Scholtz's Say
Trial Watch Reviews: 16th March - 20th March 2026
Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney and provincial trials at Randwick on March 16, Newcastle on March 17 and Warwick Farm on March 20.
Inside Grass; Soft 7
15 Heats – 2 x 1200m (1 Open; 1 Maiden); 4 x 795m (3 Open; 1 2YO); 3 x 792m (3 2YO); 3 x 789m (1 3YO; 2 Maiden); 3 x 786m (3 Maiden)
The G1 stars PRIVATE EYE and FANGIRL had their first trials after a break from racing but it's hard to know what to make of their performances.
The 8YO veteran PRIVATE EYE trailed his 795m heat from start to finish and was beaten almost 14 lengths while the 7YO mare FANGIRL settled back in the pack and made no impression in her 795m heat to be beaten almost eight lengths.
It's easy to conclude that both were having easy conditioning trials and at their age it's to be expected they appreciate a soft build up to their return to action. I suspect they are being set for campaigns that may take them to Queensland so it will be interesting to see how they perform in their next trials.
The standout trials of the session came from a promising 2YO and maiden 3YO who needed to pass a stewards embargo.
CHERRY BOMSHELL (Annabel & Rob Archibald): The clever stable sent this Lucky Vega filly to Queensland to kick off her career and she returns after winning twice at Eagle Farm in February. A classy win in her 795m heat (47.54; 34.18) where she breezed home from well off the pace after tracking four and five wide has her ready to make a statement over the carnival.
MAIDOFF (Clarry Conners): This Brazen Beau 3YO has been placed in four of his six starts but was ordered to trial after a poor performance as favourite at his latest start at Warwick Farm. He's ready to bounce back after a soft win in his fast 789m heat (46.84; 33.98) where he drifted back off the pace four wide before picking them up easily with strong work over the last 200m.
In the open company trials the classy mare IDLE FLYER showed she had taken good benefit from her recent first-up fourth at Randwick with a confident win in her 1200m heat (72.91; 34.46); MAWJOOD had plenty to offer working well within himself to win his open heat over 795m (47.34; 33.73); and the talented Exceed And Excel filly CASSEROUSSE made a pleasing return to action with a strong win in her 789m heat (47.44; 34.03).
The fast winner of the session was the speedster HAYEK clearing out for a 10 lengths win in his 795m heat (46.91; 33.30). He's a 900m maiden winner at Newcastle but in his other three starts over 1000m and 1100m and he's been run down after leading so at this stage it's fair to say he's a limited short course performer.
Maiden heat winners worth noting included another good performance from the previously noted Capitalist filly LOERA to win her 786m heat in fast time (46.42; 33.51) and a strong first-up heat win over 786m by the smart Written Tycoon mare MRS MAREE (47.08; 34.15).
NOTED TRIALS
XX Cherry Bomshell; Maidoff
X Better Off Alone; Casserousse; Cellphone; Crepe Myrtle; Golden Straand; Hayek; Hillier; I Am Overs; Idle Flyer; Loera; Marchon; Mawjood; Mrs Maree; Time To Dance
Randwick A Grass; Good 4
13 Heats – 1 x 1200m (Open); 6 x 1050m (3 Open; 1 2YO; 2 Maiden); 6 x 740m (2 Open; 2 2YO; 2 Maiden)
Some classy newcomers to the Chris Waller stable took the eye in their first Sydney trials.
Waller has added the top NZ filly OHOPE WINS and Perth star JOKERS GRIN to his stable for the autumn and both look ready to make an impact.
NZ Oaks winner OHOPE WINS is set for the fillies classics and it was hard to miss her easy work in her 1050m trial won by the smart Victorian mare MISS ROUMBINI (62.74; 34.07). She settled last and loped along with a lovely smooth action before working easily to the line over the last 200m, warming to her task through the line in a lovely prep for her tilt at the Vinery Stakes-ATC Oaks double.
JOKERS GRIN, winner of nine of his 13 starts in Perth, had a similar soft trial in his 740m heat won in good style by the smart SPIRIT OF WEALTH from 2024 Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot. He was kept under a tight hold by James McDonald working to the line between horses to be beaten less than two lengths with a lot to offer.
Other notable performances included wins by the good trial performer ROSELYN'S STAR and the unraced 2YO colt PORTICO.
PORTICO (Michael Freedman): The stable know how to work with their juveniles so the fact that this was his first trial win in five outings is no great concern. The unraced Exceed And Excel colt relaxed easily in the lead in his 1050m heat (63.75; 34.51) and extended with style to win the heat as easy as you like by almost three lengths.
ROSELYN'S STAR (Tom Charlton): He's been a model of consistency and continues to hold his form well judging by this easy win in the fastest of the six heats over 1050m (61.85; 34.17). He had plenty in reserve cruising to the line that indicates he will put in another honest performance when next produced.
The session saw some good trials by some handy maiden performers including 1050m heat wins by the previously noted SIR LES (63.21; 34.18) and the 2YO colt TENENBAUM (64.43; 34.86) who took on older horses in an open maiden heat. In the 740m heats I liked the efforts of the open heat winner DARING FELLOW (43.95; 33.15) and the Extreme Choice colt EXTREMELY TEMPTED in his 2YO heat (43.64; 33.33).Kia Ora co-owned 2YO colt EXTREMELY TEMPTED (Extreme Choice x Tempt Me Not) dominated in Heat 11 at Randwick today, following a runner-up finish in his debut trial earlier this month.
He was bought by the Stud at @mmsnippets GC with his trainers, @GaiWaterhouse1 & Adrian Bott,… pic.twitter.com/jfwsphm5EK
— Kia Ora Stud (@kiaorastud) March 16, 2026
NOTED TRIALS
XX Portico; Roselyn's Star
X Anuzou; Daring Fellow; Extremely Tempted; Graffiti Tycoon; Jokers Grin; Miss Roumbini; Nialah; Ohope Wins; Sir Les; Spirit Of Wealth; Suit Of Armour; Surf's Up; Tenenbaum
Beaumont Grass; Good 4
14 Heats – 6 x 1000m (3 Open; 3 Maiden); 8 x 850m (2 Open; 2 2YO; 4 Maiden)
XX Our Kobison; Street Lyric
X Forceful Style; Oxford Power; Rebel Rhapsody; Shalash; Simple Pleasures; Stellaa Lass; Switch On; Viewpoint
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