Sooboog has been somewhat of a disappointment during his racing career to date, but he started his autumn preparation with a narrow win in a barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens this morning.
Happy Galaxy finished second behind Sooboog in a barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens this morning. Photo by: Steve Hart
Sooboog contested the second barrier trial of the morning over 900 metres and he quickly took up the running from former stablemate Happy Galaxy and Team Snowden-trained Redzel.
Happy Galaxy put his nose in front of Sooboog at the 200 metre mark, but Sooboog was niggled for an extra effort and he found the line fairly to record a narrow victory, while Redzel found the line strongly under a strong hold to finish third.
Sooboog made his racing debut as a short-priced favourite in the Listed Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick on October 4 and he finished a credible second behind Vancouver, but he failed to reproduce that effort when he failed to fire in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick on April 6.
He started his spring campaign with a shock loss at Gosford before he was finally able to win at Canterbury and Rosehill Gardens before he was sent to the spelling paddock after he finished fourth in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 17.
Happy Galaxy was once considered one of the most talented sprinters in the country, but he has not recorded a race win since he took out the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) almost three years ago.
The Nadeem gelding failed to fire in three race starts during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival and he was sent to the spelling paddock after he failed to beat home a runner in the Flying Handicap (1000m) at Warwick Farm on October 5.
Redzel finished just over a length behind Sooboog and Happy Galaxy, but he was arguably the most impressive performer as he found the line strongly under his own steam to finish third.
There was a great deal expected of Redzel ahead of the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but he could finish no better than fifth in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 15, the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) on August 20 and the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) on September 19.
Another horse that produced an eye-catching performance in the second barrier trial of the morning was Godolphin import Bow Creek, who missed the start but was still able to make up plenty of ground late.
Bow Creek made his racing debut with a slashing second behind Turn Me Loose in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on October 24, bur he failed to fire in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600) at Flemington on November 7.
The likes of Devil Hawk, Fireworks, Hauraki, Pearls, Perignon and Shards were all given very soft trials behind the leading group.
