Trial report: Spring is in the air!

5 min read
The new racing season is fast approaching, and several of Sydney's stars hit the trials at Randwick on Tuesday morning to stretch their legs ahead of lucrative spring campaigns. Chris Waller's top mares had quiet hit-outs, an untried I Am Invincible colt had the flashing light switched on, and over at Foxton, Group 2-winning juvenile Intention took the first step to a Group 1 goal.

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Waller mares take it easy in trial returns

Rising 5-year-old The Novelist (Written By) led home the first trial of the morning run on Randwick’s Kensington track on Tuesday, with a trio of Chris Waller-trained mares behind him having a leisurely first trial back ahead of the spring. Group 1-winning import Full Count Felicia (USA) (War Front {USA}) ran third in the Group horse trial, with the evergreen older mares Fangirl (Sebring) and Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) further back under no pressure.

Sandwiched between them were Godolphin gallopers Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Zardozi (Kingman {GB}) in their first pre-spring trials. Godolphin has announced that, at the end of James Cummings’ tenure next week, Tom Kitten will be transferred to Anthony and Sam Freedman, and Zardozi will head to Ciaron Maher.

The Waller camp has already announced that first trials would not be flashy, with a second trial in the planning for his team of powerful mares ahead of their return to the racetrack. Via Sistina is expected to defend her G1 Winx Stakes title before a likely Victorian campaign, and Fangirl will likely join her at the start.

Beiwacht and Autumn Glow warming up

G2 Silver Slipper Stakes winner Beiwacht (Bivouac) stuck his neck out to clinch second from future stablemate Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in the second Group trial at Randwick on Tuesday morning. John Sargent’s millionaire earner Palmetto (NZ) (Ghibellines) led a star-studded field home by a length and a quarter; Group 1 winner Manaal (Tassort) landed fourth in her first pre-spring hit-out, followed closely by consistent Godolphin horse Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) and Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

Wodeton’s stablemates Lazzura (Snitzel) and Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) brought up the rear, with more intense trials expected from both in a fortnight’s time.

G1 Australian Derby winner Aeliana could join the older mares in the Winx Stakes or alternatively start in the G1 Memsie Stakes at Flemington at the end of August, with a view to a G1 Caulfield Cup or G1 Cox Plate campaign.

Pericles will join Bjorn Baker at the beginning of July, while Beiwacht will be transferred to the care of Chris Waller.

Bellazaine primes for spring

Listed Lonhro Plate winner Bellazaine (Zousain) returned in a 740-metre trial on Tuesday morning at Randwick, hitting the lead from a wide barrier and sailing home to a comfortable two and a quarter length victory over stablemate Hellabella (Hellbent).

Video: Watch Bellazaine win at Randwick trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW

Runner-up in the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes, Bellazaine contested all three legs of Sydney’s juvenile Triple Crown, getting within a length and a half of Vinrock (I Am Invincible) in the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes. A $160,000 purchase at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for her trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in partnership with Kestrel Thoroughbreds, she is out of a three-quarter-sister in blood to Doubtland and Group 2-winning Villa Verde (Not A Single Doubt), who expects a full sibling this spring

Cisco stretches towards debut

Untapped I Am Invincible juvenile Cisco put in an impressive performance at his third lifetime trial at Randwick on Tuesday morning. Sweeping wide, the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained colt let down with a burst of speed to defeat Chix (Flying Artie) by half a length.

Video: Watch Cisco's performance at Randwick trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW

Passed in when offered at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Rosemont Stud, Cisco is the third foal from G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes winner Khulaasa (Epaulette), whose 3-year-old Fitzalan (Too Darn Hot {GB}) won on debut at Albury for the same trainers on Friday. Khulaasa, a close relation to G2 Caulfield Sprint winner Doull, was sent to France after missing to I Am Invincible in 2023, and returned to Australia at the beginning of this year.

Fermoy on the improve

The $1.9 million Zoustar colt Fermoy looked to be shaping up for a big spring with a close second in one of the morning’s later trials at Randwick on Tuesday. The Chris Waller-trained juvenile, who took a few swings at stakes level in the autumn, improved rapidly from back in the pack to come within half a length of trial winner Frostfire (Zoustar).

Video: Watch Fermoy's second-place run at Randwick trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW

Purchased by Tom Magnier from Segenhoe Stud’s Inglis Easter draft, Fermoy is the third foal from Listed winner Fundamentalist (Not A Single Doubt), who has five Group 1 placings to her name - including narrow seconds in the G1 Surround Stakes and the G1 Randwick Guineas. She expects a full sibling to Fermoy early next month.

Intention prepares for Group 1 goals

Stakeswinning juvenile Intention (NZ) (Bivouac) made a winning return to the Foxton trials on Tuesday morning, diving away from second-placed May Wirth (NZ) (Circus Maximus {Ire}) to score by half a length. Trained by Mike Breslin, the filly won the G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes at her second start and ran fifth in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.

Intention (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images

Intention was a $65,000 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale purchase for her trainer and Intowin Syndication from Wentwood Grange. Breslin shared with Loveracing.nz that the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas was the filly’s ultimate goal for the spring, but she will have a second trial at Foxton in mid August before commencing racing.

Trial report
Via Sistina
Fangirl
Aeliana
Autumn Glow
Randwick
Bellazaine
Cisco
Fermoy
Intention
Foxton