Manaal catches the eye at the Randwick trials

Manaal served notice that she is poised to return to the Group 1 scene as a major player this Autumn Carnival with an eye-catching trial at Randwick on Tuesday.

Despite a light ride from Jason Collett, last year’s ATC Sires’ winner powered home from last midway down the straight to run Too Darn Lizzie to three-quarters-of-a-length in the 900-metre workout.

The daughter of Tassort’s momentum had her in front several strides after the post and has her primed for a mid-February return to the races after an earlier trial in January, when third in a 740m hitout won by Mayfair.

Trainer Michael Freedman has the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m), which will be run at Randwick on March 1, as the early autumn target for Manaal, who was given a light three-run spring campaign, the highlight of which was Group 2 success in the Furious Stakes (1400m).

Tuesday’s trial was the first of the campaign for Thousand Guineas third placegetter Too Darn Lizzie, while her Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stablemate Dominetta – who also hasn’t been seen since the Guineas – was third in her first trial of the preparation.

Powers Of Opal stepped out for the first time since her VRC Oaks second placing, coasting into fifth position, 2-1/2 lengths astern Too Darn Lizzie, while last-start Group 2 Matriarch Stakes winner Hinged was last for most of the trial in a low-key workout.

Tuesday’s other 900m Group-class trial included Mayfair, the Golden Rose placegetter who has not started since finishing last in the Caulfield Guineas, and that colt finished second to the speedy Insurrection with Flight Stakes placegetter Snow In May hitting the line stylishly for third.

Sunlight’s sister Clean Energy, who is unbeaten in two starts and is an $11 chance in Surround Stakes betting, finished second behind Junqueira in one of the open 1050m trials, while there were also four juvenile trials on the card.

Tulloch Lodge Zousain filly Bellazaine led home impressive debut winner Rivellino in the 800m trial for the two-year-olds who have already raced, while Manaal’s stablemate Marhoona, who is also raced by Emirates Park, was an all-the-way winner of the 1050m workout.

The two 740m juvenile trials were both won by James Harron Bloodstock youngsters, with Peter Snowden-trained Capitalist gelding Gambler cruising home by six lengths before Tulloch Lodge Exceed And Excel colt Anarchist scored a comfortable 1-1/4-length win over Wootton Lass.