TRIAL STARS and BLACKBOOKERS – July 1-August 6

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AUGUST 3: BOOM TORQUE; DEFIANT SPIRIT; HOLYMANZ; LAVISH EMPIRE; SPRING LEE; UP AND UNDER

JULY 27: AVIATRESS; BUBBA’S BAY; KUNDALINI; READY AZZ EVA; SEQUESTERED; YORKSHIRE

JULY 20: IMPOSANT; LANDMARK; LORD OF BISCAY; UPPER LIMITS

JULY 13: BROSNAN; HELLAVADANCER; KADALL; PIASTRI; ROGUE BEAR; THE ENGLISHMAN; UNANIMOUS

JULY 5: FLYING CRAZY; INVADER ZIM; LOUNGE BAR RUBI; RAIN LORD; WALLENDA

ROSEHILL August 6: Godolphin rolled out a classy squad of Group stars in the four black type heats.

HEAT 1 (1000m): TROPICAL SQUALL led from start to finish (61.26; 33.93) under no pressure but it was the strong work of PERICLES to finish second that took the eye. RIFF ROCKET was allowed to find his legs out the back before working nicely to the line.

HEAT 2 (1000m): Much slower than the first heat (63.48; 34.27) with ZARDOZI taking it up at her leisure. TOM KITTEN settled fourth but was eager to run with his strong late work confirming the excellent impression he made in his first-up trial. Set for a big spring on what we’ve seen in his two trials as a gelding. Easy conditioning work for FANGIRL. She held her position from start to finish under no pressure and was less than two lengths off the winner at the finish.

HEAT 3 (900m): AFT CABIN is an enigma but he’s been gelded and you couldn’t ask for a better first-up trial as he worked home easily over the top of his stablemate KALLOS for a soft win (55.34; 34.03) with plenty in reserve. ZOUGOTCHA and SWITZERLAND will benefit from their easy trials.

HEAT 4 (900m): There is rarely any pressure applied in these black type heats with horses landing in a position and holding their place from start to finish. WINNING PROPOSAL led at her own speed (55.55; 33.60) with JOLIESTAR settling second ahead of RED CARD with ATISHU working past HINGED late to finish fourth. Slow time overall but they did sprint up the last 200m for the quickest closing sectional of the four heats.

The inside grass heats were full of rising talents with a couple of standout winners.

AUTUMN GLOW (Chris Waller): You can’t ignore times with this impressive unraced filly by The Autumn Sun clocking easily the fastest 900m heat win (53.96; 34.47), some 1.29 second quicker than the next best winner over the distance. She’s now won two of her three trials with the manner of her work to surge past good colt EMBASSY under a quiet ride from off the pace stamping her as a filly with a bright future.

GATSBY’S (Chris Waller): Super fresh trial by this good looking Snitzel colt to win a deep open 3YO heat over 900m (55.60; 34.43), sitting off the leader BRAVE ONE before a sharp burst over the last 50 metres saw him charge through the line for a quality win. Could be top class as he ran favourite in the G2 Pago Pago at his second start off a midweek maiden win that underlined the opinion held of his ability.

MOUNT EVEREST (Annabel Neasham/Rob Archibald): Eager to see what this unraced gelding by Exceed And Excel can produce under race conditions. He’s a big bodied boy and it’s obvious giving him time has been the key as this was his second successive trial win, working strongly to the line in to win the fastest 1030m heat (62.38; 35.08) with plenty up his sleeve.

RANDWICK August 5: Three quality trials on the Kensington track for the Group horses plus some nice prospects in the maiden heats.

HEAT 1 (1250m): Another impressive piece of work from DETONATOR JACK to win the heat with plenty in reserve, just as he did in his recent trial at Newcastle. Slow time (78.10; 35.22) but had plenty in reserve through the line. He was opposed by five of the better stayers from the Waterhouse/Bott who were out for conditioning trials.

HEAT 2 (850m): Golden Slipper winner LADY OF CAMELOT made her return but looked short in condition as she came under a ride to keep pace with the slick INSURRECTION over the short course (50.87; 33.34). He was always in control and looked sharp holding an advantage over the filly from start to finish. LADY LAGUNA and BLANC DE BLANC held their ground well behind the first pair.

