Trade Fair juveniles starred in the barrier trials at Belmont Park on Monday (March 19).
Virtual Trader, trained by Brett Pope, worked to lead under pressure and drew away to win a 1000m heat by 3/4-length in 1.00.62, the fastest of 12 heats, including those for older horses.
Fair Exchange, trained by Albie Beckett, also led and ran on to take her heat by 1 1/2-lengths in 1.01.85.
Virtual Trader, bred by Mrs Nerida Barnden-Brown, is from Virtual, by Encosta de Lago,
the dam of the winners The Zeustar, Mums Apparition and Circle The World.
Virtual’s dam, Lady In Reality, won the Listed VATC Bounding Away Handicap and is a half-sister to both Blazing Reality (10 wins and $422,500, Group 2 SAJC Angas Brut Stakes, Group 3 Queensland Mercedes Benz Stakes, QTC Lightning Stakes and VATC Bletchingly Stakes and Listed MVRC Mitchell McKenzie Stakes, VATC Sandown Park Stakes and Autumn Sprint) and Chetwynd South (Listed MRC Boronia Stakes).
Fair Exchange, bred by Lou Sauzier, is from Mega Role, by Old Spice, a sister to Old Role and the dam of Megatic.
Old Role won five times and earned $420,910. His major win was in the Group 1 Winfield Stakes and he was second in the Group 1 AJC Doncaster Handicap and Australian Derby, Group 2 WA Guineas and Listed Rosenthal Stakes and All Stars Stakes.
Megatic has won nine times and earned $961,400. His best wins have been in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic, Group 2 WA Guineas and Listed Grandstand Cup-twice, Northerly Stakes-twice and Belgravia Stakes. He has also placed second in the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes and Listed Fairetha Stakes, H.G. Bolton Sprint and Northerly Stakes and third in the Group 1 Railway Stakes.