NSW Trial Watch: Dean Watling spots Queensland carnival contender

Dean Watling has been busy casting his eye over a stack of barrier trials right across NSW. Plenty of coming winners, including a very smart sprinter with an eye to the Queensland Winter Carnival.

Zaszou | Ciaron Maher (Adam Farragher)
Hawkesbury H1 1000m | Apr 20
Thrown into a G3 fresh behind Roselyn’s Star. Was closing well before copping interference. Back to the trials with a solid piece of work and can improve sharply second up.

Our Huntress | Michael Freedman (James McDonald)
Randwick H7 1045m | Apr 21
Back-to-back slick trials from this progressive maiden. Showed plenty of ability last prep but couldn’t break through. Has returned with strong trials and looks to have furnished physically. Keen.

Napoleonic | O’Shea & Charlton (Adam Farragher)
Randwick H12 745m | Apr 21
One of the best last-start form lines going around, third behind subsequent G1 winners Joliestar and Beiwacht. Given 8 weeks off with one trial and another set for Canterbury. Looks well placed to peak during Scone or head to Queensland. Doomben 10,000?

Skycatcher | Price & Kent Jnr (Tyler Schiller)
Warwick Farm H1 1207m | Apr 23
6L NZ winner before an okay first prep in Victoria. Now 21 weeks off and looks to have acclimatised much better. Two Sydney trials suggest he’s well above BM66 level, where he was last prep. Could be a sharp improver.

Slander | Nathan Doyle (Ashley Morgan)
Wyong H9 1000m | Apr 24
Back-to-back dominant trial wins. Has huge ability and is in the right stable to win on debut.

Glenorchy | Chris Waller (Zac Lloyd)
Canterbury H14 893m | May 1
Trial of the morning for the 2yos. Impressive colt who was educated to settle before making up strong ground late along the inside. Lovely action and looks a talent. Keen to see a second trial.

King Of The Sea | Ciaron Maher (Adam Farragher)
Canterbury H2 1100m | May 1
Nice tick-over trial from this Maher runner. First-up run, then a trial into second-up is a proven formula for this stable. Loved the way he cruised to the lead with ease.

The Instructor | Waterhouse & Bott (Adam Hyeronimus)
Canterbury H4 1100m | May 1
Expecting a typical prep where he’s trialled up strongly. Often a horse who improves off trials into race day. Likely being set for the Scone Carnival, rinse and repeat of last year.

Stardeel | Bjorn Baker (Joshua Parr)
Canterbury H11 986m | May 1
Didn’t come up last prep in Queensland. Off for 17 weeks and looked sharp when worked to the outside in his first trial back. Should have another before returning.

Pretty Powerful | Chris Waller (Tommy Berry)
Randwick H3 1050m | May 4
One of Waller’s smarter fresh runners. Continues to improve each preparation. Back-to-back strong trials, with the latest the better of the two. Ready to go first up.

Verismo | A & S Freedman (Dylan Gibbons)
Randwick H11 740m | May 4
Plenty happening in this heat. Verismo had no luck when ready to take a gap, getting shut out before dropping back. The key was his work past the post, picking up strongly through the line. Look for a second trial.

Call Me Coach | A & S Freedman (Dylan Gibbons)
Randwick H12 740m | May 4
Comes through the same heat as a number of smart types. Fast overall time and worked through the line strongly. One to follow.

The Machine Gun | Peter Snowden (Tim Clark)
Randwick H12 740m | May 4
Same heat again, which looks full of talent. Fast time and strong through the line. Follow.

Celestial Charm | Michael Freedman (Tommy Berry)
Randwick H12 740m | May 4
Another from the same strong heat. Impressed through the line in a fast-run trial. Follow.

Pin Up Sheila | Tom Charlton (Tommy Berry)
Randwick H12 740m | May 4
Comes through the same heat and profiles similarly. Strong through the line in good time. Follow.