Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney and provincial trials at Wyong (June 16), Rosehill (June 20) and Canterbury (June 23).
CANTERBURY June 23
Course Proper; Soft 5
20 Heats – 3 x 1100m (2 Open; 1 Maiden); 6 x 900m (5 Open; 1 2YO); 6 x 897m (4 2YO; 2 Maiden); 5 x 893m (5 2YO)
The track rating of a Soft 5 gave runners the best conditions for a set of Sydney trials since April.
Trainers will be anxious to know how the Godolphin team will be broken up when James Cummings walks out the door. With Cummings counting down the days to the end of his career with Godolphin the team is still ticking over like clockwork with these trials showing some fortunate trainers are going to be handed some readymade winners.
The team in blue performed with credit with notable trials from the heat winners TARPAULIN, PROFILE and CUSTOM. The race fit FLEETWOOD also worked easily for a good second.
CELLARMASTER (O'Shea/Charlton): Unraced Bivouac youngster has been working up to his debut. This was his third trial with his work to win his 893m heat in the fastest time for the distance (54.83; 36.01) showing he is ready to go to the races. Trailed to fast leaders to the turn before coming to their outside and doing all that was required to reel them in under an easy ride.
MELANITE (John Thompson): Made a big impression winning his Hawkesbury trial on June 10 and went on with it here with another impressive performance in his 893m heat (56.08; 35.73). Settled off the pace before Alysha Collett took him four wide from the 500m to round up the leaders, running past them with plenty in reserve and responding when required to put the trial to bed.
TARPAULIN (James Cummings): Classy win by this talented 3YO in his 900m heat (54.62; 35.91) to follow up his easy resuming trial at Hawkesbury. Could have led but Kerrin McEvoy was content to sit outside the leader under a big hold. Responded like a good horse when given a little squeeze over the last 200m to comfortably hold his rivals and win with plenty in reserve.
STRAAND BEAUTY (O'Shea/Charlton): Posted the fastest win in the 900m heats (54.27; 35.21), showing his natural speed to lead by a clear margin and maintain his advantage to the finish under no pressure. Prefer to see him placed in races up to 1100m.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Cellarmaster; Melanite; Tarpaulin; Straand Beauty
X Bev's Nine; Bunker Hut; Detendu; Fairway To Heaven; Fleetwood; Miss Trentino; Profile; Scalextrics; Tuileries; Usain Boss
ROSEHILL June 20
Inside Grass; Soft 6
14 Heats – 4 x 1030m (2 Open; 1 Maiden; 1 2YO); 10 x 900m (1 Open; 7 2YO; 1 3YO; 1 Maiden)
Impressive debut trials from a couple of youngsters that can be followed with confidence into the winter.
FORNELLI (John O'Shea & Tom Charlton): Classy debut trial by this Farnan filly, coming from the rear in her 900m heat to win under a hold (55.468; 35.69). She was seven lengths off the leaders at the 500m and took time to balance up off the turn before rounding them up with impressive work over the last 200m.
KISS GOODNIGHT (Clarry Conners): Big improvement by this unraced Written Tycoon filly off two late summer trials to easily lead her 900m hbeat and cruise home under no pressure (55.46; 35.09). Impressive work from start to finish with the feature being her sectionals as she easily ran the fastest last 600m of the 2YO heats.
MARCHON (Annabel & Rob Archibald): Stunning debut trial by this Wootton Bassett gelding. Settled a clear last and was still seven lengths off the lead at the 300m in his 900m heat (56.00; 35.58) before angling to the outside where he showed an electric turn of foot to sprint home over the top of his rivals under a cold ride from Mollie Fitzgerald. The time was slow but to the eye he did it in second gear so it will be interesting to see what he can do under race conditions.
WRITTEN STATEMENT (Bjorn Baker): This unraced Written Tycoon gelding won a Rosehill trial in December and again showed he has natural talent with an eye catching third in his 900m heat (55.41; 35.33) won by the free running DESIGNER. Plenty to like about the way he worked to the line under an easy ride.
COMMANDING ARTIST and INHIBITIONS worked to the line in good style to finish first and second in the fastest of the four 1030m heats (62.99; 35.16). In the 2YO heat over 1030m CAESAR held an advantage to the line with TONG HO creating an impression with his late work to the line.
I can't remember when Godolphin's sharp Group sprinter KALLOS didn't trial well. He's a three time winner first-up and looks ready for another bold fresh run after cruising through his 900m heat for a soft win (55.41; 34.58). The talented 3YO HEZDARNHOTTOO won the fastest 900m heat (54.53l 34.66), producing sharp work from off the pace over the last 100m to find the line with purpose.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Fornelli; Kiss Goodnight; Marchon; Written Moment
X Barking Mad; Caesar; Commanding Artist; Designer; Hezdarnhottoo; Hurry Miss; Kallos; Inhibitions; Panova; Tong Ho
WYONG June 16
Course Proper; Soft 5
18 Heats – 2 x 1200m (Open); 8 x 1000m (4 Open; 2 Maiden; 2 2YO); 8 x 845m (1 Open; 5 2YO; 2 Maiden)
Watch out for the return of some nice imports in the Kris Lees stable while the 2YO heats should be the source of some handy types.
ADELAIDE RIVER and DALMANNDI, a pair of imported stayers in the Lees stable, trialled with purpose and look set to improve on what they have displayed to date in their limited Australian careers.
There was a good mix of talent in the 2YO heats with RAGING FORCE from the Peter Snowden stable the one that really took the eye with his closing second in his 1000m heat. He's been on the radar since his good trials at the start of the season and is set to go on from his last start win at Muswellbrook where he beat a subsequent winner.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Raging Force
X Adelaide River; All Too Wild; Cuban Cigar; Dalmanndi; Scammer; Wickedly Handsome
