Go West: Team Hawkes’ boom two-year-old West Of Swindon back with a bang at Kensington trials

Team Hawkes can look ahead to the Sydney autumn carnival with real optimism after some of the stable’s most talented racehorses impressed at the Kensington barrier trials on Thursday.

Team Hawkes can look ahead to the Sydney autumn carnival with real optimism after some of the stable’s most talented racehorses including boom two-year-old West Of Swindon impressed at the Kensington barrier trials on Thursday.

West Of Swindon, who ran a close second to North England on debut in the Golden Gift last spring, was held up in the straight before darting through to just miss reeling in Wootton Lass to give Coolmore Stud’s sire sensation Wootton Bassett the quinella in a 1050m barrier trial.

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The Hawkes stable’s top class mare Makarena, winner of the Golden Pendant and a luckless fourth in the Golden Eagle last spring, showed she was set for a very good autumn campaign after she cruised clear of her rivals to score an easy win in her 1050m heat.

Theblade showed considerable potential earlier in the season and the Hawkes-trained three-year-old colt finished strongly to beat Sydney Bowler by a comfortable margin.

Unraced @jsargentracing filly Wootton Lass holds off West Of Swindon to win a two-year-old trial at Randwick on Thursday with Valedictorian running on from last into third. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/iEVaI9xLFB

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 12, 2025

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The Hawkes-trained Swiftfalcon, winner of the Dulcify Quality last spring, also impressed closing off his trial to finish fourth behind Colophon.

Godolphin’s classy Pericles, winner of more than $5 million prizemoney, is coming up well for the autumn carnival as evidenced by his all-the-way 1250m trial win.

Enriched won an all-star 850m heat narrowly from the unbeaten filly Clean Energy with Bjorn Baker’s brilliant mare Stefi Magnetica closing off strongly for the closest of thirds.

1⃣ Enriched
2⃣ Clean Energy
3⃣ Stefi Magnetica

A driving finish to a 950m Kensington trial on Thursday with the @MFreedmanRacing colt prevailing narrowly. Behind the placings were the likes of Coastwatch, Militarize, Rediener and Celestial Legend. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/tHSri2ktZ5

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 12, 2025

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The heat also included comeback galloper Militarize (seventh), Doncaster Mile winner Celestial Legend (eighth) and VRC Oaks runner-up Powers Of Opal (ninth).

Magic Millions winner O’ Ole was given a solid trial ahead of next week’s Blue Diamond, finishing third to Lady Pankhurst.

Originally published as Go West: Team Hawkes’ boom two-year-old West Of Swindon back with a bang at Kensington trials