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Litt's Warning For Castelvecchio Trial Doubters

By Ray Hickson

Trainer Richard Litt has warned against reading anything into the first appearance of Group 1 winner Castelvecchio at the Rosehill trials on Tuesday.

While all eyes were on dual Everest champ Redzel up front, out the back was Champagne Stakes winner Castelvecchio and those taking it on face value would be worried.

But Litt, who didn’t even bother watching the trial live, says the colt is exactly where he wants and dismissed any concerns about the 17 length margin to the winner.

“This was just to get out there and kick him off. There are going to be a few critics there thinking ‘oh no what’s happened’ but he’s flying and Josh (Parr) is very happy,’’ Litt said.

“They are entitled to think that, to doubt him, it probably wasn’t pretty. I haven’t bothered to look at it because I was back at the stalls.

“He wasn’t out there to win a barrier trial and bust his boiler.’’

TAB reacted to the trial by easing Castelvecchio from $11 out to $15 for the Group 1 $1m Golden Rose (1400m) with Bivouac the current favourite at $8.


Castelvecchio finishes at the back in his trial at Rosehill on Tuesday

It’s worth noting that Litt elected to put ear muffs on Castelvecchio for the trial, something he doesn’t usually do, suggesting the exercise was merely an opportunity to blow out the cobwebs.

“He went fantastic, he did what I expected and he’s pulled up well,’’ he said.

“He does all his work in ear muffs and wears them a lot at home, they keep him quiet and calm, and today being a day out I wanted to keep him relaxed before and after the trial.

“They will come off for his next trial.’’

Redzel put the 1000m of the course proper trial behind him in 58.1 seconds which was almost three seconds faster (about 18 lengths) than the following trial won by Enticing Star.

Litt said he plans to give the three-year-old probably a 1200m trial at Warwick Farm with the blinkers on before resuming in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on September 14.

Though he hasn’t yet ruled out tackling the Golden Rose (1400m) first-up.

“Obviously it was a very fast trial, he was run off his feet. It was his first trial and those sprinters were ready to rock and roll,’’ Litt said.

“They have the Everest coming up so they have to be very fit and keep slot holders happy.

“I knew what today was about and how he would go. That will bring him on a lot.

“I wanted to give him a look around Rosehill, he’s never been there and that’s where we are kicking off his preparation.’’

All the results and replays from Tuesday's Rosehill trials

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