Scholtz's Say
Trial Watch Reviews: 8th January - 9th January 2026
Chris Scholtz reviews barrier trials at Newcastle on January 8 and Warwick Farm on January 9.
Inside Grass; Soft 5
13 Heats – 3 x 1200m (1 Open; 2 C1/Maiden); 5 x 800m (2 Open; 1 3YO; 2 2YO); 5 x 796m (5 Maiden)
CURIE (Bjorn Baker): Smart work by this lightly raced maiden filly, showing she has progressed nicely from her first two starts early in the season. Took control of her 796m heat from the start, travelling strongly from start to finish with her rider easing her down through the line (46.86; 33.33). Sure to be well placed in a midweek maiden.
SHE'S ASSORT (Richard Litt): Excellent work by this unraced Tassort filly to win her 796m heat, leading untouched and never put under pressure when the runner-up came at her over the last 100m. She was placed in her first three trials and has been well educated for her debut.
Some classy types contested an open heat over 800m with the promising G3 winner SIXTIES winning the trial in good style despite the slow time (48.91; 34.45). A lovely return trial by the G1 winner ATTICA to finish fifth in this heat in a perfect start to his autumn prep.Group 3 winner Sixties wins a trial at Warwick Farm on Friday in his first hitout since the Golden Rose. The @cwallerracing colt accounted for Zoufield with Kerber in third. In behind them was @godolphin Group 1 Spring Champion winner Attica. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/eZ8zv1mbjz
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) January 8, 2026
The 2YO heats over 800m saw excellent efforts by CYCLONE JAX finishing second in her trial won by the fast AGRARIAN GIRL (47.25; 33.91) and a strong fourth by the imposing Wootton Bassett colt CONFEDERATION in the other heat won by smart I Am Invincible filly SCINTILLATION (47.24; 33.49).
Good trials in the open heats by BURJ, WILLAIDOW, PRINCE HARRISON and BANJORA while maidens to keep an eye on include RAVE ABOUT IT, HAY STREET and CROSSWAYS.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Curie; She's Assort
X Agrarian Girl; Attica; Banjora; Burj; Captainthunderbolt; Confederation; Crossways; Cyclone Jaz; Hay Street; Prince Harrison; Rave About It; Scintillation; Sixties; Willaidow
NEWCASTLE January 8
Beaumont Grass; Good 4
17 Heats – 1 x 1200m (Open); 7 x 1000m (3 Open; 4 Maiden); 9 x 800m (3 Open; 1 2YO; 5 Maiden)
A couple of maidens impressed with smart heat wins in fast time.
GRAVEL ROAD (Kristen Buchanan): Strong debut trial by this Capitalist gelding. Sat outside the lead to the turn and extended easily to run freely to the line under a hold for soft 3.6 lengths win in the fastest of the nine heats over 800m (45.22; 33.35). Should take plenty of benefit from the experience.
WOODROW (Kris Lees): Nice effort by this Exceed And Excel gelding in his first trial since the winter. Worked strongly under a hold outside the lead before taking control at the 300m and had plenty in reserve holding his rivals comfortably to the line in smart time (45.90; 33.90). Expect him to improve on his first two starts in August when he contested some strong maidens.
Other maidens to impress with their strong work included RIGA, QUI ROUGE, ON ONE, HE'STHECHIEF and the previously noted PERFECT FORCE.
The only 2YO trial over 800m saw a sharp debut win by the Portland Sky filly OREGON COAST. Tracked a line of three leaders and had no trouble picking them up with good work over the last 200m, running easily to the line for a soft win by 2.5 lengths (46.92; 33.68).
NOTED TRIALS
XX Gravel Road; Woodrow
X Annie's Rose; Buffalo; He'sthechief; Is It Spectacular; Mercantilist; On One; Oregon Coast; Our Emily; Perfect Force; Qui Rouge; Riga; Totoka
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