Group I winner Astern pleased trainer John O'Shea and jockey James Doyle at the Warwick Farm barrier trials on Monday morning as the three-year-old colt prepares for a first-up tilt at the Lightning Stakes.
"I was very pleased," Doyle said after the son of Medaglia D'oro finished sixth in the 1000-metre heat – beaten 2-1/4 lengths behind the Chris Waller-trained Sezanne.
"It was an easy trial. He wasn't asked to do much but was lovely and relaxed, felt smooth and the hit the line well.
"It's the first time I've been on him and he's a lovely horse."
O'Shea indicated he would give Astern another trial before looking at the Group I Lightning Stakes (1000m) down the Flemington straight on February 18.
"That's the plan at this stage," O'Shea said. "The colt spelled well and looks to have come back in great order.
"He'll have another trial and then I'll keep an eye on the Flemington track before making a final decision."
Astern won last year's $1 million Group I Golden Rose and was spelled after finishing runner-up behind Flying Artie in the Group I Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Click here to view the trial - courtesy of Racing NSW.
