On the eve of Sydney’s final Saturday metropolitan meeting of the term, another wave of carnival horses will step out in barrier trials at Rosehill as they ramp up preparations for their seasonal resumptions.
Australian Derby winner Green Spaces, Queen Of The Turf Stakes heroine Idle Flyer and Flight Stakes victor Apocalyptic will be among those in action at Friday’s session.
The trio will clash in the opening 900m Group Trial, which will also feature top filly Savvy Hallie, who pushed Everest runner-up Tempted right to the line when narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) in February.
She was spelled after finishing out of the placings against the older mares in the Coolmore Classic (1500m) when trainer Brad Widdup felt she had reached the end of her preparation, and her preferred distance range.
“It was probably too far, and one run too many,” Widdup said.
“She is only starting to fill into herself now, so I still think the autumn next year might be her time. She’s still developing, but she’s done well this time in.
“We’ll see what happens, but hopefully she can be our flag bearer.”
Regular rider Nash Rawiller will partner Savvy Hallie on Friday and the rising four-year-old will have another hit-out next month before her scheduled return at Randwick on August 22.
“She’ll trial twice, then there’s the Toy Show (Quality) and Show County (Quality) on the same day, so she’ll probably head to one of them,” Widdup said.
Stablemate and Galaxy runner-up Jedibeel is still sometime away from a racetrack return after undergoing a successful operation following his performance in The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot in April.
The horse was eased out of the race in the straight and a subsequent veterinary inspection revealed an elevated heart rate and cough, while he was also found to have traces of blood in his trachea.
“He had to have throat surgery after Perth, but he’s not far off,” Widdup said.
“He has healed really well. Hopefully we will get him back late spring. We’ll just get him fit and work it out from there.”
Among other notable names at the Rosehill trials will be Canonbury Stakes winner Hidrix, and filly Chilly Girl, an impressive winner of the Widden Stakes before she was ruled out of the autumn carnival following a setback.
