Trial Watch Reviews: 11th April - 14th April 2023

By: By Chris Scholtz Time published 2023-04-17 at 03:07 PM (GMT +10:00)

Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney and provincial barrier trials at Newcastle (April 11), Rosehill (April 11) and Warwick Farm (April 14).

DUAIS
DUAIS Picture: Steve Hart

WARWICK FARM April 14

Inside Grass; Soft 6

15 Heats - 3 x 1200m (2 Open; 1 Maiden); 4 x 795m (4 Open); 4 x 790m (4 2YO0; 4 x 785m (1 3YO; 3 Maiden)

Polytrack; Synthetic

6 Heats – 1 x 1175m (Open); 5 x 740m (2 2YO; 3 Open)

A pleasing return by a G1 winner on the polytrack took the spotlight from the turf trials where Bjorn Baker's team won seven heats.

Tancred Stakes winner DUAIS had her first trial since last year's Melbourne Cup in the open heat over 1175m on the polytrack, showing surprising freshness to work stylishly to the line from off the pace for a soft win (72.48; 34.81). No doubt they have their eyes on the Brisbane carnival. 

Another brilliant trial win by the flying MALKOVICH was the standout among the seven turf heats won by Bjorn Baker's runners. He was never off the bit running fast time (45.57; 32.62) to win his 795m heat, another regular trial star SPACEBOY keeping him company as they sped through the first 500m. MALKOVICH has never gone better and is primed for a suitable short sprint first-up.

There was plenty of depth in the 2YO and maiden heats with numerous promising efforts pointing to coming wins.

MOUNT WARNING (Joseph Pride): An excellent win by this maiden Astern filly in her 785m heat (46.44;33.54). The deteriorating conditions weren't ideal but she looked very comfortable railing through on the turn and quickly sprinted clear, running to the line with an economical action under no pressure. Suggest she has improved since she was placed at Gosford in November.

OSCAR CHARLIE (Bjorn Baker): This flashy chestnut colt by Russian Revolution has the talent to match his looks. This was his second trial win and he looks ready to make an impact on debut after he pumped through his 790m heat to win under a hold in good time (46.48; 33.52).

PLUNDERING (Annabel Neasham): He won two of his first three starts in Queensland last spring and looks set to head north again after an impressive second in his open heat over 795m (47.97; 33.83). Covered ground sitting off the pace but was always travelling well within himself, putting in strong work over the last 100m under a soft ride.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Malkovich; Mount Warning; Oscar Charlie; Plundering

X Battleton; Command Approved; Dehorned Unicorn; Duais; Field Of Myrtle; Fleet Commander; Kapunda; King Colorado; Kouklara; Lady Of Luxury; Line Of Law; Manbehindthemoney; Mister Fox; Mon Pierre; Shameless Miss; So Audacious; Winning Verse; Winston Hills

MALKOVICH
MALKOVICH Picture: Steve Hart

ROSEHILL April 11

Inside Grass; Soft 5

9 Heats – 2 x 1030m (2 Open); 7 x 900m (4 Open; 3 2YO)

An impressive performance by an unraced 2YO was the highlight among four trial winners for the Gerald Ryan/Sterling Alexiou stable.

ANG POW (Richard & Will Freedman): There has always been a rap for this Flying Artie 4YO with this trial indicating that he can add to his good record of five wins from nine starts. Having his first outing since back to back wins at Newcastle and Eagle Farm in October, he settled off the pace in his 900m heat (54.52; 34.31) before making ground smoothly from fifth on the turn to finish a soft third behind smart pair WRITTEN BEAUTY and VOWMASTER. All three should be noted but his nice surge through the line under a good hold was the effort that took the eye.

SNATCHREILLY (Gerald Ryan/Sterling Alexiou): Two recent trials have shown that this stylish grey youngster by Trapeze Artist has progressed nicely since his debut in the Breeders Plate in October. Looked the part posting a professional win in the fastest 900m heat of the morning (53.08; 34.47), leading at his leisure and coasting over the last 200m to win by a soft 1.7 lengths with plenty in hand. Sure to be well placed when he resumes.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Ang Pow; Snatchreilly

X Azakaya; Bold Mac; Estado Mestalla; Fashion Legend; Fightertown; General Salute; Grebeni; Influential; New Mandate; Notions; Skyman; Vowmaster; Written Beauty.

NEWCASTLE April 11

Beaumont; Soft 7

17 Heats – 1 x 1200m (Open); 6 x 1000m (4 Open; 2 Maiden); 10 x 800m (4 2YO; 3 Open; 3 Maiden)

The Waterhouse/Bott stable sent a small team from Randwick with the classy front runner CROSS TALK the star of the session with his dominant win in the only heat over 1200m.

CROSS TALK (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott): Nice tick over trial by this quality runner, running freely to the lead in  the only 1200m heat with Tim Clark sitting quietly as he extended the margin to more than seven lengths at the finish with plenty in reserve (72.60; 34.93). There are plenty of nice options for a horse of his class coming up at the feature provincial meetings over the next month leading into the Brisbane carnival.

CROSS TALK
CROSS TALK Picture: Steve Hart

MOONLIGHT GRACE (Alan Kehoe): Progressive 3YO filly has a win and five placings from her first seven starts and looks capable of building on that after trucking through her 800m trial for a comprehensive win by almost seven lengths (48.01); 33.06); She has an economical low to the ground action that saw her run through the line with plenty of strength.

YAMABUSHI  (Kris Lees): Unraced Brave Smash youngster stood out among the 2YO heat winners, taking up the lead and showing a sharp turn of foot to sprint clear from the 300m and cruise home untouched in his 800m heat by four lengths (48.72; 34.15). He's now had four trials since November and is ready to go the races.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Cross Talk; Moonlight Grace; Yamabushi

X Commandment; Fast Water; Fire And Ice; Gerety; Oakfield Blue Bell; Osterberg; Metallic Ruler; Smiling Prophet; Toyger; Write By Me


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