Lady Of Camelot, Storm Boy build up for spring racing carnival
Two of the highest-profile two-year-olds from last season, Lady Of Camelot and Storm Boy, took their spring preparations to a new level on Monday with trials at Randwick.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott -trained duo made their first public appearances of the campaign in the trials that was originally scheduled for last Friday but were deferred three days due to wet weather.
Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot had to settle for second placing in her 850-metre trial, beaten a long-neck by the Michael Freedman-trained Insurrection, who won the trial under a lighter ride than Tim Clark gave Lady Of Camelot.
It was the first trial of the campaign for the daughter of Written Tycoon and Waterhouse and Bott have lofty goals in mind for the filly who carries Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock colours.
Golden Slipper winner LADY OF CAMELOT finishes second behind @MFreedmanRacing gelding INSURRECTION this morning.
— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) August 4, 2024
“At the end of the day, Sir Owen Glenn will decide which way she goes but the Moir (Stakes) is more than likely first-up,” Bott said.
“If she runs well there, then onto The Everest.”
The Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) will be run at The Valley on September 7 with The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19.
Storm Boy’s trial was almost a carbon copy of Lady Of Camelot’s with the exception being that the Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner and Golden Slipper third placegetter was able to get his head down and win his 850m trial.
The son of Justify sat outside Moravia and was urged along by jockey James Mcdonald with the pair scoring a short-half-head win.
Storm Boy’s winning time on the Soft 7 track was 51.58 seconds, which was slower than Insurrection’s time of 50.87secs.
Storm Boy could be seen as early as the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) on August 31 with the Golden Rose (1400m) and Caulfield Guineas (1600m) the likely key Group 1 targets.
Monday’s transferred Randwick trials kick-started a big couple of days of trials in Sydney with Rosehill to host a star-studded set on Tuesday, with Switzerland another of last season’s high-profile juveniles to step out.
He will trial over 900m against multiple Group 1 winner Zougotcha, while their Chris Waller -trained stablemates Via Sistina, Fangirl and Riff Rocket are also entered to trial.
More Racing News
Melbourne Cup hopes boosted for Ciaron Maher runners after handicapping
Juja Kibo has taken a significant step towards a Melbourne Cup start, receiving a revised handicap following his impressive victory in The Metropolitan last Saturday.The chief handicapper for Racing Victoria, David Hegan, assigned the Ciaron Maher-trained stayer a 2kg penalty for the $10 million event, acknowledging his dominant 1-3/4-length win...
Crescent King set for Brian Crowley Stakes after Warwick Farm triumph
While Crescent King has not yet been tested in Saturday races, a commanding win at Warwick Farm on Monday could well have earned him a start in Stakes company.The Written Tycoon colt, a three-year-old, now boasts two wins from as many starts this preparation after he reeled in the speedy...
Attrition set for another tilt at the Hill Stakes
Mitch Freedman's primary focus at Flemington last Saturday was on the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes, which he claimed with Skybird, but he was also an interested observer of the Turnbull Stakes.The Ballarat trainer expressed his satisfaction at seeing Cosmic Crusader achieve a dominant 1-3/4-length victory in the 2000-metre Group 1...
Welcometotheshow primed for Toorak Handicap tilt
Trainer Tyler Donaldson-Aitken is preparing to mark a significant career milestone, readying his first Group 1 contender, Welcometotheshow.The race targeted for Welcometotheshow is the highly anticipated Toorak Handicap, a 1600-metre event at Caulfield this Saturday. This comes after the gelding secured his inaugural Stakes race victory at Flemington on September...
Flying For Fun targets Schillaci Stakes after impressive return
Bryce Heys has opted to keep Flying For Fun at shorter distances for now, with the mare's next start set to be in Melbourne for the Schillaci Stakes.The dual stakes winner is expected to be nominated for the 1100m sprint at Caulfield on Saturday. This comes after a promising return...
Close call as Skybird narrowly wins Gilgai Stakes
Depending on when you are reading this, trainer Mitchell Freedman and favourite backers may only just have exhaled as a unique characteristic nearly brought Skybird undone in the Gilgai Stakes at Flemington.Sent out the $2.90 market elect, Skybird looked set for an easy victory as jockey Ben Melham eased the...
Cosmic Crusader's Turnbull Stakes victory points to Cox Plate tilt
Pakenham trainer Andrea Leek has celebrated her most substantial success to date as Cosmic Crusader triumphed in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Leek is now aiming for an even greater prize, hoping to return to headquarters for Australia's premier weight-for-age race, the Cox Plate, with the Perth-owned galloper.The prestigious Cox...
Premiere Stakes victory for Tempted seals Everest start
Tempted has made a powerful statement with her commanding win in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick, effectively securing her owner Godolphin's slot in The Everest and signalling her readiness to challenge Hong Kong's elite sprinter Ka Ying Rising.The official confirmation is awaited, but Tempted is expected to represent the global...
Mr Monaco books Melbourne Cup ticket with Flemington win
The Ciaron Maher stable has successfully gained another 'Golden Ticket' to the Melbourne Cup thanks to Mr Monaco's triumph at Flemington.Mr Monaco triumphed in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, thereby securing a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) scheduled for November 3.Previously, Shockletz...
Sam Clipperton makes triumphant return with Group 2 Metropolitan win on Juja Kibo
Jockey Sam Clipperton marked his most significant success since his return from retirement by guiding Juja Kibo to victory in the Randwick staying feature, The Metropolitan, a race now designated as Group 2.Clipperton had stepped away from the saddle just over a year after his 2023 Everest triumph on Think...