HEAT 3 (850m): STORM BOY made his return with a solid win in slow time (51.58; 34.36). He was put under pressure to get the upper hand on the line from the quietly ridden MORAVIA, who led strongly and was always travelling better than the winner. ATHABASCAN did his best work through the line.

GENEROUS HARRY (Ron Quinton): Placed in two of his three race starts, this 4YO gelding by Harry Angel is primed for first up win after backing up his July 19 trial win at this course with another impressive piece of work to win his 740m heat in the fastest time of the session (43.25; 32.70).  Moved fluently under no pressure to run away with the heat by almost four lengths.

KINGDOM UNDERSIEGE (Peter Snowden): Has not produced his trial form in three race starts but again showed the ability is there as he dominated his 1050m heat with an easy front running win in fast time (62.79; 33.90). He’s won three trials and will be hard to beat in a suitable maiden if he can take this form to the races.

SPIRIT OF WEALTH (Michael Freedman): Have been waiting for this Capitalist filly to reappear since she was placed in her first trial in December. She’s an obvious talent as she travelled smoothly under a strong hold in the lead in her 740m heat (44.00; 33.,03) and could have won by a bigger margin if put under pressure. Nice work from the smart runner-up POLYMNIA adds merit to form.

HAWKESBURY August 5: The first provincial session of the new season featured some impressive trials from maidens and unraced 3YOs.

EMILIA JANE (Joe Pride): Loved the recent quiet trial by this former Kiwi mare at Warwick Farm and she was more positive in this 1000m heat (61.65; 34.72), running to the line strongly from off the pace with plenty to offer for second behind another previously noted performer SPACEBALLS.  Placed in her debut in NZ in January, she has now had four trial for the Pride stable since April and is ready to make her mark.

GETAFIX (John O’Shea/Tom Charlton): Cruised through his 1000m heat (60.43; 34.39), covering ground all the way but never extended to finish second under a big hold. It was a clear indicator that he has gone ahead in the right manner since his recent first-up fourth at Rosehill.

ROMAN SCRIPT (Blake Ryan): A super first trial by this Written Tycoon gelding, showing great natural speed to lead his 800m heat and skip away to win by more than seven lengths in easily the fastest time of the session (46.93; 32.53).  

THE ACT (Brad Widdup): Big trial from this unraced Zoustar colt, sitting three wide outside the leaders in his fast 800m heat (47.05); 33.05) under a tight grip from the start and idling alongside them over the last 200m. Could have won the trial easily if asked for a serious effort.

WYONG July 29: Talented sprinter OUR KOBISON grabbed the spotlight with a classy trial that augers well for his prospects in the new season.

ANGARA (Paul Perry): An interesting 4YO by Frankel, he impressed with his strong work to win his 845m heat in good time (51.73; 34.39). The feature was the way he was taken three wide from the 500m without coming off the bit to collar the leaders and run through the line with plenty in reserve.

OUR KOBISON (Angela Davies): The Gosford-trained sprinter improved off his first-up trial at Scone to dominate his 845m heat in easily the fastest time of the session (50.53; 33.77). He had a companion for company in the lead until the 300m where he went up a gear to put his stamp on the trial and eventually cruise home by six lengths, stretching them out with a similar margin to the third horse. Sure to build on his impressive record of five wins and three placings from only nine starts.

PRINCE INVINCIBLE (Sara Ryan): Enjoyed being on his home track to run away with his 1000m heat by 4.5 lengths (60.20; 34.91) under no pressure. He took the eye having an easy trial at Hawkesbury on July 8 and this effort confirms he is ready to win first-up over a short course.

WARWICK FARM July 26: There were two black type heats on the course proper with a couple of G1 performers starting off their spring preps.

HEAT 1 (1000m) Easy work for the G1 ATC Metropolitan winner JUST FINE to finish second in a nice start to hius spring build up. Former NZ filly TULSI, a G1 placegetter, took the eye with her closing work for third in her first trial for her new trainer Matt Dale.

