Written by Lydia Symonds
Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) passed his latest test as he makes his way towards his date with destiny in The Everest at Randwick on October 15.
The son of Maurice (Jpn) stepped out for his second trial of the preparation at Rosehill on Tuesday and under Sam Clipperton, he never looked like leaving third gear, eventually posting a smooth 0.54l victory over Duke Of Buckingham (Street Boss {USA}) in a time of 1:03.32s.
Mazu will represent The Star and Arrowfield Stud in The Everest and the gelding will be looking to hand Chris and Michael Ward’s Triple Crown Syndications and the Snowdens a third win in the lucrative sprint, with Redzel (Snitzel) having landed the first two runnings of the event in 2017 and 2018.
He was in dominant form last season, landing the six races he contested, including the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint and G1 Doomben 10,000 S. and he looks to have returned in similar form this time.
The 4-year-old gelding is likely to line up for his first-up assignment in The Shorts H. on September 17, where he will likely clash with last year’s The Everest hero Nature Strip (Nicconi) and fellow contender Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
However, the performance of the morning came from the Bjorn Baker-trained O’President (Fastnet Rock), who never saw another rival in Heat 1, eventually coming away with a massive 13.14l ahead of dual Listed-winning juvenile Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}). The Everest contender Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) finished 0.78l behind the second-placed horse in fifth, with the Chris Waller-trained Group 1-winning pair Fangirl (Sebring) and Hinged (Worthy Cause), finishing third and fourth respectively.
Masked Crusader had been due to kick off his The Everest campaign in the G2 Concorde S. at Randwick last Saturday, but Team Hawkes decided to scratch the gelding due to the state of the track.
Bill Ritchie plan for O'President
O'President, meanwhile, was a winner of the G2 Skyline S. as a 2-year-old for Chris Waller, the son of Fastnet Rock was transferred to Baker’s stable after he was purchased by A Value Consulting Limited for $435,000 on the Inglis Digital May (Early) Online Sale earlier this year.
The 4-year-old was stepping out for his second trial for his new trainer, having posted a 3.52l jump-out victory over Mazu and Masked Crusader on August 23 and Baker told TDN AusNZ that the gelding could kick off his preparation in the G3 Bill Ritchie H. at Randwick on September 17.
O'President | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He’s going really well. We’ve got a couple of options with him and we’re leaning towards the 1400-metre race next Saturday, the Bill Ritchie possibly or we might also consider the BM88 over 1200 metres,” said Baker.
When asked if Baker was looking to garner the attention of the remaining slotholders, Baker said: “Not at this stage. He’s pretty flexible in terms of tracks, he can handle a wet track which gives us a bit of confidence going into the spring as well.
“I’ve been the lucky benefactor of a proven horse. He’s already a Group 2 winner so there’s no surprises that he’s always had a lot of potential, and probably with his gelding, as time goes on, he’s got a little more tractable. It’s nice to have such a nice horse in the stable.”
“He’s (O'President) already a Group 2 winner so there’s no surprises that he’s always had a lot of potential, and probably with his gelding, as time goes on, he’s got a little more tractable. It’s nice to have such a nice horse in the stable.” - Bjorn Baker
Juvenile trials in Queensland
Meanwhile at Deagon in Queensland, Sunday Mail, a colt by Widden Stud’s first-season sire Written By, was an eye-catching winner of one of the four juvenile heats conducted on Tuesday.
Trained by Lee Freedman, the 2-year-old colt showed good speed from the gates to grab the lead after 50 metres and smoothly sauntered to a 1.25l victory over the Les Ross-trained Mishani Tycoon (Performer). Sunday Mail stopped the clock at 41.17s for the 650 metres.
Sunday Mail as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Freedman purchased the colt for $150,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier in the year and he told TDN AusNZ he was delighted with the 2-year-old's effort on Tuesday.
“I was really impressed with what he showed me today (Tuesday). I think he can improve on that too, it was only his second time out of the gates and was a little bit hesitant to leave, but once he hit the ground he showed a lot of speed at the front and raced away to win on the bit,” said Freedman.
“A lot of the time with these young horses it’s the repetition of these things, without stressing them too much and that improves them and come race time we would like to think we will have him where we want him.”
Written By | Standing at Widden Stud
Freedman said he had three other 2-year-olds by the son of Written Tycoon in the stable and he had been impressed with what they had shown him so far.
“I really liked them as types and did the usual trainer thing and went and bought three or four of them and they have all shown me a good bit of ability, so I’m pretty happy with my decision,” he continued.
“I really liked them (Written Bys) as types and did the usual trainer thing and went and bought three or four of them and they have all shown me a good bit of ability, so I’m pretty happy with my decision.” - Lee Freedman
“I thought they looked like ready made 2-year-olds. He is the perfect horse for Australia, because he was a top-class 2-year-old and always made all the running and stuck on well.”
