There were so many interesting barrier trials at Canterbury this morning it was hard to know where to look with heavy hitting colt such as Shinzo, Militarize and King Colorado out to stretch their legs albeit in third gear, while Montefilia stepped out for the first time for Chris Waller and Melbourne Cup hopeful White Marlin was doing his best work in the two furlongs after the winning post!
Click here to see all the trials at Racing NSW and they are all worth a look for one reason or another but with 16 of them, you’ll need some time to get through them, so we’ve picked out a few to highlight some of the less obvious or unraced horses.
Heat 3
This heat featured big gun colts Militarize and Libertad, who weren’t asked to do much, but the run of the trial was Extremely Lucky, a talented and untapped five year-old gelding by Extreme Choice that is a new addition for the Chris Waller stable after being previously trained in Adelaide by Will Clarken. He was last on the turn and powered home for third.
He’s won three of seven starts with his only stakes win coming in the Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes last year, but Extremely Lucky shown some serious talent that may well come to fruition this season.
Heat 4
Street Boss (USA) will be without his big gun this spring following the retirement of his champion son Anamoe, but it was hard not to be impressed with the return of Pericles, who looked awesome winning this heat.
He ran in both the Victoria and Australian Derbies last season, but I don’t think 2400m is his trip being a half-brother to Group I winners Helmet and Epaulette, but you’re only three once so can understand the thinking. I suspect 1600 to 2000m might be optimum.
Heat 7
Second time we’ve seen this expensive son of Almanzor (Fr) in Carrazana, who was second in his first trial last month and then won today.
Trained by Chris Waller, Carrazana was bought for $440,000 at Magic Millions making him the most expensive Almanzor sold in Australia in 2022. He’s already been gelded and pedigree says ‘classic’ horse. He is a half-brother to Group III placed Manchu from Empress Cixi (GB), an unraced half-sister by Shamardal to French Group II winner Ocovango tracing back to third dam Crystal Music, winner of the Group I Ascot Fillies Mile.
Heat 9
Lightly raced Zoustar mare Olentia has won four of five including her first stakes win the Group III ATC James Carr Stakes at her last run before spelling and looks ready to pick up where she left off. Loads of interest in this heat with expensive colts Piercing Arrow (I Am Invincible $1million) and Kandinsky Abstract Zoustar $3million) both working to the line well.
They were both debut winners at their only starts last season, also watch seasoned stakes performer Barber having the quietest of trials.
Heat 12
Another unraced one winning this heat in the Bjorn Baker trained I Am Invincible filly Bonita Queen, who was given a shake up by Rachel King and gapped her rivals to win by four lengths and is now two for two at the trials and looks ready for a race.
A $550,000 Magic Millions purchase for Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA)/Cunningham Thoroughbreds from the Fernrigg Farm draft she is the first foal of very speedy multiple Group winner Quilista.
Heat 16
Carrying the Coolmore navy blue, the Bjorn Baker trained Justify (USA) gelding Laurents made it two trials for two wins and his first win at Kembla last month was interesting as he beat Russian Revolution filly Cani Cancan, who came out and won her debut last month. He looked good again, albeit immature and a work in progress, but was still too good for Mateo and Suspect, who topped the 2022 Magic Millions Yearling Sale at $1.9million.
Laurents was withdrawn from Inglis Easter and has been gelded, but comes with a big pedigree being a half-brother to US Group II winner Always Shopping and US stakes-winner Mo Shopping being from Group I placed stakes-winner Stopshoppingmaria (USA).
