Scholtz's Say
Trial Watch Reviews: 3rd February - 6th February 2026
Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney trials at Warwick Farm on February 3 and Canterbury on February 6.
Course Proper; Good 4
17 Heats – 4 x 1106m (3 Open; 1 Maiden); 6 x 902m (4 Open; 2 3YO); 7 x 899m (4 2YO; 3 Maiden)
Several G1 stars took advantage of the trials under good conditions on the course proper.
LINEBACKER made his first appearance since November with an impressive second in his open heat over 902m won by HEZDARNHOTTOO (54.38; 34.33), a talented performer not seen at the races for 12 months. LINEBACKER was fresh and eager to run from start to finish but was heavily restrained throughout behind the winner and will be all the better for this hitout. Another G1 winner BUCKAROO had an easy time putting in his best work over the last 200m to finish fourth.
STEFI MAGNETICA topped off her prep for the autumn with another good trial, working to the line nicely to finish second in her 1106m heat won by SHANGRI LA BOY (66.59; 34.86) while JEDIBEEL was too classy for his rivals in his 902m heat (55.48; 34.47), breezing home in slow time where POLYMNIA and MOVIN' OUT took the eye warming up with their work through the line.
BEADMAN did all that was required to win his first trial since November, having the edge on his rivals in his 902m heat for the three-year-olds (54.87; 34.72) without being fully tested by James McDonald. ARTISTIC VENTURE went quicker winning the other 3YO heat with authority (54.34; 34.29) where the soft fourth of MARETH took the eye.1⃣ Shangri La Boy
2⃣ Stefi Magnetica
3⃣ O'Sheamus
The Group 1 placed @GaiWaterhouse1 & Adrian Bott colt proves a little too slick over the 1106m in a Canterbury trial on Friday just holding the reigning Doncaster champ. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/2vnY67jxdz
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 5, 2026
The standout trials included impressive heat wins by some popular runners.
OH DIAMOND LIL (David Pfieffer): Honest mare is ready to go fresh after another quality piece of work to win the fastest 1106m heat (66.55; 34.78) by a big space. Her rivals couldn't go with her over the last 600m as she ran freely to cruise home unextended by more than five lengths.
RANTAN (Ron Quinton): Exciting win by this smart runner in his fast 902m heat (54.54; 34.57). Came from off the pace with impressive acceleration between the 400m and 200m to easily run past the leaders, surging away for an effortless win by more than three lengths. Must be hard to beat in his right class when produced.
SHIKI (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott): Back from the Magic Millions and this classy filly is flying. Led her 899m heat easily before showing classy acceleration to sprint away from the chasers and coast home in the fastest time of the morning (54.06; 34.96). Her speed has her ready to make a charge for the Golden Slipper.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Oh Diamond Lil; Rantan; Shiki
X Artistic Venture; Auditory; Beadman; Jedibeel; Linebacker; Mareth; Shangri La Impact; Snow In May; Wolf Gap; Zoo Dazzler
WARWICK FARM February 3
Course Proper (Soft 6) – 2 x 1000m (Group/Listed); 1 x 900m (Group/Listed)
Inside Grass (Soft 6) – 3 x 1207m (1 Open; 2 Maiden); 4 x 820m (2 Open; 2 2YO); 4 x 817m (1 2YO; 3 Maiden)
Another set on soft ground featuring three black type trials on the course proper.
HEAT 1 (1000m): JUST FINE, having his second trial after his long break from racing, had no trouble leading at his own speed and was unchallenged in the run to the line (61.98; 36.29) while CEOWULF put in good work under an easy ride to finish third. VAUBAN (5th) covered ground and came under a ride over the last 300m.
HEAT 2 (1000m): The racy mare LILAC ensured this was run at a good clip. She kept up the pace to hold an advantage to the line with the Caulfield Guineas winner AUTUMN BOY responsible for the eye catcher with his strong third under a big hold from James McDonald, an effort that showed he had taken plenty of benefit from his first-up trial. GERRINGONG also worked home nicely to finish second while ATTICA (4th) tracked three wide and was under pressure to hold his ground over the last 200m.
HEAT 3 (900m): COAL CRUSHER led easily and when he gets his own way in a short course trial they aren't going to run him down (54.54; 35.84). Another super trial from ANGEL CAPITAL to close off strongly for second that says he is ready for a bold first-up performance. JOLIESTAR gets a pass mark for her easy third but ANGEL CAPITAL made the best impression with his work over the last 100m. WEEPING WOMAN was another who went around under a good hold.
Godolphin sprinter KERGEULEN won twice for Joe Pride in the spring and he is set for more success in his coming campaign after an excellent performance in his 820m open heat on the inside grass won by the running ARANESE (48.98; 34.13). Having his first trial since he won at Randwick in October KERGUELEN worked well within himself to finish third in a positive start to his autumn prep.
Another good sprinter OUI OUI OUI did it well to win the open heat over 1207m on the inside grass (74.47; 35.70) where the effort of the runner-up SOVERATO took the eye.
The previously noted FIERCE missed a race start after his trial win last month but showed there was nothing amiss with his condition when he took a rails run to sprint home quickly from last and win his open heat over 820m (49.19; 34.28).
In the 2YO trials the 817m heat winner GONE TO GOWINGS showed good pace from start to finish to hold off challengers in good time (48.09; 33.75) in a heat where the flashing third of FARCOLO could not be missed after she came from six lengths off the lead at the 200m. GENESIS RUNNER, pulled up in his first trial at Rosehill last month, rebounded for a solid win in the his 820m heat (48.56; 34.14) while BARRACKS will take improvement from his win in the slower 820m heat (49.44; 34.86).
A standout in the maiden trials was the strong win under a soft ride by MY PROCLAMA in his 817m heat (48.92; 34.46) after travelling three wide under a hold.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Autumn Boy; Kerguelen
X Angel Capital; Barracks; Ceowulf; Dame Dividend; Farcolo; Fierce; Gone To Gowings; Just Fine; Karkadaan; My Proclama; Oui Oui Oui; Soverato
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