Successful barrier trial for Noble Protector

Four-year-old Clemency won her trial (1,190m) very snugly, heading her stablemate Scarteen near the line, while Noble Protector had an easier time (over 990m) in company with the Smerdon-trained Group One winner Politeness. Noble Protector broke smartly from a wide draw, but was then settled in rear, tracked wide around the bend (pictured on racing.com) and was then allowed to come home full of running.

Geoffrey Faber, Sheikh Fahad's racing manager in Australia, reported: "Noble Protector lobbed round the back with Politeness and everyone is very pleased with her - and she looks in great shape."

Racecourse trials are designed to give horses a workout away from home ahead of future races. In March last year Noble Protector won Group Three and Group Two races, and the following month she was placed in the Gr.1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Randwick.

Bred in Britain, she began racing for Stuart Kittow's Devon stable, and scored at Listed level for him before being shipped to Australia. The autumn carnival is once again on her agenda.

Films of all the Cranbourne Trials can be viewed at www.racing.com/form/2016-02-08/cranbourne-trn-trial#/racelist