There were five heats for two year-olds run at Rosehill on Thursday morning with all winners being second acceptors for the Golden Slipper and including an impressive winner for Merchant Navy, plus three that sold as yearlings for $1million or more.
Peter and Paul Snowden have taken their time with Merchant Navy colt Standing Order, who had two quiet trials last October and was having his second trial back this preparation in the 1030m hit out.
He led all the way for Hugh Bowman and was doing it well on the line to win by more than three lengths.
Standing Order is the first foal of Group II winning Reward for Effort mare Brugal Reward, who comes from the family of champion sprinter Apache Cat. Her second foal, another colt by Merchant Navy will be offered at Inglis Premier as Lot 401.
The remaining juvenile heats were run over 900m with the first of them going to dual Group I winner Loving Gaby’s little sister Greece, a $1.2million Magic Millions purchase for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Nxt Level Syndication.
It was her first official trial and she did everything right, jumping well to take the lead for James McDonald and then forging clear to win by a length and a half over stakes-placed Bohemian Daisy, who was well held together.
Kia Ora Stud have retained a share in the ownership of Greece and they will offer her yearling half-brother by Justify (USA) at Inglis Easter as Lot 267.
Another million dollar heat winner with dashing grey Snitzel colt Brosnan hitting the line well to win his heat by more than a length. He’s been given time by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou with two trials last September/ October and then another at the end of last month, so he looks well prepared to head to the races.
Bred by Newhaven Park, Brosnan is the second foal of Group II placed Supara, whose third foal, a filly by Written Tycoon, was bought by David Ellis for $800,000 at the Magic Millions Sale last month.
$1,050,000 Exceed and Excel colt Psychiatrist was a winner at the official spring 2YO trials, but was then unplaced in the Breeders Plate to Sejardan. He had to do a bit of work out wide in the run, but was still too good winning by three-quarters of a length.
Runner-up Conqueror is a good sort by Churchill (IRE) and there was much to like in his surging second after racing just behind the leaders and Trapeze Artists’s full brother Master Showman was not pressured for third.
Chris Waller trained the first winner for Churchill on Wednesday in Robusto and Conqueror could easily be his second.
The only 900m heat not won by a million dollar horse was taken out by $380,000 Snitzel filly Dashing Legend trained by Team Hawkes for Bon Ho. She had two trials last November and looked very smart here, mustering speed quickly to go through and lead before coasting home to win with ears pricked for Jay Ford.
Dashing Legend is a full sister to stakes-winner Bend the Knee from stakes-winning Encosta de Lago mare Kneeling, whose yearling filly by the Autumn Sun will be offered by Arrowfield at Inglis Easter as Lot 246.
Click here to see all trial results at Breednet with Sale Mail and at Racing NSW with video.
