Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Briasa big and bold in Heat 1
There has been no shortage of action among locked-in contenders for The Everest. Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) was brilliant resuming on Sunday, Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}) has impressed at the trials, and Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) would have pleased connections with a very strong late finishing fifth in the G3 Concorde Stakes at Randwick last Saturday.
At the Rosehill trials, the Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes-trained Briasa (Smart Missile) made a statement of his own with a dominant just over 3l win over G1 Golden Slipper heroine Marhoona (Snitzel). The big grey flew the gates from a wide draw to take up the running, with Group 2-winning sprinter Enriched (I Am Invincible) in second, and Marhoona tracking in third.
That trio controlled the trial, but Briasa extended strongly in the straight under Tyler Schiller, drawing nearly 3l clear of Marhoona, with another 3l back to Enriched. A further 4.5l away was Light Infantry Man (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}), himself a Group 1 winner.
"He was pretty electric," jockey Tyler Schiller told racenet.com.
"I haven't had much to do with him at home because Justin his regular rider stays with him and does everything to keep him in shape so I get on on race day and was happy to get on in the trial where he was very pleasing.
"He jumped quite into the bridle for him and has been leading his past couple of trials, probably just through lack of tempo with the horses in them.
"I don't think he will be leading an Everest or anything but if he jumps there and is comfortable, he may. He is definitely in good order, pulled up well and probably needed a good blow out like he did today."
Briasa, the G1 TJ Smith Stakes winner in the autumn, has been secured for The Everest by slot-holders Max Whitby, Neil Werrett, Col Madden and Steve McCann.
The 5-year-old gelding boasts seven wins from just 10 starts and has returned in superb order with back-to-back trial victories, as connections aim for another shot at G1 glory in The Everest.
Our Queen flies along in Heat 2
There was an eye-catching winner of Heat 2 over 1030 metres, with the Bjorn Baker-trained Our Queen (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) leading throughout under Tim Clark to score by just over 5l.
The Irish-bred filly has now won two of only three career starts, and since joining Bjorn Baker has taken both her trials in impressive fashion.
Our Queen (Ire) | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Altivo (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) travelled in second and held that spot to the line, while former New Zealander Movin Out (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}) caught the eye running on strongly for third in her second trial since a fine fourth in the G1 Queensland Oaks. She shapes as one to follow this spring once stepped up in distance.
Another to note was the Gary Portelli-trained Queen Of Clubs (Maurice {Jpn}), who weaved between runners stylishly to finish fourth, having previously placed third last month in the G2 Silver Shadow Stakes behind Savvy Hallie (Hellbent).
Our Queen is out of the stakes-placed Sagami (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}), a winner over 2400 metres in France. She is also a half-sister to Raven’s Cry (Ire) (Raven’s Pass {USA}), a four-time winner including at Listed level in America.
Oh Diamond Lil wins Heat 3 untouched
The David Pfieffer-trained Oh Diamond Lil (So You Think {NZ}) has always been a consistent, high-level mare. Judging by her latest trial following a short break, she looks set for another profitable campaign to add to the $440,000 plus in prizemoney she has already earned.
Quickly into stride under Jason Collett, Oh Diamond Lil disputed the lead with Heesen (Astern), who was keen to hold the rail.
Oh Diamond Lil | Image courtesy of Geogia Young Photography
Collett eventually let his mare slide clear, and the rest were left chasing shadows. Heesen stuck on well for second, just over 1.5l away, with Our Anchorage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) battling soundly for third. An eye-catcher was Polymnia (Dundeel {NZ}), who finished off strongly for fourth under Andrew Atkins and looks to have returned in good order.
Oh Diamond Lil is out of the Listed winner Rare Diamond (Redoute’s Choice), who has produced four individual winners. In recent years she left a 2-year-old colt by So You Think (NZ) before she sadly died in late 2023.
Dance To The Boom lives up to her name
Gosford Guineas winner Dance To The Boom (Exceedance) was sharp taking out her open 1030-metre heat. The Bjorn Baker-trained and Cambridge Stud-owned filly began well from a wide draw, but after being caught deep Rachel King elected to ease her back into sixth.
Up front, War Ribbon (Calyx {GB}) and Throttle Response (Pierro) set a solid tempo and travelled comfortably. Soon after straightening, however, Dance To The Boom loomed ominously. Allowed more rein by King, she quickened stylishly to put the trial to bed, scoring by 4.5l, War Ribbon held second, with Yabby Pump (Castelvecchio) sound in third.
The Exceedance filly has taken benefit from her first-up fourth at Rosehill and looks well on track for her next assignment.
Her dam Bim Bam Boom (I Am Invincible) has recently produced a 3-year-old gelding named Rookery Nook (Bivouac), trained by Henry Dwyer, as well as a 2-year-old colt by Hanseatic, she is due to foal to Exceedance again any day.
Imperial Force wins, while Frilled catches the eye in second
The Bjorn Baker-trained Imperial Force (Snitzel) has proven an astute buy for Darby Racing from the Inglis Digital Sale in September last year, and judging by today’s trial win, he looks to have returned in excellent order and will be ready to strike when he resumes.
Imperial Force | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Ridden positively by Josh Parr, the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint runner-up went straight to the front and controlled the heat throughout. Pretty Cheeky (Written Tycoon) settled in second, with Frilled (Star Witness) travelling strongly in third.
The order barely changed until late, when Frilled closed hard to get within just over 0.5l of Imperial Force, while Pretty Cheeky held third.
Imperial Force is the final foal of Ultimate Fever (Gold Fever {USA}), a Listed-winning juvenile who became a highly successful broodmare. She produced five winners, including Imperial Force’s stakes-winning full siblings Sprightly Lass (Snitzel) and Le Cordon Bleu (Snitzel).
Assumed is one to watch
The Chris Waller-trained Assumed (I Am Invincible), sporting the famous Coolmore Stud colours, announced herself as an exciting prospect, with an impressive trial debut at Rosehill on Tuesday. Partnered by James McDonald, the 3-year-old filly dominated her maiden heat to score by just under 1.5l.
The well-bred daughter of I Am Invincible jumped cleanly from the inside barrier, and led throughout, cruising in the running. Just after straightening she quickened smartly, coasting home in the 900-metre heat ahead of Iron Legend (Dundeel {NZ}) and Emballee (Pierro).
Assumed | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Assumed was a $850,000 purchase for Tom Magnier and Waller Racing from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the first foal out of Just Fabulous (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), a four-time winner who was placed in the G3 Eulogy Stakes. The mare is well-related, being a three-quarter-sister to Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), a Group 1 winner who earned over $5.2 million in prizemoney.
Just Fabulous has since produced a 2-year-old colt by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) and is due to foal to I Am Invincible later this month.
