Barrier trial Greyville 1000m poly 04/05/2018 (1st trial)
1st Temple Grafin (PagelG S Kotzen A 2yo f 56kg draw 2) This Duke Of Marmalade filly has some substance. She raced hard on the bit in a handy position and when switched out in the straight quickened well. Good trial. 60.7 seconds
2nd 1,50 Lady Sharon (Ferraris -4 kg/Impey 2yof S 56kg draw 1) This athletic Eightfold Path filly strode out well but was not asked a lot. 60.98 seconds
3rd 2,75 Believe The Best (Fourie/G S Kotzen 2yof A 56kg draw 3) This Oratorio filly has some substance. She relaxed nicely in the early stages and in the straight was unable to let herself down as she was under a tight hold. Promising. 61.21 seconds
4th 4,25 Priceless Ruler (Marcus/Drier 2yog S 57kg draw 4) This big Pathfork gelding has plenty of scope and although his galloping action suggests he would prefer further there is a lot of speed in the female line, as his dam is a full sister to Grade 1 Allan Robertson winner Trust Antonia and he himself is a half-brother to Grade 1-performing sprinter Snowdon. On the other hand his dam is also a half-sister to the versatile Grade 1-winner Succesful Bidder. 61.5 seconds
5th 4,50 seconds Rockcliffe (Veale/Drier 2yoc S 57kg draw 9) This Crusade colt has scope. He dwelt and lost a length or two but after that moved well under a hold. He displayed a nice action and lets himself down well. 61.54 seconds
6th 5,25 Miesque Sunrise (De Gouveia/Badenhorst 2yof A 56kg draw 10) This racey Miesque’s Approval filly dwelt and was green. She strode out well without being asked a lot. 61.69 seconds
7th 6,50 Belther (Arries/Gordon 2yof A 56kg draw 5) This Irish Flame filly was green and was brought wide into the straight. She ran on well in the closing stages while still under a hold so looks to have some pace. She is a half-sister to out and out sprinter Mr. Whatever, who won eight races and was Listed placed. 61.93 seconds
8th 6,75 Strike The Chord (Moodley -1.5 kg/Badenhorst 2yof A 56kg draw 8) This Brave Tin Soldier filly was green and a touch outpaced as she had to be rousted a bit and was given a crack of the whip in the straight. 61.98 seconds
9th 7,25 Driven Force (Godden/Drier 2yog S 57kg draw 6) This Sail From Seattle gelding has scope and will likely need further. He was up with the pace but dropped back under a hold in the straight. 62.07 seconds
10th 15,50 Dante’s Gold (Mohapi/Lunn 2yof S 56kg draw 7) This immature Judpot filly was green on the turn and lost touch with the rest of the field. 63.71 seconds
Barrier trial Greyville 1000m poly 04/05/2018 (2nd trial)
1st Jardin (Byleveld/Marshall 2yog A 57kg draw 4) This unraced Var gelding showed good natural speed to be in the front and after quickening well strode out well to the line. Good trial and duly won his first start nine days later over the same course and distance. 58.40 seconds
2nd 0,75 Peter Piper (Pagel/Bosch 7yog MR75 A 60kg draw 6) This Jet Master gelding is 1200-1600m horse and hadn’t raced since last October. He looked well and strode out nicely. 58.53 seconds 75
3rd 2,75 Prince Ponti (AUS) (De Melo/Lunn 4yog MR63 S 60kg draw 3) This Gio Ponti gelding is consistent in lower handicaps from 1200-1400m but hadn’t raced since the end of January. He was bumped at the start but was then keen to get on with it and moved up onto the heels of the leading pair. He stayed in touch with them without being asked a great deal.58.89 seconds
4th 9,75 Imagine That (De Gouveia/Howells 3yof MR77 A 58kg draw 1) This What A Winter filly won her maiden over 1600m at Scottsville on January 6 but hadn’t raced since. She was at the back striding out well and quickened well in the straight before running on well. 60.19 seconds
5th 12,75 Take Black (Tarentaal -2.5 kg/Gordon 2yof A 56kg draw 5) This Black Minnaloushe filly dwelt and was green. She strode out well without being asked a lot. 60.76 seconds.
6th 16,50 King Of Plenty (Sakayi -4 kg/Impey 2yog S 57kg draw 2) This unraced King Of Kings gelding has scope and a fair action. However, he is immature and raced with his head in the air in the straight before being eased out of it close to home. 61.49 seconds
By David Thiselton
