Kensington 2YO Trials: Good signs out of first-year sires
There would have been plenty of interested onlookers for the 10 trials on Monday morning on Randwick’s Kensington track, where a majority of the 2YO gallopers were going around for the first time. A number of notable first-season sires were represented, including Capitalist, Flying Artie, Shalaa, American Pharoah, Xtravagent and Star Turn.
The first trial was for Group & Listed gallopers, where Libertini got up after a barrier mishap for The Everest favourite, Nature Strip. The next four trials for 2YO horses took place over 800m, while the last four were conducted over 845m.
Trial #2: Kalashnikov, the 2YO son of Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, turned out for the Snowden team in his first gallop at the trials and was able to get the job done in a solid time of 50.53 (home in 33.92).
Trial #3: Former Coolmure Stud Stakes winner Flying Artie had two fillies in the third trial of the day in Miss Hoff for the Waterhouse & Bott team and Opportunity Missed for the Maher & Eustace stable. Vaccine for Waterhouse & Bott took it out in 50.52 (home in 34.17).
Trial #4: Feirme Prince became the first juvenile out of Shalaa – who had winners in England and Japan this week – to trial in the Southern Hemisphere. Construct was an eye-catcher, cornering last but going down by only a length under hands and heels. River Snitty for Chris Waller was ultra impressive, taking out the trial in 50.59 (home in 34.46).
Trial #5: Shalaa filly Bahahaa turned out for Waterhouse & Bott but didn’t show too much. The star of the trial was Enthaar for Written Tycoon with the Maher & Eustace team. James McDonald barely had to move on the filly, who went through the gears quite impressively while leaving plenty in the tank with a time of 50.00 (home in 33.74).
Trial #6: All eyes were on Peacemaker for the Waller team, as this 2YO colt is the first Southern Hemisphere galloper for Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Revivalist (Shalaa) and Silver Thorn (Capitalist) were also notable first-time trial runners. Peacemaker was slow out of the gates but made nice ground along the rails before being eased down. Athelric for the Godolphin team was a nice run in his first track gallop, as was Revivalist for the Snowden team. Maurice’s Medad, who trialled a fortnight ago, nosed out Athelric on the line after travelling wide throughout the race and went round in 50.65 (home in 34.54).
Trial #7: Capitalist produced another runner today in Williams Bay for Richard and Michael Freedman. Most eyes were on Joyous Legend, who boasts the legendary bloodlines of Snitzel and More Joyous. Total Babe for the Waterhouse & Bott team got up in front and lead throughout to finish in 50.11 (home in 33.89). Hide Your Heart for Bjorn Baker was one watch out of this trial, making up many lengths from the back of the field under hands and heels.
Trial #8: NZ 2000 Guineas winner Xtravagent had Zeitakuna going around here. Keith had already trialled a fortnight ago at Randwick when poorly away. Retrieval took out the trial despite being held up for room at the 200m mark, as he found the gap impressively under urgings from Hugh Bowman to finish in 51.08 (home in 34.50). Insurgence was also very good in second and will take plenty of improvement moving forward.
Trial #9: Excela Bella by Exceed And Excel took out the penultimate heat of the day after leading the whole trip, crossing the line in 50.42 (home in 34.43). Authentic Jewel was impressive in second after not doing too much right in the run to go down a short neck. Mallory was an eye-catcher when asked not to do too much and looks a nice prospect going forward for Gerald Ryan.
Trial #10: Astrologer for the Snowden team became Star Turn’s first galloper at the trials. He didn’t show much gate speed but mustered up noticeably and pounced on the leaders in an impressive performance, crossing in 51.20 (home in 34.65). The most expensive purchase of the morning, Montenegro, caught the eye up on the rails. Those horses look the two to follow, with plenty of improvement to come.