Trial Watch Reviews: 20th Feb - 27th Feb 2023

By: By Chris Scholtz Time published 2023-03-02 at 06:58 PM (GMT +11:00)

Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney and provincial barrier trials at Randwick (February 20), Hawkesbury (February 21), Wyong (February 24) and Rosehill (February 27).

ECONOMICS
ECONOMICS Picture: Steve Hart

ROSEHILL February 27

Inside Grass;  Good 4

14 Heats – 3 x 1030m (2 Open; 1 2YO); 11 x 900m (3 Open; 5 2YO; 1 3YO; 2 Maiden)

AUTUMN BALLET (Waterhouse/Bott): The stable has rolled out an endless stream of precocious youngsters this season and here is another with speed to burn. The daughter of The Autumn Sun was having her second trial after a nice second at Randwick on February 13 and this time she was running from the start, leading easily and bursting away over the last 300m of her 900m heat to score by more than seven lengths in fast time (54.18; 34.22). She's not big but she can run.

MATHKHOORA (Hawkes Racing): Super trial by this superbly bred filly by I Am Invincible from the Golden Sliopper winner Mossfun. She has been given plenty of time since her early trial in October and take it that she has the talent to win good races. Travelled smoothly in the lead with an effortless action and went to the line with plenty in reserve to comfortably beat the well performed REMEDIES in the fastest of the 11 heats over 900m (54.16; 34.46).

REMARQUE (Hawkes Racing): He's a different horse since her was gelded, showing his class once again to record a strong win in his 900m heat (54.76; 33.90) from his new stablemate THALURSIAN, a former Victorian who previously raced as Winners Bet. Remarque stalked the leaders and did all that was required under an easy ride.

TIZ INVINCIBLE (Maher/Eustace): Unraced I Am Invincible youngster was having her second trial and will be under a big watch when she debuts after her impressive win in the 2YO heat over 1030m (62.17; 35.07), running faster time than the two open heats. Travelled well within herself tracking her stablemate EXCEED PERFECTION and had plenty in reserve surging past in the last 200m, leaving the third horse eight lengths away and the rest spread out over a big margin.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Autumn Ballet; Mathkoora; Remarque; Tiz Invincible

X Athelric; Ausbred Flirt; Belyaev; Cholante; Eight Of A Kind; Exceed Perfection; Fightertown; Primo; Thalursian; The Face; Vreneli

SKY COMMAND
SKY COMMAND Picture: Steve Hart

WYONG February 24

Course Proper; Soft 6

15 Heats – 1 x 1200m (Open); 7 x 1000m (4 Open; 3 Maiden); 7 x 845m (2 Open; 3 2YO; 2 Maiden)

Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou sent a good team from their Rosehill base and came away with four heat wins by horses worth following in coming weeks.

They won the 1200m heat with the in-form mare BANANA QUEEN, an open heat over 845m with the fast sprinter SKY COMMAND and two 2YO heats with the promising unraced pair GUSTOSISIMO and BALLROOM BELLA.

GUSTOSISMO and BALLROOM BELLA both won their first trials at Rosehill on February 13 and showed they had progressed well with soft wins in their 745m heats.

GUSTOSISIMO extended well in his heat (50.79; 34.89) but the Russian Revolution filly BALLROOM BELLA was the star, posting the fastest time in the seven 745m heats (50.09; 34.13) to score by almost five lengths. She had company in the lead for the first 500m but dropped the chasers when given a squeeze and coasted over the last 100m.

SKY COMMAND (50.39; 33.79) had her first trial since her Randwick win in December and had no trouble leading by a clear margin, holding her rivals easily for a soft win by 2.75 lengths.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Ballroom Bella

X Banana Queen; Geo; Gustosisimo; Oakfield Maiselle; Oxford Tycoon; Shadows Of Love; Sky Command; Willinga Freefall  

BACCHANALIA
BACCHANALIA Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

HAWKESBURY February 21

Inside Grass; Soft 5

16 Heats – 1 x 1250m (Open); 8 x 1000m (3 Open; 2 2YO; 3 Maiden); 7 x 760m (2 Open; 3 2YO; 2 Maiden)

BACCHANALIA (James Cummings): Confident trial indicates he could be ready to make up for some disappointments when backed and beaten last year. Jumped into the lead in his 1000m heat (59.17; 33.19) and controlled the pace with no urgency from Nash Rawiller when he was challenged by LADY LAGUNA over the last 300m. Won narrowly but had plenty in reserve. G1 star GOLDEN MILE loomed large on their outside at the 400m after tracking three wide then held his ground fairly as the first pair sprinted over the last 200m to finish third, 2.2 lengths from his stablemate. Give him a 7/10 for this effort. SEJARDAN (6th) took the eye as he warmed to his work late through the line.

