There were five heats for juveniles at the Rosehill trials on Friday morning with an eye-catching showing from Magic Millions 2YO Classic place-getter Gallo Nero a highlight, while unraced fillies by Shalaa (IRE), Written Tycoon and Exceed and Excel also came under notice.
At the start of the season, Team Hawkes looked to have two potentially top class colts by Wootton Bassett (GB) in Gallo Nero and West of Swindon.
The latter colt was transferred out of their stable to Ciaron Maher after an unplaced effort in the Golden Slipper, while Gallo Nero missed the Sydney Autumn Carnival and was having his first trial this morning since racing at the Gold Coast in January.
Gallo Nero looked to have come back in great order scoring a three-quarter length win for Tyler Schiller in his 900m heat.
Wootton Bassett had his Australian fee announced this week at $385,000 and it’s colts like this that have made people get excited so it will be interesting to see what he has to offer.
Running slightly quicker overall time in blitzing her rivals to win by more than four lengths was flying Shalaa (IRE) filly Swordplay, the full sister to brilliant Group winning sprinter Recommendation.
Trained by Bjorn Baker and ridden by Rachel King, she’s a natural runner as pedigree would suggest and is now two for two at the trials.
Team Hawkes again winning this heat with the Gilgai Farm bred and sold Written Tycoon filly Champere, who looked good in her second trial after finishing second to Swordplay in her previous outing.
Champere is a half-sister to a couple of G1 placed horses in Don Corleone and The Drinks Cart and Hawkes have a great record with the Gilgai Farm bred horses – think Ole Kirk, All Too Hard, Masked Crusader and of course current star Nepotism.
The only heat for the 2YO’s over the slightly longer 1030m trip was won by another Bjorn Baker runner in Exceed and Excel filly Marinera , who is also now two for two at the trials.
Runner-up Waerea is an interesting one as this son of Bivouac is the first colt from blue hen Meerlust, who has left five winners all fillies that are headed by triple G1 winner Duais, G3 winner Baccarat Baby and current stakes-winner Philia.
Click here for all the trial results at Breednet with Sale Mail and at Racing NSW with video.
