Melbourne Cup regular Vauban and Waller stars headline Randwick trials
A number of high-profile spring contenders stepped out at the Randwick trials this morning on the Heavy 9 surface. The opening trial, over 1000 metres, was won by Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Australian Bloodstock’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) hopeful Vauban (Galiway).
“He seems in good shape. He will have a couple of trials and then we’ll see him resume most likely in a race like the Chelmsford,” Bott said.
“I feel he’s in for a good campaign. He’s had that bit longer to acclimatise down here. He’s in off the back of a nice break and he had a positive racing campaign last time in and has improved nicely for it.”
Yulong’s Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) heroine Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) worked home nicely to finish in second.
“She was awesome,” Charlie Duckworth told Racing.com. “Obviously she’s just ready for her first-up assignment now. She’ll more than likely have an exhibition gallop, which is stock standard for her.
“James [McDonald] was rapt. She got through the conditions well, which was pleasing obviously because there are question marks over the wet tracks.”
Fangirl (Sebring) finished further back in fourth, with Duckworth saying: “[Fangirl was] brilliant. Damian [Lane] was very happy with her. She jumped, travelled well, did everything right and is obviously following the same first-up path as the big mare, Via Sistina.”
The second trial of the morning over 1000 metres was taken out by the John Sargent-trained Palmetto (Ghibellines), with the Waller-trained duo Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) and Aeliana (Castelvecchio) closing nicely late to finish in third and fourth respectively.
“[Lady Shenandoah] was very good. Very sharp. James [McDonald] was very complimentary of her. His only knock was that she was so sharp going 1400 metres first-up, but there’s obviously other options available so let Chris and the ownership, as well as James, discuss where her kick-off point is but at this stage it is likely that it will be the Winx Stakes,” Duckworth said.
“Aeliana was very good,” he added. “Also heads to the Winx. All of these Winx Stakes horses might well end up having an exhibition gallop together, so just depending on how they come through it and whether they need it.
“Obviously today was a good day out for her. Damian hasn’t sat on her since winning the [Australian] Derby, so he was full of praise. Strengthened up and looks like she’s taken a good step forward from that win.”
Trial three, which was over 850 metres, was won by Michael Freedman’s recent Group 3 winner Just Feelin’ Lucky (Justify), with Waller’s unbeaten mare Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) hitting the line strongly to finish third.
“Brilliant. There’s an 1100-metre and 1200-metre option for her (first-up) on the same day as the Winx Stakes, so either one of those two options look suitable. But she looks as sharp as ever and obviously has got to try and maintain her unbeaten record,” Duckworth said.
Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Linebacker (Super Seth) worked home nicely at his second trial of the preparation, and further back under a hold in sixth was Godolphin-owned colt Beiwacht (Bivouac), who recently joined the Waller stable.
“Really good,” Duckworth said of the colt. “Adam Hyeronimus obviously knows him better than what we do, which is why he rode him this morning, and he said he just continues to learn and [is] a lot more responsive as a three-year-old, just relaxing much better which I think was the chink in his armour as a two-year-old.
“He said even cantering down to the gates he was on a lovely loose rein, so he’s fit and ready to go to the races. He could race in the Vain Stakes next Saturday down in Melbourne or alternatively wait and more than likely go to the San Domenico.”
The fourth trial of the morning was won by Group 1-winning mare Manaal (Tassort), who narrowly defeated Coolmore’s star colt Wodeton (Wootton Bassett) in the 850-metre heat.
“Wodeton was brilliant. He loved the track, got through that incredibly well. James just asked him to find the line and he responded nicely and right the way through the line. So he’s obviously come back well,” Duckworth said.
Further back in the field was the Waterhouse and Bott-trained Clean Energy (Zoustar), with Bjorn Baker’s Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) and talented filly Stardom (Zoustar) right there at the finish.