Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney trials at Randwick on October 20, Hawkesbury on October 21 and Rosehill on October 24.
ROSEHILL October 24
Inside Grass; Soft 5
12 Heats – 4 x 1030m (3 Open; 1 Maiden); 8 x 900m (2 Open; 2 2YO; 3 Maiden; 1 C2/Maiden)
A classy young sprinter returned from a freshen ready to build on the winning run he put together in the late winter.
KING OF ROSEAU (Peter Snowden): A nice return by this talented 4YO in his first trial since he completed a winning treble with his victory in the G3 Aurie's Star at Flemington on August 2. He was last early in his 900m heat won by the free running WONDEREACH (54.47; 33.73) before making ground along the rails over the last 400m under a quiet ride. Had plenty to offer through the line in a hitout that will bring him on nicely for his summer campaign.
The G3 winner GRAND PRAIRIE was a smart winner of strong open heat over 1030m (62.32; 34.88), finding the line over a bunched finish where the late efforts of JUST PARTY and TUNED took the eye. XIDAKI, BRAVE ONE, APEX and COPACABANA were others to perform with credit in the open heats.
Ciaron Maher won both 2YO heats over 900m with the $2.8 million Snitzel colt THE LAST EPISODE making the best impression to find the line strongly from off the pace in faster time (54.94; 34.96) than his stablemate SPICY MISS (55.07; 35.11) in the fillies division.
The 900m maiden heat winners LONTRICE (54.73; 34.97), PYROLYSIS (53.73; 33.88) and DON'T DOUBT DARCY (53.55; 34.29) look primed for good showings while other maidens to watch in coming races include SANTANA, DIACON and CUESTA.
NOTED TRIALS
XX King Of Roseau
X Apex; Brave One; Copacabana; Cuesta; Diacon; Grand Prairie; Just Party; Lontrice; Pyrolisis; Santana; Storm Season; The Next Episode; Tuned; Xidaki; Wondereach
HAWKESBURY October 21
Inside Grass; Good 4
12 Heats – 1 x 1250m (Open); 4 x 1000m (1 Open; 3 Maiden); 7 x 800m (2 Open; 2 2/3YO Maiden; 2 3YO Maiden; 1 4YO Maiden)
Impressive heat wins by a pair of previously noted trial stars from the Bjorn Baker stable plus a promising performance from an unraced Flying Artie filly.
CHIX (John O'Shea/Tom Charlton): Keen to follow this unraced filly after she made an impression improving on two previous trial placings to win her 800m in sharp time (47.14; 32.81). Easy work for her to sit outside the leader and travel within herself to hold an advantage to the line.
GOLDANE (Bjorn Baker): Winning Rupert mare maintained her unbeaten record in races and trials with effortless work to lead and win the fastest 1000m heat (57.65; 33.14) by almost four lengths. She won her only race start at Newcastle in January and looks poised to rise quickly through the classes.
SWORDPLAY (Bjorn Baker): Shalaa filly was beaten at short odds in her first start at Warwick Farm in June but again produced impressive trial form to run away with her 1000m heat by almost five lengths (58.55; 33.42). She is unbeaten in four trials and should be picking up a maiden win in the near future.
Worth noting that the fastest 800m heat was won by the short course flyer TOO DARN LOVELY (46.49; 32.87), clearing out for a big win by almost seven lengths.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Chix; Goldane; Swordplay
X Doralee; Green Autumn; Swordplay; Me Me; Misty Veil; Tenenbaum; Too Darn Lovely; Zaszou
RANDWICK October 20
Randwick A Grass; Good 4
11 Heats – 1 x 1200m (Open); 5 x 1050m (3 Open; 2 Maiden); 5 x 742m (2 Open; 1 2YO; 2 Maiden)
All eyes on a classy open heat featuring the unbeaten AUTUMN GLOW.
After her Epsom Handicap win she was given an easy time finishing fourth in a her open heat overt 1050m won by her Epsom rival FULLY LIT (64.04; 34.29) as both prepare for return bout in the Golden Eagle.
FULLY LIT looked strong sitting three wide about two lengths off the lead for the first 600m before making his move to take the upper hand turning for home and running freely to the line under an easy ride. AUTUMN GLOW tucked away behind them and there was no intent for her to do any more than go through her work, finishing 2.5 lengths from the winner.
It was a deep heat with the runner-up NATURAL DEDUCTION one to follow in his right class while TOURISTIC and PINITO had an easy time out the back but took the eye with their strong late work through the line.
KISSAVOS (Ron Quinton): A maiden 3YO by I Am Invincible had not done much in four previous starts but he was switched on to win his 1050m heat in fast time (63.93; 33.92), surging to the lead under a big hold and extending his margin over the last 500m to win by an impressive 4.2 lengths. You rarely see horses from the Quinton stable trial in this manner and it augers well for an improved showing when he is next produced.
THE LITTLE GENERAL (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott): All Too Hard gelding has raced only twice where his form was not up to some impressive trials. Added another trial win to his record with a sharp win in a fast 742m heat (43.84; 33.03), sitting six deep outside the lead before running clear over the last 200m with plenty in reserve. Sentimentalists will note he is named after the popular nickname for great TJ Smith and carries Smith's famous blue and green striped silks.
The promising YORKSHIRE made his return with easy work in the fastest open heat overt 742m won by the smart filly TOMATO TOASTIE (43.83; 33.07). The Snitzel 5YO has won six of his eight starts and is set for a successful summer campaign.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Kissavos; The Little General
X Autumn Glow; Correon; Daphnes; Due North; Fully Lit; Gambler; Jaipur Maison; Lambertina; Matusalem; Natural Deduction; Our Huntress; Plaintiff; Pinito; Quietly Arrogant; Shangri La Impact; Tomato Toastie; Touristic; Viva Maurico; Yorkshire
