A good week for followers of horses from the column with four winners, highlighted by a $21 debutant.
We highlighted Irish Vega after his first jumpout on August 31 and he scored on debut at Bendigo last Thursday for Anthony Freedman returning $21.
The Chris Waller-trained Huang Yaoshi had won at Wyong the previous Sunday, Muraaqeb was fitted with blinkers to score at Moonee Valley on Friday night at $7 and Booker took Sunday's Thousand Guineas Prelude at $6.50.
Last Thursday there were three heats on the course proper for two-year-olds ahead of the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes on Saturday and we have spent some time looking at those.
Friday's last 12 heats were on the steeple grass, starting from the 800m and on the rail.
Click here to view the 15 heats.
Racenet has listed three unraced two-year-olds it may pay punters to follow in the coming weeks.
SANGLIER
Jumped from the inside in heat one and then tucked in behind Sunlight and Scottish Rogue. Eased out as the tempo lifted past halfway and closed steadily with some encouragement to finish second, beaten half a length by Sunlight with Scottish Rogue the same distance away third in 46.38 seconds. Sunlight had the benefit of a previous barrier trial at Cranbourne and looks a ready made two-year-old type so the effort of the James Cummings-trained Sanglier, a son of Albrecht, hints at further improvement.
Career (Unraced)
GRAND CHALLENGE
Settled just behind the leaders in heat two and travelled strongly. Allowed to push through between horses inside the final 100m and finished third, beaten one length behind the Tony McEvoy-trained Diver and the James Cummings-trained Rainier in 47.11 seconds. A colt by Not A Single Doubt and trained by Lindsay Park racing, Grand Challenge finished runner-up in a trial at Cranbourne on September 4. Diver is a colt by Delago Deluxe and shared the lead at halfway with the Lindsay Park racing-trained Alshahhad , a big, strong son of All Too Hard who was not hard pressed late and finished fourth without being put under real pressure.
Career (Unraced)
NOMOTHAJ
Jumped from the middle of the field in heat three and always travelling sweetly, moving though to ease to the front inside the final 100m and share the heat with stable mate Nasaayim in 47.83 seconds. Bred to be a two-year-old by Snitzel out of the Flemington winner Real Stolle and already had the experience of a trial at Wodonga. Nasaayim is a daughter of Redoute's Choice, also trained by Lindsay Park Racing and already trialled at Wodonga. She was left a little flat footed when the tempo lifted past halfway but with a small slap lengthened and powered through the line under a hold while the Tony McEvoy-trained Double Denman was always prominent and not given a hard time late, finishing fourth beaten one length.
Career (Unraced)