Firstly, there was plenty of attention on heat one with Godolphin dominating the trial with some of their big guns.
The trial was taken out by dual stakes-winner Meryl (Epaulette), however, all eyes were on those in the royal blue that followed closely behind with Golden Slipper winner Kiamichi (Sidestep), triple Group 1-winning mare Alizee (Sepoy), and weight-for-age performers Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), the veteran Hartnell (GB)(Authorized {Ire}), and Best Of Days (GB) (Azamour {IRE}) all putting in excellent trials.
Kiamichi, ridden by Tommy Berry settled 4th and was eased-out for clear running on the home turn and closed-off very strongly under no pressure to finish a hard-held 2nd in the trial. The performance was met with very positive comments from James Cummings.
“She was our only 2-year-old in that heat against weight-for-ages horses and acquitted herself really well. She got beaten a neat length but was getting to the line nicely and enjoyed the soft ground on the course proper. I think she has really come back in a positive bit of form,” said Cummings.
"I think she has really come back in a positive bit of form." - James Cummings
Similarly, Alizee travelled to the inside of Kiamichi in the run and also went to the line under minimal pressure for jockey Hugh Bowman to finish 4th. Cummings was wrapped with Alizee who wasn’t out there to do too much and is expected to resume first-up in the Group 2 Missile Stakes at Rosehill on August 10.
“We knew once she [Alizee] got onto the course proper and amongst those horses she was going to want to do plenty on her own. She’s in a really good space at the moment, forward enough and I think another trial before she runs in the Missile will be perfect,” said Cummings.
Watch: James Cummings' thoughts on the trials of Kiamichi and Avilius
Meanwhile, Best Of Days, Hartnell and Avilius all settled well-back in the heat and worked home strongly as you would expect for their first appearance of the spring, with Cummings suggesting they will trial again before going to the races next month.
“Avilius is unbeaten in Sydney so I would look to resume him in Sydney next month but I think we have a little bit of time up our sleeve before we take him to the races,” said Cummings.
Hartnell doesn’t appear to be feeling his age despite rising 9-years-old, coming from near last and steaming home taking ground off those up in front and going past them over the line.
"He’ll be ready to go over seven furlongs fresh-up next month." - James Cummings
“He’s [Hartnell] going well, he was strong through the line this morning as expected and looks in really good condition ahead of the spring. He’ll be ready to go over seven furlongs fresh-up next month,” said Cummings.
Quality on show
Godolphin was well represented throughout the morning with stakes-performed fillies Flit (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}), La Tene (Helmet) and Athiri (Lonhro) running in heat seven.
All three fillies got back in the trial and closed-off strongly with little separating them at the finish.
Cummings said La Tene is likely to head south for races in Melbourne, while Flit and Athiri will stay in Sydney and resume at the end of next month.
Meanwhile, 2-year-old Magic Millions Classic winner Exhilarates (Snitzel) and Group 3 Black Opal Stakes-winner Pin Sec (Lonhro) lined-up in heat eight. Both fillies weren’t out to break any records and although well beaten closed-off solidly from the back for their first outings this preparation.
Cummings was pleased with Exhilarates, and has the option of racing in either Sydney or Melbourne first-up.
“Exhilarates has a number of options ahead of her. She got back in a moderately run trial but was accelerating to the line well. She’s a fast horse and 1100m in either Sydney or Melbourne will be perfect for her”, said Cummings.
Godolphin’s rising 3-year-old colt, dual stakes-winner Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) went around later in the morning in heat thirteen and despite travelling three-wide for much of the trial lengthened nicely for a fast finishing 4th.
Tough 2-year-olds
Back in heat four, 2-year-old filly Art Collection (Fastnet Rock) put in arguably one of the best performances of the morning.
Bred by Coolmore, Art Collection was withdrawn from the 2018 Australian Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and retained to race by Coolmore.
Trained by Hayes, Hayes & Dabernig the filly raced three times in her 2-year-old season placing on debut in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate, before unplaced efforts in two runs earlier this year.
Art Collection is from stakes-winning dam Estelle Collection (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), making her a three-quarter sister to five time Group 1-winner Lankan Rupee (Redoute’s Choice). The family dates back to Grosvenor (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
Art Collection as a yearling
Ridden by Nash Rawiller, who is nearing a comeback to race riding after serving a 15-month disqualification, Art Collection settled at the back of the field and improved her position early in the straight before Rawiller was forced to get across heels to avoid a tiring runner at the 150m, and when asked to lengthen the filly accelerated quickly to win the heat impressively.
It was her first trial back for more than five months and on the strength of Friday’s trial, Art Collection looks close to going to the races and should be followed in the early spring 3-year-old fillies’ races.
Heat nine featured unraced colt Calculated Risk (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) returning to the trials after a six month break.
Calculated Risk was first spotted at the trials in January at Warwick Farm winning his heat and had not been seen since.
Trained by Bjorn Baker, Calculated Risk is a half-brother to Group 1-winner Ekstreme (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}), and stakes-placed Pellegrini (NZ) (Mr Nancho {Arg}) and Maradona (NZ) (Mr Nancho {Arg}).
Calculated Risk showed good barrier speed to lead throughout over 900m and win the heat easily.
Despite having some minor setbacks along the way, Racing Manager for Bjorn Baker, Jack Bruce suggested Calculated Risk can be expected to race in the spring with the expectation he can go through to city class.
Watch: Jack Bruce's thoughts on the trial of Calculated Risk
“He’s had one or two little setbacks, but he’s quite a forward, compact sprinting type of Akeed Mofeed. He’ll race this spring and hopefully we can get him to town,” said Bruce.
In heat eleven, $1.05 million colt Rome (Pierro) stepped-out for his first trial of the spring.
Trained by Peter & Paul Snowden for James Harron Bloodstock, Rome is from the dam Dance Card (Exceed And Excel), a half-sister to dual-stakes winner Kaepernick (Fastnet Rock).
Rome has been placed in two of his four career starts including running 2nd in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes at Canberra in March earlier this year.
Ridden by Tommy Berry, Rome settled last in the trial and cut the corner on the home turn before making-up good ground along the rails in the straight to finish 3rd, trainer Peter Snowden was pleased with his effort.
“Rome had a good sharp trial this morning and certainly did himself no harm by trialling so well today,” said Snowden.
Watch: Peter Snowden's thoughts on Rome's trial
Another runner in heat eleven worth mentioning is the unbeaten Superium (Verrazano {USA}) trained by Joe Pride.
As a 2-year-old, Superium won his maiden at Bathurst in March against older horses before taking out the $150,000 Wellington Boot in early April and was immediately spelled.
Superium is a grandson of multiple stakes-winning mare and Group 1-placed Brief Embrace (Irgun {USA}).
Superium was eased back after the start and travelled at the rear of the field for the majority of the trial, before taking a split at the 200m and really accelerating late with an eye-catching performance to finish 4th.
Pride allowed Superium to fly under the radar somewhat in his first preparation, however, he has already shown his class and shouldn’t be underestimated when he returns to the races against better competition.
