The clock is ticking down to the end of the season and there were seven trials at Randwick on Monday morning won by juveniles and two of them are already stakes-winners, while another is a Group placed filly that will not remain a maiden for long.
The John Thompson trained Nicconi filly Screen Icon was second at the start of last season in the Group III ATC Gimcrack and also second in the Group II ATC Sweet Embrace before ending her autumn with a sixth in the Group II ATC Percy Sykes.
She took on older stayers in her 900m heat, so it was no surprise to see her bounce straight to the front for Chad Schofield to lead and win by half a length over 3YO filly Profoundly, who was last seen running second in the G1 ATC Australian Oaks.
The also rans here include some of the Waller stable staying stalwarts that will have long range Cups plans, but in the immediate future Screen Icon put the writing on the wall to be winning a race sooner rather than later.
She traces back to fourth dam Skating, a G1 winning blue hen that has spawned a Black Type dynasty, so pedigree would suggest best to come from Screen Idol.
The Waterhouse Bott trained Tassort filly Agrarian Girl had two starts in the autumn for a debut win in the Listed ATC Lonhro Plate before running second to Chayan in the Group II ATC Reisling Stakes.
She always looks like she runs for fun and led all the way for Rachel King in her 745m to win by four and a half lengths held together. Given a quiet trial back in the field was Frankel colt Central Europe, who placed in his only autumn starts in the Group II ATC Skyline Stakes and Group III ATC Pago Pago.
What we have seen from previous classy Tassort fillies like Manaal and Ameena is that they train on at three, so Agrarian Girl fits that profile.
Also from the Waterhouse Bott stable, Too Darn Hot (GB) filly Shiki won the Group III ATC Gimcrack last spring and then danced every dance finishing unplaced in the MM 2YO Classic, G2 Silver Slipper and G1 Golden Slipper.
She led all the way for a two and a half length win in her 745m heat for Rachel King and there was a bit to like about the late closing second of Bivouac colt Outspan, who mixed his form last prep, but has ability.
If there is one thing we have learned about Bivouac this year it’s that they get better at three and Outspan is a colt from stakes-winning Octagonal mare Shannara, a full sister to Lonhro. Shannara has had six winners although none of them overly exciting, but Outspan might change that.
Group III ATC Breeders Plate winner last spring on debut, Incognito was a bit like Shiki in then going on to dance plenty of dances, but ultimately come up empty handed. The Michael Freedman trained Stay Inside colt was ridden cold in this first trial back, allowed to amble along at the tail before working home for second to Ignition Code.
An unraced Stay Inside filly from the Waterhouse Bott stable, Ignition Code flew the gates and led all the way to win by three and three-quarter lengths at her third trial appearance, but first this prep.
A $380,000 Magic Millions purchase from Segenhoe for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds, Ignition Code is a half-sister to a winner from Isa Rocket, a winning half-sister to Group II winner Vangelic.
Additional winners were: Steel Will (I Am Invincible), Wendell (Written Tycoon) and Wanda’s Spark (Tagaloa).
Click here for all the trial results at Breednet with Sale Mail and at Racing NSW with video.
