As Sydney’s final Saturday metropolitan race meeting of the season nears, another group of carnival-bound horses are set to parade in barrier trials at Rosehill, signalling their intensified preparations for their seasonal restarts.
Australian Derby winner Green Spaces, Queen Of The Turf Stakes champion Idle Flyer, and Flight Stakes victor Apocalyptic are among those scheduled to feature in Friday’s session.
The trio will contest the opening 900m Group Trial, which will also see the promising filly Savvy Hallie in action. Savvy Hallie delivered a strong performance, narrowly finishing second to Everest runner-up Tempted in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) back in February.
She was spelled after finishing out of the placings in the Coolmore Classic (1500m) against older mares, a decision made by trainer Brad Widdup who felt she had reached the end of her preparation and her preferred distance range.
“It was probably too far, and one run too many,” Widdup said.
“She is only starting to fill into herself now, so I still think the autumn next year might be her time. She’s still developing, but she’s done well this time in.
“We’ll see what happens, but hopefully she can be our flag bearer.”
Savvy Hallie will be partnered by her regular rider Nash Rawiller for Friday’s trial. The rising four-year-old mare is expected to have another outing next month before her scheduled return at Randwick on August 22.
“She’ll trial twice, then there’s the Toy Show (Quality) and Show County (Quality) on the same day, so she’ll probably head to one of them,” Widdup confirmed.
Stablemate Jedibeel, who was the runner-up in The Galaxy, is still some time away from returning to the racetrack following a successful operation after his run in The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot in April.
During the race, the horse was eased down in the straight, and subsequent veterinary inspections revealed an elevated heart rate and cough, along with traces of blood in his trachea.
“He had to have throat surgery after Perth, but he’s not far off,” Widdup mentioned.
“He has healed really well. Hopefully we will get him back late spring. We’ll just get him fit and work it out from there.”
Other notable entries at the Rosehill trials include the Canonbury Stakes winner Hidrix and the filly Chilly Girl, who was an impressive winner of the Widden Stakes before a setback ruled her out of the autumn carnival.
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