Written by Keely Mckitterick
Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Rosehill played host to 18 star-studded trials on Friday morning. In action was Chris Waller’s Champion Sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi), who put to bed some doubts that he’s lost his ‘zest’ for racing with an electric performance.
The first heat on Friday morning was conducted over 1000 metres on the course proper with six gallopers engaged.
Leading the pack was the outstanding Alligator Blood (All Too Hard); the multiple Group 1 winner has put two consecutive trial performances together, giving all the signals to his opposition he’s ready to rumble in the spring for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable.
Following Alligator Blood home was another multiple Group 1 winner in Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}), now trained by Chris Waller and sporting a brand new set of silks, the bottle green and white checked sleeves of Yulong running 3.42l adrift into second.
While Alligator Blood’s stablemate Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) ran into third. Rounding out the heat was the G1 Randwick Guineas winner Communist (Russian Revolution), Hoo Yal Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}) and Knights Order (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}) who is a victor of the G1 Sydney Cup.
The action didn’t stop in Heat 2, once again on the course proper, but over 900 metres.
Waller’s superstar, G1 Golden Slipper victor Shinzo (Snitzel), with James McDonald aboard, chased down Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) ridden by a visiting Jamie Kah in fine fashion.
Shinzo’s stablemates Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and Princess Grace (USA) (Karakontie {Jpn}) rounded out the heat.
The Champion Sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) returned in Heat 3 over 900 metres on the course proper; he was beaten narrowly by the classy Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible) but showed every sign he has retained his zest for racing.
Annabel Neasham’s star filly Sunshine In Paris (Invader) ran into third 4.3l away.
Rounding out the trial was Espiona (Extreme Choice), Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) and New Mandate (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), all from the Waller stable.
Fast forwarding to Heat 6, contested over the 1030 metres, saw Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s G1 JJ Atkins hero King Colorado (Kingman {GB}) narrowly win from Navajo Peak (Territories {Ire}), while the Listed winner Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) and the Group 1-placed Townsend (Dundeel {NZ}) finished sixth and seventh respectively.
The Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes-trained Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) returned in Heat 10 over 900 metres. The Group 1-winning sprinter ran into third after missing the start, then racing a tad keenly.
The heat was taken out by the Michael Freedman-trained Mumbai Muse (Zoustar).
The Hawkes trio sent out Remarque (Snitzel) to a comfortable victory by 1.71l from Andermatt (Snitzel) in Heat 11.
Making a return in Heat 12 over 900 metres was the Waterhouse and Bott-trained Red Resistance (Russian Revolution); the Group 3-winning colt was sensationally scratched from the G1 Golden Slipper due to an elevated temperature.
The son of Russian Revolution finished 1.7ll behind Disneck (Trapeze Artist) (first) and Zoukerette (I Am Invincible) (second).
Waller sent out his $3 million colt Kandinsky Abstract (Zoustar) to beat another expensive colt Butch Cassidy (Written Tycoon), who was a $750,000 yearling, in Heat 13 over 900 metres.
The heat also contained the Group 1-placed colt Don Corleone (Extreme Choice), who ran sixth.
