Bivouac
Godolphin Group One winners Bivouac and Kiamichi have shown they are ready for their autumn campaigns with barrier trial wins at Rosehill.
Golden Rose winner Bivouac won the first of two course-proper heats over 900m on Tuesday, edging Hush Writer on the line.
Last year’s Golden Slipper winner Kiamichi led all the way to beat stablemate Deprive by 2-3/4 lengths in the second 900m-trial.
Trainer James Cummings has flagged the Group One Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on February 22 as a starting point for Bivouac.
The colt has not raced since his close second to Exceedance in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on November 2.
Cox Plate runner-up Castelvecchio was among the tailenders in Bivouac’s heat but his trainer Richard Litt was happy with his performance and his demeanour.
He ran similarly in his first trial in the spring when he went on to run second to Japanese mare Lys Gracieux at The Valley.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Dame Giselle was a stylish winner of of a 900m-trial for two-year-olds.
The winner of the $1 million Golden Gift in November, Dame Giselle stalked the unraced Pressita and moved past her near the line to record a fast 54.18s for the heat.
Dame Giselle is the second favourite for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper in March behind Cellsabeel.