There was a big set of trials on the turf at Rosehill on Monday morning with nine heats won by juveniles including two expensive unraced I Am Invincible colts that have both already been gelded and an Emirates Park blueblood filly, whose dam has had three foals to race that are all stakes-winners.
Team Hawkes have had a lot of success for owner Alan Bell and the pair combine with I Am Invincible gelding Golden Age, who was having his second trial following an educational outing two weeks ago.
Golden Age was asked to do more this time and worked forward to lead for Willie Pike, going on to win by more than two lengths held together.
A $500,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Sledmere Stud draft, Golden Age is a big heavy horse that always looked like he’d want gelding even as a yearling.
Golden Age as a yearling.
Bred by China Horse Club, Golden Age is the second foal from Group I winner First Seal, whose first foal Naval Seal (by Snitzel) topped the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when selling for $1.8million. He has also been gelded and was recently on-sold through Inglis Digital for $245,000 and won at Rosehill last Saturday for the Chris Waller stable.
Also purchased from Inglis Easter for $500,000 by Hawkes Racing is I am Invincible gelding Airman, who was also having his second trial after finishing third in the first one behind subsequent metro debut winner Eponymous.
Airman jumped well and held the fence, steaming through on the inside for Willie Pike to win by a neck under a hold.
Bred by Chris Barham and foaled, raised and sold by Segenhoe, Airman is the second foal of stakes-placed Fastnet Rock mare Zara Bay, a sister to Group I winner Merchant Navy, Group II winner Jolie Bay and stakes-winner Setanta.
Airman as a yearling.
Peter and Paul Snowden have trained some nice fillies for Emirates Park and unraced Fastnet Rock filly Salaasel looms as another after winning her first public trial.
Salaasel has been retained to race and is a full sister to Group II winner Hilal and half-sister to stakes-winners Salateen and Trojan Harbour from blue-blood Encosta de Lago mare Salma.
Salma retired unraced, but she is a daughter of Emirates Park’s Group III winner Salameh, a half-sister to their Group I VRC Australian Guineas winner and Group I sire Al Maher. Emirates Park have made this branch of the famed Dancing Show family their own and it continues to deliver success.
The fastest juvenile heat of the morning was won by speedy Winning Rupert filly Passeggiata from the Bjorn Baker stable.
She opened up to win by eight lengths and is now two for two at the trials.
A $130,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Yes Bloodstock (B Sokolski / M Scown) / Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock from the Sledmere Stud draft, Passeggiata is a half-sister to two smart winners from Saunter, a placed Exceed and Excel mare from stakes-placed Lanquin.
Passeggiata was a lovely looking yearling.
Other heat winners were: California Touch (Deep Field), Alpha One (Super One), Midori Burly (Smart Missile), Dame Cartland (Written Tycoon) and Burnt Orange (Snitzel).
Click here for all results at Breednet with Sale Mail and Racing NSW with video.
