (1 Maiden; 2 Open); Polytrack 2 x 740m (2 Open)
A pair of stablemates prepared by the astute David Pfieffer are sure to be placed to advantage after showing impressive form in their trials.
CALL ME GORGEOUS (David Pfieffer): We tabbed this promising Deep Field colt when he won his first trial at Randwick on December 11 and this effort confirmed that he will have no trouble picking up a maiden win. Kerrin McEvoy allowed the pacy GALACTIC MISS to set a fast pace before peeling off her back at the 200m and extending like a good horse to easily win the 808m heat in the fastest of all the short course trials (46.58; 33.15), being the only winner to go under 47 seconds. They left the third horse seven lengths away!
WHINCHAT (David Pfieffer): Excellent return trial by this talented 4YO in his first trial since October. Travelled strongly three and four wide outside a line of leaders in his 815m heat before cruising to the front turning for home. Jay Ford then sat like a statue and put the gelding under no pressure, allowing ESTADIA MESTALLA to gain the upper hand on the line (47.86; 33.25). He's won three of his eight starts up to 1400m and is sure to build on that record.
There were five 2YO heats over 812m with RUSSIAN ROULETTE, a Russian Revolution youngster from the Waterhouse/Bott stable having his first trial, running the fastest time (47.49; 34.06), The Snowden stablemates TWIRLING (47.58; 33.93) and HOLMES A COURT (47.94; 34.15) made an impression winning their heats while the effort of SWITZERLAND, a colt from the Waller yard, stamped himself as one to follow with an impressive second in the heat won by DUE CALAZINI (47.67; 33.92).
Due Calzini (by D'Argento), trained by @SeibRacing, holds off Switzerland (Snitzel) to win a Warwick Farm 2yo trial on Tuesday with Pro Forma (Capitalist) in third. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/bLtCIHnbpm
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) January 1, 2024
Notable efforts from the open and maiden heats include WINNING VERSE, WILD BOTANICA; VEECEE and SKY ARTIST. The smart Godolphin stablemates JAMBALAYA and STYDD put in good work to finish second in their polytrack trials.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Call Me Gorgeous; Whinchat
X Angel Fund; Holmes A Court; Jambalaya; Man In The Mirror; Shezasiren; Sky Artist; Stydd; Switzerland; Twirling; Veecee; Wild Botanica; Winning Verse
Blacklist finishes strongly under Dylan Browne McMonagle to give the Irish jockey successive trial wins in a cameo appearance at @newcastleraces_ on Friday. The @cmaherracing galloper ran down Nightcapped with Kotaishi third. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/pjlDnCllIa
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) January 4, 2024
NEWCASTLE January 5
Beaumont; Heavy 8
15 Heats – 1 x 1200m (Open); 5 x 1000m (2 Open; 3 Maiden); 9 x 800m (3 Open; 3 2YO; 3 Maiden)
NOTED TRIALS
X Aroha Stone; Artemis Arrows; Blacklist; Bodgie; Brimstone; Broadway Bouncer; Fermented; Flying Argyle; Harlem Queen; Memoria; Perri Lass; Rockbarton Fashion; Rush Hour; Secret Spy; Shall Be; Thrill Of Brazil; Ucalledit; Winning Proposal
