Three of Gai Waterhouse's Golden Rose aspirants began their campaigns in barrier trials at Warwick Farm on Friday, but the trainer has questioned the timing of the Group One race.The Golden Rose will be run at Rosehill on August 28 and Waterhouse believes that is too early.More Strawberries ran third in her 800m trial at Warwick Farm, the first public appearance for the Golden Slipper placegetter since finishing seventh as favourite in the Group One Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on A

Three of Gai Waterhouse's Golden Rose aspirants began their campaigns in barrier trials at Warwick Farm on Friday, but the trainer has questioned the timing of the Group One race.

The Golden Rose will be run at Rosehill on August 28 and Waterhouse believes that is too early.

More Strawberries ran third in her 800m trial at Warwick Farm, the first public appearance for the Golden Slipper placegetter since finishing seventh as favourite in the Group One Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 10.

Waterhouse was impressed with stablemate Manahara who won his 800m heat by five lengths in the fastest time of the morning, 47.7 seconds, while the well-bred Mutamayez also trialled nicely for second in heat six over the same distance.

All three are being prepared with the $1 million Golden Rose in mind, Waterhouse said.

"They are all wanting to run in the Golden Rose but really the Golden Rose is two weeks too soon," Waterhouse said.

"It means all these horses have to be bustled, it's such a big prizemoney race and is now a Group One so it's got enormous pressure on you to get the horses ready.

"But with Easter being late, all these two-year-olds were running in April."

Waterhouse said she would like to see the race moved to September in future.

"It's a serious race that should be given the right positioning in our calendar," the trainer said.

More Strawberries was slowly away in her hitout won by the Gary Portelli-trained Triple Crown, and Waterhouse said it was something she needs to work on.

More Strawberries will have one more trial before resuming.

"I think she needs another trial to be competitive in the Golden Rose," Waterhouse said.

"He (jockey Nash Rawiller) said the gates open and she looks at everyone and is not jumping."

Todman Stakes winner Masquerader was entered to trial on Friday in the heat won by the Rick Worthington-trained Gold Arena but was scratched by trainer David Payne.

The Worthington-trained dual stakeswinner Sainthood took out heat 12 over 800m by a length in 48.6 seconds.