Written by Renee Geelen
Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Flemington held 15 jump-outs on Friday morning with G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic winner Bittercreek (Snitzel) looking stylish in his second jump-out as a 3-year-old, winning over 800 metres easily. Bittercreek was the highlight of several jump-outs at Flemington, winning the first over 800 metres by several lengths.
“He was excellent. We put the blinkers on him today just to see whether we’ll keep them on him for his first-up go in the Danehill. He bounced the front and was excellent and ran out a really strong 800 metres. He’s had a good very puff so definitely needed it and we’ll decide what to do now between here and the Danehill in three weeks time,” said Troy Corstens on Malua Racing’s twitter.
Last start Listed winner Jenni’s Meadow (Brutal {NZ}) looks to have returned at three with a nice run in the second heat. She won twice at two last season, on debut and at her final start of the season. Heat 5 was a tightly packed affair with unraced 3-year-old filly Pulsating (Pierata) crossing the line with 4-year-old mare Holler Thy Name (Holler).
In Heat 6, unraced 3-year-old filly Wild Pharaoh (American Pharoah {USA}) won easily for trainers Team Hawkes. Emirates Park might have another nice Tassort filly with unraced 3-year-old Mahmudah looking impressive in Heat 13, finishing strongly together with unraced gelding Figlio D’Argento (D’Argento) several lengths ahead of the remaining field.
Of the older horses at Flemington, last start Listed Bendigo Guineas winner, War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}) who won three in succession at three, returned in fine style in Heat 3.
Warwick Farm
Warwick Farm held 13 trials on Friday morning on a surface rated a Good 4 with Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Ikasara (I Am Invincible) the most impressive of the open heats.
Ceolwulf had a good tune up in the first trial over 1200 metres, ridden by James McDonald for trainer Joseph Pride. The Group 1-placed 4-year-old gelding ran second to Riff Rocket (American Pharoah {USA}) in last season’s G1 Randwick Guineas and G1 Australian Derby.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 3-year-old colt Ikasara who won his only start in August trialled over 794 metres. Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, Ikasara was a class above the rest in trial 4 with an almost 7l victory and didn’t look like he was being pushed.
Big spring ahead for these 3-year-olds
Tom Sherry rode the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 3-year-old filly Alinea (Written Tycoon) to an easy 3l victory in Heat 8 for maiden fillies. She looks a class above the others, cruising to the line with both ears pricked. City placed at her third start at two last season, she ran in Group races in both her first two starts, so the stable have always had a strong opinion of her. She was a $420,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate from Edinburgh Park, purchased by her trainers with Kestrel Bloodstock.
Alinea as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Superbly well-bred Summer Wedding (Zoustar) and unraced Circle Of Love (Exceed And Excel) hit the line together in Heat 9 for maiden 3-year-old fillies. The Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained Circle Of Love led most of the way with the Ciaron Maher-trained Summer Wedding closing fast on the tightly held Circle Of Love with the official margin only 0.06l in favour of Summer Wedding. Summer Wedding placed at her only start at two and was an $800,000 purchase by Cambridge Stud from Widden Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She is a full sister to Group 2 winner Schwarz.
In Heat 12, 3-year-old gelding Sound Waves (Microphone) led down the straight for rider Jett Stanley and worked hard to hold on by 0.04l from the fast-finishing and well-held, Ciaron Maher-trained 3-year-old colt Force Red (Cosmic Force) who ran fifth in the G3 ATC Breeders’ Plate at his only start. Sound Waves, trained by Amanda Turner, had three starts at two.
