Fairway To Heaven impresses at Canterbury trials
Fairway To Heaven (Zoustar) was a highlight winner at the Canterbury juvenile trials on Monday, cruising to a 4.2-length success under Tommy Berry for trainer Michael Freedman.
A homebred for Fairway Thoroughbreds, the unraced filly was having her third trial this prep and from an inside draw travelled smoothly before going on in the closing stages to defeat Charlecote Mill (Lonhro), with Shirley’s Tribute (Super Seth) another 0.3 lengths away in third.
Fairway To Heaven is the second foal out of the stakes-winning Lonhro (Octagonal) mare Taraayef, who was bought for $1.2 million at the Shadwell Dispersal at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2021. Taraayef’s dam Sultah (Exceed And Excel) is a half-sister to dual Derby winner Rebel Raider (Reset).
Zousain (Zoustar) colt Zocketman once again had the measure of Duke Atreides (Written Tycoon) in his heat.
The Richard and Will Freedman–trained chestnut was pushed out by Teaque Gould to win by a half-length over the son of Written Tycoon (Iglesia), who was second to him in his previous trial win at Warwick Farm earlier this month. Super Scotch (Super Seth) was another 3.5 lengths away in third.
An $80,000 purchase for Sam Kavanagh Racing and Still Point Equine at the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Zocketman is a half-brother to three winners, being out of the Group 3-winning Sebring (More Than Ready) mare Thurlow, while Duke Atreides is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Best Of Bordeaux (Snitzel).
Richard and Will Freedman struck again with Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) filly Crimson Wings, who showed improvement from her first trial earlier this month to beat Samarelle (Savabeel), who surged to the line to be beaten a half-length.
Purchased by the same connections as her stablemate for $75,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale last year, Crimson Wings is half-sister to the Group 3-placed Blushing Tycoon (Written Tycoon), while their dam Crimson Kiss (Stravinsky) is a sister to Group 1-placed stakes winner Miss Scarlatti.
Meanwhile, Melanite (Dirty Work) posted his first trial win for trainer John Thompson.
Melanite made his debut when fifth behind Blitzburg (Snitzel) in the Canonbury Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) back in February before an eighth placing in the Pierro 2YO Plate (1100m) behind Shaggy (Sandbar).
Gelded since, he has now had two trials back and won both, the latest a 0.8-length win over Cool Drinks (Cool Aza Beel), with No Remorse (Brutal) another 0.8 lengths back in third.
A $140,000 purchase for his trainer and Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year, Melanite is out of Caesarissa (Holy Roman Emperor) and comes from the family of Group 1 winners turned respective Coolmore and Newgate Farm sires Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) and Russian Revolution (Snitzel).