FIRST BARRIER TRIAL 30/03/2018 – Two Year Olds Only
1st ROMAN DANCER (Jacobson/Puller 2yog 57kgs) – Pick of the Parade Ring, very nice quality son of Crusade. Hacked to start with pony but showed real potential in this Trial coming home smartly under the hands to win well. One for the notebook!
2nd 0,25 lengths TINKLE (Kennedy/Robinson 2yof 56kgs) – Small filly but with a great action. Showed pace from the gate and stayed on nicely at the business end. May lack scope but did enough to suggest she warrants great respect when making her debut.
3rd 4,75 lengths BRAVE ARCH (Wright/Nel 2yoc 57kgs) – Tall leggy son of Brave Tin Soldier with a quality head. Showed good pace throughout and stayed on to finish a remote but clear third. Will probably need a little further to be most effective but has scope.
4th 6,75 lengths GETAWAY (Randolph/Whitehead 2yof 56kgs) – This strong-quartered daughter of Crusade caught the eye in the Parade Ring. Daisy cutting action and was seen to best advantage in the closing stages under a very easy ride. Not a bad trial!
5th 8,25 lengths DI ME (De Gouveia/Van Wyk) 2yoc 57kgs) – Son of Oratorio, built like a sprinter. Raced green and was shaken up in the straight. Stayed on one-pace but looks to have scope to improve on this showing.
6th 9,50 lengths PATH TO TEXAS (Moodley/Badenhorst 2yoc 57kgs) – Son of Pathfork who has, according to trainer, shown some nice work at home. Never nearer than midfield and failed to quicken in the straight. Could need another trial!
7th 10,00 lengths WOODSTOCK FESTIVAL (Mohapi/Moore 2yog 57kgs) – Athletic son of Querari. Needed this trial badly but passed a few in the straight from near the rear. Looks a scopey individual who may need just a little further to be most effective.
8th 11,25 lengths BRAVO BRAVO (Gates/Kannemeyer 2yog 57kgs) – Well made son of Toreador but according to his trainer has not shown a great deal at home. He was always struggling here and he may well be limited.
9th 11,40 lengths MASTER CRAFTSMAN (Godden/Badenhorst 2yoc 57kgs) – A very nervous and skittish son of Mullins Bay. Showed some early pace but is bred to be effective over more ground than this trial. May have scope for improvement.
10th 11,90 lengths SORRY MISS JACKSON (Pagel/Kotzen 2yof 56kgs) – Daughter of Jackson – failed to impress in the canter past. Still very green and appears to need more time to come to hand.
11th 15,90 lengths MY WISH (Ntuli/Roberts 2yof 56kgs) – Plain daughter of Mambo in Seattle. Always struggling here and will need major improvement to be a factor any time soon.
12th 27,15 lengths VITI LEVU (Arries/Roberts 2yof 56kgs) – Clearly nowhere near ready for this trial. Carried plenty of condition and was always battling at the rear after a slow start. Appears to need plenty of time and is unlikely to be competitive as a juvenile.
SECOND BARRIER TRIAL 30/03/2018 – Open
1st ZODIAC RULER (Ferraris/Kannemeyer 4yog 60kgs) – Last raced in July 2017 and has had “chips” removed from his joints in the interim. Turned out reasonably fit for this Trial and lots to like about the way he is moving. Won fluently in quick time. Classy individual. 58,70 seconds.
2nd 0,15 lengths DUNZIE (De Gouveia/Howells 3yof 58kgs) – Looked fit and ready in the Parade Ring. Showed good pace throughout and is certainly worth following in the future. Seems a cut above average and will be at her best from 1200 to 1600m. Excellent barrier trial! 58,73 seconds.
3rd 2,15 lengths SILVA’S BULLET (Kennedy/Kannemeyer 3yog 59kgs) – Very well regarded by the stable. Last seen in August 2017 as a result of suffering a hairline crack to the near fore pastern. Put up an excellent showing here but will be at his very best over 2000 metres+. 59,09 seconds.
4th 3,90 lengths SPIFFY (Randolph/Whitehead 3yof 58kgs) – Well muscled compact unraced three year old daughter of King of Kings. Eye-catching performance here under an easy ride and was seen to be running on well through the line. One for the notebook! 59,41 seconds.
5th 4,40 lengths LIBERTY PRINT (Pagel/Van Wyk) 3yof 58kgs) – Bandaged both fore. Unraced daughter of Black Minnaloushe who looks to have some scope for improvement. Good barrier trial. 59,50 seconds.
6th 5,15 lengths ALL ABOARD (Gates/Kannemeyer 2yoc 57kgs) – Excellent performance here by a juvenile. Good-sized son of Mambo in Seattle with a lovely easy action. Looks a progressive sort and he could be worth following! 59,64 seconds.
7th 5,40 lengths UNCLE RONNIE (Godden/Naidoo 3yog 59kgs) – Last raced in July 2017 after suffering a fetlock injury but had shown little previously in five starts. Showed early pace here but failed to run on in the stretch and this 3yo son of Philanthropist may have his limitations. 59,68 seconds.
8th 6,90 lengths WHO SAYS (Marcus/Howells 3yog 60kgs) – Appears to be bred for a lot further. Showed good early speed here but was one-paced under a fairly vigorous ride in the home stretch. May yet have scope for improvement when going more ground. 59,96 seconds.
9th 10,40 lengths DIRTY HARRY (Jacobson/Govender 2yoc 57kgs) – Two Year Old son of Master Of My Fate. Slow out the gates, raced very greenly and consequently gave very little away here. May need another Trial and/or a little more time to mature. 60,62 seconds.
10th 12,90 lengths FIREFOOT (Moodley/Kotzen 2yoc 57kgs) – Attractive but nervous son of Mambo In Seattle. Slow out the gates and very green in running. While he may have scope, will need major improvement to be a factor as a juvenile. 61,10 seconds.
11th 13,90 lengths DUKE OF POPHAM (Wright/Nel 3yog 59kgs) – Unraced 3yo son of Strategic News. Has very big feet and a high knee action. Was called for an effort in the straight but failed to respond and will need major improvement to win a race. 61,30 seconds.
By Graeme Hawkins
