Ricky Debono-trained Big Sledge Hammer looks primed for his return to the races after a strong trial performance at Geelong on Monday night.
HRV form analyst Craig Rail noted that the lightly-raced son of Racing Hill was able to dominate his rivals with a “slippery last quarter of 27.8” and quickly added him to the Blackbook.
He was a winner on debut at Melton in June, but has not competed since having his fourth career start in July.
Big Sledge Hammer was joined in the list of horses to follow by new additions Jilliby Fabio – who starts at Bendigo on Tuesday – and The Perfect Sweet.
TRIAL REPORT
ARARAT 19/10/23
Trial 1: – TIC TACT has been racing in good form and was clearly the class runner of the trials. She was able to win easily over stable mate STRAIGHT UP, which followed with a victory at Hamilton on Wednesday afternoon. BEHOLD and LOOKAT SPUNKY TROT finished third and fourth respectively. The winner TIC TACT backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night and finished eighth behind Operative Line.
Mile Rate: – Not Given Last Half: – Not Given Margins: – 10m, 30m
COBRAM 22/10/23
Trial 1: – FOUR STAR SAINT hasn’t raced since a fourth in August and has joined trainer Matthew Berger after previously being with Julie Douglas. He was able to win the trial from AGGIE MAY, which was placed on the outside of the draw after galloping away at Melton at her latest attempt. FRIENDS finished in third and YIPPEE failed to complete the course.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.3 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 2m, 4m
GEELONG 23/10/23
Trial 2: – JILLIBY FABIO was without cover in the early stages and progressed forward to find the lead. He finished off in a slick final quarter of 28.7 seconds and raced to an easy victory so it was a good performance. He makes his debut at Bendigo on Tuesday night and should be competitive. KEAYANG GALLIANO trailed the leader early before being shuffled back on the markers and made a move at the 500m mark. He finished well ahead of KEAYANG SHADOWBOX, which settled six back on the markers and moved into the one out and one back trail at the bell.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.4 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – 10m, 10m
BLACKBOOKER: – Jilliby Fabio
Trial 3: – EASY PICKINGS NZ raced without cover in the early stages before working to the lead. He finished off in a slick final quarter of 28.6 seconds to defeat the former Inter Dominion champion MAORI LAW, which came from three back on the markers at the quarter pole. MAORI LAW will make his return to racing at Maryborough on Sunday. HOMONYM NZ led out then took cover and finished third with BALTIC SPIRIT NZ being last of the four runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.0 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – Head, 12m
Trial 5: – Only two horses contested the open class trial with the classy 3yo pacer DOUGS PLATTER defeating the former Chariots of Fire champion and Miracle Mile runner up JILLIBY KUNG FU. DOUGS PLATTER was able to lead throughout and JILLIBY KUNG FU came to his outside with 300m remaining. Interestingly, JILLIBY KUNG FU’s son Jilliby Fabio won the second trial on the program. DOUGS PLATTER is poorly drawn in the Graduate at Melton tomorrow night but he has the ability to figure in the finish.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.5 Last Half: – 55.5 Margin: – 2m
Trial 6: – BIG SLEDGE HAMMER was able to lead throughout and dominated his rivals by recording a slippery last quarter of 27.8 seconds. TELEMACHUS has been in career best form having been placed at his past five attempts, winning three with his past two in succession. He trailed the leader throughout and finished in second spot. BARRA MAC settled three back on the markers and came to the outside with 500m remaining. He finished third ahead of JILLIBY MENDOZA (four back markers) and SHARPER MEMORY (five back markers).
Mile Rate: – 2.1.0 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 8m, Neck
BLACKBOOKER: – Big Sledge Hammer
Trial 7: – HY FILANTE has made a few errors at the races recently but his trial form has been sound. He was out three horses wide early, progressed forward to find the lead at the mile marker and ran along at a genuine tempo to win comfortably. He backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night but tired into sixth after enduring a tough trip. KEAYANG YOGI led out then took cover and battled on well for second with PLATINUM JIVE NZ being in third position after racing without cover for the majority of the trip.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.0 Last Half: – 58.0 Margins: – 4m, 2.5m
Trial 9: – BOLLINGER NZ and LIFEINTHEBALANCE did battle from the standing start with BOLLINGER NZ stepping away best to find the front and leading throughout. LIFEINTHEBALANCE came to the outside at the 600m and chased hard in slick final sectionals (57.0, 27.6) so the efforts from both horses were sound. LIFEINTHEBALANCE is backing up at Bendigo on Tuesday night and performed well enough in the trial to suggest he could be competitive.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.4 Last Half: – 57.0 Margin: – Head
BENDIGO 23/10/23
Trial 1: – DONA AMALIA raced without cover early before finding the front at the mile marker. She remained strong at the finish and was able to take out the trial nicely. Her manners have improved lately and she has a lot of ability when she is able to put it altogether. PREFERRED LOVE trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and came away from the inside at the 300m mark. He finished off well for second with ZAREM finishing strongly from five back on the markers to finish in third. ZAREM is a winning chance at Maryborough this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.3 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 2m, 4m
