From the trials

Here are some of the interesting results from this week’s trials around Australia.

Morphettville Parks

Young stallion California Dane’s first trial winner came in Adelaide when California Devil (b f 2008, ex Devils At Play, by Devaraja) won her 1000m event on a slow track.

California Dane (pictured), by Danehill from the Seattle Slew mare Storminwinter, was a brilliant Group 2 winning sprinter for trainer Lee Freedman and the stallion’s first-crop yearlings were very well received for their athleticism and balance.

California Dane stands at Baerami Thoroughbreds in the Hunter Valley at a 2010 fee of $13,750.

His trial-winning daughter, trained by Phillip Stokes, has an interesting double cross of Vain on her dam side through Devaraja, whose granddam is by Vain, and California Devil’s granddam Engrossed (by Vain).

Wyong

Trainer John O’Shea produced the extremely well-bred colt Freyberg to win an 800m trial by 1.5 lengths in 51.60s on a dead surface at Wyong. The 3YO colt is by Pins from Escada (by Centaine), making him a half-brother to Group 1 winners Vision And Power (Carnegie) and Glamour Puss (Tale Of The Cat), Group 2 winner Rare Insight (O’Reilly) and the Listed winner Escadaire (O’Reilly).

Freyberg had one start as a 2YO for an encouraging fourth behind Choiseul (by Choisir) in a 1200m maiden at Kembla Grange in May.

Freyberg wasn’t sold as a yearling and remains in the ownership of his breeder Gary Chittick, the owner of New Zealand’s Waikato Stud. A brother to Freyberg was sold at Inglis Easter this year to Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Australia for $350,000.

Belmont

The High Chaparrals are winning far and wide, and they are showing surprising speed for a son of Sadler’s Wells. In Perth, the unraced 3YO The Underworld scored impressively over 1000m in 1.01.16 on a firm surface.

The Underworld, trained by Chris Gangemi, was originally sold as a yearling for only $NZ8000 at the 2009 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Select Sale, but resold later that year at NZB’s Horses in Training Sale to agent Justin Bahen for $NZ50,000.

The 3YO gelding’s dam Rune is a sister to triple Group 1 winner Sky Chase (sire of champion Saintly), by Star Way from Vice Reine, a half-sister to former champion galloper and sire Vice Regal.

Neville Parnham took the Darley-bred Longevity to Belmont to win a 1000m trial at the colt’s first public appearance.

Longevity is a bay 3YO by Lonhro from Danislew, a Danehill daughter of Ada Slew, who in turn is a half-sister, by Seattle Slew, to the great Kingston Town.

Parnham paid $65,000 for Longevity at the 2009 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in January before the youngster’s sister Deer Valley stepped out to win the Group 3 Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick in February.

Traralgon

The first trial winner at Traralgon gets a tick for his name alone – Calombaris. The 3YO gelding is by Happy Giggle from the Ignatius mare Very Long Lunch.

Calombaris, trained by Butch Bourne, is named after the Melbourne-based celebrity chef George Calombaris of Masterchef fame, who also is known for his infectious laugh.

Calombaris’ time for the 1000m dash was 57.84s, one of the quickest of the day – he did have first use of a heavy track.

It’s worth noting the Bourne travelled across the state from Seymour to run Calombaris in the Traralgon trials, suggesting he has a good opinion of the youngster.

Also in the well-named list from the Traralgon trials was Santana, an unraced Darley bred and owned gelding by Lonhro from the Encosta De Lago mare Busking. Santana, named after legendary rock musician Carlos Santana, is trained by Lee Freedman and he won his trial in good style, suggesting he is a winning chance when Freedman sends him to the races.