Rosehill hosted a small but select nine trials on Tuesday morning following a big weekend of Easter racing.
Champion trainer Chris Waller in particular held a strong hand with a host of likely Queensland winter carnival campaigners stepping out.
Heat 2 – New Mandate.
The Richard and Will Freedman-trained Notions let rip from the front, putting a big margin on his opposition from the front leading into the turn. It was race fitness to the fore for the chasing brigade as Skyman and New Mandate closed strongly. Both horses were terrific from the rear of the field first-up in the Doncaster Prelude and look set for strong campaigns. New Mandate in particular has been impressive in three Australian starts and will be very hard to beat in any winter features.
Heat 4 – Great Barrier Reef.
Interesting to see how Great Barrier Reef will perform now he has been gelded. Formerly racing with Coolmore, Great Barrier Reef has been purchased by different connections and trialled sharply through the line. He failed to live up to early hype, so it will be very interesting as to how he does return two stones lighter.
Heat 6 – General Salute.
Sensational. The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained colt was brilliant from the back of the field on debut, running the best closing sectionals of the day behind Red Resistance and Steel City. Connections opted to not chase any autumn features with him and tipped him out for a spell. He returned to the trials at Rosehill on Tuesday where he travelled strongly behind the speed before trucking through the line under a hold.
Heat 7 – Armed Forces.
Every year Chris Waller presents his J.J. Atkins horse around this time of year. On the exact same day 12 months ago, Chris Waller presented Political Debate at the Warwick Farm trials. The Coolmore colt went on to win the Listed The Phoenix before running second in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins behind Sheeza Belter. Waller presented another Coolmore colt in Armed Forces at the trials on Tuesday where the son of I Am Invincible trialled sensationally.
