Another good week for the column finding Saturday's Maribyrnong Trial Stakes winner Nomothaj and a busy morning on Friday with some Group I horses stepping out.
Last Friday was highlighted by some proven performers trialling well, notably the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Gold Standard who was blinkered and shared heat seven with Dragon Wife and Gold Standard's Group I winning stable mate Global Glamour who was not given a hard time when finishing second in heat 13.
The Paul Perry-trained The Mission cleared out early in heat one with Omei Sword cruising through behind and the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Josephine Sea is a graduate of this column and looks to have come back in good order by the way she won heat two.
Friday's heats were on the inside grass, starting from the 1400m and on the rail.
Click here to see the 14 heats.
Racenet has listed three relatively unexposed horses it may pay punters to follow in the coming weeks.
DRAGON WIFE
Unraced three-year-old filly by Sepoy out of the handy mare Obsidian Dragon and trained by Danny O'Brien. Jumped from the inside in heat seven and always traveling strongly, sharing the lead with blinkered Gold Standard. Raced keenly and more than held her own with the Group II winner, those behind coming under riding while the first two went through the line comfortably, Gold Standard shading it by a head in 47.36 seconds. This is the second time Dragon Wife has shaped well in jumpouts and she looks ready to go to the races.
Career (Unraced)
LONG LEAF
Two-year-old colt by Fastnet Rock and trained by Lindsay Park Racing. Took a few strides to get balanced up before settling on the outside of Nuclear Blitz and the pair raced together to the bend where Long Leaf came clear to win the heat in 49.17 seconds. Pricked his ears and looked around when Nuclear Blitz eased and appeared to be waiting for the others, stable mate Juthoor , a colt by I Am Invincible, coming through to be beaten half a length. Plenty to like about the way Nuclear Blitz travelled until getting tired, Dwayne Dunn allowing the Hawkes Racing-trained filly by Sepoy to coast through fourth and beaten two lengths.
Career (Unraced)
NOUMEA
A five-year-old import by Cape Cross and trained by James Cummings. Finished last in heat eight, won by Milwaukee in 49.25 seconds. Took a little while to find his feet then found himself in behind a wall of horses and Craig Williams content to roll through the line last but only beaten two lengths and never fully into stride. His form in England was over a mile and half and he's had the one run in this country when unplaced behind Collateral over 1800m on a heavy track at Rosehill. Only rated 78 and if he can find his English form then he should be winning some races on the way through.
Career (12-2:4:2)
