Betsy’s NSW expert Dean Watling has scoured the latest trials from Gosford, Randwick and Hawkesbury, identifying the horses you need to put in your blackbook.
Gosford – July 22
King Of The Sea – Ciaron Maher (Adam Farragher)
Gosford H3, 1000m – July 22
Lovely first preparation here in Australia and looks to have come back even better going off this trial. He was ridden very quietly, typical of the Maher camp, but late and through the line he was motoring. There’s a broad race in him this preparation.
Annie’s Rose – Kristen Buchanan (Reece Jones)
Gosford H3, 1000m – July 22
Same heat as King Of The Sea. Lovely first trial off the back of a 14-week spell. She’s a lightly raced mare who can knock off another Midway or midweek race.
Better Late – Nathan Doyle (Ashley Morgan)
Gosford H7, 800m – July 22
Smart heat which included Gringotts and Under Focus. That’s now back-to-back impressive trials by Better Late, who was in the deep end class-wise in these trials. Impressive and ready for the races.
Street Lyric – Nathan Doyle (Regan Bayliss)
Gosford H8, 800m – July 22
Slow overall time, but this wasn’t her fault. Strung up, but once out she exploded to the line in push-button fashion. Second preparation and looks to have come back in terrific order. Look for a second trial now.
Cosmic Jive – Paul Snowden (Jay Ford)
Gosford H10, 800m – July 22
Ultra-impressive debut trial by this two-year-old colt. He showed speed at both ends of this 800m trial, with the overall and last 600m times clearly the fastest of the morning. In the right camp to be winning on debut and should be placed to perfection. Smart horse.
Alaska Raptor – Nathan Doyle (Shannen Llewellyn)
Gosford H12, 800m – July 22
Very fast overall time from the colt having his debut trial. He sat poised on speed before extending away very well late. Looks to have natural speed and I’m keen to see him in his second trial.
Randwick – July 24
I’m Ya Huckleberry – Michael Freedman (Tommy Berry)
Randwick H1, 1030m – July 24
Ran second in the G2 Breeders’ Plate and hasn’t been seen since. Had an issue in the autumn but looks back on track now with back-to-back fitness-building trials. Loved the overall and last 600m times of this heat. Strong late and no doubt will come on from this.
Apocalyptic – Michael Freedman (Tommy Berry)
Randwick H1, 900m – July 24
She didn’t come up in the autumn, but boy does she look back to her best going off this trial. Echoed by Michael Freedman himself, she looks to have turned a page. Trucked up in this trial over the 900m before bolting through the line and past the post. She’ll win a G1 this spring.
Tarzing – Michael Freedman (Siena Grima)
Randwick H2, 1030m – July 24
Yes, he’s up and going and has fitness on his side, but this tick-over trial was elite. Sat at the rear before punching through the pack late. Right on track for a return to racing off this five-week let-up.
Darn You – Peter Snowden (Sam Clipperton)
Randwick H10, 900m – July 24
Slow overall time here, so we’ll be careful, but I loved the sneaky effort of this two-year-old filly, Darn You. Clipperton sat back at the rear holding her together before pushing the button late. She exploded, rocketing past her rivals through the line and extending away well. Showed ability in her first trial preparation to back this up. Look for a second heat here.
Lucsain – David Pfieffer (Dylan Gibbons)
Randwick H13, 900m – July 24
Easily the fastest overall and last 600m times of the morning from this four-year-old mare. That’s back-to-back trials where she has done it at both ends of her heats. She looks a well-built, on-speed mare who can sustain a gallop. Ready to go to the races now.
Hawkesbury – July 24
Ferizino – David Pfieffer (Dylan Gibbons)
Hawkesbury H5, 800m – July 24
Outstanding return trial off the back of a 22-week spell. Loved the natural speed he showed in this trial, as well as his form and SPs from last preparation. Look for a second trial now and this four-year-old will go on to bigger and better things this preparation.
Valilee – Jake Hull (Mitchell Bell)
Hawkesbury H6, 800m – July 24
Very similar to Ferizino. Lightly raced with ability galore, he has immense speed and went out for a spell off a very smart win. Thirty weeks off the scene and looked terrific in this return 800m trial. Look for a second one now.
Pitch High – Brad Widdup (Zac Lloyd)
Hawkesbury H10, 800m – July 24
Lloyd only headed out to Hawkesbury for five rides and this unraced two-year-old was one of them. Loved the professionalism he showed when strung up between horses before Lloyd edged him off heels and he let down impressively. All solid signs of an above-average two-year-old.
