You would think I’d be trialled out after yesterday’s mammoth effort to cover 12 heats of the official two year-old trials in Sydney, but there was still interest at Rosehill on Tuesday morning with one of my favourite mares warming up for spring and two heats won by problem horses that are going to make their trainers earn their fees to get them in the winner’s circle.
The big baldy face of Revolutionary Miss was a pleasing sight, powering to the line under her own steam for Josh Parr to win her heat by a head. The Peter and Paul Snowden trained daughter of Russian Revolution is a real professional and looks set for another good season.
She was second in the Group I MRC Blue Diamond at two and second in the Group I MRC Thousand Guineas at three and has won over $900,000 in prizemoney for her big team of Triple Crown Syndications owners. It would be nice to see her crack the million in prizemoney and post a G1 win before the season ends!
A lot less professional has been three year-old Zoustar colt Dark Halo, who was scratched at the barriers last Wednesday at Canterbury when he was supposed to be making his debut. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained colt has a history of poor behaviour at the gates but with the barrier blanket as a gear change, he made a clean getaway in his trial before going on to win by nine lengths. Fingers crossed he can do the job on race day!
A $280,000 Magic Millions purchase for Vinery from the Yulong draft, Dark Halo is the first named foal from Group III placed Written Tycoon mare Written Era, who comes from the family of Group I winners My Brilliant Star, Shot of Thunder, Lachlan River and Sudurka.
Another problem child has been enigmatic Fastnet Rock stallion Hilal, who now finds himself in the care of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott after stints with Hawkes Racing and Tony Gollan. A multiple Group I placed Group II winner, Hilal has never been short of talent, but his execution at times has been woeful. Having his first trial for new trainers he had no head gear and was told to get out and run by Adam Hyeronimus which he seemed happy to do.
All in all it looked to have been an enjoyable experience for Hilal, so maybe he might turn a corner and justify Emirates Park’s decision to keep him as a colt.
Click here for all the trial results at Breednet with Sale Mail and at Racing NSW with video.
