Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney and provincial barrier trials at Canterbury (April 19), Rosehill (April 23), Wyong (April 23) and Warwick Farm (April 26).
WARWICK FARM April 26
18 Heats; Soft 5
Inside Grass – 3 x 1200m (2 Open; 1 Maiden); 4 x 801m (3 Open; 1 2YO); 4 x 797m (4 2YO); 3 x 793m (1 3YO; 2 Maiden)
Polytrack – 1 x 1175m (Open); 2 x 740m (1 Open; 1 Maiden)
Nice conditioning trials from some well-known names.
They included the G1 performer NUGGET, BAROQUE ROAD, JOJO WAS A MAN and BACCHANALIA, who was a strong winner of his 801m heat (47.48; 33.50) in his first trial for his new trainer Richard Litt.
Some nice trials in the 2YO heats with Marc Conners' unraced SHEZASIREN adding to her unbeaten trial record with another sharp performance in the fastest 797m heat (46.03; 33.45). Her three trial wins have all been at Warwick Farm over short courses where she has simply been too fast for her rivals.
Another unraced filly made an excellent impression winning her heat.
JELLICIOUS (Ciaron Maher): Attractive Snitzel filly made nice improvement from a placing in her first trial at this course on April 12 with an impressive win her 801m heat (46.89; 33.38). Let down strongly under no pressure from two lengths off the leader on the turn, running away for a soft win under a cold ride with a lot in reserve. It was nice work.
I'm not a fan of polytrack trials but it there was plenty to like about the way the three heat winners CALL DI, JAMBALAYA and TULLE went about their business.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Jellicious
X Bacchanalia; Baroque Road; Call Di; Froebel Star; Inception; Jambalaya; Jojo Was A Man; Nugget; Pink Cashmere; Shezasiren; Silver Wedding; Struff; Tulle; Yukan Rose
Jojo Was A Man rings up a win at his third trial of the prep at Warwick Farm on Friday, the @JTRacingRwik gelding held 2-1/2 lengths on Miracle Spin and Star Legacy. Albury Cup winner Fawkner Park hit the line late. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/QdxCJljkCT
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) April 25, 2024
ROSEHILL April 23
Inside Grass; Soft 5
12 Heats – 4 x 1030m (3 Open; 1 2YO); 8 x 900m (3 Open; 4 2YO; 1 Maiden)
Impressive trials from two talented mares preparing for their winter campaigns.
BANANA QUEEN (Gerald Ryan'/Sterling Alexiou): A classy return by this Group-winning mare in her first trial since October, trucking through her 900m heat (54.41; 34.44) under a big hold from Nash Rawiller for an easy win. She pulled well clear turning for home before he shut her down with her winning margin flattering the closers.
PASSEGIATTA (Bjorn Baker): Is there a faster short course mare in Sydney? Another brilliant trial win by this out and out speedster in her 900m heat (53.35; 33.97), leading by 10 lengths on the turn and maintaining that margin to the line in easily the fastest of the heats over the distance. It's just a matter of Bjorn Baker finding the right short course sprint for her first-up.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Banana Queen; Passeggiata
X Brigantine; Emirate; General Salute; Kerguelen; Lady Shenandoah; Let's Go Barbie; Mickey's Medal; Russian Conquest
"Spring Lee's going to win by a good margin."
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) April 22, 2024
The lightly raced @BBakerRacing filly leads all the way to win a Rosehill trial on Tuesday over Grebeni with Zaragoza holding third from General Salute. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/n24d7QIf4w
WYONG April 23
Course Proper; Heavy 8
15 Heats – 2 x 1200m (Open); 6 x 1000m (2 2YO; 3 Open; 1 Maiden); 7 x 845m (3 2YO; 2 Open; 2 Maiden)
NOTED TRIALS
X Attractable; Boss; Edmond; Midsummer Night; Much Much Better; Norton Road; Power Ballard; Rebel Rhapsody; Super Bright; Zia
Big Dance winner Attractable given a solid hitout by @Reganbayliss to win a trial at @WyongRaceClub on Tuesday. The @sara_r_racing gelding scored by almost eight lengths over Centenario and Youth Spirit. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/QIhfCVOX4F
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) April 22, 2024
CANTERBURY April 19
19 Heats; Soft 7
Course Proper – 4 x 1100m (3 Open; 1 Maiden); 5 x 905m (3 Open; 2 2YO); 5 x 903m (5 2YO); 5 x 900m (1 2YO; 2 3YO; 2 Maiden)
Some nice work from two well performed Bjorn Baker stablemates and plenty to digest from the trials of a big Chris Waller team.
IOWNA MERC (Bjorn Baker): First trial since December and you wouldn't see a better piece of work from a sprinter preparing for a winter campaign. Settled at the rear before peeling to the outside at the 400m and letting down with a super turn of foot to run past his rivals with ease and cruise through the line more than two lengths clear in the fastest of the five 905m heats (55.41; 35.55).
INSURRECTION (Bjorn Baker): Impressive work from another good sprinter, leading his 905m heat (55.93; 35.44) under a big hold and working easily to the line to win with plenty in reserve. Another from the Baker team set for a good winter.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Iowna Merc; Insurrection
X Clear Choice; Easiest Choice; Evenflow; Junqueira; Madrina; Moravia; Parisal; Private Life; Tehina; Volatile; Xidari
Bases Loaded, who hasn't raced since running second in last year's G1 Champagne Stakes, wins a trial at Canterbury on Friday. The @GaiWaterhouse1 & Adrian Bott colt held Sanstoc in the 1100m trial with Rebel Rama in third. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/We4AS3fEKU
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) April 18, 2024
