Doomben Trials Recap - 14 Sep, 2021
AS the spring carnival unfolds in the south, another exciting aspect of racing at this time of year is the first appearance of the new season babies and speculation on which ones will become stars of the future.
From the time the hammer falls down at a yearling sale, or even before that, when a foal lands on the ground, owners and breeders dream of that horse becoming a champion.
The first test of whether those dreams might be realised come at the early season two-year-old trials, of which Doomben hosted five on Tuesday.
In Queensland, most trainers have eyes on qualifying for the January Magic Millions and a win in one of the early juvenile events can take a lot of pressure off trying to make the field.
There was seemingly some talented types who made their way to Doomben on Tuesday.
Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted saddled up Astern filly Merrily and under Baylee Nothdurft, she strode away to win her 840m heat by five lengths in 51.41 seconds.
Hoysted said the filly will make her race debut early next month.
Peter and Will Hulbert led in the only baby to better Merrily’s time during the session, with their Heroic Valour colt Heroic Son posting a 51.29 overall time.
Will Hulbert said Heroic Son would race in a 2YO Plate at Doomben on October 2.
The other three two-year-old heats were all taken out by Les Ross trained youngsters for prominent owner-breeder Mike Crooks.
The most visually impressive was Mishani Embrace, who posted a five lengths winning margin at what was her second official trial.
Mishani Embrace is by Aquis Farm stallion The Mission, who also sired Ross’ Heat 1 trial winner Mishani Warfare.
The third of the Ross winners was Spanish Angels, a filly by Telemon Thoroughbreds’ based stallion Sidestep.
The Pat O’Shea Plate at Toowoomba on September 25 is the first metropolitan two-year-old race in Queensland, before the 2YO Plate at Doomben a week later. Ross is hopeful of having up to four runners in the Toowoomba feature.
Eagle Farm then hosts dual two-year-old events – one for the fillies and the other for colts and geldings, on October 9.
Alligator Blood Continues Comeback Trail
Group 1 winner Alligator Blood continued his comeback bid by taking out a Doomben trial on Tuesday under Jimmy Orman.
The 2020 Australian Guineas winner resumed last month in the Listed Goldmarket on the Gold Coast.
Trainer Billy Healey believes the five-year-old still needs more time to reach his top and has therefore elected to bypass the Toowoomba Weetwood on September 25.
Healey is yet to lock in a program for Alligator Blood, but said everything would be geared towards having him at his top for the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) in January.