Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Marhoona returns to the trials in style
The Michael Freedman-trained Golden Slipper winner Marhoona (Snitzel) took out Heat 2 over 800 metres in fine style, winning by just under 0.5l under a soft ride from Keagan Latham.
The Snitzel filly settled in second behind the leader Shangri La Spring (Castelvecchio), gradually creeping up to the lead around the corner and maintaining her advantage with a hands-and-heels ride to win well.
Headwall (Dream Ahead {USA}), trained by Matthew Smith and having his second trial back since running second in The Quokka, settled back and ran on nicely to finish second along the inside. The Brad Widdup-trained Group 2-winning sprinter Jedibeel (Savabeel) caught the eye late as he charged home out wide, while the talented Ostraka (Pariah) was doing some nice work under his own steam to finish fifth.
Marhoona is expected to resume in the G2 Furious Stakes, and she appears in excellent form as she looks to extend her record and set up for an exciting 3-year-old season.
Linebacker in fine form ahead of the spring
The exciting Super Seth gelding Linebacker (NZ), trained by John O'Shea and Tom Charlton, looked to have returned in strong fashion with a narrow but impressive win over 1000 metres in Heat 1.
Travelling comfortably in the trail under Zac Lloyd, Linebacker came off the heels of leader Espionage (Zoustar) and ran him down to win the trial by a short neck. Waterford (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) finished strongly for third, just ahead of Group 1 winner Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).
Looking ahead to spring, co-trainer Tom Charlton told The Thoroughbred Report, “He isn't screwed down and is still quite big, so he may benefit from his first couple of runs, but he will be targeting The Epsom third up, possibly going through the Tramway and then the Bill Ritchie.”
Linebacker’s dam, Garden Of Swans (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), has also recently produced a 3-year-old full brother named Strongside (Super Seth), a 2-year-old by Dundeel (NZ), and is due to foal to Super Seth again next month.
The Waterhouse/Bott team’s stayers are firing up
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained pair Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Elamaz (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) both looked sharp in Heat 3 over 1250 metres.
Having his third trial, Sir Delius pushed up to lead and sustained his run well under Tim Clark to win by just under a length from his stablemate Elamaz, who worked home well for second.
Both gallopers have had just one start in Australia - and both were successful. Sir Delius won the Group 3 Chairman's Handicap at Doomben in impressive fashion, while Elamaz claimed the Listed McKell Cup narrowly from Belvedere Boys (Maurice {Jpn}) in late June.
Video: Watch Sir Delius (GB) and Elamaz (Ire) in heat 3 at Hawkesbury trials, footage courtesy of Racing NSW
In Heat 4, the 8-year-old Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {Fr}) wasn’t about to be upstaged by his stablemates, dominating his trial by just over 3l. The former Willie Mullins-trained runner was strong last preparation in his first for his new stable, winning the G3 Sky High Stakes, placing third in the G1 Tancred Stakes, and then finishing unplaced in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes after dropping back in distance.
He has now won both his trials at Randwick and Hawkesbury, and is expected to line up in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes on 6 September. His stablemate Sir Delius is also likely to resume in the Group 2 mile on that day.
Video: Watch Vauban (Fr) in heat 4 at Hawkesbury trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Stardom back bigger and better
Stardom (Zoustar) showed her natural pace in Heat 6 over 1000 metres, leading throughout under Rachel King and sustaining a strong gallop to win by just over 0.5l. Midnight Dynamite (Pierata) held on for second, with Snow In May (The Autumn Sun) finishing off nicely for third.
Video: Watch Stardom in heat 6 at Hawkesbury trials, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Stardom won two of her three juvenile starts in the famous Torryburn colours, including the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone. This was her second trial this preparation after a fifth placing at Randwick earlier in the month.
She is out of Diddums (Snitzel), a Group 3 winner and half-sister to the Champion Hong Kong Miler and five-time Group 1 winner Voyage Bubble (Deep Field), suggesting plenty of scope to stretch out in distance. Since producing Stardom, Diddums has left a yearling filly by Toronado (Ire) and is due to foal to Zoustar in October.
