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Trial Watch Reviews: 22nd August - 28th August 2025

Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney barrier trials at Warwick Farm on AUgust 22, Hawkesbury on August 25 and Rosehill on August 28.

PRIVATE HARRY
PRIVATE HARRY Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

ROSEHILL August 28

Inside Grass; Soft 7

15 Heats – 7 x 1030m (4 Open; 3 Maiden); 8 x 900m (3 Open; 1 3YO; 4 Maiden)

Peter Snowden is in a sweet spot after impressive trials by some of his spring prospects.

FIRE STAR (Peter Snowden): Gets a second successive 2 Star rating after backing up his recent Canterbury trial win on August 18 with another impressive display in his 1030m heat (61.91; 34.40), striding freely to the line more than three lengths clear. Set for a first-up kill.

MEDIA WORLD (Peter Snowden): Excellent return by this promising Written Tycoon 4YO in his first trial since June. Had plenty in reserve taking out his 1030m heat (61.88; 35.05) and is sure to be a player in anything he contests up to 1600m.

Crack sprinter PRIVATE HARRY posted the fastest win in the seven 1030m heats (61.63; 34.34), doing it easily to hold an advantage from start to finish. Went to the line under a hold with NORTH ENGLAND put under pressure to close the margin over the last 200m.

ASTRONOMIX, an unraced 3YO by Calyx, is a 1030m maiden heat winner to keep tabs on after he showed good potential winning his second trial with authority (63.52; 35.26).

In the 900m heats COASTWATCH was an easy winner in slow time (56.66; 35.37) in a deep heat where the closing effort of the classy SWIFTFALCON for second took the eye ahead of a quietly ridden LADY SHENANDOAH.

The 900m trials that commanded attention were the efforts by GIRIJAALA, GENEROSITY, GORGEOUS, LA NINA and PRINCE CHARGE. There was also plenty of merit in the quiet trials of AUTUMN BOY, KAKADU SUNSET and MODELLA.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Fire Star; Media World

X Akaysha; Astronomix; Autumn Boy; Depth Of Character; Generosity; Girijaala; Gorgeous; Kakadu Sunset; La Nina; Modella; Prince Charge; Private Harry; Swiftfalcon

MARHOONA wins the GOLDEN SLIPPER
MARHOONA wins the GOLDEN SLIPPER Picture: Bradley Photos

HAWKESBURY August 25

16 Heats; Course Proper (Soft7)/Inside Grass (Heavy 8)

Course Proper: 1 x 1000m (Group/Listed); 1 x 800m (Group/Listed)

Inside Grass: 2 x 1250m (2 Open); 5 x 1000m (2 Open; 3 Maiden); 7 x 800m (2 Open; 5 Maiden)

Group horses had the use of the course proper for two trials.

HEAT 1 (1000m): Randwick Guineas winner LINEBACKER improved in his second trial since the autumn to win this heat, peeling off the back of the leader ESPIONAGE and doing all that was required over the last 200m for a solid win (59.75; 33.42). WATERFORD usually trials well and he was the one putting in the best work late from the back to take third ahead of ROYAL PATRONAGE.

HEAT 2 (800m): First appearance of MARHOONA since her Golden Slipper win in March. She took advantage of the inside running to rail through on the turn to head off the leader SHANGRI LA SPRING, working to the line under a ride (47.62; 33.03) for a win that will bring her on. HEAdWALL put in the big trial, coming from five lengths back at the 500m for a closing second under a good hold from Zac Lloyd in his first trial since his big autumn when he made the grade as a top notch G1 sprinter. JEDIBEEEL was another good sprinter to put in his best work over the closing stages.

The open heats over 1250m on the inside grass also saw some class acts go through their paces, not the least being the Waterhouse/Bott imports SIR DELIUS, ELAMAZ and VAUBAN.

SIR DELIUS, having his second trial since his Brisbane win in May, led the faster of two heats (75.63; 33.92) and sprinted home ahead of ELAMAZ. He made the better impression in his first trial since his McKell Cup win in June, sustaining strong work from last and going to the line under a soft ride.

VAUBAN led out in his heat and kept running for an easy win over lesser rivals (65.77; 33.83). He is getting plenty of work ahead of his spring, having won an earlier trial in similar style at Randwick.

Maiden runners to impress included the debut heat winner TYCOON RESOURCES showing excellent natural pace to win the fastest 800m heat (46.78; 32.45); DYNAST KING; MILES OF GLORY and TWINKLING STAR.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Elamaz; Headwall

X Dynast King; Hardpoint; House Of Cards; Jedibeel; Linebacker; Marhoona; Miles Of Glory; Sir Delius; Twinkling Star; Tycoon Resources; Waterford    

LINEBACKER
LINEBACKER Picture: Steve Hart

WARWICK FARM August 22

Polytrack; 10 Heats

2 x 1175m (1 Open; 1 Maiden); 8 x 740m (3 Open; 5 Maiden)

Another full set of synthetic trials spiced up by the presence of some quality Group performers.

Veteran sprinter MAZU (44.15; 33.44) and the smart mare VERONA ROSE (44.19; 33.62) recorded soft wins in their open heats over 740m while big names to trial under no pressure included JOLIESTAR, WODETON, IN FLIGHT, EL CASTELLO and DRAGONSTONE.

The race fit ABERLOUR (71.01; 35.59) was an easy winner of the fastest 1175m heat where the late work of GREBENI took the eye.

The racy FINE WINE, an unraced Snitzel filly having her third trial, showed natural short course speed to win the fastest 740m heat by almost six lengths (43.22; 32.91).

Silver Slipper Stakes winner BEIWACHT travelled well within himself to win his 740m heat (44.50; 33.61).

NOTED TRIALS

X Aberlour; Beiwacht; Cenotaph; Dragonstone; Fine Wine; Grebeni; In Flight; Mazu; Mrs Maree; Polo; Verona Rose


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