The 2015 Spring Racing Carnival is just around the corner and all of the leading stables in Sydney will have Group 1 winners on display in the barrier trials at Royal Randwick on Friday morning.
Australian Oaks winner Gust Of Wind is one of a number of Group 1 winners that will be in action at the Royal Randwick barrier trials on Friday. Photo by: Steve Hart
The opening barrier trial of the morning over 1200 metres is dominated by Gai Waterhouse and Excess Knowledge, Greatwood, Pornichet, The Offer and Woodbine will all be in action.
Greatwood, Pornichet and Excess Knowledge all trialed in excellent style at Royal Randwick last Monday, while former Melbourne Cup favourite The Offer will be making his first public appearance since he failed to fire at the Gold Coast on Tattersall’s Tiara Day.
The opening barrier trial is rounded out by imported French stayer Auvray, who was scratched from a barrier trial last Monday morning and was disappointing over 1030 metres at Rosehill Gardens a day later.
Waterhouse will also be represented in the second barrier trial of the morning by Light Fingers Stakes winner Adrift and Queen Of The Turf Stakes winner Amanpour, but the trial over 1050 metres will be highlighted by the reappearance of Gust Of Wind and Sweynesse.
Gust Of Wind has not been seen at the races since she recorded an impressive victory in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick on April 11 and she has been set for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) during her spring campaign, while Sweynesse will be aimed at the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) before a potential trip to Melbourne for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).
There will be more Group 1 winners on display in the fourth barrier trial of the morning over 1050 metres and Doncaster Mile winner Kermadec will likely be asked for more of an effort after trialing quietly at Rosehill Gardens last Tuesday.
Canterbury Stakes winner Cosmic Endeavour and Crown Oaks winner Thunder Lady will also contest the barrier trial over 1050 metres along with Peter Moody-trained Hi World and Kirramosa, who has not been seen at the races since she suffered an injury in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 11.
Godolphin have a number of talented rising three-year-olds that will race at Group level during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival and Furnaces, Haptic, Holler and Igraine will all contest the fifth barrier trial over 1050 metres, but the star attraction in their heat will be Vancouver.
Vancouver has not been seen at the races since he maintained his unbeaten streak with a win in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens (1200m) on March 21 and he has been set for the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m), Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival.
Group 1 winning fillies Amicus and First Seal will clash in the 12th barrier trial of the morning over 740 metres before Sires Produce Stakes runner-up Odyssey Moon and Golden Slipper runner English.
