Rosehill Gardens hosted 15 trials on Monday morning as the Australian Turf Club ramps up preparations for the $5 million G1 Golden Slipper this weekend.
An even mix of seasoned professionals and emerging talents stepped out throughout the morning.
The Richard and Will Freedman-trained Juan Diva won an extremely strong opening heat of the morning.
Ranges, Hellfest, Atishu, Katalin and Gravina all looked good behind Juan Diva as each runner worked through the line under a hold.
Check out some of the star performers from Monday’s Rosehill Trials below.
Heat One – Most of the heat.
Juan Diva won the first heat of the morning under a nice hold. The Freedman-trained mare travelled strongly behind the lead in the opening stages of the heat before presenting to the outside down the straight, working through the line strongly to eventually win by half-a-length. Ranges was alright running second, but Atushi, Gravina, War Eternal, Katalin and Gravina were all really strong in behind. Confident you can follow these horses ahead of their first-up runs.
Heat Two – New Mandate.
Group 3 winner Dajraan won the heat, but all eyes were on New Mandate as he trucked through the line under a hold. The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old has had two runs in Australia, a good performance in the Five Diamonds before being heavily backed in the Group 3 The Ingham. New Mandate was good that day, but wasn’t able to match it with some strong milers. European imports often take a preparation or two to fully hit their straps and off Monday’s trial it looks like New Mandate will be doing just that this campaign.
Heat Three – Palaisipan.
Queensland mare Palaisipan has gone very close to winning a Sydney Group race last campaign, running placings behind Shades Of Rose, Electric Girl, Nimalee and Chain Of Lightning during the spring. The Chris Munce-trained five-year-old ran third in the Group 1 Tatts Tiara and looks on track to targeting her local Queensland features again this winter. Zac Lloyd settled Palaisipan behind the speed as she travelled strongly through the line to win her heat. Not sure what her target is in the autumn, but she is going extremely well.
Heat Six – Libertad.
Scratched behind the gates from last week’s midweek meeting, Libertad once again produced a lovely trial at Rosehill on Monday. The Annabel Neasham-trained filly was well backed on debut before being scratched and her trials suggest she has an abundance of talent.
Heat Nine – Bright Red and California Sunrise.
Very keen to take both of these horses out of this trial. Bright Red was fantastic in her second trial back of her career after trialling fairly behind Red Resistance in December last year. Love the way the daughter of Pierro maintained a strong gallop through the line despite travelling three-wide throughout. California Sunrise was good on her back as well.
Heat Thirteen – Airman.
The Hawkes-trained Airman stamped himself as a horse with a future when winning impressively on debut on the Randwick Kensington track. The three-year-old won again convincingly at his second start on Melbourne Cup day when carrying a big weight to defeat the older horses. Nothing went to plan in his latest start at Rosehill and he looks primed to now carry on with it this campaign. Zac Loyd settled Airman just off the speed and allowed him to work through his gears, winning the heat by a half-length.
