Spring is around the corner and the good horses are returning to the races.
The next few weeks we will see some of the best horses in the land head to the trials as trainers look to dust the cobwebs off their prized gallopers.
Gareth Hall has named the six horses he’s most excited to see this spring.
1. I Wish I Win
“His effort in TJ Smith was extraordinary, to come from last to first on ground that didn’t suit him was fantastic,” Hall told SEN's Run Home.
“He’s got a slot in the Everest, Peter Moody and Kath Coleman train him, and I think with the way the weather is looking we’re going to get dry tracks which will suit him down to the ground.
“He’s a horse that can sprint off a hot pace and I think he’ll be one of the shining lights of the season.”
2. Amelia’s Jewel
“This is a horse that’s trained by Simon Miller in Western Australia, she’s only been defeated once.
“She won the Northerly during the summer carnival in Perth and then she came back as a three-year-old was terrific.
“Her second in The Quokka where she came from last, you had to see it to believe it.
“Simon Miller has set out a plan for her where she’ll go to The Let's Elope Stakes at Flemington first-up, then to the Stud Stakes at The Valley, then the King George and then he makes a decision whether he goes to the Cox Plate or the Golden Eagle.
“I think she’ll go to the Golden Eagle, her owner Peter Walsh has billions of dollar and I think the money still matters.
“She’ll go to the Golden Eagle and beat Giga Kick.”
3. Imperatriz
“This New Zealand galloper, they tell us that she’s not going to The Everest but I watched her trial during the week at Te Rapa, she trialled like the best I’ve ever seen her trial.
“I wouldn’t be surpsied if one of the eight slot holders that don’t have a galloper in The Everest, give Te Akau Racing a call and say ‘how about it, let’s put this deal together’.
“I think the Manikato and the Champion Sprint are her targets, but she’s something else.”
4. Without A Fight
“Without A Fight came out last year for the Melbourne Cup and I don’t think he handed the going too well.
“He was superb in Brisbane winning like Zaaki did and where he announced himself.
“I think he’s going to be a serious contender in the spring and I think he might win a Caulfield Cup if they go that way in the spring.”
5. Saint George
“Saint George is the best import, this horse has placed during the Royal Ascot carnival.
“Ozzie Kheir and Jonny O’Neill have purchased 50 per cent of this galloper, Ciaron Maher identified this horse as their best Melbourne Cup chance.
“If he turns up and settles into our environment, he won’t be far away.”
6. Kandinsky Abstract
“This horse cost $3 million being a full brother to Sunline, it’s only had the one start winning at Canterbury for trainer Chris Waller.
“People like Militarize and Shinzo are the top two three-year-old seeds for Chris Waller, but I watched this horse trial the other day and he relaxed beautifully.
“This horse might be a Guineas or Golden Rose hopeful, I think Waller will split up his three-year-olds.
“He’s a horse at a price that you can follow.”
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