Written by Trent Masenhelder
Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Under heavy fog, Warwick Farm hosted 12 trials on Monday morning, and a number of spring contenders were put through their paces.
Heat 1 – an open trial over 787 metres - was stacked with stakes winners, including Paulele (Dawn Approach {Ire}), Kementari (Lonhro), Laws Of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) and Sejardan (Sebring).
Talented 3-year-old colt Sejardan, who won three of his five starts as a juvenile, including the G2 Todman S., poked through along the fence under Jason Collett to touch off Bacchanalia (Exceed And Excel), while Big Parade (Deep Field) placed third.
Run on a Soft 6, the Gary Portelli-trained Sejardan clocked 47.15s.
Godolphin’s grand old campaigner Kementari finished fourth (beaten 3.51l), while his James Cummings-trained stablemate Paulele was sixth (5.12l from the winner).
Gallery: Some of the Heat 1 runners, images courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Heat 2 – an open trial over 1200 metres, saw Sejardan’s stablemate and Golden Slipper S. heroine Fireburn (Rebel Dane) face nine rivals.
Fireburn, who won two legs of the 2-year-old Triple Crown, was given an easy time under regular rider Brenton Avdulla and finished fifth, 6.01l adrift of the winner Super Vino (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}), who recorded a winning time of 1:12.98.
Sejardan and Fireburn are set to clash on September 10 in the G2 Run To The Rose at at Rosehill.
“I was really happy with Sejardan, he’s sharp and showed where he’s at,’’ Portelli told News Corp.
“Fireburn was very nonchalant, she doesn’t show much in her trials, she never does but that is just her.’’
“Fireburn was very nonchalant, she doesn’t show much in her trials, she never does but that is just her.’’ - Gary Portelli
Portelli told Racing.com that her trail performance indicates a step up in trip might suit the filly better as a 3-year-old.
“She’ll be a little vulnerable at 1200 metres, but certainly when she gets to 1400 metres, we’d be more confident for sure.
“While I would love to see her win first-up, because everyone’s going to be bagging her if she doesn’t, being a Slipper winner, I reckon she’s so much more matured and more relaxed than ever and she might be a really nice miler and may stretch to a mile and a quarter in the autumn.
“That’s the way she has always presented. I can’t believe we won a Golden Slipper with her.”
Fireburn is expected to resume in the G2 Run To The Rose at Rosehill on September 10, before lining up in the G1 Golden Rose two weeks later and a likely spell thereafter.
“You’ve got to be patient. The big money for a filly like her is in the autumn and the tracks are always wet in the autumn.
“I suppose if we were to get a wet September and October like they are forecasting, it might change my thoughts and those Guineas races in Melbourne might come into play, but at this stage it will be a light spring and then a big autumn.”
Another Star for Maurice
Unraced Maurice (Jpn) 3-year-old Sumo Star took out Heat 3 – a 1200-metre maiden trial. The Portelli-trained gelding made $110,000 at last year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He was offered by Arrowfield Stud and bought by Elite Thoroughbreds for $110,000. Sumo Star’s second dam is stakes winner Cinque (Red Ransom {USA}), who has thrown Group 2 winner Alassio (Foxwedge).
Handled by William Pike, Sumo Star clocked 1:14.51, holding a 0.15l margin from Ain’t He Grand (Sebring), with Dreamtime Legend (Wandjina) in third.
Another Elite Thoroughbreds-owned, Portelli-trained galloper triumphed in Heat 6 – an open trial over 787 metres. Walkin’Talkin’ (I’m All The Talk) ran 47.03s to beat the Cummings-trained, Listed winner Athelric (Exceed And Excel) by 3.65l, with Undeniable (Not A Single Doubt) in third.
Godolphin homebred Stylised (Kermadec {NZ}) claimed Heat 4 – a 1200-metre maiden trial. The colt is a half-brother to dual Group 2 winner Character (Teofilo {Ire}) and a relation to multiple Group 1 winner Fantastic Light (USA) and Group 2 winner Tarquin (Hard Spun {USA}).
With Zac Lloyd in the saddle, Stylised stopped the clock at 1:15.07. Artie’s Lad (Flying Artie) and Token Capitalist (Capitalist) were second and third respectively and both finished within 1l of the winner.
The Laurie Parker-trained Crowie’s Shout (Xtravagant {NZ}) won Heat 8 – a 3-year-old maiden trial (787 metres). The gelding was a $20,000 purchase from the Newhaven Park draft at last year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. His fourth dam, Voltage (Whiskey Road {USA}), has thrown three stakes winners, including Group 1 victress Anamato (Redoute’s Choice), the dam of superstar Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}).
Crowie’s Shout was ridden to victory by Jay Ford. He ran 47.26s, beating Chain Of Gold (Sooboog) and Lilliput (Lonhro) by a slender margin.
Gallery: Some of the Warwick Farm trial winners, images courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Menari filly Enzina won her second trial for new trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. Piloted by Avdulla, she won Heat 9 – a 3-year-old maiden trial over 784 metres – by 0.72l in 47.49s.
Enzina ran sixth on debut at the Sunshine Coast in December when trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
The beautifully bred Atlantic Ocean (I Am Invincible) ran second, while Proud Image (Pride Of Dubai) was third.
Unraced Written Tycoon filly Enuendo looks the goods in winning Heat 10 – a 781-metre 3-year-old maiden trial.
Enuendo as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The Chris Waller-trained filly was offered by Kitchwin Hills at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Magic Bloodstock & Associates went to $350,000 to secure her. She is from the family of triple Group 2 winner Marasco (Scenic {Ire}) and dual Group 2 winner Siesta Bay (Scenic {Ire}).
James McDonald guided Enuendo to a 1.74l win in 47.28s, with Rock Together (Caravaggio {USA}) second and Star Legacy (Knight Exemplar) third.
