Sharp sprint from Wind And The Lion at Monday’s Belmont trials holds him in good stead for campaign

Smart three-year-old Wind And The Lion looked race-ready with a sharp 1000m win at Monday’s Belmont trials and is expected to be hard to beat in the coming weeks. Parked behind the leaders, the gelding sprinted from the 300m mark once asked by Bonnie Palise to grab the front and held off Triple Jay and Multinational in a tight finish. Group 1 winner Bustler closed soundly to be fourth, a length and a half behind Wind And The Lion. Sean and Jake Casey’s youngster had trialled two weeks earlier when safely held by stablemate Hanchi and Laced Up Heels, with the latter a rocketing second in Saturday’s Joey at Ascot. That was the son of Written By’s first public appearance since a luckless showing in the 2024 Gold Rush. Held up for the majority of the straight on that occasion, Wind And The Lion never fully gained momentum against some higher class rivals, including winner Western Empire. The father-son Casey training duo had a Trilogy to remember although not having a runner in the Quokka as stable star Twain’s Angel moved her earnings towards $650,000 with a stylish win in The Joey, taking her record to eight wins from 12 runs over 1200m. Fellow three-year-old American Escape, at her first appearance since running fifth to Smooth Chino in February’s Magic Millions, impressively took heat eight of the morning. Burning across from the widest alley, the daughter of A Lot sped clear upon straightening and nudged out by trainee apprentice Tiana Murray to make sure, scored by a comfortable three lengths. Repossession, fourth to Wind And The Lion in the Placid Ark when last seen, zipped away for a cosy success in an earlier 400m hit-out. + Nullarbor winner Mister Smartee will be nominated for the Queensland Inter Dominion in July but reinsman Gary Hall Jr is doubtful of a Brisbane trip. “Sr was very keen early days, but I think just watching Leap To Fame’s last few starts, it’s going to be hard,” Hall Jr told TABradio. “It would be great to get there and there’s obviously the option for Cyclone Jordy in the Rising Sun and he’s been invited to that, but the logistics of it all make it a hard call to make. “If something came up where we could get to and from comfortably, then it might be an option we’d consider… but it’s probably less likely than more.” + Swayzee will not contest this Friday’s Group 1 $300,000 Retravision Fremantle Cup (2936m) after his fourth-placed Nullarbor effort and instead will be spelled. Tenzing Bromac, Sangue Reale, Hampton Banner, Justcallmemiki and Aardiebytheseaside were also inside the top 12 for field consideration but have not been nominated. Interstate reinsmen Luke McCarthy and Will Rixon have again been slated to drive at the meeting. + Despite her tremendous win in last weekend’s Karrakatta Plate, Talkanco will bypass the Group 3 $200,000 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on May 10. + Warrnambool commences its famous three-day jumping carnival on Tuesday with the running of the Brierly Steeplechase at 12:20pm.

Sharp sprint from Wind And The Lion at Monday’s Belmont trials holds him in good stead for campaign

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