Interesting set of trials at Rosehill on Tuesday morning with Everest contenders Nature Strip, Overpass and Mazu in action as well as a couple of elite colts that will be looking to put a G1 win on the CV this season.
Nature Strip was always under a hold and looked great in winning his heat from Overpass with three year-old I Am Invincible colt King’s Gambit right in the mix to finish third against the big boys with Mazu fourth.
It was the first trial back for the Peter and Paul Snowden trained King’s Gambit, who finished his juvenile season with a third in the Golden Slipper. He was ridden quietly by Sam Clipperton and got a little strong at one point, but then relaxed and went to the line well between horses.
He hasn’t won since last spring, but has shown glimpses of real brilliance in his four starts to date and if he takes giant strides this spring nobody will be surprised.
Another colt that raced well last season was Don Corleone, who had Group I placings in the Blue Diamond and Sires Produce Stakes before finding 1600m too far when sixth in the Group I Champagne Stakes.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained son of Extreme Choice was having his second trial back against some pretty solid older staying types and was too nippy leading all the way to win by a length.
Pedigree would suggest shorter trips will suit him best and while he hasn’t won a stakes race yet that could easily change when he goes to the Group II ATC Run to the Rose (1200m) in two weeks time which is his likely first target race.
Another of the Snowden trained nice colts from last season was Snapback and while the Snitzel colt is still a maiden, he was second in the Group II BRC Sires Produce and fifth in the Group I BRC JJ Atkins.
This was his first trial back since then and he worked to the line strongly to win by half a length for James McDonald.
Snapback is also bred for speed with nothing on the page to suggest he’d go very far past 1400m.
Click here to see all the trial results at Breednet with Sale Mail and at Racing NSW with video.
