Chris Scholtz reviews trials at Newcastle and Hawkesbury on December 12 and 16.
HAWKESBURY December 16
Course Proper; Good 4
14 Heats – 6 x 1000m (3 Open; 3 Maiden); 8 x 800m (2 Open; 3 2YO; 3 Maiden)
A touch of class with Golden Slipper winner LADY OF CAMELOT trialling strongly ahead of a trip to Queensland.
The session had plenty of depth with several other quality performers also trialling well head of summer targets while the maiden and 2YO heats had their share of talent.
INSAIN (Bjorn Baker): Some raw talent here with this unraced 3YO by Zousain showing natural speed to win his first trial over 800m by almost eight lengths in fast time (46.20; 32.53). Led the first half of the trial at a controlled speed, made the turn awkwardly then balanced up to put a big space on them over the last 200m, going through the line with his ears pricked.
LADY OF CAMELOT (Waterhouse/Bott): Impressive work to win the fastest 800m trial (46.12; 32.22) in a strong prep for her tilt at a new $3 million race at the Gold Coast. Tim Clark had her cruising behind the fast mare BONITA QUEEN before gaining the upper hand over the last 200m and doing all that was required to win the trial.
Strong 1000m heat wins by Ramornie Handicap winner KA BLING (59.47; 33.09) and the classy mare REVOLUTIONARY MISS (59.05) should have them primed for summer targets while the classy stayer TOWNSEND worked well within himself for an easy second in his 1000m heat won by Bosustow (59.88; 33.74).
There were some smart winners in the maiden trials. In the 1000m heats the unraced pair MANAAJEM (58.44; 33.50) and MR DESIRA (58.62; 33.63) showed good improvement off earlier trials to post wins that auger well for their debuts while the previously noted Exosphere filly NIGHT SKY added a third trial win to her record with a confident win in her 800m heat (46.73; 32.68).
2YO filly Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice @NewgateFarm x Shadow) launches with a late burst of speed to win Heat 11 @hawkesburyrc trials
— TTR AusNZ (@TTRAusNZ) December 16, 2024
T: @MFreedmanRacing
J: @TommyBerry21
Br: Etak Thoroughbreds
S: $400k @mmsnippets GC Yearling Sale buy for his trainer, @MyRacehorseAU and… pic.twitter.com/XijRg0W6Ql
The three 2YO heats over 800m were won in comparable times by SWAG (46.96; 33.07); SAVVY HALLIE (46.97; 33.19) and APOCALYPTIC (47.01; 33.11). I liked the late work of SAVVY HALLIE and APOCALYPTIC through the line.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Insain; Lady Of Camelot
X Apocalyptic; Bonita Queen; Bosustow; Jamakin Money; Ka Bling; Koios; Manaajem; Mr Desira; Night Sky; Revolutionary Miss; Savvy Hallie; Townsend
2YO filly Savvy Hallie (Hellbent @yarramanpark x Rose Of Savannah) thunders home and claims Heat 10 @hawkesburyrc trials
— TTR AusNZ (@TTRAusNZ) December 16, 2024
T: @BWiddupRacing
J: @G1TySchil
Br: Mr G Harvey
S: $150k @mmsnippets National Weanling Sale buy for @BelmontBldstck from @BaramulStud | $320k… pic.twitter.com/1hEmUidVID
2YO colt Swag (Bivouac @DarleyAus x Status Quo) fights to the line to win Heat 9 @hawkesburyrc trials
— TTR AusNZ (@TTRAusNZ) December 15, 2024
T: @MFreedmanRacing
J: @TommyBerry21
Br: @SledmereStud
S: $240k @mmsnippets GC Yearling Sale buy for his trainer and @GandharviRacing from his breeders. pic.twitter.com/tzzhAfaENS
NEWCASTLE December 12
Good 4; 11 Heats - 1 x 1200m (Maiden); 5 x 950m (3 Open; 2 Maiden); 5 x 800m (1 Open; 4 Maiden)
Wyong trainer Sara Ryan's team continues to perform well at provincial trials.
SPICY HOTPOT (Sara Ryan): Handy 5YO marge followed up her noted trial at Wyong on November 26 with smart win her 950m heat (53.61; 33.15), sprinting away with a fast closing sectional from her well performed stablemate MUCH MUCH BETTER for a soft win. She can be well placed in a suitable benchmark at the provincials.
The Kris Lees-trained POWER OF THE BRAVE went a tick quicker in the fastest 950m trial (53.51; 34.40) but the last 600m was much slower than SPICY HOTPOT.
Ryan also won another 950m open trial with previously noted SO GOOD SO COOL (54.50; 34.12) beating stablemate CHIEF CONDUCTOR.
The fastest 800m heat was won by the maiden BROKEN WINGS (47.35; 33.15) where the effort of the runner-up COOL SPACE took the eye.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Spicy Hotpot
X Cool Space; Hell Of A Fox; Northern Eyes; Oakfield Jupiter; Power Of The Brave; Power Spark