Talented mare Sookie upstaged a number of stablemates at Royal Randwick this morning to record her second barrier trial victory since returning from the spelling paddock.
Sookie defeated stablemates Under The Sun and Carlton in a barrier trial in Sydney this morning. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Sookie made her first public appearance since May when she won a barrier trial at Royal Randwick in dominant fashion on December 16 but faced a stronger field of nine horses in the opening trial this morning.
The daughter of Casino Prince raced keenly in the early stages of the trial and was allowed to gallop freely by jockey Nash Rawiller before holding on to record a comfortable win from stablemate Under The Sun and Michael Moroney-trained import Point Made.
Sookie joined the Waterhouse stable midway through last year, after previously being owned by Patinack Farm, and has not been seen at the races since she scored a tough win over Bound To Blush and Diademe in the Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) at Doomben during the 2013 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
Under The Sun was also having his second barrier trial since returning to trackwork following a lengthy stint in the spelling paddock that came at the end of an extensive preparation, which lasted from February to August.
The No Excuse Needed gelding recorded an impressive win in the Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens but failed to fire at the end of his campaign in the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) and Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m).
The other standout Waterhouse-trained performer was Carlton House who worked home strongly up the inside of the track to finish fourth in what was his first barrier trial appearance since September in 2013.
Carlton House, who is owned by Her Majesty The Queen Of England, was a Group 1 performer in the United Kingdom but has had just one race start since joining the Waterhouse stable at the start of last year; finishing 13th behind Havana Rey in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 30.
The Street Cry entire performed well in three barrier trial appearances just before the start of spring last year, beating Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente over 1400 metres, but Waterhouse was unable to get him to the races during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.
The Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) is the major 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival target for Carlton House but Waterhouse is yet to reveal when he will make his return to the races.
