Star colt Helmet was the star of the show when he trialled brilliantly under lights at Cranbourne on Tuesday night, watched by a crowd befitting a race meeting.
Ridden by race jockey Kerrin McEvoy and watched by trainer Peter Snowden on course, the Australian Guineas favourite jumped well and travelled in second position, five lengths off the tearaway leader First Course in the opening heat for three-year-old colts and geldings.
The handsome chestnut stretched out in the straight and quickly picked up First Course and coasted to the line to beat that colt by 1-1/4 lengths with King Henry five lengths away third.
His time of 59.45 was the fastest of the eight 1000m trials.
“He has the bunny in front of him and he chased it down well,” McEvoy said.
“Having the horse out in front probably suited him because he relaxed well behind it and when I asked him to quicken up he had something to aim at.”
McEvoy flew down to Melbourne from his Sydney base to ride the reigning Caulfield Guineas winner for the second time this preparation having ridden him in an easy jumpout at Flemington last Friday week.
“This was his first test,” he said of the son of Exceed And Excel.
“It was a good, solid trial and he had the hitout he needed.
“He loved the (dead) ground as well. The track is in great shape and he enjoyed it.”
Helmet is due to resume in the Group Three C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday week on his way to the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 3 for which he is a $2.75 favourite ahead of Victoria Oaks winner Mosheen at $6.50.
After the Guineas he and stablemate Sepoy will be flown to Dubai on March 9 for the World Cup meeting under lights on March 31.
Helmet will contest the United Arab Emirates Derby (1900m) and Sepoy the Group One Golden Shaheen (1200m) on the artificial Tapeta surface.
Snowden elected not to trial Sepoy on Tuesday night, preferring to give him a jumpout on Friday for which McEvoy will return from Sydney to ride him ahead of his first up mission in the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 25.
“Peter will have a look at him and see what more he needs. He’s not wound up by any means and he might do a bit more before then,” McEvoy said.
“He’s improving week by week.”
Reigning Cox Plate heroine Pinker Pinker pleased her rider Craig Williams when she finished third over 1000m .
Williams gave her plenty of time to balance up and she settled sixth of the seven runners.
Queen Delight set a hectic pace up front to lead by seven lengths before being eased up in the straight and going down by a half-head to Octavanus with Pinker Pinker running home nicely to be three-quarters of a length away third.
“I was very pleased with the way she went,” Williams said.
“She didn’t have the blinkers on but she’s going very well.”
“She really extended when I asked her to.”
The Greg Eurell mare will resume in the Group One Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 25 ahead of her going to Sydney for the autumn carnival.
