Barrier trials at Warwick Farm on Tuesday morning held some serious spring interest with the reappearance of Everest contender Think About It, who won both the Group I BRC Stradbroke and Kingsford Smith Cup at his last two runs before spelling.
The Joe Pride trained son of So You Think earned the attention of Everest slotholders with Newgate and GPI Racing snapping him up as their selection.
He looked awesome cruising home from last to win his 789m heat by a long head over last season’s stakes-winning juvenile Namesake clocking 33.38 for the last 600m.
Another Group I winner in action was the Gold Standard mare Sheeza Belter, who was a Group I winner at two and Group I placed last season for Peter and Paul Snowden, but is now being trained by Annabel Neasham.
She was asked to do more in her second trial for her new trainer and although cluttered up for much of the straight, found the line well when clear on the inside to score a narrow win.
Sheeza Belter ran in some tough races last preparation including a third in the Group I ATC Coolmore Classic and could be placed to advantage in mares races this spring up to a mile.
Also lurking back in the field in this heat was the Maher and Eustace trained Australasian Oaks winner Affaire a Suivre, who has having her second trial back and the daughter of Astern never really got clear running so was always under a hold to finish just behind the place-getters.
Annabel Neasham was attempting to get quality filly Kristilli back on track after her disastrous return to finish last in the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes last month.
She was ordered to trial after that poor performance and raced more tractably here with earmuffs on and Heavelon Van der Hoven on board. The daughter of Hellbent settled better and found the line, so a step in the right direction for a talented filly that won the Group II ATC Percy Sykes Stakes at her second start.
Also in the heat was City of Light having her first trial for new trainer Joe Pride. A half-sister by Deep Impact to Winx, City of Light won her only start for Peter Moody last season at Geelong and was given a quiet time in this heat to the line after showing nice pace to travel third in the run.
Click here for all the trial results at Breednet with Sale Mail and at Racing NSW with video.
