Unraced Godolphin filly Ghisoni upstaged the Gai Waterhouse-trained trio of Ulster, Pierrette and Vancouver in a barrier trial over 1050 metres at Royal Randwick this morning.
Vancouver was slightly disappointing in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick this morning. Photo by: Steve Hart
Ulster jumped from the gates quickly in the early stages of the barrier trial and he took up the running from Vancouver and John Sargent-trained Cashing Up, while Ghisoni and Pierrette were settled at the tail of the field.
Ulster kicked away from the rest of the field coming into the turn and looked as though he was going to run away with the trial, but he appeared to tire in the final stages.
Vancouver loomed to win the trial, but also looked to tire late and it was Ghisoni who finished far stronger than her rivals; with the Lonhro filly making up plenty of ground in the final 100 metres to record a narrow win in impressive fashion.
Ghisoni is yet to make an appearance at the races, but pedigree enthusiasts have already taken note of the two-year-old, who is a daughter of 2008 Golden Slipper placegetter Portillo and a half-brother to stablemate Aspen.
Vancouver stamped himself as a genuine Golden Slipper contender when he made his racing debut with a strong win in the Listed New South Wales Thoroughbred Breeders Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick on October 4, but her performance was a touch flat and he failed to run through the line strongly.
Pierrette made her racing debut with a narrow win over the highly-rated Sebring Sun in the Betting Season Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick on October 11 and she was having her second trial this preparation after finishing second behind Always Allison in a trial over 900 metres at Rosehill Gardens on January 6.
The Snippetson filly looked to be working into the race in the final stages of the trial after being settled at the tail of the field, but she was unable to sustain that run and did not finish in the placings.
Cashing Up was contesting his second barrier trial after finishing third behind stablemate Clash Of Clans in a trial over 733 metres at Royal Randwick on December 30 and he appeared to be under pressure at the 200 metre mark, but he battled home fairly to finish third.
Vancouver is now out to 2015 Golden Slipper odds of $13 with Ladbrokes Australia, while Ottoman ($8) is a narrow favourite from Furnaces ($9) and Fontiton ($10).
