Spicey Major “should prove hard to beat” in his return to the races at Yarra Valley on Monday according to Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail.
Rail was impressed with the Jodi Quinlan-trained pacer’s trial hit-out at Melton early in the week and expects him to run a good race first-up since January in the Yarra Glen Bakehouse 3YO Pace.
Spicey Major is one of four Blackbookers from the Victorian trial circuit this week, with Rail also adding in Lisa Pitt-trained Resume, Chris Lang’s unraced trotter Stride Hill and Alex Ashwood’s new stable addition Desmond.
Here are this week’s highlights from the circuit, with the updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
TRIAL REPORT
SHEPPARTON 29/06/23
Trial 1: – RESUME NZ is former New Zealand pacer, which finished unplaced at Wagga on his Australian debut. His form in New Zealand was sound and he bounced back into his groove with an impressive trial victory, where he led throughout in fast time. TREACHEROUS LASS finished second after trailing the leader throughout and SCHOOL CAPTAIN came from last of the seven runners to run into third. He made good ground and wasn’t extended at any stage. ROAM settled three back on the markers and finished fourth. She backed up with a fifth at Shepparton on Wednesday night, where she had no luck and is perfectly drawn for her effort on that track on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.9 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – 10m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Resume NZ
Trial 2: – SPRING IN HIS STEP prepared for his effort in the Koala King FFA at Bendigo tomorrow night with a victory over HI MANAMEISJEFF NZ. He settled three back on the inside and moved into the one out and one back trail from the quarter pole. He finished off strongly to get the prize. HIMANAMEISJEFF NZ is also resuming at Bendigo tomorrow night but he has an awkward draw. He trailed the leader, came to the outside with 500m remaining and hit the lead on the home turn but couldn’t repel the challenge of SPRING IN HIS STEP. JUST HOPE settled last of the four runners and picked up ground without being pushed out at any stage.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.7 Last Half: – 57.2 Margins: – Neck, 3m
Trial 3: – SHESAWISH is a quality filly with a win in the Homegrown Classic and a second in the New South Wales Oaks at her past two attempts. She settled fifth on the pegs, moved to the outside at the 500m and finished off too well to score by a handy margin. WILLDOMXAV attempted to lead throughout and finished second with BELLA CONTESSA (trailed leader) and MISS FRANCENE (4 back markers) being third and fourth respectively. Both BELLA CONTESSA and MISS FRANCENE are competing at Shepparton on Tuesday and WILLDOMXAV is competing at Melton tonight.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.6 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 8m, 8m
Trial 6: – THE LOCOMOTIVE was the outstanding juvenile of last season having won nine of his twelve starts and he hasn’t raced since winning the Super Series Final in December. He stepped away quickly from the standing start to lead and never got out of second gear, winning by a large margin. NORDIC REIGN raced roughly after the start and lost valuable ground early. She did well to catch up then pass SOPHIEGOESBANG to run into second position.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.3 Last Half: – 61.3 Margins: – 30m, 10m
KILMORE 29/06/23
Trial 1: – SON OF THE SHARK settled fifth on the markers, moved into the running lane at the 700m (1-2) and ended up being out four horses wide from the 300m before producing a big finishing burst to win by a large margin. He is making his debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night and must be considered as a winning chance. LUCIANA settled three back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 700m and came out three horses wide at the quarter pole. She finished off well but not as fast as the winner and was second past the post. LIZZIES LEGACY NZ settled eighth on the markers and finished off fast for an eye-catching third.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.9 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 12m, 19m
Trial 3: – LADY LANI began quickly to lead, took cover and ended up being three back on the pegs at the 1200m. She finished off best to score over DO NOT SURRENDER, which led out then took cover. He backed up at Geelong on Tuesday night and finished unplaced after having little luck over the concluding stages. GENERAL LINCOLN settled sixth on the pegs, moved into the running lane and finished off fairly well for third. He is backing up at Melton this evening. ARIARNE was four back on the inside, moved around to find the lead at the 1200m and battled on fairly well late. She is making her debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.9 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 4m, 4m
MARYBOROUGH 02/07/23
Trial 4: – HELEN BET MARY showed very good gate speed and was able to lead throughout. STEEL RULER produced a very good effort to fill second spot after he settled five back on the inside and moved into the death seat at the 700m. He sustained a strong run and went down by a narrow margin. ROCKNROLL STARDOM settled three back on the inside and held his ground over the concluding stages to finish third despite hanging in late.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.7 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – 1m, 8m
Trial 5: – NO TELLING HEATHER is a filly by Sebastian K for trainer Colin Holloway. She was able to lead throughout and defeated MAJESTIC AVENUE, which has already had eight races for the season, the latest being a fifth placed effort at Kilmore on Thursday night. He trailed the leader and came to the outside at the 600m with LEGGY PEGGY (three back markers) being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.7 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 1m, 3m
KYABRAM 02/07/23
Trial 2: – BENATAR was unplaced at her first run since January but she won her trial by a large margin over FULLOFMISCHIEF, which was preparing for his first start for nearly a year. He finished seventh in that first up performance at Shepparton. CHEROKEE JAC finished third as a lead up to his performance at Shepparton on Tuesday. The winner BENATAR is scheduled to compete at Yarra Valley on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.6 Last Half: – 59.9 Margins: – 30m, 5m
MILDURA 03/07/23
Trial 2: – TASHS MATE showed good gate speed and was able to lead throughout. POWERSOFPERSUASION settled five back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 1600m and angled in behind the leader at the 1300m. He came to the outside to challenge but broke stride approaching the home turn then hung in badly under pressure in the home straight. He was still able to make up ground despite doing a bit wrong over the concluding stages. He is one of the leading chances in the sixth event at Mildura this evening and will take beating if he is able to mend his manners. COTTON CANDY MAN galloped from behind the leader mid-race and ended up being three back on the markers. He finished in third with RONZEL SONNY (4 back then 5 back on the markers), which is preparing for his first up performance tonight, finishing in fourth position.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.4 Last Half: – 62.6 Margins: – 4m, 3m
