The well-bred Hay Jet looks ready to impress at the races after a strong trial at Melton this week.

Harness Racing Victoria form analysist Craig Rail spotted the Chris Svanosio-trained squaregaiter running third on Tuesday and promptly added the unraced gelding to his Blackbook.

“Hay Jet is by Majestic Son out of the former top mare Aleppo Midas (1.56.3, $142,804), which has already produced two good winners in Alpha Male (1.56.0) and Timothy Red (1.55.6),” Rail wrote.

“Hay Jet did enjoy a good trip throughout, but did well for an unraced three-year-old trotter that was taking on proven winners.”

Geoff Webster-trained Catherine was also added to the Blackbook after a good effort earlier in the day at Melton.

TRIAL REPORT

BACCHUS MARSH 13/04/24

Trial 2: - LOVENUS broke stride in the latter stages of her latest performance and returned to the trials with a victory at Bacchus Marsh. She won by a reasonable margin over CAPTAIN GRAYWOOD, which hasn’t started since January and LAVENGERS BOY finished in third position. LOVENUS will be making an appearance against suitable opposition at Ballarat this evening.

Mile Rate: - 2.6.6                            Last Half: - 61.0                Margins: - ½ Head, 6m

Trial 3: - CASTLES IN THE SKY was formerly with trainer Matthew Craven and has joined John McCullagh. He won his trial by a good margin over DA PREZ, which was stood down to trial after breaking stride in the latter stages at Cranbourne last week. He is scheduled to compete at Warragul on Sunday. DISTANT SUN hasn’t raced since finishing seventh in the Breeders Crown Final in November. He finished a distant third with AMEDONS GIRL being last of the four runners across the line.

Trial 4: - RENDEZVOUS went nicely in a Bacchus Marsh trial effort prior to having little luck in a heat of the Warragul Cup. He went back to the trials on Saturday and recorded handy time in defeating GAMER with DANCINGONSTARLIGHT being a close up third. RENDEZVOUS backed up at Bendigo on Tuesday night and was successful via the sprint lane. DANCINGONSTARLIGHT is competing at the Warragul Cup program on Sunday.  

Mile Rate: - 2.1.9                            Last Half: - 61.5                Margins: - 1.5m, 3m

Trial 5: - BART BENTLEY hasn’t raced since an eighth at Bendigo in January. He was a winner at Charlton in December and was able to win the trial in handy time. That performance would have given him plenty of confidence leading up to his first up run at Shepparton on Tuesday night. CHERMEAR PRINCESS hasn’t raced since September but finished in second and was well ahead of the third placed WHY NOT DREAM.

Mile Rate: - 2.2.3                            Last Half: - 58.6                Margins: - 3m, 20m

Trial 6: - PROHIBITED GRACE is an unraced juvenile, which is set to make her debut in the Nutrien Final at Melton on Saturday night. She has been performing nicely at the trials with several victories and won her final trial comfortably over RINGER WELLS, an unraced trotter by What The Hill for trainer Michael Cole. RINGER WELLS will be making his debut at Maryborough on Monday. EL TORNADO finished last of the three runners but wasn’t beaten by a big margin. He made his debut at Cranbourne on Tuesday night but unfortunately galloped shortly after the start and lost all chance.  

Mile Rate: - 2.8.3                            Last Half: - 60.3                Margins: - 3m, 3m

 

MARYBOROUGH 13/04/24

Trial 1: - THE ONLY DECISION trailed the leader and raced keenly throughout the trial. He switched back to the sprint lane in the home straight and sprinted through nicely to win comfortably. He was going to back up at Swan Hill on Thursday night but unfortunately the meeting had to be abandoned due to a local power issue.  FOURTH IN LINE finished in second position after attempting to lead all of the way and will be competing at Maryborough on Monday. YORKSHIRE NZ settled down last of the trio and came to the outside on the home turn before holding his ground over the latter stages.

Mile Rate: - 1.59.9                          Last Half: - 57.0                Margins: - 5m, Head

Trial 2: - HY FILANTE broke stride momentarily at the start and lost several lengths before balancing up and progressing forward. He worked to the front with a mile remaining and was able to keep on rolling to claim the prize. He was nominated for the Swan Hill program on Thursday night. PARIS ABBIE led out then took cover behind the winner in the back straight on the first occasion. She only came to the outside with 100m remaining and finished off very quickly, which was a good lead into her performance at Maryborough on Monday. EBONYS AVENGER suffered atrial fibrillation at her latest performance and was stood down to trial. She settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail approaching the home turn and finished off well at the end. She is competing against a strong field at Ballarat this evening.

