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Scholtz's Say

Trial Watch Reviews: 30th December 2025 - 2nd January 2026

Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney trials at Randwick on December 30 and Rosehill on January 2.

INCOGNITO
INCOGNITO Picture: Martin King / Sportpix
ROSEHILL January 2

Inside Grass; Good 4

14 Heats – 5 x 1030m (2 Open; 2 Maiden 1 2YO); 9 x 900m (

Breeders Plate winner INCOGNITO could not have got his prep for the autumn off to a better start while Bjorn Baker has another smart maiden ready to win when he returns to the races.

INCOGNITO (Michael Freedman): It's a long way to the Golden Slipper but winning a 900m trial in early January indicates that this high class colt has done everything right since his impressive win in the Breeders Plate in October. His rider Tommy Berry allowed the unraced filly MISS SCANDAL – having her first trial - to run out to a clear lead in the first 200m, sticking to the fence in third before railing through off the turn to easily take the lead. The filly showed she is above average to match it with the colt under a soft ride from James McDonald but Berry always had the advantage keeping INCOGNITO under a good hold in the run to the line.

They finished well in advance of the others and would not be too concerned that the time (55.31; 34.63) was the slowest of the three 2YO heats over 900m, the quickest won by WRITTEN IN MUNNY (53.66; 34.16).

ZOUFAME (Bjorn Baker): A sharp heat win over 1030m in fast time (62.23; 34.42) by this Zoustar gelding has him ready to win a maiden when he resumes. He was beaten at short odds in his first start in a country maiden last season but this trial was all you could ask for from a maiden 3YO as he led easily before showing impressive acceleration to open up a big lead off the turn and coast home by almost six lengths.

ZEALOUSLY won the fastest 1030m heat (61.02; 34.32) but the runner-up WHINCHAT could have won the heat if asked for a late effort. Rarely has he not led in his trials but he was ridden off the pace in this heat and was under a big hold working strongly to the line over the last 200m.

Few mares go quicker over a short course than BONITA QUEEN and she was too nippy in the fastest 900m heat of the morning (53.38; 33.60), scoring by more than three lengths. The eye catcher behind her was G2 winner ENRICHED, working under a tight hold in his first trial since September.

Other noteworthy efforts from runners having quiet trials included DIDDLE DUMPLING, LIPSTICK, EPIC and NANDINA.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Incognito; Zoufame

X Diddle Dumpling; Enriched; Epic; Gold Globe; Journeyman; Just Maz; Krasina; Kwirky Smile; Lipstick; Miss Scandal; Nandina; Twisted Love; Yoshinobu; Whinchat; Written In Munny

ROSELYN'S STAR
ROSELYN'S STAR Picture: Martin King / Sportpix
RANDWICK December 30

A Grass; Good 4

15 Heats – 2 x 1200m (2 Open); 8 x 1050m (3 Open; 1 2YO; 4 Maiden); 5 x 740m (1 Open; 2 2YO; 2 Maiden)

Some impressive trials from members of the Michael Freedman stable at the last session for 2025.

FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN (Michael Freedman): Good trials last season before she was placed in her first start in July before a spell. Showed she has benefitted from the patient approach with smooth work to win her 740m heat (43.53; 33.19) without being pressured under a quiet ride from Tommy Berry. Another trial will have her nicely primed to resume. Her heat had depth with nice work from the placegetter ZING TO ME.

MAYFLOWER (Michael Freedman): Promising Capitalist filly has come on nicely since her first trial in September. Found the racy LADY MOSCATO too sharp in their 740m heat (43.38; 33.00) but she was never put under pressure with her late work the highlight of the trial. Expect her to be well prepared by a stable renowned for their 2YO success.

ROSELYN"S STAR (John O'Shea/Tom Charlton): Talented Shalaa 4YO is ready to resume after an impressive win in the fastest 1050m heat (62.03; 33.67). Given a break after he won at Rosehill in October, he's now had two trials with his efficient work in this trial to travel sweetly in second under a hold before easily taking control at the 200m and running clear under no pressure a strong indicator to further success.

From the open heats notable efforts included BOSUSTOW, BEV'S NINE and AGARWOOD (first trial following stable switch) while maidens to follow with confidence include MAJESTIC LEGEND; BUCKEYE; ASTRONOMIX; MELANITE and RAJWA.

I was not surprised that the robust Pintubo colt ZAMBALES improved off his first trial to win his 2YO heat over 1050m (63.61; 34.49) while the fast filly LADY MOSCATO won the quickest of the two juvenile heats over 740m (43.38; 33.00) to remain unbeaten in her trials.

NOTED TRIALS

XX Fairway To Heaven; Mayflower; Roselyn's Star

X Agarwood; Astronomix; Bev's Nine; Bosustow; Buckeye; High Alert; Lady Moscato; Lavish Empire; Majestic Legend; Melanite; Rajwa; Zambales; Zing To Me


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