Four heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Monday morning and winners by Snitzel, Capitalist and first season sire D’Argento with the quickest of the heat winners sired by Justify (USA) and trained by Annabel Neasham.
Neasham had a lot of success last season with another Justify filly in Learning to Fly and looks to have another nice one by the same sire. Lilac improved on her first trial when she finished third earlier in the month and was strong to the line this time winning by along neck in 53.91 seconds.
A $300,000 NZB Karaka Book 1 purchase for Champion Thoroughbreds / Annabel Neasham Racing from the Curraghmore draft, Lilac is bred on the same cross as Learning to Fly and is the second foal of Group II placed Fastnet Rock mare Paulownia, a full sister to Group I winning sire Foxwedge and stakes-winner She’s a Fox.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Capitalist colt King of Roseau was having his third trial and second this prep and it showed. He was too fast and professional, jumping straight to the lead and controlling the front before skipping clear under a hold to win as he pleased.
A $95,000 Magic Millions purchase for Pulse Racing Thoroughbreds/Pinhook Bloodstock International from the Ashleigh Thoroughbreds draft, King of Roseau is the second foal of Dominica, a Choisir daughter of Group I winner Danni Martine. His breeder Senga Bissett, who bred his mother and his grand-mother has retained a small share.
A Group I Rosehill Guineas winner by So You Think, D’Argento is the sire of the David Payne trained filly Rag Queen, who made sharp improvement from her first unplaced trial on December 5 to hit the line well in a close finish to take a narrow win.
A $15,000 Inglis Gold purchase from Bowness Stud for her trainer, Rag Queen is the first named foal from Victory Day, a placed Domesday mare from a half-sister to Group I winning millionaire Devil Moon.
The fourth trial winner was the Team Hawkes trained Snitzel filly Dark Arts, who did a nice job to win her second trial in slow time after placing in her previous, but the eye-catching run came from the Godolphin bred Harry Angel (IRE) colt Tarpaulin, who flew home from last for second.
A $600,000 Magic Millions purchase from Kitchwin Hills for Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA)/Bevan Smith Bloodstock, Dark Arts is from Group III placed Zabeel mare Zasorceress.
Tarpaulins is a half-brother to Group winners Aft Cabin, Multaja and stakes-winner Veranillo with his dam Shelters producing five winners from five to race and am tipping Tarpaulins is number six!
Click here for all the trial results at Breednet with Sale Mail and at Racing NSW with video.