Trial 2: – QUARTZITE was returning from Queensland when a tiring twelfth at Maryborough and was stood down to trial. He bounced back to his best form with a big victory over MICHEN ROY after leading throughout and backs up at Bendigo on Tuesday night. MICHEN ROY gained the perfect trip behind the leader throughout and HESTON CASH came from four back on the markers to finish in third. OUTA THE BLUE settled last of the six runners, came out three horses wide in the back straight and battled on fairly well for fourth spot. Both HESTON CASH and OUTA THE BLUE have winning claims at Bendigo on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.5 Last Half: – 57.0 Margins: – 20m, 1m
Trial 4: – BANDIT EYES began quickly to find the lead and ran along at a genuine tempo. He was able to win nicely over EAGER EYES, which raced without cover early, took the trail behind the leader then came to the outside again at the 700m mark. FAIR CHANCE settled five back on the inside, moved into a one out and one back trail and came out three horses wide at the 300m before running home nicely into third position. All three horses will be backing up at Bendigo on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.0 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – 3m, 12m
Trial 6: – COOL DENO is an unraced 3yo pacer by Betting Line out of the former handy mare Cool Machrista. He trailed the leader, moved away from the markers on the home turn and finished off fast to win the trial. He has drawn on the pole position at Bendigo on Tuesday night. LADY LAZARO attempted to lead throughout and finished in second position with HOORAH PHILTRA being in third spot after being five back on the markers and finishing off quickly. HOORAH PHILTRA is scheduled to compete at Bendigo on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.8 Last Half: – 58.1 Margins: – 2m, Nose
Trial 7: – EVERYBODYLOVESME began quickly but angled in behind the leader BITTA IRISH LUCK. He used the sprint lane and finished off quickly to grab victory on the line and will back up at Maryborough on Sunday afternoon. BITTA IRISH LUCK battled on well for a close second and CRAVACHE DOR remained last of the three runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.7 Last Half: – 56.7 Margins: – Head, 7m
Trial 10: – RELENTLESS ME finished unplaced at Melton on Friday night but she has impressed in two recent trial successes. She led throughout and finished off in a sizzling final quarter of 26.9 seconds to win comfortably. It was a good hit-out for her performance at Melton tomorrow night, where she has drawn favourably. YORKSHIRE NZ did well to come from last of the four runners and finished in second. He must be considered as a winning chance at Mildura this evening. PESCI was three back on the markers throughout and MAJOR MANBAR (trailed leader) was the last one to complete the course.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.4 Last Half: – 55.4 Margins: – 8m, 4m
KILMORE 25/10/23
Trial 1: – ARCEE PHOENIX continues to tick along nicely leading up to the Queensland Inter Dominion series. He trailed behind his stable mate AROHA KOE, came to the outside at the 150m mark and finished off fast to win nicely. AROHA KOE broke stride when being overtaken close to the post but was well clear of ONE MUSCLE HILL NZ, which was last of the trio for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.9 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 1.5m, 25m
Trial 2: – It was an interesting race trial with trainer Rita Burnett unveiling four rising juveniles. The 3yo pacer DEFYING THE ODDS won the trial after leading throughout. OZZIE CORKA was the first of the youngsters to cross the line, finishing second after settling three back on the inside and moving to the outside at the 600m mark. He is by Rock N Roll Heaven out of the lightly raced mare Smooth Felicity, which has produced Ozzie Playboy (1.55.0, $189,795). GRIMSHAW BAY finished in third position after trailing the leader and using the sprint lane. She is by Downbytheseaside out of Locks of Gold and is the first foal out of the mare. BOLT OF COBARGO finished off quickly from last to pick up fourth. He is by The Storm Inside out of the handy mare Cobargo Doll (1.56.1, $82,919), which has produced three winners including Cobargo Grin (1.57.5, $26,355).
Mile Rate: – 2.4.4 Last Half: – 61.5 Margins: – 2m, 2m
Trial 5: – READY TO RULE hasn’t raced since December 2020 and has galloped in each of his three starts to date. He is by Ready Cash out of the Redwood Classic winning mare Maidstone Miss so he is nicely bred and he showed enough ability at the trials to suggest he can go well this campaign. He did gallop wildly at the start and maintained his position to lead but after he settled down and commenced trotting, he was very dominant over the concluding stages. YOU REALLY GOT ME NZ was three back on the markers and finished second with MURTAGH KAI (trailed leader) being third across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.0 Last Half: – 61.4 Margins: – 30m, 25m
Trial 6: – THE PERFECT SWEET hasn’t raced since May but produced an encouraging performance to win her trial. She was four back on the markers, angled out three horses wide on the home turn and finished off fast to win untouched. AMERICAN WEREWOLF settled five back on the markers, came out three horses wide on the home turn and finished in second position with SEA HILL being in third after leading out then taking cover.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.8 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – 1m, 3m
BLACKBOOKER: – The Perfect Sweet
HAMILTON 25/10/23
Trial 2: – MIKI STEAMED HOME is a former South Australian pacer by Always B Miki out of the top mare Steam Washed. He is now with trainer Jim Barker and was able to win the trial from the juvenile gelding WANT IT IN WRITING, which is by Sportswriter out of Pass The Word, a race winning mare, which has produced Starscape (1.59.2, $28,729). QUICK DECISION finished a close up third with ANGEL OF ANGER being fourth across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.8 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – 7m, Nose