Trial 3: – MARTHA LAVINIA dropped back to last after being caught without cover early, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 1300m and made her winning move at the 500m. She was able to win softly and it was a good performance leading up to her first up run this evening. AUCKLAND LASS was three back on the markers before moving into the death seat with over a lap remaining. She battled on well for second and MEXICAN STANDOFF was third after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.9 Last Half: – 62.9 Margins: – 6m, 2m
MELTON 03/07/23
Trial 2: – LOOK LIKE DIAMONDS hasn’t raced since having an attempt at the Gold Tiara at Bathurst in March. She failed to make the Final of that series but she is a nicely bred filly and she looked very sharp at her easy trial victory, where she raced without cover early before finding the lead at the 1300m. INTERNAL BLUE is an unraced filly by Art Major out of the former top race and producing mare Under The Mattress, which makes her a close relation to five winners including the outstanding pacer Smolda (1.50.6, 2,415,738). She led out then took cover and held down second spot. GOODTIME LOUIS came from last of the five runners to pick up third placing.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.6 Last Half: – 57.3 Margins: – 11m, 2m
Trial 3: – VACATION HILL NZ was able to lead throughout and scored softly. MEGEVE came from three back on the markers to pick up second and GAELIC LAD was third after trailing the leader throughout. CENTRAL OTAGO settled down last of the five runners, angled to the outside when well into the home straight and made ground late without being pushed out at any stage. He makes his return to racing at Bendigo tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.9 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – 3.5m, Neck
Trial 4: – SPICEY MAJOR settled five back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and finished fast to win easily. He returns from a spell at Yarra Valley on Monday and should prove hard to beat. KEAYANG HONEYJOY settled in sixth position and made up a lot of ground in the latter stages to finish second with CAPTAIN BOAK (trailed leader) being an unlucky third after being held up behind tiring horses before the home turn.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.0 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – 11m, 10m
BLACKBOOKER: – Spicey Major
Trial 5: – CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY began quickly but couldn’t lead early, progressed forward and eventually found the top with a mile remaining. He battled on well and was able to hold off the challenge of KEAYANG SADIE (fourth pegs) in the run to the finish. The juvenile trotter STRIDE HILL produced a very tidy display in third. He is by Muscle Hill and is the first foal out of the American bred mare Mooshka Stride USA (1.55.0), which did have three Australian starts and was a race winner at Menangle. He came from last of the six runners and finished strongly so he is worth following.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.0 Last Half: – 60.1 Margins: – 1.5m, 9m
BLACKBOOKER: – Stride Hill
Trial 7: – STAR HUNTER began smartly and ran straight to the lead. He dashed home in a slick final quarter of 27.0 seconds and scored nicely. HOLY BASIL settled three back on the inside before leaving the markers at the 600m mark. He did well to finish second with RUESLAN finishing off nicely from four back on the markers to be in third position. WHISKEY CAVALIER NZ hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Breakthrough Final at Melton in January. He finished fourth but he was steaming home in a very slick last quarter so his effort was very good and he is capable of a big performance when he resumes.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 55.9 Margins: – 1.5m, 2m
BENDIGO 03/07/23
Trial 2: – FRENWOOD MIRACLE trailed the leader and came to the outside on the home turn. He finished off well and got up in the last stride. OZZIE SWEET PEA began fast from a wide draw and was able to get across to the markers first. She ran along at a genuine tempo and was beaten in the last stride. She resumes from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night and must be considered as a winning chance. HES LETHAL ran into a distant third after setting four back on the inside.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.3 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – Nose, 30m
Trial 4: – DESMOND settled five back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He produced a big finish and scored with ease. He is a former New South Wales pacer, which has recently joined trainer Alex Ashwood and he has a low National Rating so he might be worth following. OZZIE JOYBELL was the first to make a move after settling four back on the markers and finished in second with the early leader GOODTIME HALO being third across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 58.1 Margins: – 8m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Desmond
Trial 6: – FORGOT THE WALLET began quickly and completely dominated his rivals, scoring by 30m in a mile rate of 1.56.8! CAROLSDIAMOND was beaten by a long way after trailing the leader but she is an unraced maiden and the winner has a National Rating of 70 so under the circumstances, it was a sound effort. She strikes a suitable assignment at Shepparton on Tuesday night. WENDYS WATCHING came from four back on the markers and ran into a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.8 Last Half: – 56.4 Margins: – 30m, 15m
BALLARAT 04/07/23
Trial 4: – TOUGH TILLY and TREACHERY did battle in a tremendous match race between two classy mares. TOUGH TILLY led and TREACHERY came to the outside approaching the home turn. TREACHERY made it very interesting down the home straight but TOUGH TILLY was able to cling on and get the prize.
Mile Rate: – Not Given Last Half: – Not Given Margins: – 1m (approximately)
Trial 5: – ENCIPHER and ACT NOW were paired together in another match race. ACT NOW hasn’t raced since the Super Series Final in December but had a memorable campaign including a third in the Inter Dominion Final. ENCIPHER has had several starts at her current preparation and was stood down for an ECG after dropping out in the Cinderella Stakes. ACT NOW was able to utilize his gate speed to lead with ENCIPHER sitting in the trail. ENCIPHER came to the outside on the home turn and sprinted brilliantly in the home straight to get the better of ACT NOW in the run to the finish. The last quarter was a sizzling 26.6 seconds so both horses performed very well.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.6 Last Half: – 55.9 Margin: – 1m
