Two-year-olds by freshman trio Hallowed Crown, Deep Field and Verrazano put their names forward as early-season contenders with wins in the Cranbourne trials on Monday.
On the same day Randwick hosted 14 2-year-old trials, there were four in Victoria over 800m, with the fastest time of 47.78 recorded by Mockery, who is from the first Australian crop of Verrezano (USA), who stood for one season at Coolmore before returning to the USA.
Mockery, who is trained by John McArdle, showed plenty of speed, leading by up to four lengths at the top of the straight before holding off Pearl Goddess, who is by another freshman sire in Rubick.
Bred by Scott and Rebecca Williamson, Mockery is the first foal from Madoni (Lonhro), whose half-sister High Achiever (Exceed and Excel) is the dam of South Australian black-type winner She's So High (I Am Invincible).
Gilded Crown (Hallowed Crown) won the first 2-year-old trial of the day, jumping to the front under Linda Meech and leading throughout before being challenged by Entente (Dundeel {NZ} over the final 200m
A $170,000 buy at this year's Premier Sale for Dean Hawthorne and trainer Peter Morgan, Gilded Crown is out of Crown of Coureuse (Beautfiul Crown), who is a half-sister to Hong Kong blacktype winner Sichaun Success (Fastnet Rock) as well Pirouettes (Danehill Dancer), the dam of Group 2 winner La Passe.
Gilded Crown as a yearling
Aerozoom (Deep Field) won his trial more comfortably, sitting wide on the track and finishing well under Damien Oliver to score by 1.25l.
Trainer Anthony Freedman bought Aerozoom, who is out of Pegasus Queen (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA), making him a half-brother to Snitzepeg (Snitzel) and Metallic Crown (Northern Meteor), for $100,000 at the Premier Yearling Sale.
Aerozoom as a yearling
True Serendipity (Toronado {Ire}) was second to Aerozoom, becoming the first trialler from his sire in Australia for trainer Matt Cumani.
Bella Rosa (Snitzel) looked very professional at her first appearance, leading all the way to beat California Honey (Starpangledbanner) in the other trial.
A $575,000 Magic Millions buy for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock, Bella Rosa is out of the stakeswinning mare Swiss Rose (NZ) who is a half-sister to multiple Group winner Prom Queen (NZ) {Super Easy).
Victoria's first 2-year-old race of the season is the Maribyrnong Trial S. on October 6 at Flemington.
