Nature Strip, Zaaki feature in star-studded Rosehill trials
A number of stars stepped out at this morning’s Rosehill trials, with the likes of Nature Strip, Zaaki and Verry Elleegant all stretching their legs.
The first three heats of the morning were for Group & Listed horses over 900m, with multiple Group 1 winners having their first or final hit-outs before the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
In the opening trial, Riodini led all of the way under Rachel King, narrowly holding on from the closing I Am Superman and Mirra Vision.
Riodini leads all the way to win the opening trial at Rosehill on Monday from I Am Superman and Mirra Vision. Also in this heat – Think It Over, Hungry Heart, Kolding, Montefilia, Icebath, Duais and Verry Elleegant. @tabcomau @7horseracing pic.twitter.com/XbHD7SOqXG
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) January 30, 2022
Finishing four lengths behind that trio were several runners bound for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, including Think It Over, Hungry Heart, Montefilia and the 2021 Melbourne Cup heroine, Verry Elleegant, who had a quiet time at the back of the field.
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott trained the first two trial winners of the day as Embracer – whose last start came when 11th of 12 in The Everest – had his first outing for the autumn, cruising to a comfortable victory over Coolmore Stud Stakes champion Home Affairs.
The speedy Embracer takes out another star studded trial at Rosehill on Monday downing Home Affairs and Mallory in 53.83 for 900m. Also in this heat – Four Moves Ahead, Coastwatch, Zaaki, Prime Star, Great House, Laws Of Indices and Shared Ambition. @tabcomau @7horseracing pic.twitter.com/Y2JUIf0SDA
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) January 30, 2022
Also in that trial, three-year-old fillies Mallory and Four Moves Ahead ran third and fourth respectively ahead of their likely first-up assignments in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes on February 12.
In behind those gallopers was resuming stayer Shared Ambition as well as the Annabel Neasham duo Law Of Indices and Zaaki, who had his first public appearance since his terrific win in the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on November 6.
The triple Group 1 champion is en route towards the $5 million All-Star Mile and currently sits third on the voting leaderboard, just 10 votes behind I’m Thunderstruck and only 66 votes behind the current leader, Verry Elleegant.
In the following trial, Group 1 winners Wild Ruler and Nature Strip tussled it out, with boom filly Espiona catching the eye in third.
In true Nature Strip fashion, The Everest winner led the nine-horse trial, before being joined by the Moir Stakes winner in the straight.
Wild Ruler runs down #TABEverest hero Nature Strip to win a 900m trial at Rosehill on Monday in 53.37 with Espiona a close third. Also in this heat – Top Ranked, Fangirl, Knights Order, Mo'unga, Hinged and Matchmaker. @tabcomau @7horseracing @SnowdenRacing1 pic.twitter.com/P7jvhprEva
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) January 30, 2022
Espiona – a stablemate of Nature Strip’s – pinched runs along the inside of horses to finish third with a further three lengths back to Top Ranked, who closed off well despite a wide run.
As expected, Wild Ruler ran the quickest time of the three Group & Listed trials, stopping the clock at 53.37s, which was more than one full second quicker than the opening trial and just 46 milliseconds quicker than the heat won by Embracer.
Later on in the morning, five two-year-old trials were run and won, with the Mark Newnham-trained Seven Veils running a sizzling 53.89s in the 900m heat.
The filly by Shalaa is yet to make it to the races, although she now has three trials under her belt.
Also among the trial winners was one of the fancies for this weekend’s Inglis Millennium, Metallicity.
The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained colt has won all three of the trials he has contested to date, which has seen punters gravitate towards the son of Zoustar in Saturday’s $2 million race.