Scholtz's Say
Trial Watch Reviews: 22nd January - 23rd January 2026
Chris Scholtz reviews Sydney trials at Warwick Farm on January 22 and Hawkesbury on January 23.
Couse Proper/Heavy 8 - 2 x 900m (Group)
Inside Grass/Soft 7; 15 Heats – 3 x 1200m (3 Open); 4 x 801m (4 Open); 4 x 799m (4 2YO); 4 x 796m (4 Maiden)
Heavy conditions on the course proper for two black type trials over 900m.
HEAT 1 (900m/54.86;35.01): Slow heat won in good style by STEFI MAGNETICA from VERONA ROSE. Stefi travelled up three wide from the 600m before sprinting to the line with VERONA RFOSE joining in from the 200m after going widest on the turn. ANGEL CAPITAL found his legs for the first 300m then made ground quickly from the 600m with the advantage of the inside running. Was never asked for a serious effort as the first pair got clear.
HEAT 2 (900m/53.14; 34.45): Genuine pace here in much faster time as OH DIAMOND LIL and WILLAIDOW cleared out to lead by eight lengths on the turn. They kept running with WILLAIDOW holding an advantage to the line. JOLIESTAR settled a distant third and held her position without being asked to do any chasing. AUTUMN BOY also had a very easy trial finishing fourth.1⃣ Stefi Magnetica
2⃣ Verona Rose
3⃣ Angel Capital
A nice start to the @BBakerRacing Doncaster champ's autumn campaign with a trial win at Warwick Farm on Thursday. Also trialling were Attica, Coal Crusher, Gerringong, River Of Stars and Leica Lucy. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/fucrSPr7XD
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) January 21, 2026
Some smart heat winners on the inside grass where the track conditions were rated better than the course proper.Willaidow and Oh Diamond Lil turn it on up front and fight out a Warwick Farm trial on Thursday with the @ConnersMarc gelding prevailing, Joliestar finished in third. Behind them were Autumn Boy, Wootton Verni and Soul Of Spain. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/rWi7vIfRXj
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) January 21, 2026
ESSAY (Richard Collett): Impressive first trial by this Zousain filly to close off strongly for second in her 2YO heat over 799m won by the previously noted trial winner Agrarian Girl (46.99; 33.75). No early speed fom ESSAY to settle eight lengths off the lead in the first 200m before working into it wide under a cold ride. Loved her action as she put in strong work over the last 200m taking lengths off the winner to finish the closest of seconds.
FIERCE (Hawkes Racing): You can look forward to the return to racing of this unbeaten Capitalist gelding. His soft win in the fastest open heat over 801m (47.05; 33.71) in his first trial since he won on debut at Hawkesbury in September lays a good platform for what lies ahead.
HAY STREET (Annabel & Rob Archibald): Another promising 3YO by Capitalist who shouldn't be long breaking through for a maiden win after two placings from his first four starts. Trialled strongly at Warwick Farm on January 9 and backed it up with an efficient win in the fastest 796m maiden heat (46.50; 33.26), taking control over the last 300m and showing nice extension in the run to the line.
The four 2YO heats were an even lot with the Waterhouse/Bott colt PLAGIARISM posting the fastest time (46.39; 33.23). Youngsters to take the eye with good work in their trials included PEARL OF DUBAI, DEFENSEMEN and ZENSEN.
NOTED TRIALS
XX Essay; Fierce; Hay Street
X Amplify; Angel Capital; Arriving Home; Banjora; Camden Cove; Defensemen; God Save The King; Pearl Of Dubai; Plagiarism; Stefi Magnetica; Wave Dancer; Weeping Woman; Willaidow; Zensen
HAWKESBURY January 23
Inside Grass; Soft 5
11 Heats – 6 x 800m (2 Open; 1 2YO; 3 Maiden); 5 x 1000m (1 Open; 1 2YO; 3 Maiden)
Classy sprinter JEDIBEEL was the standout winning his open heat over 800m.
In a nice return since his spring campaign he worked well within himself to share the lead and do all that was required in the sprint to the line (48.24; 33.07). His overall time was standard but he is closing split was the fastest of the six 800m heats.
The fastest 800m heat was won by the unraced 2YO CONCRETE STORM, a Hello Youmzain colt from the O'Shea/Charlton stable. He tracked the leader and was strong to the line over the last 200m."Jedibeel given a quiet trial but class prevailing."@BWiddupRacing's Group winning sprinter begins his autumn campaign with an easy trial win at @hawkesburyrc on Friday over Balmain Darling and Elysium. @tabcomau @Mulberryracing pic.twitter.com/E8KruCNHi9
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) January 22, 2026
READY TO SHINE won the fastest 1000m trial (58.80; (33.45), sprinting under a ride from well off the pace to pick up the leaders in the last 50m of his open heat.
Keep an eye out for the return of the former Kiwi TRANSCEND after he put in nice work late for a soft fourth in his open 800m heat (48.01; 33.42). He won twice in NZ before he was heavily backed in his first local start at Randwick for Michael Freedman.
NOTED TRIALS
X Ausbred Hed'n'Tail; Bella Khadijah; Concrete Storm; Cool Art; Curie; Echoes Of Glory; Jedibeel; Little Gut; Ready To Shine; Stand My Ground; The Iron Star; Transcend
