Youngsters’ final tune-up

WITH the first two-year-old race of the season only a week away, some trainers plan to give their candidates another trial at Longford on Tuesday, ahead of their de but at El wick tomorrow week.

Almost 30 youngsters trialled at Mowbray last Thursday week, with quite a few delivering sub-par performances, but they get their chance to atone on Tuesday and determine whether they are ready to race.

The first 2YO race is over 900m and with a $20,000

T as bred bonus attached, most owners will be keen to gain a start.

Cressy trainer Cameron Thompson produced three juveniles at the first 2YO trials – Coeur De Lyon, French Kiss and Kissless – and all performed well.

Coeur De Lyon won his 800m dash, while French Kiss was an encouraging second to the Stuart Gandytrained Gee gee Lucky Jess.

Kissless went shin-sore after the trial and was immediately sent to the pad dock for a six-week break.

“I was happy with how all of my two-year-olds trialled at Mow bray, but only two will be nominated for the Hobart race next Sunday,” Thompson said.

“Coeur De Lyon has done exceptionally well since his trial win and French Kiss also got a lot out of her trial .”

Gandy expects to saddle up two in the first 2YO race,

in trial winner Geegee Lucky Jess (Wordsmith-Geegee Pretty Jess) and Gee Gee Other words( Wordsmith-Gee Gee’s La Quita).

Geegee Lucky Jess looks the complete package and G andy rates her highly.

Gee Gee Otherwords was third in his trial behind the Patrick Dargan-trained Fighting Styx, although the best effort in that trial came from runner-up Turk Warrior, who was never out of second gear.

Thompson hopes a new addition to his stable, former New Zealand sprinter Bothered, will be a Newmarket candidate.

Bothered, a five-year-old mare by Shamexpress from Bewildered, won three races in NZ before arriving at Clare Cunningham’ s Rand wicks tables in Sydney.

The mare’s owner Peter Setchell sent her to Cunningham because of the poor prizemoney on offer in NZ. S etch ell opted to test the market and advertised her for sale. Thompson paid $11,000, with Setchell retaining a decent share as he eventually wants to use her as a broodmare in NZ.

Bothered won first-up at Gosford in late June and followed up with a win at Warwick Farm in a fillies and mares benchmark 72 over 1100m.

Her last run for Cunningham was in Canberra early last month, when she was sixth of 12 and beaten 2.65 length sin an open benchmark 84 race over 1000 mon a heavy track.

The $100,000 Newmarket will be run over 1200 min Launceston on November 25.