Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
It was straight into Group 1 action at Cranbourne with the runaway G1 Queensland Derby winner Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) getting the upper hand late from the G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).
“I thought he went really well,” jockey Blake Shinn told Racing.com; “one thing I noted physically he has developed a bit more from 3-year-old to four which is a great sign.
“He jumped out beside a pretty good mare of Freedman's and we went to the line together. I am very excited about this horse, he's a great natural stayer and I am looking forward to seeing how he progresses towards the Cups.”
Each of the seven horses contesting that trial are stakes winners with the Listed Geelong Classic winner Grand Pierro (Pierro) third whilst the four-time Group winner Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) was doing his best work late finishing fourth.
Right to party just as good around a turn
Last start G3 Aurie's Star H. winner Right To Party (Zoustar) was ridden quietly by Jye McNeil who had the talented grey back in the field in the third heat, allowing her to finish off strongly through the field and her 0.75l-win was a soft one.
“I thought she was excellent today,” co-trainer Sam Freedman told Racing.com, noting that the stable were happy to see her around a bend with her last three starts (and wins) coming down the Flemington straight.
“She heads to the G2 Bobbie Lewis S. on the 14th (September) in good order. She did a bit of dressage for a couple of weeks in between runs and she will go back there today, we don't do a lot with her.
“She is very happy, and if she's happy we're happy.
The lightly raced Pharari (American Pharoah {USA}) out sped her rivals in a particularly strong heat (five), always travelling well on pace to defeat the dual G3 winner The Astrologist (Zoustar) by 2.5l.
Pharari's trainer Ciaron Maher told Racing.com that “she was very impressive, her action looked great.
“She will go to a 1000 metres on Wednesday week, she has to win a few to bump up her rating but the aim will be to get some black type with her.”
“She (Pharari) will go to a 1000 metres on Wednesday week, she has to win a few to bump up her rating but the aim will be to get some black type with her.” - Ciaron Maher
Solid behind Pharari was the G1 Blue Diamond S. heroine Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}) who was followed home by the Listed-winning Group 1 placegetter Johnny Rocker (Jukebox), the G3 Chairman's S. winner Coleman (Pierata).
Hayasugi's trainer Clinton McDonald was happy with her effort; “she was terrific,” he told Racing.com, adding that “she has made improvement from her first trial to her second. She is in good order, Jamie (Kah) was really pleased with her, she said she gave her a terrific feel.”
“She (Hayasugi) was terrific. She has made improvement from her first trial to her second. She is in good order, Jamie (Kah) was really pleased with her, she said she gave her a terrific feel.” - Clinton McDonald
McDonald is looking forward to taking on the older horses in the G1 Moir S., describing Hayasugi as “the toughest horse I've put my hands on. She is no fuss but gee she's got a good motor.”
Pharari's stablemate Nadal (Xtravagant {NZ}) showed ability at three and looks to have come up well, shading the dual Group 3 winner Dublin Down (Exceedance) in the sixth heat with the Listed William Crockett S. winner Gumdrops (Written Tycoon) finishing off strongly for third.
Estriella flies
The following trial saw the millionaire mare Estriella (I Am Invincible) show her rivals a clean pair of heels with a 5l victory as she heads (as favourite) towards the G1 Moir S. at Moonee Valley on September 7 with a crack at The Everest also on the wish list.
“Blake (Shinn) gave her a glowing report,” trainer Ciaron Maher told RSN, “I love her progression from last prep to this one, mentally and physically.”
Other Cranbourne trial winners of interest included Verdad (Justify {USA}) who was competitive with the best of Victoria's 3-year-olds last season, Reverse Bank (Capitalist) who recorded a big debut win at Bendigo in June, Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) who won at Caulfield when having his first start as a late 2-year-old, the Group 2-placed Our Couver (Vancouver) who saluted by 3l.