Mile Rate: - 2.2.7                            Last Half: - 58.5                Margins: - 2m, 3m

Trial 6: - SUNNY MAJESTY took out the trial for the juvenile trotters. She began quickly to lead and slipped well clear in the back straight before breaking stride on the home turn. She regathered momentum and went back to the lead despite shifting out over the concluding stages. She raced very greenly but showed some ability. She is by Majestic Son out of Sunny Avenue, which only had one start that yielded a fourth in the Abrahams Trotting Classic at Shepparton and her first foal Majestic Avenue has already won a race. QUICK COMET finished second after trailing the leader throughout with PURPLE SUN being in third spot for the duration.

Mile Rate: - 2.8.6                            Last Half: - 64.1                Margins: - 4m, 40m

 

MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 16/04/24

Trial 2: - TWISTING BY NZ continued his good trial form with an effortless victory. He settled three back on the markers, came to the outside with 600m remaining and finished off in slick sectional times to get the prize. MISTER MACEDON finished second after attempting to lead throughout and LOOK LIKE DIAMONDS finished in third after being four back on the markers and following forward behind TWISTING BY NZ in the final 600m. She went to the line with plenty in reserve so it was a tidy display and she is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. The second placed MISTER MACEDON is scheduled to compete at Warragul on Sunday.

Mile Rate: - 2.0.3                            Last Half: - 56.43                             Margins: - 1.5m, 3m

Trial 3: - FEARLESS WRITER was the only 3yo pacer in the combined 2 & 3yo trial and was he able to lead throughout. As the name suggests, he is a son of Sportswriter and he is out of the fast mare Be Not Afraid (1.56.6) so his breeding suggests he should have the ability to win races. CATHERINE is a daughter of Art Major out of the former top mare Flagbearer (1.55.8, $124,785) and she showed some promise by sprinting home in a fast last 400m. She trailed the leader throughout but really hit the line strongly and there should be a gold medal performance somewhere in her future. IDEAL AFFAIR was last of the three runners throughout.

Mile Rate: - 1.58.8                          Last Half: - 56.86                             Margins: - 1.5m, 12.5m

BLACKBOOKER: - Catherine

Trial 4: - JEREMY LOU recorded handy time in taking out the fourth trial. He settled three back on the markers, waited for the sprint lane and finished off fast to win comfortably. FIRST CLASS NZ settled seventh on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the bell and finished off well for second. TRINITYS DELIGHT trailed behind the leader CAPTAIN BOAK, came to the outside at the 700m mark and battled on well for third position. She is backing up at Warragul on Sunday afternoon.  

Mile Rate: - 1.57.6                          Last Half: - 56.42                             Margins: - 3.5m, 4.5m

Trial 5: - HARRY STAMPER NZ hasn’t started since finishing fourth in the Yarra Valley Cup in November but he has been performing nicely at the trials and was able to record a narrow victory over MAJESTICAL BELLE, which was placed in each of her last four starts during her latest preparation. WHOS THE MAN finished third ahead of IS THAT A BID with HAMMERS LAW being fifth across the line leading up to his resumption at Ballarat this evening.

Mile Rate: - 2.0.2                            Last Half: - 58.05                             Margins: - Head, 7.5m

Trial 7: - ALDEBARAN MILEY trailed the leader, came to the outside in the home straight and finished off stylishly to record an emphatic victory. The early leader TIPSY TURVY finished in second with the American trotter ALDEBARAN ACRUX USA (3 back markers) being third across the line. ALDEBARAN ACRUX USA won three races in America and carries a personal best mile of 1.55.0. She was working home nicely so she obviously has ability.

Mile Rate: - 2.2.7                            Last Half: - 57.83                             Margins: - 5.5m, 4m

Trial 8: - KYVALLEY MICHAEL settled four back on the inside and moved up without cover from the 600m. He finished off solidly to win, seemingly with something in reserve. THUNDA STRUCK worked to the front shortly after the start and battled on well for second with HAY JET finishing third after trailing the leader throughout. HAY JET is by Majestic Son out of the former top mare Aleppo Midas (1.56.3, $142,804), which has already produced two good winners in Alpha Male (1.56.0) and Timothy Red (1.55.6). HAY JET did enjoy a good trip throughout but did well for an unraced 3yo trotter that was taking on proven winners.

Mile Rate: - 2.2.7                            Last Half: - 59.36                             Margins: - 1.5m, 6m

BLACKBOOKER: - Hay Jet

 

CRANBOURNE 16/04/24

Trial 1: - IM EUGENE is racing in sparkling form and was kept ticking over by trainer Samantha Gangell in preparation for the Warragul Cup on Sunday, where he has drawn on the inside of the second line. He is shooting for four straight victories on Sunday and his confidence should remain very high after winning his trial comfortably at Cranbourne. OUR FIRE AND DELIGHT NZ has been placed once in six starts since coming from Queensland and was second past the post with ONEHANDONEBOUNCE being the third horse across the line. OUR FIRE AND DELIGHT NZ has come up with the pole position at Shepparton on Tuesday night.

Mile Rate: - 2.1.3                            Last Half: - 58.1                               Margins: - 4.5m, 10.5m