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Rosehill Trials 30 December
By Ray Hickson

Trainer Gerald Ryan has taken promising Sebring filly Heart Of The Oak along conservatively in her short career to date but after completing her second trial win at Rosehill on Monday it won’t surprise if he ups the ante this preparation.

Heart Of The Oak hasn’t raced since she made it back-to-back Newcastle wins in late August and she had plenty in hand in the 900m heat despite coming from last and circling midrace.

After allowing her to slide up into a striking position coming to the turn, jockey James Innes Jnr kept a tight hold of the three-year-old as she picked up the leaders and put them away.

Half a length might not seem a commanding margin but she looked to have a decent amount in hand. You’d be shocked if she doesn’t make the transition to city class sooner rather than later.

It was a different story for stablemate Omar in his all the way win in the preceding 900m heat for open class horses, run about three lengths slower.

Omar has won three races at the provincials, all at 1000m, so be wary of where he’s placed first-up but there were a few interesting horses chasing him home.

Heart Of The Oak wins a Rosehill trial on December 30

Chief among those are third placed Champagne Cuddles, who worked home well late, and fourth placed River Bird who wasn’t given a lot of rein in a nice first trial this prep, plus as far as last places go Roheryn had a good little hitout running through the line.

Godolphin has been a little quiet on the two-year-old front in the spring and summer so far but watch out that Beyliks doesn’t step up early in the new year.

This colt ran third in the Breeders’ Plate, starting a clear favourite, and his trial win over 900m, while the time was only average, stood out.

He was held up for a lot of the straight and once Jason Collett pushed him into the clear he reacted quickly to win the trial narrowly but with authority.

Chris Waller produced a couple of two-year-old trial winners of note, Hungry Heart clocked the fastest time among the juvenile heats as she scooted along the inside to win.

The $300,000 Frankel filly was having her first trial so don’t be surprised if she has a quiet one next time around, if indeed she trials again. Note the Godolphin filly Niaku, by Kermadec, out of the same heat, she was held together strongly wider out and she’d be ready to race now after two trials.

It was a narrow win for the Waller-trained Selburose in the following heat, run in much slower time, but you’d have to be a fan of the way she finished off her first outing when given a little squeeze by Brenton Avdulla.

Her stablemate Tycoon Hallie, another first time trialler, ran fourth and stretched out well late.

Team Hawkes produced two trial winners who can be well placed in maidens namely Valdostana, who debuted back in February in the Pierro Plate, and Freighter having his first trial.

Valdostana had a preparation in the winter but didn’t race and her two length win at her second trial was as soft as you get in fairly even time. Freighter ran over a second faster in winning his heat and after sitting on the speed he held them at bay easily.

Other horses to keep an eye out for going forward are the now gelded Rammstein, Godolphin fillies Katalin and Amitto and a Hawkes three-year-old Private Missile while the likes of King Of Hastings and Redouble had excellent clean outs for their Gold Coast assignments coming up.

All the results and replays from Monday's Rosehill Gardens trials