News

Tough Trial Test For Delago Bolt

23rd Mar 2009

Racing and Sports - Chris Scholtz - Tuesday, 24th March 2009

Golden Slipper hope Delago Bolt will be pitted against noted Group One performers in an open barrier trial at Randwick on Friday.

Trainer Gary Portelli has been forced to enter Delago Bolt in a 1200m open age barrier trial over 120m on the Kensington track as Friday's session does not include a two-year-old heat over that distance.

Portelli has also nominated Delago Bolt for Saturday's Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill but prefers the trial option for the Black Opal Stakes winner just eight days out from the Golden Slipper at Rosehill on Saturday week.

The trial will provide Delago Bolt with a stern test as his opposotion includes Sydney's best mare Hot Danish and the top class Melbourne-trained trio of Alamosa, Light Fantastic and Pompeii Rulerl from the Mick Price stable.

Hot Danish is trialling on Friday to make up for missing a start in last Saturday's Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. She will have her next start in the G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday week.,

The wayward Group One winner Newport is also entered for the 1200m trial after stewards issued him with a final warning about his bad habits after he ditched his rider at the start of the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday.

It was the second time in recent starts that Newport has been placed under a stewards warning for intractable behaviour when leaving the barrier.

He must pass the stewards scrutiny in Friday's trial or his autumn carnival program will be in jeopardy as stewards have told trainer Paul Perry the grey's nomination or future races may be refused.

Ice Chariot and Get Up Jude, also under stewards orders to trial after their poor performances at Rosehill last Saturday, are also nominated for the Randwick trial.

Melbourne's glamour youngsters Rostova and Reward For Effort are entered for the feature 2YO heat on Friday over 800m on the Kensington track.

Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward For Effort was scratched fom last Saturday's Todman Stakes at Rosehill because of a dry cough.

He and Rostova will be facing their first serious test in the clockwise direction in Friday's trial. Their opposotion includes the Lee Freedman-trained Rock The Moment and Turf Express from the Gai Waterhouse stable.

Entries for the third feature trial on Friday over 800m on the Kensington track include Gai Waterhouse's classy gelding Bank Robber, impressive first-up winner Olananna and the Peter Snowden stablemates Aichi and Imvula.