Written by Paul Vettise
The well-related stakes winner Standout (Exceed And Excel) showed he was ready for his return to the races in early February with a smart display to win his open heat at the Rosehill trials on Tuesday.
The Gerald Ryan-trained 3-year-old, who has suffered just one defeat from four appearances for breeder George Altomonte who shares in the ownership, sat outside the leader over 900 metres before taking over on straightening.
Rider Tommy Berry sat quietly on Standout down the straight and they won by 0.5l with a number of high-profile performers in a bunch behind him.
“I'm very happy with how he's come back," Ryan said. "He will resume in either the Expressway or the 3-year-old race the following week. It will be on the first or the eighth of February."
A brother to the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Overreach, Standout won his first two starts last preparation before success in the Listed Heritage S. and was given a break after running runner-up in the G2 Roman Consul S.
Standout (white cap)
All-Star option
The G1 Epsom H. and inaugural Golden Eagle winner Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) was unplaced behind Standout, but he was kept under a tight rein in the run home by James McDonald after sitting in the trail. His program has yet to be confirmed with the $5 million All-Star Mile an option.
"Kolding is an interesting horse as he just keeps getting better," trainer Chris Waller said. "I've got a slight leaning to the All-Star Mile, but how do you set a horse for the race if you don't know he will get a start? "
Kolding (NZ) (blue cap)
Waller said unless he had a clear indication that Kolding would gain an All-Star berth, the 4-year-old would stay closer to home for the G2 Apollo S., the G1 Chipping Norton S. and the G1 George Ryder S.
"If he was to go to the All-Star Mile, I would run him in the Orr S. as the All-Star Mile is at Caulfield this year.”
Filly shows pace
Superbella (Super One) looked ready to go to the races following her dashing win in the 2-year-old heat for fillies over 900 metres.
She had won her trial at Hawkesbury before tailing the field home in her second at Rosehill, but was all business on Tuesday and won easily for trainer Lee Curtis and rider Jay Ford by 2.75l in 53.65s, clearly the fastest of the morning.
Watch: Superbella win her trial
A $25,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale buy for Curtis, Superbella is a half-sister to four winners with their dam the G1 Railway H. winner Imananabaa (Anabaa {USA}).
Race winner and G3 Ottawa S. placegetter Muntaseera (I Am Invincible) got well back and stretched out strongly in the closing stages to finish runner-up.
Superbella as a yearling
High-priced colts
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained stablemates Barbaric (I Am Invincible) and Mt Fuji (Snitzel), a pair of expensive yearlings, dominated the finish of the third of the colts and geldings heats. Both were allowed to run to the line under their own steam by respective jockeys McDonald and Berry.
Barbaric, who was sixth in his only start in the G3 Breeders’ Plate, was bought out of Segenhoe Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $900,000 by the China Horse Club, Newgate and WinStar. He is a son of the Magic Millions Classic winner Mimi Lebrock (Show A Heart).
Watch: Barbaric and Mt Fuji trial
Mt Fuji was the top-priced colt at the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale where he was offered by Corumbene Stud and knocked down to James Harron for $2.8 million. The colt is out of the G2 Magic Night S. winner Ichihara (General Nediym).
Filly clips ticket
The second of the fillies’ heats was landed by Ticket To Ride (Vancouver) for Richard and Michael Freedman with Berry in the saddle. She settled behind the pace on the fence and finished well along the rail.
A grand-daughter of the multiple Group 1 winner Private Steer (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Ticket To Ride was third on debut in the G3 Gimcrack S. in the spring behind Every Rose (Choisir) and subsequent Magic Millions 2YO Classic runner-up Stellar Pauline (Not A Single Doubt).
Watch: Ticket To Ride win her trial
In the colours of Sun Bloodstock, Mission River (Redoute’s Choice) looked a smart type when he led all the way to win his 900 metre heat untouched by rider Robbie Dolan.
Trained by Ryan, the colt had finished runner-up in his first trial and had no trouble going one better to score by 2.25l in 55.45s. He is a son of the three-time Group 1 winner Yosei (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
Hazy win
Meanwhile in Victoria, 2-year-old trials at Pakenham were headlined by the proven filly Mildred (Hinchinbrook) who wasn’t extended to win her 900 metre heat run in poor spectator visibility due to smoke haze.
Trained by Grahame Begg, Mildred made a successful debut at Flemington in the spring and returned there to claim the Listed Maribyrnong Trial and was spelled after running fifth in the Inglis 2YO at Monee Valley.
Mildred as a yearling
“She’s grown and thickened up. She had a good blow after the trial so it will bring her on,” Begg said. “I’ll see how she reacts after this and she’ll possibly run in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude on Saturday week or the following Saturday in the G3 Chairmans.”
Mildred was purchased by Begg’s father Neville out of Middlebrook Valley Lodge’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft for $45,000. Out of a half-sister to the G1 Salinger S. winner Notoire (Export Price {Fr}), the filly has already banked nearly $150,000.
