Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney barrier trials at Randwick on May 17 and Rosehill on May 18.
ROSEHILL May 17
Inside Grass – Heavy 8
15 Heats – 5 x 1030m (2 Open; 2 2YO; 1 Maiden); 10 x 900m (2 Open; 5 2YO; 1 3YO; 2 Maiden)
NOTED TRIALS
A good mix of trials featuring some classy types preparing to head north for the Brisbane carnival.
SCHWARZ (John O'Shea): Primed to perform well in Brisbane after doing all that was required to win the fastest of the five heats over 1030m (62.55; 35.00). Sat off the leader before extending smoothly to win under a quiet ride.
STEP ASIDE (Chris Waller): Set for a good campaign after strong work to win his 900m heat with plenty in reserve (56.83; 35.87). Travelled wide before closing on the lead and doing it easily under a good hold.
TSARINA SOPHIA (Gerald Ryan/Sterling Alexiou): She's a sharp runner when right and races best fresh. She's in good order to resume after breezing through her 900m heat (54.95; 34.45), showing her natural speed to lead at her leisure and score by more than three lengths.
WATERSKI (James Cummings): This Street Boss filly hasn't run to expectations in her first four starts but it looks a formality for her to win a maiden if she takes this trial form to the races. Coasted in the lead in her fast 900m heat (54.70; 35.17), never coming off the bit to cruise home by more than three lengths.
The G1 winner IN SECRET is another star on track for Brisbane after a pleasing win in a strong 900m heat (62.99; 35.49). This was her second trial since her good break from racing and she was asked to work to the line from off the poace, getting the upper hand over the quietly ridden FACILE over the last 100m. The new owners of the classy filly TUTTA LA VITA would be pleased with the way she worked home from the back for a strong fourth.
The unraced Per Incanto 3YO CAPTAIN EAGLE has been a trial star for some time and surely is close to a race start after a smart win in the fastest 900m heat (54.45; 34.93). The trial also featured nice work from the experienced winners GITALONG and HANAU.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Schwarz; Step Aside; Tsarina Sophia; Waterski
X Bella Corazon; Captain Eagle; Equipage; Facile; Gitalong; Goodlucktome; Hanau; I Am A Winner; In Secret; Manukau; Railway Man; Tartaglia; Tutta La Vita
RANDWICK May 16
Randwick A Grass – Soft 7
15 Heats – 1 x 1200m (Open); 8 x 1045m (3 Open; 3 2YO; 2 Maiden);6 x 737m (1 Open; 4 2YO; 1 3YO)
Sydney trials resumed after weather disrupted the schedule for 10 days.
There were some strong 2YO heats featuring some classy youngsters including the G1 Champagne Stakes winner BROADSIDING and the fast two-time winner SPYWIRE. No doubt they will be heading to Brisbane. I suspect a few others are contenders for the new million dollar Magic Millions race at Doomben.
Godolphin star BROADSIDING finished second in his 1045m heat (64.22; 35.86) won by the unraced I Am Invincible filly I FOUND YOU. It was quality work from both youngsters as they surged through the line from well off the pace.
SPYWIRE won the fastest of the six heats over 737m (43.33; 33.24) after tracking wide in the better ground. The margin was less than a length but he was doing it easily for a soft win.
Their stablemates MANOS and EVERYBODY RISE, a pair of colts by Snitzel who showed promise early in the season, finished 1-2 in their 737m heat (43.98; 33.79) with plenty in reserve. The unraced MANOS has been in the blackbook since his first spring trial while EVERYBODY RISE was placed in his debut at Rosehill in the spring and has since had three trials.
The Snowden-trained VINNIRO, a gelding by I Am Invincible, showed he had improved since his two spring starts with a dominant win in the fastest of the three 2YO heats over 1045m (63.98; 35.71).
The John O'Shea-trained AVEBURY worked well to win the fastest open heat over 1045m (63.85; 34.89) in a trial where his Group winning stablemate GOOD BANTER had a nice conditioning hitout in her first trial since she won the Adrian Knox at the Randwick carnival.
Another Snowden heat winner to make an impression was the smart mare ALICIA ROMA. She has missed a place only three times in 13 starts and her easy win in her 737m heat (43.85; 33.61) indicates she is ready to rebound from a Victorian campaign late last year.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Alicia Roma; Vinniro
X Avebury; Broadsiding; Everybody Rise; Good Banter; House Of Cards; I Found You; Ka Bling; Lady Tassort; La Roja; Manos; Spywire; Tardelli; Unanimous