Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney barrier trials at Rosehill on July 4 and Hawkesbury on July 7.
HAWKESBURY July 7
Inside Grass; Heavy 9
16 Heats – 1 x 1250m (Open); 7 x 1000m (2 Open; 2 Maiden; 3 2YO); 8 x 800m (2 Open; 2 Maiden; 4 2YO)
A couple of smart performances but none better than the stunning heat win by an unraced 4YO.
VALILEE, a 4YO Adelaide gelding trained by Jake Hull, has been in the blackbook since his early trials last December when he showed good promise in heats at Newcastle and Hawkesbury.
He's obviously had issues to remain unraced but there will be high anticipation when he makes his debut after this stunning trial win by an official 11.7 lengths in the fastest heat over 800m (46.83; 33.56).
He did it so easily running more than 1.5 seconds faster than the next best time in the 800m heats, dropping his head from the start and cruising all the way under a cold ride from Mitchell Bell.
GRAND PRAIRIE (Peter Snowden): This Written Tycoon colt has come on since his first two starts in March, trialling nicely at Randwick on June 27 and backing up with a classy win in the fastest 1000m heat (59.80; 33.81). Sat three wide from the jump but was always travelling under a hold and responded well when called on to surge to the line over the last 200m.
SPICE PRAWN (Peter Snowden): Sharp win by this Too Darn Hot filly, tracking the speed on the fence before railing inside the leaders on the turn and cruising away with her 1000m heat (60.56; 34.85) to win unextended by more than two lengths. Expect good improvement on what she showed in her first two starts in March.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Grand Prairie; Spice Prawn; Valilee
X Amreekiyah; Balmain Darling; Blinked; Firework; Fornelli; Hell Island; La Roja; Leading Impact; Magnatear; Mr Hopeful; My Phar Kady; Ridgeback; The Pacific; With Your Blessing; Zoufame
ROSEHILL July 4
Inside Grass; Heavy 9
11 Heats – 5 x 1020m (2 Open; 1 Maiden; 2 2YO); 6 x 900m (1 Open; 4 2YO; 1 3YO)
A pair of talented Godolphin runners added the class factor to a standard set of trials run on a heavy track.
CELERITY (James Cummings): Exceed and Excel filly recorded her first win in six starts at Hawkesbury last month but most would know her record should read much better. She's in the right form to go on with it as she worked strongly through her 900m heat (55.45; 34.75) won by a smart runner in I AM A WINNER, sitting three wide and working strongly to the line under a cold ride. Keen to follow both in coming starts.
CORNICHE (James Cummings): Dual Group winner was too classy for his rivals in his third trial since last spring. He impressed in his earlier trials at Hawkesbury and was better here, jumping to front and being held back to them until striding away under no pressure over the last 250m for a flattering three lengths win in his 1020m heat (64.27; 35.01).
Another open heat winner to make an impression was COLOURFUL EMPEROR, a 5YO gelding who has raced successful in Ireland and Hong Kong with four wins up to 1200m. He's now with the Ryan/Alexiou team and will attract attention when he races after sharp win his open heat over 900m (54.65; 34.65), tracking the leader and working to the line in good style for a comfortable win.
BILLABONG, a racy unraced I Am Invincible filly having her second trial, posted the quickest time in the 900m heats (54.52; 35.32) while HARRY'S EVIDENCE is a maiden worth following after a free running win in his 1020m heat (64.11; 35.60).
NOTED TRIALS
XX Celerity; Corniche
X Art Volant; Barbarossa; Bella Wahine; Billabong; Colourful Emperor; Harry's Evidence; Hereward; I Am A Winner; Kerber; Pictor; Serpico
