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Rosehill Trials (22/1) Review
By Ray Hickson

Does Bjorn Baker have a star on his hands in the shape of smart three-year-old Addictive Nature?

For the second time this month the colt played a leading role at the trials and this time his performance stood out above some of the biggest names in racing – the likes of Winx, Redzel and Ace High to name a few who were present for an easy time.

If you though Addictive Nature looked the goods winning back on January 12 then you can double that after his dominant 2-1/2 length win over 900m.

The colt sat off the speed and was held back under a decent hold by Jason Collett before exploding from the 200m running 1.2 seconds faster than the proven Group 1 performers in the opening heat.

Already a Group 3 winner, Addictive Nature looks very much headed for something special in the coming months.

Behind the colt in his trial were Golden Slipper runner-up Frolic having a quiet first trial and Oaks contender Luvaluva who worked home strongly late.

Addictive Nature was the standout performer at Monday's Rosehill trials

Winx has already had plenty of air time for her pleasing sixth and she looked and galloped about as well as everyone expected. She settled back and Hugh Bowman was happy to keep her in behind the leading bunch and she went to the line hard held about two lengths from the winner.

But she wasn’t the only horse in her heat.

It’s quite a roll call – Golden Rose winner Trapeze Artist, Craven Plate winner Classic Uniform, stakes performers Comin’ Through and Bonny O’Reilly, Spring Champion and Derby winner Ace High, Everest champ Redzel.

None of them would lose any admirers for how they were turned out in their first hitouts ahead of an autumn culminating in The Championships but to single out a few:

Trapeze Artist – outside the leader, always travelled well and proved too strong. Has returned in good order.

Ace High – raced quite handy considering the short trip and wasn’t extended. Could he be sharp enough for a Randwick Guineas on the way to the ATC Derby?

Redzel – led them up early (no blinkers) and was kept under restraint as Winx passed him late. He was only there for the day out, assess him on trial two.

Golden Slipper second favourite Performer was asked for a serious workout in narrowly winning his 900m trial on the inside grass ahead of his likely return in the Canonbury Stakes on February 3.

The colt, who impressed winning the Breeders’ Plate and his first trial this prep, raced midfield and Hugh Bowman had the whip out on him to keep his mind on the job.

He ran down an unraced colt from the Hawkes stable called Vedder. This fellow appeared at the official trials in September but hadn’t been seen since.

He took over after racing outside the lead and it was really only in the last stride that he was grabbed by Performer – and was definitely doing it a lot easier.

Two of the most promising three-year-olds in training that are yet to be exposed to the top level are Kaonic and the Frankel-More Joyous filly Woman and they had contrasting trials.

Kaonic, who is nominated for a 1300m event at Rosehill this Saturday, was slowly out in his heat and was niggled at a bit in the last 200m behind the placings without being fully pushed.

While Woman led them up early and was also given a small tickle before edging away again late.

There’s a host of lightly raced horses worth keeping an eye out for in the coming weeks, some may have another trial, but there’s a nice second wave of talent getting ready to race.

They include: Pembroke Castle (2yo, Waller), Hiemal (2yo, Cummings), Touch Of Mink (3yo, Smith), Acqume and Za Zi Ba (3yos, Widdup), Nettoyer (4yo, Roche) and Meraki Miss (3yo, Baker).

Check out the results and replays from Monday's barrier trials at Rosehill Gardens featuring Winx