Harlem River and Peeping have both produced impressive barrier trial performances in the third trial at Royal Randwick this morning.
Harlem River scored a narrow win in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick this morning. Photo by: Daniel Costrello
Harlem River jumped from the gates quickly, but was quickly challenged by stablemate Valentia, while Peeping was settled just behind the leading group.
The entire field spread right across the track coming into the straight, with Godolphin import Bow Creek the widest runner, and it looked like Harlem River and Valentia would fight out the finish, but Valentia fell in a hole late and Peeping made up impressive ground late after she eventually found clear running.
Harlem River started her racing career with two second place finishes behind the talented Flippant in both the Listed Woodland Stakes (1100m) at Scone on May 16 and the Listed Lancaster Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on June 6 before she scored a maiden race win in the Tattersall’s Stakes (1400m) at the Gold Coast on June 20.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock started her 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a third place finish in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on October 10, but she was sent to the spelling paddock after she tied up in the Listed Crockett Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 24.
Peeping was an inconsistent performer during her spring preparation and she started her campaign with a narrow win over Howmuchdoyouloveme in the Fairfield RSL Club Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 15 before she failed to beat home a runner in the Group 3 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 12.
She returned to winning form with an upset victory in the Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 26, but she was sent to the spelling paddock following a flat eighth in the Group 3 Angst Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 10.
Valentia took out the 2014 edition of the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) and he was once touted as a leading Golden Slipper contender, but he struggled in four starts as a three-year-old and he has not been seen at the races since he failed to beat home a runner when ninth in the 2014 Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).
Godolphin import Bow Creek raced very fresh and was several horses wide throughout, while Kimberley Star, I’ve Got The Looks and Hot Snitzel worked home fairly under a hold.
