It’s that time of year again when the first 2YO’s of a new season are ready to step out at Randwick and this year we have nine heats over 850m on the Kensington track and the runners include two youngsters that sold for $1million or more.
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The two most expensive entries have a bit in common as both are trained by Michael Freedman and have James McDonald booked to ride and both were purchased by James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership/Tony Fung Colts.
The two colts are Frankel colt Moneyball, who runs in heat five, and was a $1.1million Magic Millions purchase from Newgate and Snitzel colt True North, who runs in heat nine and was a $1.2million Magic Millions purchase from Rosemont Stud.
While you might raise your eyebrows about a Frankel stepping out this early, he is the first foal of imported SW Miss Alacrity (USA), a fast juvenile stakes-winner at 5f by US speed sire Munnings.
True North is by Snitzel and is the second foal of Group I ATC Coolmore Classic winner Krone.
At these trials last year, the same connections produced $1million colt Incognito to win here and he went on to win the Group III ATC Breeders Plate.
Representation of first season sires at these trials is always of interest and while it means little in the grand scheme of things it can equate to mare bookings for these stallions, who are lining up for their fourth season with many at a reduced fee from their starting point.
The following sires have runners: Anamoe (2), Hitotsu (2), In the Congo (2), Jacquinot and State of Rest (IRE) as do Sejardan and Top Ranked (IRE), who have sadly both passed away.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable traditionally target these early trials and races and will saddle runners in every heat.
