Trial Watch Review: 13th February 2023

By: By Chris Scholtz Time published 2023-02-14 at 12:59 PM (GMT +11:00)

Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney barrier trials at Rosehill on February 13.

MAZU
MAZU Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

ROSEHILL February 13

Course Proper; Good 4

2 Heats – 1 x 1000m (Group/Listed); 1 x 900m (Group/Listed)

Inside Grass; Good 4

14 Heats – 3 x 1030m (1 Open; 1 2YO; 1 Maiden); 11 x 900m (2 Open; 6 2YO; 1 3YO; 2 Maiden)

Strong form in the two Group heats on the course proper. The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou team won seven trials including four 2YO heats.

HEAT 1 (1000m): Stylish win with plenty in hand by the quality filly PAVITRA (60.08; 34.58), working easily to the line to have the measure of the race fit sprinter KING OF SPARTA. Loved the way BENAUD and PARIS DIOR finished off under easy rides in the last 50 metres to finish fourth and fifth but hard to be enthusiastic about the average effort of ZAAKI to finish a well beaten eighth, more than four lengths from the winner. It was well below expectations after his impressive first-up trial at Warwick Farm on January 30.

HEAT 2 (900m): SPACEWALK is in race trim and was keen to run after settling third behind the leaders ATHELRIC and MAZU. His strong work over the last 200m to get the measure of the leaders (54.60; 33.96) by a narrow margin was good confirmation that he has gone ahead since his recent Rosehill win. However the standout trial was the easy second by MAZU as he could have won the heat if any pressure had been applied over the last 100m. This was his first trial since the spring and it was obvious Sam Clipperton was under instructions to give him a very easy time. Nice work late under a ride by the lightly raced filly RUTHLESS DAME to finish fourth.

There were seven 2YO trials (1 x 1030m; 6 x 900m) with the Gerald Ryan/Sterling Alexiou stable winning four heats with ALTAIR I AM (1030m 63.59; 35.28); MR CALEB (53.79; 34.44); BALLROOM BELLA (55.16; 35.27) and GUSTOSISIMO (55.56; 35.26).

Ryan and Alexiou also had two impressive 900m heat wins with THE FACE and CAPPELLETTI

THE FACE is a fast runner and is set to go well fresh after a sharp win in his 900m heat (53.42; 33.56), showing his natural speed to lead easily and run to the line under an easy ride clear of the smart CLEMENCEAU.

CAPPALETTI is a maiden 3YO by Capitalist who cleared out under a big hold to win his 900m heat by more than five lengths (54.48; 34.24) with Tim Clark sitting cold and easing him down over the last 100m. He has won four trials but let them down in two race starts last year.

The fastest 900m heat winner was the Godolphin runner TROACH (53.32; 32; 33.89) in a nice piece of first-up work that augers well for her prep. In the maiden heats over 900m the promising DIVOTS (53.63; 34.29) held off an impressive finish from EAGLE NEST in a heat that looks a solid form reference.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Cappelletti; Pavitra; Mazu;

X Amazonian Lass; Arctic Legend; Autumn Ballet; Benaud; Cylinder; Dehero; Divots; Eagle Nest; Gustosisimo; Paris Dior; Mars Mission; Mr Caleb; Pesto; Spacewalk; The Face; Troach; Untouchable Legend


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