Spring stars trial at Warwick Farm

The newly formed training partnership of Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald gave their newly acquired stable star Amelia’s Jewel her first trial on Monday morning, with the Group 1 winning mare finishing second in her 900m heat.

Amelia’s Jewel was slowly away under Tommy Berry but recovered quickly, going to the line under a hold in second behind the Michael Freedman trained Ducasse, who came home in a time of 55.40, comfortably the slowest of the three 900m Group trials.

A winner over distances ranging from 1000m to 1800m, Amelia’s Jewel is likely to kick off in a race Neasham knows well, the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m), on September 7th.

“At this stage I’m thinking Tramway (Stakes), but we will let the trials do the talking,” Neasham said.

“I said to Walshy (owner breeder Peter Walsh),’it’s the race Zaaki won twice’ and he said, ‘that will do’.”

Stablemate and fellow Group 1 winner Sunshine In Paris also trialled on Monday morning in an earlier heat won by Manaal, again for Michael Freedman, with a slot in The Everest firmly on the agenda, having missed the race last year due to injury. Her owner, John Camillieri, has a slot in this year’s race should he choose to select the mare.

“She will have a couple of trials and then probably go to the Sheraco. Same as last year,” Neasham said.

“We haven’t got to chase a slot, we’ve just got to keep her in one piece this year,” Neasham said.

Sunshine In Paris finished last of six in her heat behind Manaal, only beaten 2.25 lengths, with Neasham warning that the mare never trials well.

Meanwhile, the stable’s newly turned three-year-olds won’t be seen in this Saturday’s Listed The Rosebud (1100m), including recent Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) placegetter Bosustow, who is a half-brother to Amelia’s Jewel.

“The three-year-olds are a bit later. We’ve got Depth Of Character, Bosustow,

Megastar Heart those horses that went up to Queensland. They will be going towards Caulfield Guineas type races a bit later on,” Neasham said.

The most impressive trial of the morning belonged to Semana, who won the opening 1000m heat by four lengths to Group 1 winner Just Fine. Group 1 winning mares Poptronic and Pennyweka , both in the Yu Long colours, finished near the tail.

Michael Depth Of Characte also took out the other 900m Group trial with Group 3 winning mare Mumbai Muse, leading throughout over Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) placegetter Encap.