Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill

Chris Waller had his Breeders Plate winner Performer stepping out at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning, but with six juvenile heats he was not the only winner of interest from the champion trainer.

Exceed and Excel colt Performer (image Steve Hart)  scored a cruisy win in his 900 metre heat. Allowed to settle worse than midfield, he surged to the line down the running to arrive and win by a head in 54 seconds with his best work the last furlong.

That was his second trial and he looks ready to go back to the races.

A $450,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Newhaven Park draft, Performer is a half-brother to Group I winner Bel Sprinter and with a stakes win already on his resume is a serious stallion prospect.

Waller won the next heat with I Am Invincible colt Pembroke Castle, carrying the Star Thoroughbreds colours.

Pembroke Castle was slowly away at his first trial in November and missed the start completely at his second in December, but at his third try mastered the getaway to begin on terms.

He mustered speed quickly for Michael Walker to find the fence and led for home before kicking on strongly to the line to win by a length from the Godolphin Exceed and Excel colt Hiemal, who started favourite in the Breeders Plate only to finish sixth to Performer.

They ran 53 seconds, which was the fastest of the two year-old heats and Hiemal looks to have come back well. Everything that could go wrong for him in the Breeders Plate did, so don’t be surprised to see him redeem himself this preparation.

Pembroke Castle was a $105,000 purchase for Star Thoroughbreds/ Chris Waller Racing from the Widden Stud draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and is from well-bred Redoute’s Choice mare Callista, whose dam is a half-sister to Group I STC Coolmore Classic winner Alverta.

Secured from the same sale by the same purchasers was I Am Invincible filly Fiesta, who was third in the Listed ATC Gimcrack Stakes and then second at Randwick in two starts during the spring.

Second to boom filly Estijaab in her first trial back on January 8, she looked very professional in scoring a length win in 53.80 seconds under Hugh Bowman.

A $150,000 purchase from the Fairhill Farm draft, Fiesta is from winning Danehill Dancer (IRE) mare Now Now, who comes from the family of stakes-winners Stick Around, Charm Scene Land and Kingsgate.

Other juvenile trial winners were Ringerdingding (Sebring), Onthetake (Krupt) and Ballistica (Smart Missile, click here to see all the trials.