Group One Stars Perform In Randwick Trials
Friday, 11 August 2006: Gai Waterhouse's 2004 Golden Slipper winner Dance Hero proved too nippy in a star-studded 850m heat, defeating Paratroopers by a neck with Doncaster Handicap winner Racing To Win third.
Finishing behind them were dual Epsom Handicap winner Desert War and Todman Stakes winner Diego Garcia.
The Waterhouse-trained Strada did not take his place in the heat after suffering an injury earlier this week.
Immediate plans for the entire are under a cloud.
Desert War and Racing To Win are set to meet again first-up in the Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick tomorrow fortnight, which is also the scheduled resumption for the Waterhouse-trained Aqua D'Amore.
She was pushed out to finish a long neck second to the John O'Shea-trained Primus in the second 850m heat of this morning's session.
Primus endured a frustrating autumn with minor placings in both the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas but will be given the chance to break his Group One duck this spring with the Cox Plate his major aim.
He looked strong winning his heat today and will resume in either the Show County Quality (1200m) on August 26 or Tramway Hcp (1400m) two weeks later.
Stablemate Men At Work showed he is on track for a good spring, finishing a length behind Aqua D'Amore in third.
Unplaced in the heat were Bart Cummings' promising three-year-old Empires Choice and Group One winners Mnemosyne and Regal Cheer.
The latter was having her second trial this time in after taking out a heat at Randwick last month and trainer Joe Pride declared her spot-on for tomorrow week's Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.
"She did all I wanted her to do considering she's got to race in a week's time and she had a good hitout in her first trial," Pride said.
"She relaxed today too which is a good sign.
"We really need her to get a mile (1600m) this time in."
Pride confirmed Glen Boss had been booked to partner the Coolmore Classic winner in the Premiere.
Also in action at today's trials was the John Hawkes-trained Champagne Stakes winner Mentality who tuned up for his return by scoring over 1050m.
Gallant Tess, who finished third to Mentality in the Champagne, posted an impressive 4-1/2 length win in her 1200m heat.
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