a day ago
Early spring carnival contenders in action at Rosehill barrier trials
Sydney's first two stakes races of the upcoming 2025/26 racing season are in the sights of some trainers who put candidates through their paces at the Rosehill Gardens barrier trials on Tuesday.
The Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 9 and the Listed Rosebud (1100m) seven days later at Rosehill Gardens starts the black-type action in the new racing season.
A handful of next season's three-year-olds that stepped out on Tuesday could head towards the Rosebud which is the first lead-up race for the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) which is also run at Rosehill Gardens on September 27.
Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup plans to charge out of the blocks in the new season with two emerging gallopers Nashville Jack and Savvy Hallie which both won their respective 900m trials.
The two-year-olds are still maidens but Nashville Jack finished fourth on debut in the Group 2 Silver Slipper while Savvy Hallie is two-time Group placed.
'I was really happy with the way both horses trialled,' Widdup said.
'That was Nashville Jack's second trial and he's really developed and is coming up well this prep.
'I'd like to give him a taste of winning and then if everything's going how we want, maybe he's one for the Rosebud.
'Savvy Hallie will have another trial then I want to find the easiest race I can for her.
'She's still a maiden so that box needs to be ticked first and then she'll step up to tackle the good fillies races.'
West Of Swindon, now with Ciaron Maher, contested the same trial as Nashville Jack, finishing fifth, and the Silver Slipper and Group 3 Golden Gift runner-up pleased his jockey Dylan Gibbons during the workout.
'He was still a bit woolly and had a bit of a sweat up but he trialled OK and gave me a lovely feel,' Gibbons said.
'The one I did like was his stablemate Stormfront. He felt great.'
A horse that missed much of the autumn was the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou -trained Blitzburg which was in the paddock after winning the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes in February.
He too was on display for the first time of the preparation on Tuesday and was never allowed off the bridle finishing fourth in his 900m trial.
'He's never been a brilliant trialler but I was happy with what I saw from him,' Ryan said.
'He was only out there to have an easy time because he's trialling again.
'He'll probably head to the Rosebud first-up and then we'll go from there.'
Two trainers indicated the Missile Stakes could be on the agenda.
, signalled the race as a potential start point for Elettrica and Bjorn Baker is considering it for Perfumist.
Freedman also trialled Group 2 Tulloch Stakes winner Pocketing ahead of his four-year-old season while Baker put Point And Shoot through his paces.
Both horses are Epsom Handicap candidates and the $10m Golden Eagle is also on the table.
Meanwhile, two of Chris Waller and Yulong's high class imported mares Anisette and Moira made their first public appearance ahead of the spring as did last year's Group 1 Metropolitan winner Land Legend and 2022 New Zealand Derby winner Asterix.
Moira, the winner of last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Fillies and Mares Turf (2200m), was the pick of those performers.