HEAT 2 (900m): The standout trial of the morning from the classy sprinter SCHWARZ, showing he has freshened well since he failed in Brisbane in early June. Led easily from a wide gate and stayed deep under big hold from James McDonald. Never off the bit to coast home by 3.5 lengths (54.28; 34.63), indicating he will be ready for a bold showing first-up in one of the early season sprints. Could go ahead in bounds as a mature 4YO. A strong return from the G1 Australian Guineas SOUTHPORT TYCOON to work home easily from the rear for third.

In the short course open trials on the inside grass the racy filly STARMAE looked sharp winning her 821m heat (49.45; 34.50) and looks set up for a midweek restricted sprint over a short course. In the 2YO heats – soon to be 3YOs – the better performers included the heat winners DRIFTING, BABUSHKA, WAL’S ME MATE and EXCELINDEED and placegetters LILAC, MAIKROW and IMPERIAL STATE.

ROSEHILL July 23: A strong reminder that the new season is fast approaching with a three black type trials on the course proper featuring some big names.

HEAT 1 (1000m): Easy work from behind with the work of GOLDEN PATH and VIA SISTINA taking the eye.

HEAT 2 (900m): They don’t go much slower in 900m trials (56.60; 34.84)! JOLIESTAR jumped into the bridle from the start and walked them through the first 800m before any speed came into the trial. She maintained her advantage to the line with CABALLUS looking strong to finish an easy second. Nothing was put under pressure with RIFF ROCKET minding his business out the back to finish almost five lengths from the winner.

HEAT 3 (900m): TROPICAL SQUALL led and ran along to record a time almost 1.6 second quicker than the other 900m heat (55.03; 34.45). AMOR VICTORIOUS trialled nicely to finish second while the Waller mares ZOUGOTCHA, FANGIRL, HINGED and ATISHU were never asked for more than a working gallop.

The inside grass trials saw FIRE STAR win the fastest 900m heat (54.15; 34.21). I am keen to follow the progress of MAORI CHIEF, an unraced I Am Invincible colt from the Waller stable who went into the blackbook after winning a trial at Rosehill on July 12. In this 900m heat MAORI CHIEF had plenty in reserve finishing second to subsequent Melbourne winner WInchester..

Other 2YOs to follow from the 900m heats include THEBLADE; ECCEDERE; JUPITER HILLS; USEAPIN and HALLET.

RANDWICK July 19: Classy youngster SHANGRI LA EXPRESS made a pleasing return to win the fastest of the 2YO heats over 740m. He showed his usual speed to lead them up and responded well to win his heat in good time (43.73; 33.06), ENRICHED impressed with his easy third under a soft ride.

NEWCASTLE July 18: Some classy types took advantage of a good surface on the course proper to start their spring preps. DETONATOR JACK had only a short break since he ran in the Doomben Cup in late May. Stood out in the Group heat over 920m won by CLOUDLAND (55.27; 34.95) working strongly from the back half over the last 400m to finish a closing third under no pressure. Quality youngster SPYWIRE is primed to be a bold player in the early 3YO features over the short courses after showing his natural pace to breeze through his 920m trial for a soft win (54.46; 35.38).

WARWICK FARM July 15: Rare to see a batch of Godolphin’s G1 stars up and going in mid-winter trials, indicating they will be making early starts to their spring campaigns. The big names on show included TOM KITTEN, PERICLES and ZARDOZI. They had easy trials but their class was evident in the manner of their work and the way they finished off through the line, especially TOM KITTEN as he was hard to miss in his 795m heat.  Loved his strong work from last over the last 200m, trucking through the line to finish a closing fourth in a classy start to his spring prep.

ROSEHILL July 12: Promising second trial by unraced I Am Invincible colt MAORI CHIEF. Sat off the leaders three wide but was always travelling well within himself and never came off the bridle to get the upper hand in his 900m heat and work strongly through the line in good time for the session (55.31; 36.20).

WARWICK FARM July 1: Ciaron Maher signalled his opinion of Zoustar gelding DARK HALO by putting him into a black type race last spring straight off a debut win in a provincial maiden. He’s an imposing individual who impressed trucking through his 814m heat in fast time for the session (48.40; 34.40) for the easiest of wins in his second trial since December. The time he has been given to develop is set to pay dividends.