Written by Keely Mckitterick
Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Godolphin Head Trainer James Cummings took a strong group of gallopers to Hawkesbury trials on Monday morning.
Starting the morning off for Godolphin in Heat 4 for the 2-year-olds over 1000 metres was the well-bred filly How Dare You (Zoustar), who scored stylishly under Zac Lloyd and hopefully received the confidence now to translate her form to raceday, while another daughter of Zoustar the Group 3 placegetter Inhibitions ridden by Lloyd also returned in good style over 1000 metres where she settled second last but made up considerable ground in the straight to finishing second by Dixies Statesman (Churchill {Ire}).
In Heat 7 over 800 metres, Cummings saddled up the star Astern-sired pair, the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile and the Group 3 victress Parisal, who is a half-sister to the brilliant colt Cylinder (Exceed And Excel).
Parisal | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Rachel King partnered with Parisal and ran out a dominant 1.96l winner from Golden Mile, who had James McDonald aboard.
One of the clear highlights of the morning was the return of the outstanding juvenile Cylinder in Heat 8 over 800 metres. McDonald rode the G1 Golden Slipper runner-up, and the pair was away well before being slightly eased to take a trail behind the speed, before the in the straight McDonald allowed the colt to stride up to his rivals and, within a matter of strides to record a 1.1l victory from Green Park (Ocean Park {NZ}).
Cylinder was followed by another well performed Godolphin-owned juvenile in Corniche (Fastnet Rock) the Group 2 winner was ridden by McDonald and won by 0.91 from Impartial (Justify {USA}), while the fellow royal blue colour bearer Zulfiqar (Exceed And Excel) was restrained upon jumping from the barriers and was quietly ridden to the line in the 800-metre trial.
In Heats 10 and 11, Godolphin was represented by several more of their outstanding juveniles. McDonald partnered with the speedy Barber (Exceed And Excel) to score narrowly over 800 metres.
McDonald then took the reins of the Group 3-winning Amur (Snitzel), who was denied narrowly by Lloyd on the high class Listed winner Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) over 800 metres rounding out the return of some big-name Godolphin gallopers.
