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Trial Watch Reviews: 7th August - 8th August 2025

Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney and provincial trials at Randwick (August 7), Gosford (August 7) and Warwick Farm (August 8).

AUTUMN GLOW
AUTUMN GLOW Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

WARWICK FARM August 8

16 Heats – Heavy 8

Course Proper – 1 x 1000m (Group/Listed); 1 x 900m (Group/Listed)

Inside Grass – 4 x 1200m (2 Open; 2 Maiden); 4 x 795m (4 Open); 3 x 784m (3 Maiden); 3 x 779m (3 Maiden)

More black type heats but the horses to make the best impression were some unraced maidens.

HEAT 1 (1000m) – PRIVATE EYE was given a solid workout, leading out with strong work and holding his ground under no pressure (59.97; 35.64). CEOWULF impressed with his closing effort for second with OUR GOLD HOPE the one taking the eye with her late work through the line.

HEAT 2 (900m) – FELIX MAJESTIC had too much toe for this lot, showing his natural pace to lead from start to finish (55.05; 35.71). Liked the work of GATSBY'S to close off nicely for second, suggesting again that he may be at his best when fresh. Quality sprinters WARNIE, JEDIBEEL and HEADWALL worked within themselves while BUCKAROO started off his prep with an easy conditioning trial.

SPIRIT OF WEALTH made an impressive return with a classy win while the progress of some unraced 3YOs should be followed with interest after their good trials on the inside grass.

CURADO (Matthew Smith): Sharp debut trial by this North Pacific colt, showing good natural speed to control his 779m heat from start to finish (47.51; 34.71). Held a good margin to the line with plenty in reserve.

FERMOY (Chris Waller): Confident this Zoustar colt will improve on what he showed in three starts last season. This was his third trial in five weeks and it was hard to miss his impressive late work to finish third in his 779m heat, going through the line hard held.

MEAN AS (Ciaron Maher): Unraced Tassort gelding was having his third trial and looks a raw talent with plenty to learn after bolting away with his 779m heat in fast time (46.95; 34.60). Put a couple of lengths on them over the last 200m in the style of a good horse.

SPIRIT OF WEALTH (Michael Freedman): Showed plenty early last season when she won twice by big margins, only to be later disqualified from her Warwick Farm win. Now a 4YO, she's ready to return after a classy win in her 795m heat (47.99; 34.64), tracking wide but doing it easily and extending nicely over the last 100m to score by a dominant margin.

Other heat winners worth noting included the veteran MAZU returning with a strong performance in his 795m heat; the easy 1200m heat winner ABERLOUR; and BANJORA, another 3YO maiden with bright prospects.

Other looking primed for good campaigns with eye catching efforts included LORD PENMAN, an ex-Kiwi with a strong record now with Chris Waller, APOCALYPTIC, the G1 placed AMEENA and the 3YOs ATTICA and REFLECT. 

NOTED TRIALS

XX Curado; Spirit Of Wealth; Fermoy; Mean As

X Aberlour; Ameena; Apocalyptic; Attica; Banjora; Ceowulf; Gatsby's; Goulburn; Lord Penman; Mazu; Our Gold Hope; Queen Of Clubs; Reflect; Sumo Star

RANDWICK August 7

17 Heats – Heavy 9/Synthetic

Course Proper - 2 x 1000m (Group/Listed)

Kensington – 2 x 850m (Group/Listed)

Randwick A Grass – 1 x 1200m (Open); 8 x 1044m (3 Open; 5 Maiden)

Polytrack – 4 x 780m (1 Open; 3 C1/Maiden)

Some classy trials in the black type heats despite the heavy conditions.

HEAT 1 (1000m): Gun stayer VAUBAN (64.07; 38.12) was given a solid hitout to lead from the start and hold off a quietly ridden VIA SISTINA in the quicker of the two 1000m heats. The impressive GOLDEN CENTURY again showed his talent to finish a soft third. FANGIRL got into her work late for fourth.

HEAT 2 (1000m): PALMETTO took up the running and maintained an advantage to the line to beat PERICLES in his first hitout for new trainer Bjorn Baker. LADY SHENANDOAH and Derby winner AELIANA were responsible for the stronger trials, finishing third and fourth with nice work from both over the last 200m.

HEAT 3 (850m): Classy trial from the unbeaten AUTUMN GLOW, closing off in great style under no pressure from the rear to finish third behind JUST FEELIN LUCKY and BELLAZAINE (53.57; 36.47). LINEBACKER covered ground and was given an easy time finishing fourth.

HEAT 4 (850m): MANAAL trucked through this trial in faster time (53.61; 36.29) under a big hold for a classy win in a sure sign she is in good form to resume. WODETON impressed with his closing second after coming through the heavier ground on the inside. A pass mark for STEFFI MAGNETICA finishing fourth.

The trials on the A grass also produced some notable performances.

BIRDMAN (Chris Waller): High class stayer is set for a good spring judging by the way he worked to the line to win his 1200m heat (77.90; 37.25). I rarely get enthused about 1200m trials but he was a class above his rivals pulling his way through a split between runners at the 250m and going through the line under a big hold from Tommy Berry.

PALLATON (Micheal Freedman): Another impressive trial win by this talented 3YO.Covered ground but never came off the bit to easily win a strong open trial over 1044m, posting the fastest time for the distance with plenty in reserve (64.86; 35.93).

Runners to take the eye with impressive trials in the 1044m heats included WOOTTON VERNI, JACOB'S LADDER and the maiden heat winner MAGENTA SKIES, an unraced filly by Frankel with a good future.

You can only take polytrack trials at face value but runners to impress with their strong work included DOMINETTA and YOSHIDA.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Autumn Glow; Birdman; Pallaton

X Aeliana; Dominetta; Golden Century; Jacob's Ladder; Magenta Skies; Manaal; Via Sistina; Wodeton; Wooton Verni; Yoshida

 

GOSFORD August 7

13 Heat; Heavy 8

Course Proper – 5 x 1000m (3 Open; 2 Maiden); 8 x 800 (3 Open; 2 3YO; 3 Maiden)

Ciaron Maher sent four of his G1 winners to this session for easy trials.

GRINGOTTS worked well within himself to win his 1000m heat (62.94; 36.88) while ANOTHER WIL got into his work strongly over the last 100m to finish a close second to the smart MOGUL MONARCH in faster time (61.89; 36.28).

LIGHT INFANTRY MAN was beaten for speed but made ground to finish third behind the promising 3YO HIDDEN MOTIVE in the fastest 1000m heat (61.41; 36.26). The winner won with something in reserve and is one to follow in the early races for his age group.

JIMMYSSTAR impressed with his closing third in his 800m heat, coming from last and finishing off under a quiet ride behind KING'S DUTY (49.69; 36.18).

A couple of newcomers to impress included the 1000m heat winners FAR FROM SHADY (62.58; 36.77) and AS YOU LIKE IT (61.60; 37.01) and COOL BENE, a big winner of the fastest 800m heat (48.42; 35.58) by more than four lengths.   

NOTED TRIALS

XX Hidden Motive

X Another Wil; As You Like It; Better Late; Cool Bene; Far From Shady; Farnciful; Gringotts; Hard To Say; Hydrometer; Jimmysstar; King's Duty; Mogul Monarch; So Good So Cool


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