ECONOMICS (Annabel Neasham): Required to trial after his barrier scratching on February 18. Was obviously here for a strong hitout, taking up the lead easily and pushed along off the turn to run out a strong winner in the fastest 1000m heat (57.99; 33.27). SHORT SHORTS was a nice second under a good hold.

HAVE MERCY (Edward Cummings): Good to see this provincial maiden winner reaffirm his fast trial win at Randwick on February 6 with another easy win in his 760m heat, again showing natural speed to lead at his leisure (44.83; 32.64). Never off the bit and given an easy time late, flattering the margins to the placegetters. May be limited but trial form says he must be hard to beat in a suitable short sprint.

KALLOS (James Cummings): Sharp sprinter on his right day is ready to fire first-up after an impressive win in the fastest 760m heat (44.38; 32.49). Settled behind the pace and tracked the rail before taking a split between the leaders at the 200m under minimal riding from James McDonald. Ran strongly through the line under a good hold to record a soft win over his handy stablemate ATMOSPHERE.

NEED SOME LUCK (Peter & Paul Snowden): This Rubick x Lovely Jubly youngster went straight into the blackbook after his debut trial at Randwick on February 6 and a classy win in this 1000m heat in good time (59.72; 34.41) reaffirmed his potential. Jogged at the rear of the pack before switching widest on the turn and unleashing a sharp turn of foot to reel them in quickly.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Bacchanalia; Economics; Have Mercy; Kallos; Need Some Luck

X Helwater; Iron Man; Jedibeel; Jewellery; Lady Laguna; Le Parrain; Sejardan; Rico Suave; Sumo Star; Too Many Tats; Vancouver's Gem; Vividness 

KALLOS
KALLOS Picture: Racing Photos

RANDWICK February 20

18 Heats; Good 4

Kensington – 1 x 1250m (Group/Listed); 1 x 850m (Group/Listed)

Randwick A Grass – 1 x 1200m (Open); 6 x 1045m (2 Open; 2 2YO; 2 Maiden); 9 x 742m (2 Open; 4 2YO; 1 3YO; 2 Maiden)

Expect some of these trials to prove worthy pointers to coming carnival races.

SHADES OF ROSE (Bjorn Baker): Showed her class winning the Group heat over 850m (50.55; 33.01) with style, sitting behind the pace before splitting the leaders with ease and going to the line under a big hold. Pass marks for the placegetters LOST AND RUNNING and IN THE CONGO and nice work by the Summer Cup winner DIAMIL for fifth.

BUTCH CASSIDY (Waterhouse/Bott): This unraced Written Tycoon youngster was an impressive winner of his debut trial on February 6 and gets another big tick showing real quality to win his 1045m heat (62.84; 34.74) with plenty up his sleeve. Ready to rumble when produced.

EDUARDO (Joe Pride): Easy work for the G1 winner to win his 742m heat (43.95; 33.39). Jumped into the lead and was never pressured to hold his advantage to the finish. On target for another big autumn.

EMPIRE OF JAPAN (Peter & Paul Snowden): Excellent work by this top youngster to work home from last for an impressive second in his 742m heat (43.94; 33.33) won by MOSTRO, a racy unraced youngster by Maurice. Could be the top gun among the juveniles by the end of the carnival.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Butch Cassidy; Eduardo; Empire Of Japan; Shades Of Rose

X Diamil; Felix Majestic; Hellbent On You; Just An Upstart; King Adviso; Mad Deel; Melissa; Miss Hellfire; Mostro; On The Beach; Risshuu; Scientist; Secret Revolution; Smart As Smart; Tilussion.      


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