By Bren O'Brien
Emerging star Eduardo (Host {Chi}) showed he is on track for the feature Group sprints of the autumn with an eight-length trial win at Cranbourne on Monday.
Eduardo emerged as one of the feel-good stories of the spring, progressing from a Moe maiden to a win in the G2 Caulfield Sprint for young trainer Sarah Zschoke and her partner, jockey Brian Park.
The G1 Oakleigh Plate has been the major goal for the 5-year-old and he looks to have continued his improvement over his summer break, as he set up a big margin early and simply got further in front, winning by eight lengths in the fastest 800m time of the morning.
"I was really impressed with his trial today. He was up against some nice horses and I thought he needed the gallop. But he did things so easy," Zschoke told Racing.com.
"I was really impressed with his trial today. He was up against some nice horses and I thought he needed the gallop. But he did things so easy," - Sarah Zschoke
"He had six weeks in the paddock, because he had such a long prep. He was due a nice bit of a let up. He's filled out and he came back really nice."
Zschoke, who has only four horses in work, is confident that her stable star can match up to the best sprinters this time in, and he will likely head straight to the Oakleigh Plate on February 23.
"I think that he has the ability and runs the times like those other horses in the race so I think he can be a top chance," she said.
"He has done everything that has been asked of him and he continues to improve and I don't see why he shouldn’t be up there with them."
Eduardo
The opening trial of the day over 1190 metres was taken out in similarly impressive fashion by 2017 G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss (Not A Single Doubt).
Mighty Boss hasn’t raced since he was well-beaten in the G1 Caulfield Cup but at his second trial back, won by six lengths.
Meanwhile Extra Brut (Domesday), a late scratching from the G3 Manfred S. on Saturday after being caught up in the Darren Weir ban, had his first trial for his new trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, working home to finish midfield.
The 2-year-old trials were taken out by Robbie Griffiths' impressive colt Languishing (Magnus) and Grahame Begg's Beauty Supreme (Star Witness).
Levendi autumn ends at Warwick Farm
There was drama at the Warwick Farm trials where G1 Australian Derby winner Levendi (Pierro) had to be pulled up shortly after leaving the barriers.
Levendi has not raced since his Group 1 success last April after having bone chips removed from his knees. He trialled at Warwick Farm two weeks ago, but at his second trial of his comeback was immediately pulled up by rider Brenton Avdulla.
It was later revealed the 4-year-old had suffered a pelvic fracture and he would be ruled out of the upcoming autumn carnival with a decision on his racing future to be made in the coming days.
"His action just wasn’t quite right behind," stable representative Manny Gelagotis said.
Levendi
It was much better news for the Gelagotis brothers later in the session when their promising 2-year-old Chicago Bull (Exceed and Excel) won his trial in the fastest of the five-2-year-old heats.
Travelling wide throughout under Sam Clipperton, Chicago Bull, who was third in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate in his only start, improved greatly from his first trial two weeks ago, toughing it out to win in 47.45s.
That was 0.26s quicker than Fiery Red (Pierro) had won his trial, with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained colt powering home with a 3.3l margin. He hasn’t been seen on the racetrack since running fifth on debut in the G3 Breeders' Plate in September.
Brad Widdup swept the three fillies' trials with Sally's Day (More Than Ready {USA}) the fastest in 48.04s, while stablemates Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) (48.55s) and Beachbreak (Sebring) (49.05s) also won their heats.
Beachbreak, having her second trial, is the half-sister to the sales topper from last month's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the I Am Invincible colt who sold for $1.7m to Lloyd Kennewell.
