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WARWICK FARM - january 20

15 Heats – Course Proper (Heavy A Grass (Soft 7)

Course Proper – 3 x 4 1⁄2 f (Group/Listed)

A Grass – 2 x 6 f (1 Open; 1 Maiden); 4 x 3 3⁄4 f (4 Open); 3 x 3 3⁄4 f (2 2YO; 1 Maiden); 3 x 3 3⁄4 f (3 Maiden)

All eyes were on superstar mare VIA SISTINA in her first prep trial for the autumn.

She was among a classy list of Group horses to contest three black type heats over 4 1⁄2 f on the course proper where few were put under pressure due to the heavy conditions.

HEAT 1 (55.36; 35.23): A pedestrian heat won by GLINT OF SILVER in his first trial appearance since he last raced 59 weeks ago. He took up the lead and all runners held their position from start to finish in a leisurely run trial. Caulfield Guineas winner PRIVATE LIFE and the enigmatic LINEBACKER, now gelded, filled the placings with plenty in reserve with Coolmore Stakes winner SWITZERLAND fourth and ATISHU having an easy time out the back.

HEAT 2 (56.19: 35.60): A dominant win by improving filly DECLICHY BOULEVARD in the slowest of the three heats but her strong work points to her progressing from the promise she displayed in the spring. Flight Stakes winner LADY SHENANDOAH did it easily to finish second while VIA SISTINA attracted all the attention with her classy work over the last 0 to finish third under a big hold from Damian Lane. Doncaster winner CEOWULF (5th) also got into his work late in a trial that is certain to improve his condition.

HEAT 3 (54.99; 34.55): An impressive win by the untapped filly LILAC to run away with the fastest of the three heats, showing sparkling dash over the last 1 f to beat GATSBY'S by six lengths with the rest spread out over another 10 lengths. She progressed quickly to a black type win at her fourth start in the spring and is going to be well placed against her own sex when she resumes. Another classy trial from OUR GOLD HOPE to work home for third, confirming she is building for a strong campaign. FANGIRL worked well within herself to finish fourth in a typical conditioning hitout.

The A grass trials were run on a Soft 7 but it became evident the better ground was away from the fence. The standout winner was the lightly raced BARRACUDA in his second trial for his new trainer Jarrod Austin.

BARRACUDA (Jarrod Austin): Former Waterhouse/Bott-trained 3YO had only one start under their care as a 2YO, finishing a heavily backed fifth in the Magic Million Debut at the Gold Coast 12 months ago. In his first trial for the Austin stable he finished second in a Warwick Farm heat on January 3 and improved to dominate this maiden trial over 3 3⁄4 f, scoring by a soft four lengths in fast time (46.93; 33.56). Shifted wide from the 3 f and had plenty in reserve working to the line.

Other A grass heat winners to make an impression included ABERLOUR (1200m 73.41; 35.81); WEEPING WOMAN (798m 46.83; 33.34); WILLAIDOW (798m 47.90; 33.75); HONEY PERFUME (792m 46.64; 33.64).

The two 2YO heats over 3 3⁄4 f were won by OZIMOZZI (47.31; 33.92) and KILBRANNAN (47.59; 34.07). Efficient on pace work by both but would prefer to get another look at them.       

NOTED TRIALS

XX Barracuda; Lilac

X Aberlour; Declichy Boulevard; Emilia Jane; Faceoff; Honey Perfume; Metallic Ruler; Our Gold Hope; Spaceballs; Via Sistina; Yankee One; Weeping Woman; Willaidow

HAWKESBURY January 20

Inside Grass; Soft 7

The 2YO heats were dominated by some quality youngsters from two of the top stables.

There were five heats for the youngsters with Waterhouse/Bott and the Godolphin stables each winning two of the four juvenile trials over 4 f. The O'Shea/Charlton stable won the 5 f heat.

James Cummings has made a slow start to 2025 – only one winner Australia-wide since January 1 – but the things are set to change quickly for Godolphin if these trial results are an indicator.

The 2YO to make the best impression was Godolphin's Exceed And Excel colt BURMA STAR, a good second to the classy filly Icarian Dream in his only spring start in October.  His surging finish under no pressure to win the fastest of nine heats over 4 f (45.00; 32.80), peeling off the backs of a line of leaders with a fast closing sectional confirmed he is ready to make an impact when he resumes.

Stablemate BEIWACHT backed up his recent Warwick Farm trial win with another strong effort to win his heat in slower time (46.86; 33.60), doing all that was required to get the upper hand in the last 100m.

Golden Gift winner NORTH ENGLAND and Inglis Nursery runner up COBRA CLUB stood out for the Waterhouse/Bott stable in the pre-Xmas races and their wins in their 4 1⁄2 f heats have them primed to be key players when they resume.

NORTH ENGLAND was keen to run in his 4 f heat and showed his class to run away at the finish for a soft win (46.37; 33.19) while COBRA CLUB led and responded when called on to win his slower heat (46.91; 33.35).

Another Godolphin star and a promising unraced maiden stood out in the heats for the older horses.

BREMEL (Greg McFarlane): Blackbooked after she won a Rosehill trial in September, this unraced Capitalist filly is a fast runner and will be hard to catch in a suitable maiden on debut. Never off the bit as she sped to a big lead in her 4 f heat, cruising to the line in fast time (45.89; 32.35) to score by by more than four lengths.

COMMEMORATIVE (James Cummings): She's one of the biggest mares in training and her ability matches her size. She was always going to get better with maturity and her resuming trial to finish a hard held third in her 4 f heat (46.91; 33.26) augers well for a successful campaign.

PINITO and MANUKAU were other Godolphin runners to take the eye with easy work in their trials.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Bremel; Burma Star; Commemorative

X Able Yellow; Beiwacht; Century Song; Cobra Club; Dekiru; Eastern Front; Farcited; Hurstville Zagreb; Love The Cube; Manukau; North England; Peleus; Pinito