Unraced horses showing promise
Amongst the unraced horses to win trials at Cranbourne was the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained pair Tonkin (Blue Point {Ire}) who has also won jump-outs at Caulfield and Mornington and Transactions (Capitalist), a $275,000 Inglis Australian Easter half-brother to Espiona (Extreme Choice).
Strange Alert (Shamus Award) was coming off a Cranbourne jump-out victory and was again too good; the Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr)-trained 3-year-old is a son of the stakes winner Cosmic Alert (Star Witness).
Imports in the finish at Hawkesbury
Strong to the line getting up along the rails in the first trial at Hawkesbury, the Kris Lees-trained import Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}) did not have a great deal of luck during his short debut Australian campaign, suffering from cardiac arrhythmia first-up as equal favourite in the G3 Lord Mayors Cup before being making an early move off a wide run in the G2 Q22.
Imported gallopers so often improve in their second local preparations and Adelaide River's best form is certainly strong; a G3 Kilternan S. win at Leopardstown and a couple of Group 1 seconds including the Irish Derby behind Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
Another two talented imports finished first and second in the second heat, My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) too good late for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Poptronic (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}).
The former was last seen running tenth in the G1 WS Cox Plate, the 2022 G2 Crystal Mile winner has been in Australia for a while whilst Poptronic who won a Randwick trial in April, is being readied for her local debut.
She has won five of her 13 starts; three at Group-level including the G1 Champion Fillies and Mares at Ascot last October.
Taking the split between two rivals, the G2 VRC Sires Produce S.-winning and G1 ATC Sires Produce S. runner-up Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}) defeated the G3 Canonbury S. winner Prost (Snitzel) in the third heat.
Amelia's Jewel too good
The fourth trial saw one of the stars of the morning in winning form, Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) a class above the other as the former Simon Miller-trained mare gets close to making her debut for the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald stable.
“She trialled well,” Neasham told Racing.com, adding that “it was her second trial so we gave her a bit more of a squeeze.”
“We are going to kick off in the G2 Tramway S. on Saturday week and then we'll figure out where she goes to after that.
“We will get a bit more of a guide after her first run but she has been pleasing us at home.”
The James Cummings-trained Admitted (Brazen Beau) showed talent at two and he was always travelling well in the lead in the 10th trial. The Godolphin blue was also seen in winning action in the 15th heat with the unraced Motorbike (Epaulette) continuing his good trial form having won a couple of Flemington jump-outs earlier in the year. His grandam is Bint Marscay's (Marscay) classy daughter Mannington (Danehill {USA}).
Other yet-to-race horses to win Hawkesbury trials were Aligning Stars (Pierata), a Fabio Martino-trained half-brother to the stakes-placed Stardealt (Dundeel {NZ}), Top Secret (Dundeel), a Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained $160,000 Magic Millions graduate out of the stakes-placed Sophia's Secret (Written Tycoon) and Superb Guy (Magna Grecia {Ire}), a Blake Ryan-trained $200,000 Inglis Classic purchase.
Promising types for Bjorn Baker
Bjorn Baker saddled up a trio of nice unraced horses to win heats; Azconpete (Goodfella), Miss Kim Kar (Pierata), a $230,000 Magic Millions buy out of the stakes-placed Kardashing (Redoute's Choice) and Istolea Merc (Winning Rupert), full brother to his stakes-placed stable mate Iowna Merc.
Edward Cummings had a winner trialling for the first time; Empress Tsarina (Russian Revolution) being a $200,000 purchase out of a full sister to the G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Headway (Charge Forward).
Zoustar was also represented by an unraced winner with the Matthew Vella-trained Now You've Done It impressive at her first public appearance. The Go Bloodstock homebred is out of a half-sister to Coolmore's dual Group 1 winner King's Legacy. Zoustar's son Zousain also had a winner; the Michael Freedman-trained Zouper Fellow racing away to an easy win at his third trial. The $120,000 Inglis Australian Easter graduate is a three-quarter brother to the G2 Reisling S. winner Glistening (Zoustar).
