The Trial Files: NSW review
Dean Watling has dissected the latest Sydney trials to uncover the horses you need in your blackbook.
Summary of Trial Notes:
| Horse | Trainer/Jockey | Venue/Heat | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girijaala | M, W & J Hawkes / T. Schiller | Rosehill H9 900m – Aug 28 | Two sharp trials back; liked her work late. Dry track is key. |
| Jellicious | C. Waller / J. McDonald | Rosehill H12 900m – Aug 28 | New to Waller yard, strong back-to-back trials. Ready to go. |
| Narcissist | R & W Freedman / J. McDonald | Rosehill H13 900m – Aug 28 | Sharp again at trials after flop first-up (slow recovery). |
| Papaya Rules | R & L Price / M. Waters | Kembla H5 800m – Sept 1 | Slick late sectionals, two nice trials. Can win placed right. |
| Will To Win | J. Thompson / A. Collett | Kembla H7 800m – Sept 1 | Strong, held together. Genuine 1000m type; good fresh stable. |
| Cheeky Sort | J. Ible / L. Day | Kembla H9 800m – Sept 1 | Slick overall, sharp turn-of-foot. Smart stable, well placed. |
| Cosmic Culture | Waterhouse & Bott / Z. Waddick | Randwick H9 1050m – Sept 2 | Gelded, more professional. Wants 1200m+ fresh. |
| Nitro | P. Snowden / T. Berry | Randwick H11 740m – Sept 2 | Gelded after let-up; sharp late over 740m. Likely another trial. |
| Perfect Apple | O’Shea & Charlton / J. McDonald | Randwick H12 740m – Sept 2 | Smart return trial. Could get to Spring Champion trip. |
| Nepotism | M, W & J Hawkes / T. Schiller | Randwick H1 1050m – Sept 2 | Proper colt. Golden Rose bound. |
| Tempted | C. Maher / J. McDonald | Randwick H2 1050m – Sept 2 | Outstanding trial. Big spring ahead. Overs in futures. |
| Getafix | O’Shea & Charlton / J. McDonald | Randwick H10 1050m – Sept 2 | Group horse in the making. Trialling super. |
Trial Notes:
Girijaala — M, W & J Hawkes (Tyler Schiller) Rosehill H9 900m – Aug 28 Second trial this prep for the lightly raced 4yo mare. Broke her maiden on debut before finishing runner-up to Bronte Beach. Spelled 23 weeks, now back with two sharp trials. Liked her work through the line. Dry track is the key.
Jellicious — Chris Waller (James McDonald)
Rosehill H12 900m – Aug 28
New addition to the Waller yard. Has always shown talent but still a maiden. Back-to-back strong trials, latest with JMac in the saddle. Ready to head to the races.
Narcissist — R & W Freedman (James McDonald)
Rosehill H13 900m – Aug 28
5yo gelding who trialled up strongly before a flop first-up in a hot race (slow recovery). Back to the trials since and looked sharp again. Can win soon if placed right.
Papaya Rules — R & L Price (Madison Waters)
Kembla Grange H5 800m – Sept 1
Ignore the overall time - he came from the rear, producing a slick last 600m. Back-to-back impressive trials now. Not a star, but placed right first-up should be winning.
Will To Win — John Thompson (Alysha Collett)
Kembla Grange H7 800m – Sept 1
Time was okay but she looked strong, hard held throughout. Looks a genuine 1000m type who has come back well. One of the best fresh stables too.
Cheeky Sort — Joseph Ible (Louise Day)
Kembla Grange H9 800m – Sept 1
Slick overall and last 600m. This 3yo Tassort filly showed a sharp turn of foot to put them away with ease. Smart camp - expect her to be placed perfectly.
Cosmic Culture — Waterhouse & Bott (Zac Waddick)
Randwick H9 1050m – Sept 2
Strong overall time. Gelded into this prep after showing promise last time in. More switched on now, progressing nicely. Needs at least 1200m first-up, ideally 1300-1400m.
Nitro — Peter Snowden (Tommy Berry)
Randwick H11 740m – Sept 2
Two okay trials before a 14-week let-up and gelding - looks to have worked. Sharp late work here over 740m, time was slick. Likely another trial before resuming.
Perfect Apple — O’Shea & Charlton (James McDonald)
Randwick H12 740m – Sept 2
Debuted behind Autumn Boy, finding the line well. After 12 weeks off, returned with a very smart trial. One to keep in mind - could stretch to Spring Champion trip.
Exposed:
Nepotism — M, W & J Hawkes (Tyler Schiller) Randwick H1 1050m – Sept 2 Proper colt. Trialled strongly, working home well on the inferior inside ground. Looks set for a first-up win. Golden Rose bound.
Tempted — Ciaron Maher (James McDonald)
Randwick H2 1050m – Sept 2
Matched Nepotism’s heat for time. First trial back and looked outstanding. Huge spring ahead. Overs at $26 Golden Rose, $26 Everest, $9 Coolmore.
1⃣ Sydney Bowler 2⃣ Tempted 3⃣ Format
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) September 1, 2025
Getafix — O’Shea & Charlton (James McDonald)
Randwick H10 1050m – Sept 2
The penny has dropped. Group horse in the making. Two wins before a short freshen, now trialling super. Big spring coming.
