Spring Contenders Step out at Randwick Trials

Tara Madgwick - Friday July 31

Three trials for Group and Listed horses at Randwick on Friday morning showcased a number of leading spring contenders with the heats won by Home of the Brave, Savatiano and New Zealand Horse of the Year Melody Belle, but some of the beaten runners really caught our eye.
 



Mark Newnham’s soon to be four year-old Snitzel stallion Splintex closed out his last campaign with a career best performance to win the Group II ATC Arrowfield Stud Sprint on a heavy track.

A homebred for Geoff and Mary Grimish, he looked big and strong and ready for a good spring, particularly if the wet tracks linger around.
 



Rising six year-old mare Savatiano has been kept in work by Godolphin instead of being retired to stud and after being competitive in several Group I races this year, may well find an elite race to win in the new season.

The daughter of Street Cry (IRE) has made improvement in every season and she might well hit her peak in 2020/ 2021.
 



John Thompson’s star Wandjina colt Mamaragan looked to have come back super well in this trial, travelling strongly for Nash Rawiller all the way and hitting the line hard under a hold.

He was the best juvenile not to win a Group I last season and might be the first three year-old to win one this season!

Mamaragan looked in great shape this morning.

Click for trial results at Breednet with Sale Mail and at Racing NSW with video.

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Early Return Home for Cogburn
Group I winning Not This Time son Cogburn (USA) will return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier than planned after disappointing fertility results during his first Australian covering season at Widden Stud.
Melbourne Cup Dream Alive for Kiwi Stayers
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) dreams are still alive for connections of Kiwi stayers Mark Twain and Trav.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Impressive First winner for Armory
Mapperley Stud stallion Armory recorded his first winner on Sunday when his two-year-old daughter Silhouette raced to a dominant victory in the Fusion Electrical Two-Year-Old (900m) at Trentham.
New Cup Goal for Wolfgang
It may not be the Cup target they were aiming for, but Wolfgang put himself firmly into Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) calculations following his victory in the SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup Prelude (2400m) at Te Rapa on Monday.
First Winner for King of Comedy
Novara Park Stud stallion King Of Comedy (IRE) is on the board as a sire, with his son Sir Ruby becoming his first winner when victorious over 1300m at Selangor Turf Club in Malaysia on Sunday.
One to Watch – Sha Tin – You Don’t See That Every Day!
The Mark Newnham stable has been on fire in Hong Kong since the start of the new season and the former Sydney trainer produced a super promising winner at Sha Tin on Sunday by Capitalist that did everything wrong and miraculously still won the race!
Sires With Winners - Sunday October 26
Here is the full list of 74 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Rewarding Weekend for Waikato Stud
A double strike at stakes level, a filly with a black-type future and a welcome family success handed Waikato Stud another rewarding weekend.