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Randwick Trials (12/2) Review
By Ray Hickson

Popular galloper Happy Clapper couldn’t have done any more in his first public outing since the spring to suggest he can add the Doncaster to his Epsom crown during The Championships.

The seven-year-old was safely held in his 1000m trial at Randwick on Monday but he was clearly there just to stretch his legs and stretch them he did in fantastic fashion late in the gallop.

Blake Shinn had Happy Clapper settled at the tail of the field and he ambled through the pack to finish sixth, some seven lengths from the winner, without any effort.

It was a strong heat, they clocked 59 seconds flat for the 1000m, and classy mare Dixie Blossoms was asked to run down the slick Russian Revolution to win the trial.

Clearly, Dixie is in for another profitable campaign and connections of Russian Revolution would be more than pleased with his performance under a big hold from Kerrin McEvoy.

Promising grey D’Argento hit the line strongly to run third, a couple of lengths away.

Dixie Blossoms wins a strong Randwick trial including Russian Revolution and Happy Clapper

In the opening Group & Listed trial, there was plenty to like about smart colt Pariah’s cruisy third and the Oaks bound filly Luvaluva who warmed up late to be right on his heels.

Whether it’s too late for Bernardini colt Wagner to be a real Golden Slipper hope remains to be seen.

But it’d be almost worth a bit of the $51 to find out after another outstanding trial performance.

The Godolphin youngster’s winning margin was narrow but he has a powerful motor, evidenced by the six or seven lengths he picked up, with ease, in the last 200m or so of his 735m heat to score.

Two weeks earlier he scored by a big margin in a similar trial at Randwick but he arguably stood out more this time around.

Godolphin are really out in force at the moment, fresh from a successful weekend, and the likes of Resin, Demerara, Marsupial, Trekking, Viridine and Jorda all showed they’re back in good order.

Of those, it’s worth noting that Trekking has been gelded and, as he was very competitive at stakes level as a colt, he may jump out of the ground.

Unbeaten colt Neutrality’s trial was drama charged and his effort to win it was outstanding.

After jumping fairly he moved into second place and was then run right off the track by the leader. Blake Shinn then eased him and switched back to the fence and from there he cantered in.

He won easily on debut at Rosehill in early November and looks a real Slipper chance too, currently $26 with TAB.

Greg Hickman’s Magic Millions Guineas winner Pierata is warming up nicely to make an impact during the autumn carnival and he attacked the line as well as you’d expect untested in his 1200m heat to go down narrowly.

If he takes on the likes of Kementari, Ace High and Trapeze Artist in the Hobartville Stakes on Saturday week it’ll be quite a contest.

She Will Reign’s half-sister Rosina Kojonup, trained by Bjorn Baker, created a solid first impression winning her first public trial with some dominance.

She sat wide and chimed in about 200m out before stargazing a bit in her three-quarter length win.

Unraced three-year-old filly Livia’s Story would be worth keeping an eye out for, particularly at the provincials, after easily winning her second trial this time in.

She tracked the pace to the turn then eased out to chase, given a niggle or two then sprinted sharply to a three length win over the 1045m in good time for that trip.

Check out all the results and replays from Monday's barrier trials at Royal Randwick