The Warwick Farm trials on Tuesday kicked off with three heats for the established star performers with last year’s Inglis Millennium winner Learning to Fly looking brilliant in her third trial back this preparation after a long break following her Golden Slipper mishap.
The Annabel Neasham trained daughter of Justify (USA) went around in a 900m heat against fellow star three year-old fillies Kimochi and Tropical Squall, plus talented but temperamental colt King’s Gambit with G1 winners Cascadian and Madame Pommery also in the line up.
Learning to Fly clocked much quicker time than the next heat won by another outstanding filly in Tiz Invincible with the rest of the field including quality colts Encap, Don Corleone and Cylinder, Group I winners Just Fine and Espiona, plus multiple Group winning mare Argentia.
Learning to Fly and the Ciaron Maher trained Tiz Invincible are likely to clash in the early fillies races of the autumn in Sydney, the Group II ATC Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) on February 17 at Royal Randwick with the Group I ATC Surround Stakes (1400m) a fortnight later.
The first of the three heats was run over 1000m and won by Pericles over Caulfield Guineas winner Griff with Group I winners Think It Over, Militarize, Fangirl, Riff Rocket and Atishu.