Team Snowden-trained Shooting To Win was given a very easy time in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick this morning in his first public appearance since his memorable win in the 2014 Caulfield Guineas.
Shooting To Win was given a very quiet trial at Royal Randwick this morning. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Shooting To Win contested the third barrier trial of the morning over 1050 metres and he was settled worse than midfield by jockey Kerrin McEvoy in the early stages of the trial and the hoop did not ask the son of Northern Meteor for an effort at any stage during the trial.
The Caulfield Guineas winner will likely have another barrier trial before he returns to racing in either the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 7 or the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 21.
Shooting To Win is expected to press on to the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 7 and will then make his debut against the older horses in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21 before he contests the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 4.
Gai Waterhouse-trained colt Liberation took up the running in the early stages of the barrier trial, but he appeared to tire badly in the final stages of the race and Farolitos and Diamond Drille were left to fight out the finish.
Godolphin colt Farolitos showed ability as a two-year-old, but was only limited to one race start during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, while Queen Of The Turf Stakes winner Diamond Drille was making her first public appearance since she finished a disappointing ninth in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on November 1.
One of the most impressive performances in the barrier trial came from imported galloper Godolphin, who was settled at the tail of the field in the early stages before hitting the line strongly despite being kept under a heavy hold.
Contributer made his racing debut with an impressive win in the Group 3 David Jones Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on October 18 and he was beaten as favourite when eighth in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 8.
The Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 14 will be the initial 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing goal for Contributer and he could head to Sydney for the Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 28.
Chris Waller-trained Catkins was also given an easy time in the trial and worked home well to finish third, while stablemate Arinosa produced a fair effort in her first public appearance since she failed to fire in the At Sea Handicap (1100m) at Royal Randwick on May 24.
