The Trial Files
Heat 1: 400m 2YO
The only 400m heat of the day saw a Kellie Grantham-trained quinella, with Excerpt finishing over the top of stablemate American Grin. The Snippetson colt jumped very awkwardly before picking up and hitting the line strongly under his own steam, while American Grin (2nd) jumped cleanly and produced a relatively-professional performance. Scooz Me (3rd) showed good early speed and stuck on well for third place, with The Auld Enemy (4th) catching the eye and arguably the most impressive of the beaten brigade when flashing late under a good hold.
Heat 2: 950m 2YO
Promising juvenile Our Boy Dylan (4:1-2-0) made a nice return when scoring a soft win in easily the fastest 2YO heat and overall third-fastest 950m heat on the day (only Red Can Man and Cup Night were faster). He jumped quickly from a wide draw before settling outside of the trial leader, He’s My Rock (6th), and careered away on straightening to romp in by 4.6 lengths eased down. Trial debutant Black Venture (2nd) was the slowest out of the machines before mustering quickly and he produced an eye-catching performance when looking quite green but still finishing off strongly down the middle of the track. The rest well beaten.
Heat 3: 950m 2YO
Trial debutant Apache Patrol got the better of proven Saturday winner Chix Chatter in slow time (2.52sec slower than the previous heat). Chix Chatter sported his race-day blinkers and had to be pushed out in the straight, however, Apache Patrol still appeared to have more to give in a promising sign. Fellow debutant Miss Voodoo (3rd) showed good early toe out of the gates and was given a soft lead before tiring over the concluding stages, while backmarker Ishinca View (4th) wasn’t suited by the slow tempo but finished off nicely late.
Heat 4: 950m heat 2YO
Unraced Starspangledbanner colt Congreve Rocket improved sharply at his second trial appearance when rolling to the top to lead his five-horse heat before romping away to a 6.2 length win. Cresent City (2nd) and Under The Radar (3rd) ground away to the line under some pressure but were in a different post-code to the impressive winner.
Heat 5: 950m heat 2YO
Zac Luvs To Fly led from go-to-whoa in decent time on the day to defeat Blazing Away (blinkers on) by a nose. It was Zac Luvs To Fly’s first public appearance since making his race debut on February 22, while Blazing Away was having his third trial of his preparation and now looks ready to go to the races. The pair cleared away from their rivals by six lengths, with Saint Clements sticking to the rail and cruising into third place under no pressure while Reguardless kept coming after covering extra ground throughout.
Heat 6: 950m 3YO & Up
Rising 8YO mare Dolly Em jumped to the front and pinched a break turning for home before doing enough over the late stages to hold off the fast-finishing Eurotrip (2nd). After a disappointing last campaign, Eurotrip looked to be back in good order when hitting the line nicely under little pressure from rider William Pike. Fork Handles (3rd) wasn’t knocked around at any stage in a promising return, while Friars Fantasia (4th) was forced to cover addition ground throughout but was still able to hold fourth position with the addition of blinkers at her second trial for her preparation.
Heat 7: 950m 3YO & Up
Although facing only moderate opposition, rising star Red Can Man (11:6-1-3 & $549k) couldn’t have been much more impressive at his trial return in the pouring rain. Wearing his usual race-day winkers, the 3YO led from go-to-whoa and careered away to a soft win by almost six lengths in the second-fastest heat of the day (only 0.05sec slower than Cup Night). The form from his three-consecutive Ascot wins in the autumn certainly held up with Laverrod and Pym’s Royale going on to win at their following starts and he looks on target for a serious tilt at the upcoming Belmont feature sprints.
Heat 8: 950m 3YO & Up=
Reigning Listed Starstruck Classic winner Snowchino showed good early speed with the surprising addition of blinkers for the first time to lead the seven-horse heat. She stuck on okay to finish runner-up to Class One mare Winnie’s Wine, who also sported blinkers and settled in the box-seat before sprinting well along the inside pad on straightening in an impressive performance. Saturday metropolitan-winning filly Guesteen (3rd) wasn’t asked for a full effort but ran through the line under her own steam, while staying type The Big Show (4th) was doing his best work over the late stages in an encouraging return.
Heat 9: 950m 3YO & Up
Excitement machine Cup Night was tuned up with a second trial when savaging the line to score by three lengths in the fastest 950m heat of the day. The rising 5YO was well-held at his trial return a fortnight ago but was asked for more of an effort by regular rider Patrick Carbery today and he picked up his rivals in the space of a couple of strides. Similarly to Red Can Man, he looks well on track for the upcoming Belmont feature sprints.
Don’s Legacy (2nd) led and stuck on well while Fa’lion Machine (5th) was held up for clear running on straightening and caught the eye when cruising through the line under a good hold further back.
Heat 10: 950m 3YO MDN
Unraced gelding So Sway showed sharp improvement in his first public outing in more than eight months when leading from start-to-finish and winning by 2.5 lengths eased down. The rising 4YO finished at the tail of the field at both of his Belmont trials last October. Perennial placegetter Goodbyefeds (2nd) hit the line the best of the beaten brigade.
Heat 11: 950m 3YO MDN
Peters Investments filly Sentimental Queen showed considerable improvement at her second trial for her preparation when getting over the top of only a moderate field in what was the slowest heat of the day. Only one length separated the first four across the line and Sentimental Queen was clearly the pick of the bunch when doing her best work over the final stages.
Heat 12: 950m 3YO MDN
Heavy rain poured as Tick Along got the bob in a tight three-way go after settling outside of trial leader Warbler (3rd) in running. Enduring Moment (2nd) was posted three-wide the trip but kept coming to only go down by a nose in what was arguably the better performance in a relatively thin maiden field.
Heat 13: 950m 4YO & Up MDN
Trade Fair Express has placed at six of nine career starts to date and shouldn’t be a maiden for much longer off the back of a nice trial return. Settled midfield and was held-up for the majority of the straight before getting clear and finishing strongly over the top of his rivals. From the beaten brigade, Hallsy Express (4th) tramped deep throughout and finished off okay under little pressure.
Heat 14: 1450m 2YO & Up
Out-and-out stayer Axel ‘R’ Eight hasn’t raced since finishing midfield behind Regal Power in the Group 2 WATC Derby in April 2019 and had the addition of blinkers here after making his trial return without the shades three weeks ago. Led and controlled proceedings before getting pushed out through the early stages of the straight but still did enough to win by more than two lengths. Fellow dour type Sugar Cain was doing her best work over the late stages to be taking ground off the leader/winner.
MICHAEL HEATON