Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Apocalyptic delivers stylish victory
The classy Michael Freedman-trained G1 Flight Stakes winner Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) looked in terrific order when taking out a 900-metre Group trial at Rosehill, backing up a pleasing third behind Disneck (Trapeze Artist) in a Rosehill trial a few weeks ago.
Screen Icon (Nicconi) rolled to the lead at a genuine trial tempo, with Chilly Girl (Trapeze Artist) settling outside the leader under Tim Clark.
Group 1 winner Lazzura (Snitzel) jumped cleanly before settling well back under James McDonald, while Headwall (Dream Ahead {GB}) settled at the rear for Zac Lloyd. Tommy Berry also elected to settle Apocalyptic towards the tail of the field.
Chilly Girl swept to the lead in the straight and looked the likely winner, but Berry found runs along the inside aboard Apocalyptic, who finished strongly to score by a long neck. Headwall charged home under a tight hold to finish third, while Private Eye (Al Maher) worked home solidly into fourth after being asked for an effort.
Both B2B Thoroughbreds-owned mares Lazzura and Generosity (Divine Prophet) were given quiet trials.
Michael Freedman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Michael Freedman was pleased with what he saw from his Group 1-winning mare.
"I'm really happy with Apocalyptic, she seems to be in great order,'' Michael Freedman told Racingandsports, as the G3 Toy Show Quality Handicap over 1100 metres looms as her starting point.
"She will head to the Toy Show Quality in a couple of weeks (August 22).''
Trainer Joseph Pride indicated Caulfield is the likely destination for fourth-placegetter and $12.9 million earner Private Eye.
Apocalyptic after winning at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"He's a great, old horse,'' Pride told said about Private Eye.
"It's a pleasure to train him, he's so tough and is going really well. He will be hard to beat at Caulfield next week.''
"It's a pleasure to train him (Apocalyptic), he's so tough and is going really well. He will be hard to beat at Caulfield next week.'' - Michael Freedman
Apocalyptic is the second foal out of the unraced mare Shadow (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}), whose first foal is minor winner Mr Markle (Harry Angel {Ire}). Her third foal is G3 Canonbury Stakes winner and $1.7 million Inglis Easter Yearling Sale graduate Hidrix (Extreme Choice). Shadow has a Pierro yearling filly and missed to Extreme Choice last spring.
Savvy Hallie controls proceedings comfortably
Classy mare Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) jumped cleanly, found the front and was never headed in the second Group trial over 900 metres, with Nash Rawiller controlling the tempo before scoring comfortably in a time just over half a second slower than Apocalyptic.
Group 1 winner El Castello (Castelvecchio) settled second, ahead of Declichy Boulevard (Snitzel), while talented 3-year-old Berzelius (Extreme Choice) travelled in fourth. The field largely raced in single file throughout, with the finishing order unchanged.
The eye-catcher was Berzelius. The recently turned 3-year-old made stylish late ground under a hold from Zac Lloyd and shapes as a horse to follow for Kia Ora Stud, Newgate Farm and partners.
Savvy Hallie is the second foal from dual winner Rose Of Savannah (Fastnet Rock), a granddaughter of NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year Savannah Success (Success Express {USA}), the dam of Champion stallion Savabeel.
Savvy Hallie's half-brother Katoto (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is a winner and Listed placegetter from the Chris Waller stable as a 2-year-old, while Rose Of Savannah has also produced a 2-year-old colt by Home Affairs and a yearling filly by Reliable Man (GB), and is due to foal to I Am Invincible any day now.
Savvy Hallie winning at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Matcha Latte finishes over the top
The Domeland-owned and Nacim Dilmi-trained Matcha Latte (Maurice {Jpn}) produced the strongest finishing burst to win the opening 1000-metre Group trial under Ashley Morgan.
Last season's $1 million Provincial Midway Championships Final winner was having his second trial of the preparation after finishing fifth at Gosford on July 22. He appears ready to resume and looks set to be competitive wherever he lines up.
Stardom (Zoustar), prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, found the lead comfortably, with Punch Lane (So You Think {NZ}) settling outside the leader and Matcha Latte travelling in third.
Group 1 winner Idle Flyer (Dundeel {NZ}) settled fifth, while G1 Australian Derby winner Green Spaces (Street Boss {USA}) settled second last.
There was little change through the middle stages before Morgan guided Matcha Latte through along the inside of Stardom, ridden by Adam Hyeronimus. Matcha Latte proved too strong late, scoring by just under a length and a half.
Cherry Bomshell (Lucky Vega {Ire}) finished well for third in a bunched finish, while Green Spaces caught the eye late under Rachel King. Idle Flyer was given a very quiet trial by Zac Lloyd, finishing sixth but beaten less than two lengths.
Matcha Latte winning at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Matcha Latte is out of the unraced Redoute's Choice mare Wayward, who is a half-sister to G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Metropolitan Handicap winner Tawqeet (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}).
By Choice shows toughness in impressive return
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained By Choice (Written By) showed she has returned in excellent order, producing a tough front-running display to win a 1030-metre trial under Rachel King.
The filly enjoyed a strong juvenile campaign, winning on debut at Randwick before finishing third in the RL Magic Millions 2YO Classic, G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes and G3 Magic Night Stakes.
Video: Watch By Choice's trial replay at Rosehill, video courtesy of Racing NSW
She had already signalled her return with a tidy second behind Temptation (Lucky Vega {Ire}) at the trials on July 24 before taking another step forward at Rosehill.
King allowed By Choice to stride straight to the lead, with Jay Ford positioning Copacabana (Toronado {Ire}) outside the leader to apply some pressure, while Inquiring Minds (GB) (Kingman {GB}) settled in behind.
By Choice travelled strongly throughout and, approaching the 200-metre mark, the much bigger 6-year-old gelding Copacabana ranged alongside and briefly loomed as the danger. However, the filly refused to yield, holding him comfortably to score by just under a length. Copacabana held second, with Kirribilli (Snitzel) working home nicely into third.
By Choice after winning at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
By Choice is one of three winners out of the dual-winning Redoute's Choice mare Audacious Choice, who is a half-sister to Listed-winning juvenile Prime Star (Starspangledbanner).
In recent seasons, Audacious Choice has also produced a 2-year-old filly by So You Think (NZ) and a yearling colt by Starspangledbanner, and is due to foal to Written By in early November.
