A busy set of trials on the grass at Hawkesbury on Monday morning produced 10 juvenile heat winners with one heat in particular holding the promise of some possible spring contenders.
A flashy chestnut colt by Deep Field, the Annabel Neasham trained Sweet Ride had a very fruitful first preparation with two wins and a second in the Group III ATC Todman Stakes earning him just under $200,000 and a place in the Golden Slipper field.
Although outclassed on that occasion, he looks to have come back in great shape and showed his customary brilliance to take the lead for Rachel King and looked full of running in the straight when opening up to win by more than four lengths in a brisk 47.18 seconds for the 785m trial with his last 600m in 33.02.
The<
two juveniles in second and third place also have plenty to offer in Cythera and Perfect Thought.
I Am Invincible filly Cythera won the Listed ATC Lonhro Plate on debut against the colts and then was third in the Group II ATC Silver Slipper behind Best of Bordeaux and Magic before spelling with this trial her first appearance since then.
Peter and Paul Snowden will no doubt be thinking Princess Series for the filly who is a half-sister to Group II winner Thronum from an international female family featuring champion sires Street Cry and Shamardal.
So You Think colt Perfect Thought has been handled patiently by John Sargent and has been to the races just once for a fourth in the Listed VRC Anzac Day Stakes at Flemington.
A big colt with a long stride, he went every bit as well as Cythera and has the scope of pedigree to suggest all options will be on the table for a trainer that has a happy knack for producing classic 3YO's.
Bred and sold by Tyreel Stud, Perfect Thought is from speedy metro winning Exceed and Excel mare Perfectly Safe, but his next two dams are by Sadler’s Wells and Darshaan and this European female family bristles with stakes-winning stayers.
Other heat winners were: Diamond Forever (Zoustar), Excursion (Street Boss (USA), Va Via (Astern), Angel Fund (Capitalist), Cycle Peak (Caravaggio (IRE), Ebhaar (I Am Invincible), War Star (Starcraft), Capitol Queen (Capitalist) and Whinchat (Russian Revolution).
Click here to see all the trial results with Sale Mail at Breednet and at Racing NSW with video.