With the Carnival underway in Victoria, there was a terrific set of jump-outs at Cranbourne on Monday.
The Trial Files have dissected the sixteen heats and identified the horses you need to be following.
Heat 1 – Rapid Cheval (8th)
This heat was taken out impressively by Light Infantry Man. He won the heat under a good hold, while those around him were pushed right out. He’s only eight weeks between runs since his Zipping Classic effort, so takes good residual fitness into the summer/autumn.
Rapid Cheval caught my eye back in the field. Liked how she jumped-out at Cranbourne on January 12 and again thought she moved well in this heat, albeit beaten a fair way. Ben Melham sat very quietly on her back, allowing her to cruise to the line under her own steam. Can run a race fresh at 1400m.
Heat 2 – Welwal (2nd)
Quality heat. Observer had a very quiet trial, but moved well enough for a 2000m horse.
Electric Tommy is a fast horse who always trials well, which he did.
Gee, Welwal went nicely in second. He settled in the back half of the field before presenting out wide in the straight and making strong late ground under very light riding. It was a lovely bit of work. He has a good first-up record and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him show up fresh.
Ahha Ahha and Holymanz were having mid-preparation jump-outs and went nicely.
Heat 4
Rosberg had a big boom on him in the spring. He tanked up nicely to win this heat. He’s got plenty of size to him and he’s only going to get better into this campaign, and then his 4yo year. Nice bit of work.
Kokako and This Time Girl both went nicely, too.
No blackbooker per se, but if you like any of the abovementioned when they resume, take good heart from their jump-out work.
Heat 5 – Lathlain (2nd)
Chateau Eze won this trial but I wasn’t overly enamoured with how she went. She wanted to hang a bit and took some riding to win the jump-out. The knock is only vs the ability she has shown on the track – one would expect her to resume in Stakes races and on this work I couldn’t back her.
Lathlain went very nicely in second. She wasn’t asked to do a lot but went to the line locked together with Chateau Eze under her own steam. It was only her first jump-out for the campaign, so she may have another, but wherever she goes first-up she should prove competitive.
Heat 7
Blue Diamond favourite Guest House took out this heat, posting solid time for the morning. Granted, he had fitness on his side, but he moved exceptionally well. Lovely tick over jump-out ahead off the 1100m Prelude in two weeks’ time.
Heat 8 – Churchillian (3rd)
This bloke was having his first jump-out of the campaign. This Hawkes-trained son of Churchill looked like he was racing in the Julian Welsh silks which suggests he may have been doing a bit of barrier work (Julian is a master with horses that have barrier issues). Anyway, he jumped the gates well enough and I was taken with how he moved over the final furlong. Nice bit of work.
Heat 9 – Miss Revealing (2nd)
Divine Empress was ridden out to win this heat but it was the work of Miss Revealing in second that caught my eye. She settled just off the leader and had Beau Mertens asked her to extend at any stage I suspect she would’ve gone straight past Miss Revealing. Work past the post was outstanding.
Heat 13 – Hot Opera (2nd)
A 4yo mare that has had just the one start for Luke Oliver. Was just fair in a jump-out on January 12, but liked the way she moved on Monday. She led, wasn’t knocked around late, and only went down narrowly to Factcheck, who was hard ridden in the straight. She could surprise at odds when she heads to the track.
