Dear Demi a weighted special in Light Fingers Too strong ... Dear Demi and Jim Cassidy salute in the VRC Oaks. They reunite at Rosehill. BARRIER trials could hold the key to Saturday's Rosehill Gardens program where the delicate balance between fit enough to win when fresh or scope for improvement will be tested. Dear Demi, proven at group 1, resumes in the Light Fingers Stakes, a 1200-metre dash, short of the filly's best, and she clashes with up-and-comer Bennetta, which has the benefit of hard racing condition, albeit against common opposition. The pair clashed in an 800m Warwick Farm barrier trial on February 4 with Bennetta second and Dear Demi third, but neither were pressured as trainer Clarry Conners ensured Dear Demi kept her the sprinting edge. Bennetta is the fitter but Dear Demi is better placed under the set-weight conditions. In a handicap, Dear Demi would be giving the Graham Begg filly considerable kilos. Both are down-the-outside types and, with plenty of pace anticipated, should be suited. Barrier trials are a great training aid, emphasised by Gai Waterhouse who blogged: "The latest mind-bending decision, handed down from the top, involves owners and trainers having to pay an additional cost of $70 if they [we] trial a horse a second time and an additional $400 for a third trial. Getting the horse fit is essential; a fit horse benefits the punter, the owners, the trainer and indeed the horse itself. Now they want to fine us for trying to get the horse fit. Have they lost their minds? Waterhouse has Driefontein and Sherocksmyworld against Dear Demi, Bennetta and co. In regard to Bennetta, Tom Waterhouse said: "Suspect she doesn't want it too wet, so keep an eye on the weather ... has a fitness edge on her rivals." While Bennetta was beaten on heavy ground at her first start it was an eye-catching performance. Verdict: Dear Demi ($6.50). Plans could play a role with Steps In Time in the Breeders Classic, another event where barrier-trial form comes to the fore. "She's first-up and she trialled well but there is a lot of improvement in her whatever she does, so you've got to be mindful of that," trainer John O'Shea told AAP. Steps In Time has had two trials, a ponderable point, as has main rival Red Tracer, a noted first-up and wet-track performer. Steps In Time was bolder in winning her recent heat but Red Tracer on February 5 received a "not knocked about" comment from The Midweeker, a specialist barrier-trial publication. Considering their last campaigns, Red Tracer looks the better fresh horse. Verdict: Red Tracer ($3). Waterhouse has tuned two-year-olds Whittington (Canonbury) and Overreach (Widden) with trials. Whittington, alas, has drawn the one alley but hopefully Tom Berry will be able to exploit the colt's gate speed to be off the fence if the ground is suspect. Some wise guys are concerned that Overreach hasn't trialled since January 8, around which a Blue Diamond campaign was aborted. Any problems? Brilliant Bisc showed plenty of speed to take a Rosehill heat on January and while she launches from 11 it could be the place to be. Verdict: Whittington ($2) and Brilliant Bisc ($4.20). O'Shea is cautious about Steps In Time but appears more enthusiastic about Ashokan in the Royal Sovereign. "I've tried to get him going before those really good horses come back," the trainer said. Ashokan has had two trials and went particularly well behind the outstanding More Joyous at Randwick on February 1, when beaten a head. Of course he takes on favourite Rebel Dane, unbeaten in three starts. According to good judges, Rebel Dane has been the most impressive performer at recent barrier trials. Others to consider are the highly rated, unbeaten New Zealander Sacred Falls, tardy at the start in a recent heat, and the recently gelded Urquidez, bristling with potential but listed with a late gear change, hoof pads. Verdict: Ashokan ($4.60). Waterhouse has given Under The Sun, a former New Zealander, a one-trial foundation for the last, and while High On Believing grew another leg with blinkers on to win a recent heat by 16 lengths, it was a far cry from his miserable last-start effort. Maybe the most interesting aspect of this race is that War Charm has been scratched to start in the Lawn Handicap at Flemington with Glen Boss up. Still, Under The Sun has promise and while effective over middle distances, the gelding did well resuming last campaign over 1300m after two earlier trials. Possibly Waterhouse has cut back here not because of cost but to keep the four-year-old sprint keen for the 1200m. Verdict: Under The Sun ($4.20).