Barrier trial winners shine as nearly 160 horses gear up for the season start.
In contrast to recent chilly mornings, the weather was unseasonably warm today, creating ideal conditions for training at the Champ de Mars. The rising anticipation ahead of the season's start was palpable, as nearly 160 horses continued their preparations in front of an enthusiastic crowd of passionate racegoers.
Freshly cleared to ride, Donavan Mansour was in action for the Paul Foo-Kune Stable, adding further momentum to this important training session.
Barrier Trials: Gujadhur Yard in the Spotlight
All eyes were on the three Barrier Trials, and once again, horses from the Gujadhur yard stole the show.
1. First Trial: Wugug broke smartly and quickly seized the lead, which he held onto until the home straight, with stable mate Zoomie producing a strong turn of foot to claim a commanding win. Wugug stayed on for 2nd, while, Kaisarissa ran third after needing strong urging from his jockey to stay in the mix.
2. Second Trial: It was slightly delayed after Sugar Blast proved stubborn on loading. Grand Bay confirmed his strong form from recent sand workouts, winning convincingly. Willie John was a solid second, ahead of Captain Bombshell and the aforementioned Sugar Blast, two contenders to watch in the upcoming Fashion Heights Duchess Of York Cup.
3. Third Trial: Blinkers seemed to do the trick for Mystery Cache, who exploded from the gates and ran out a comfortable winner. Havana Moon finished well to grab second, just ahead of Monumental.
Notable Workouts: Plenty to Like on the Sand Track
Several horses turned in sharp pieces of work:
- Betathantherest impressed with a blistering 800m gallop, showing excellent acceleration uphill.
- Itsrainingwilliam, coming off a powerful Barrier Trial performance last Saturday, completed a solo 1400m workout, looking composed and in full control throughout.
- Royal Sovereign continued his good form with a smooth 1000m gallop, stretching out beautifully in the home straight.
- Transonic has been working consistently well and this morning was no exception, as he clocked a very eye-catching 800m chrono.
- Ampersand and Bugaglugs were inseparable during their 1000m workout, both displaying an impressive burst of speed in the final stages.
- Having worked solo since the start of training, Royal Wulff teamed up with Broadway Alley, easily exerting his authority in a 600m workout.
- Elmo ventured out for a 1000m spin, displaying an explosive turn of foot in the home straight.
Trainers across the board had their strings out, with Vicky Ruhee's yard catching the eye. Horses such as Walls Of Dubrovnik, Zum Zum, Captain Cola, United Prince, Williamthefighter, and Master Of Mystery all looked sharp and full of running.
