Latest News

Rosehill (8/6) Trials Review
By Ray Hickson

Star Of Monsoon’s transformation from maligned to reliable betting proposition appears complete.

The four-year-old signalled he’s ready for a fruitful winter campaign with his eye-catching fourth in a 1030m heat at Rosehill on Friday.

As a colt he was a 16 start maiden but in five starts since being gelded he’s recorded two wins and three placings and looked every bit a racehorse.

In his second hitout this preparation, Star Of Monsoon settled near the tail under Tye Angland then worked around the field into a clear fourth striding out under his own steam.

He can be followed with confidence.

Check out Star Of Monsoon hitting the line late in his trial at Rosehill on Friday

A first-up win could also be on the cards for Bjorn Baker’s mare Irithea who made the race fit stakes winner Anatola look second rate in their 900m clash.

Irithea has looked the goods in both her trials and the fact she was beaten first-up last prep should be ignored, especially if she resumes on a rain affected surface.

She sat off Anatola and went straight past her about 150m out under a grip while the runner-up was pushed hard to keep up.

Where that leaves Anatola, who set a track record at Randwick back in April but was beaten out of sight in Brisbane at her latest start, is a slight concern going forward this time in.

Cruising in behind the placegetters in that trial was Best Guess who enjoyed an excellent late spring campaign and wasn’t asked for an effort in running fourth.

Baker was quite prominent at the Rosehill trials and he’d have been pleased with the wins of Redouble and Horn who were both having their second trial.

Redouble, who posted Rosehill wins at his first two runs last prep, was asked for a small test in his 900m heat and while the time was over a second slower than Irithea he’s not as adept in soft ground.

The well named Horn (out of a mare called Sucker Punch) went about his business in fine style, cruising along in front and he did things pretty well all told edging away late in moderate time.

Three-year-olds Spencer and Smartypy from the Baker barn are worth a bit of a look too – Spencer possibly wasn’t super happy in the ground but he was strong late under a hold while Smartypy didn’t ever get a crack at them in her heat.

Smartypy has had the two starts and finished third at $2.10 and $2.80 after leading and weakening, perhaps it was a deliberate move to get her used to racing off the pace.

Spencer’s heat was won by the Gerald Ryan-trained Sparkly Star, a four start maiden who very much appeared to enjoy his work as he emerged from the pack before racing clear for another easy trial win.

A provincial maiden could be up his alley when he returns.

An unraced filly from the Chris Waller camp called Bubbles’n’troubles should be considered wherever she makes her debut in the coming weeks.

In her fourth public trial, the youngster finished fifth but was held up in a pocket and unable to stretch out until past the line where she was very strong.

She did win her previous trial, beating Task And Purpose who was placed at Canterbury on debut midweek, quite handily.

Check out all the results and replays from Friday's Rosehill trials