In his first public appearance of the year, star colt Ozzmosis has posted an encouraging barrier trial win at Randwick as he moves a step closer to his scheduled return in the Group 1 The Galaxy.
The Coolmore Stud Stakes winner sat outside leader Athelric before getting the better of him in the straight and finding the line strongly under his own steam to defeat Schwarz by three-quarters of a length with Athelric another length away in third.
It was an effort that ticked all the right boxes for trainer Bjorn Baker, who said the colt had furnished beautifully since the spring.
“He is definitely bigger and stronger and probably needs that touch more work, so we are just mindful of that,” Baker said.
“But I thought he trialled super and I’m really looking forward to getting him back to the races.
“We will get him home, make sure he comes through it well. He’s got a heap of improvement to come off that as well.”
Ozzmosis will have another trial early next month before kicking off his carnival in The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Golden Slipper day.
With regular rider Rachel King in Japan, apprentice Dylan Gibbons put Ozzmosis through his paces in Thursday’s 850m heat and Baker was happy to glean his insight given Gibbons had partnered the colt to a Randwick win in June.
“Dylan was thrilled. He said he was a much bigger and stronger version than when he won on him at his second start,” Baker said.
“He’s been riding plenty of winners for the stable in the last couple of weeks, so it was good to have him there.”
Baker also revealed that King considered a fly-in, fly-out trip to ride Ozzmosis in the trial, such was her keenness to stick with him.
The hoop is in the final weeks of a two-month Japanese riding contract and has enjoyed a wonderful stint, in January becoming the first female to win a Japan Racing Association Group race when triumphant aboard Chuck Nate at Nakayama.
King will be back in time to reunite with Ozzmosis in his next trial, and his race day return.
“She will be on in the Galaxy and we’ll go from there,” Baker said.
“She has been riding really well in Japan, we’ve been thrilled to watch how well she has been going.”
Ozzmosis had some smart horses behind him in the trial, Ruthless Dame catching the eye when finishing stylishly for fifth, while Shinzo was doing his best work over the final 100m for sixth.
