There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
The Michael Freedman trained Marhoona was having her first trial this spring and was quickly into stride to go forward and hold the fence before kicking on to the line under hands and heels to win by half a length over progressive sprinter Headwall.
The Matt Smith trained six year-old soared to new heights back in the autumn finishing fourth in the G1 Oakleigh Plate (winner Jimmysstar), second in the G1 Newmarket (winner Joliestar)and third in the G1 TJ Smith Stakes (winner Briasa) before a trip to Perth to run second in the $5million Quokka.
The winners of all three G1 races he contested in autumn are Everest contenders and he doesn’t need to find much improvement to also put himself in that picture.
Also in the same heat keep an eye on promising maiden Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice), finishing off under a hold in the Myracehorse colours.
The John O’Shea trained Linebacker delivered the goods during the autumn as a gelding and won the Group I ATC Randwick Guineas beating Broadsiding, Swiftfalcon and Aeliana before finishing eighth beaten a length in the Doncaster to Stefi Magnetica.
This was his second trial back and he looks in great shape with a myriad of options on the table.
Click here for all the trial results at Breednet with Sale Mail and at Racing NSW with video.
