Trial Watch Reviews: 15th August - 19th August 2022

By: Chris Scholtz Time published 2022-08-21 at 04:59 PM (GMT +10:00)

Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney and provincial barrier trials at Warwick Farm on August 15 and Randwick on August 19.

MALKOVICH
MALKOVICH Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

RANDWICK August 19

Kensington/Soft 5; A Grass/Soft 6

16 Heats – Kensington 1 x 850m (Group/Listed); A Grass 1 x 1200m (Open); 9 x 1045m (4 Open; 5 Maiden); 5 x 742m (1 Open; 1 3YO; 3 Maiden)

Another fast win by Sydney's barrier trial king in the heat for black type horses and a sharp trial by a former Hong Kong sprinter were highlights of this session..

MALKOVICH (Bjorn Baker): Kept his remarkable unbeaten record of 13 wins in barrier trials intact taking out the 850m heat for Group and Listed horses on the Kensington track by almost five lengths. He was held back in the first 400m before sprinting away from his rivals and running very fast closing sectionals (49.62; 32.40). He's undoubtedly one of Sydney's fastest sprinters and will be hard to beat in anything he contests up to 1100m, noting he has failed in his two attempts at 1200m.

I AM LETHAL (John O'Shea): This well named 4YO by I Am Invincible will be a lethal rival for his rivals if he takes this trial form to the races when he resumes. Came from five lengths off the leaders at the 300m under a cold ride from James McDonald to surge past his rivals for a strong win in his 1045m heat (63.71;34.21), reeling off the fastest closing sectionals in the nine heats over the distance. He's won three of his nine starts up to 1400m and should build on that record this season.

The Group trial on the Kensington saw crack sprinter LOST AND RUNNING finish a solid second to MALKOVICH in his first trial appearance since his Newmarket Handicap failure in Melbourne in March. He's set for another Everest assault and expect to see him trial again before he resumes.

The G1 Champagne Stakes winner SHE'S EXTREME took the eye with her effort in the Malkovich trial. She was allowed to drift back and sit four wide at the rear and while beaten some nine lengths she worked nicely under no pressure over the last 400m.

In the open heats over 742m veteran sprinter EDUARDO was beaten narrowly by JOYFUL FORTUNE, an interesting ex-Hong Kong winner now with Mark Newnham. He won twice from only seven starts in HK and clearly worked to the line better than Eduardo to win the heat in fast time (43.72; 33.40), an excellent return to competition since he last raced 13 months ago.

A host of good spring prospects trialled impressively in the 1045m heats, among them the classy pair WILLINGA RUFIO and SWISS EXILE. Maidens to make an impression in the 742m heats included SMART LITTLE MISS and the unraced pair RINGDEMBELLS and SATURN STAR.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Malkovich; I Am Lethal

X Conqueror; Cycle Peak; Joyful Fortune; Lost And Running; Money From The Sky; Ringdembells; Russian Conquest; Saturn Star; She's Extreme; Smart Little Miss; Swiss Exile; Tragara; Willpinga Rufio.

WARWICK FARM August 15

Inside Grass; Soft 7

12 Heats – 3 x 1209m (2 Open; 1 Maiden); 3 x 813m (3 Open); 3 x 809m (1 3YO; 2 Maiden); 3 x 806m (3 Maiden)

A good showing by some of the leading spring contenders from the Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott stable.

DAJRAAN (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott): This import is heading into his second Australian campaign and is set to build on the high class potential he displayed last season when he won at Warwick Farm and was placed at G3 level. Fitter for his recent first-up trial at Randwick, he strode out freely to lead his 1209m heat by a big margin from his stablemates SACRAMENTO and CONVERGE. They closed off nicely over the last 200m but Dajraan was always travelling well within himself and coasted home by a soft 2.8 lengths in the fastest of the three heats over the distance (73.15; 35.65).

ASTERIA (Mark Newnham): Her only start in April in black type company belies the talent this Capitalist filly has displayed in her trials. While finishing a close second in her 809m heat (47.83; 34.59) she again impressed travelling strongly outside the leader and could have won the trial if any pressure was applied over the last 100m. Hard to beat if placed in a suitable maiden.  

Other class acts to record strong heat wins included IN THE CONGO and BACCHANALIA.

IN THE CONGO led as expected in his 813m heat (48.61; 34.31) and did all that was required to score by just over a length. It was solid work but not as impressive as his first-up trial win at Randwick. Behind him the one taking the eye with another soft trial was Godolphin's talented performer GRAVINA.

Gosford Guineas winner BACCHANALIA is an imposing sort and looked in rude health working well within himself for an easy all the way win in his heat over 813m. The time was slow (49.22; 34.88) but he is certain to take a lot of benefit from the hitout.

Several promising 3YOs took the eye in their heats including the highly rated SHALATIN finishing a strong second in his 806m heat (48.02; 34.39) The 806m heat winners TROIKA (48.26; 34.72) and ENZINO (48.48; 34.80) also have good prospects.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Asteria; Dajraan

X All Girls; Bacchanalia; Chopin; Converge; Enzina; Falex; Gravina; In The Congo; Kiss The Bride; Lethal Thoughts; Sacramento; Shalatin; Short Shorts; Troika; Waterford

 


Racing and Sports

Chris Scholtz

Managing Director Tronta Media P/L; Contributing Editor Racing & Sports
Chris is an award winning racing media professional working in the print, radio and online mediums since 1971 and managing director of his own racing industry media company since 1988. He has covered all of Australia’s major racing carnivals, numerous international events and is widely recognised as a leading form assessor and race analyst. Chris brings his passion for racing to racingandsports.com.au as its contributing editor since its launch in 2000.