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Rosehill trials (8/1) review
By Ray Hickson

Champion trainer Chris Waller has yet to win a Golden Slipper but he may have one hand on the trophy after his promising colt Performer posted a soft trial win at Rosehill on Monday.

There’s still plenty of water to flow before the $3m two-year-old classic on March 24 but Performer has comfortably held top place at the top of TAB markets since his impressive Breeders’ Plate win back on September 30.

Unlike in his only raceday appearance, Performer stepped away well in his 900m Rosehill heat and travelled fourth on the fence.

Hugh Bowman angled him into the clear on the turn and joined in around 200m out, from there he had the runner-up Omar well and truly covered.

We can expect to see Performer trial again before resuming in the Canonbury Stakes on February 3 but, at this point, he’s the one they have to beat in the Slipper and is the $8 TAB favourite.

Golden Slipper favourite Performer winning his Rosehill trial

Omar’s effort in running second had merit, it was his first public trial and stayed on well up on the pace.

He’s a Snitzel son of 2012 Magic Night Stakes winner Ichihara, who didn’t contest the Golden Slipper, and is sure to have some upside.

Away from Performer, the real stand out from the Waller stable among the 13 heats was unraced filly Charlayne – if she’s not a debut winner it’ll be a big surprise.

She’s a full sister to stablemate Black On Gold. The three-year-old was badly held up in the 900m trial to the turn and checked then Hugh Bowman found runs through the field before hitting the line with real zest to go down a length.

Imported galloper Endless Drama has been a disappointment so far with just one placing from four Australian starts but the autumn could be his time.

In his second trial this preparation, the six-year-old always travelled like a winner as he tracked the leader and he worked through the line strongly to run out an easy victor.

We may see him again at the trials with the Apollo Stakes (1400m) his possible kick off point – he ran third in the race to Winx and Hartnell last year.

Still with the Waller camp and Gimcrack Stakes placegetter Fiesta has come back in good order with a handy second behind Team Hawkes filly Estijaab in their 900m heat.

Fiesta was definitely given less work to do than the winner in what was an ideal starting point.

The two stables also produced the highlight runners in a 900m open trial with Mahalangur and Paret filling the placings behind the Gerald Ryan-trained Girl Sunday.

Mahalangur stamped himself as a three-year-old of promise in the spring and he’s a horse that could easily jump out of the ground in 2018.

Paret has also only had three starts but is a little quirkier as evidenced by him missing the start and racing very fresh in the first half before he tracked Mahalangur through into third place.

Both colts can be effective in at least the second level during the autumn.

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