Craig Rail has added New Zealand imports from the Julie Douglas, Russell Jack and Alex Ashwood stables into his Blackbook.
Platinum Prince (Douglas) and Daggy Lamb (Jack) both impressed in the same trial at Bendigo on Monday, while John James Preston (Ashwood) put in a good effort at the same track shortly after.
They are among five new entries into Rail’s Blackbook, which can be found at the bottom of this week’s report.
WARRAGUL 19/03/22
Trial 1: – SOVEREIGN MINX was clearly the class runner of the trial and started from the handicap of 30m. She quickly tacked onto the leading duo, moved around to find the lead at the 1100m and was able to record an easy win. There was a lot to like about the run of the second placed SUNDAYS SHADOW. He trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the inside and chased hard to be beaten by a length. He has a National Rating of 46 whereas his stable mate has a rating of 60 so he did well to finish as close as he did.
Mile Rate: – 2.10.0 Last Half: – 63.0 Margins: – 3m, 15m
MARYBOROUGH 20/03/22
Trial 2: – DOWNUNDER BARKERS has joined trainer Brad Angove after having a stint with trainer Kate Hargreaves. He looked very sharp as he sprinted home in slick final sectionals (57.4, 28.3) to beat the pacers SWISS LIGHTNING and SHELDON after settling behind the leader on the first turn.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.6 Last Half: – 57.4 Margns: – 15m, Head
Trial 4: – MAJOR ANNIE NZ is a promising maiden having been placed at her past three attempts. She progressed forward to find the lead at the 1700m and was untouched in scoring over ALI MACHRISTA, which is an unraced filly out of the former classy mare Cool Machrista.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.6 Last Half: – 58.2 Margins: – 2m, Head
BLACKBOOKER: – Major Annie NZ
KYABRAM 20/03/22
Trainer Justin Torney enjoyed success in both of the trials with MACRAY GLORY defeating JESSIES SON in the opening event and SMOOTH ROLLING, which recently returned from New South Wales, scoring in trial two. Both horses will be competing on the Ouyen Cup program on Sunday.
GEELONG 21/03/22
Trial 1: – RUM AN ROYAL was able to lead throughout from the standing start and beat the highly credentialed trotter ULTIMATE STRIDE NZ, which settled three back on the inside and moved into the breeze with 300m remaining before running to the line under his own steam. ULTIMATE STRIDE NZ has won 11 of his 20 starts and the last time he raced in Australia was during his juvenile season in 2019, where he won both the Redwood Classic and the Breeders Crown.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.3 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – Head, 5m
Trial 4: – GOODTIME HEAVEN won the open class trial of the evening having led throughout. She was untouched going to the line and recorded a last quarter of 27.9 seconds so she is obviously somewhere near her peak form. The field remained in the same order throughout with VINCENZINA finishing second ahead of CODE BLACK and SOEXTRA.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.0 Last Half: – 56.6 Margins: – 5m, 6m
Trial 7: – EURYPHAESSA was able to lead throughout and defeat a strong field of trotters. MUFASA METRO NZ settled last of the four runners, came to the outside at the 600m and joined the leader approaching the home turn but peaked a little in the final 100m. COURAGE STRIDE trailed the leader and was third with VISIONARY being last of the four runners to cross the line but both horses weren’t fully extended in the run to the finish.
Mile Rate: – 2.10.4 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 6m, 6m
BENDIGO 21/03/22
Trial 1: – BELLA LUCY was able to gain standing start practice at the trials after she swung sideways at the start and ran off the track during her latest performance from behind the tapes in which she incredibly won. She was better behaved at the trials and worked to the front at the 1600m before holding off a late challenge from ENDSIN A PARTY, which used the sprint lane. BELLA LUCY is competing in the Echuca Trotters Cup this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.8.0 Last Half: – 59.3 Margins: – Head, 2m
Trial 3: – UNSPOKEN LOVE indicated she was close to a race track success with an effortless victory over STICK WITH ME. She began quickly to lead, coasted along in the vanguard position and jogged down the straight in a last quarter of 29.3 seconds. She has a low National Rating of 46 so she can be well placed the next time she steps out onto the track.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.5 Last Half: – 60.1 Margins: – 4m, 8m
BLACKBOOKER: – Unspoken Love
Trial 4: – ILLAWONG STARDUST prepared for her shot at the Sumthingaboutmaori FFA at Group 1 level when she led throughout and defeated a handy field in fast time. SENITAS STRENGTH sat in the trail and finished second with the former New Zealander SILVER POWER NZ coming from last of the four runners and doing her best work at the end for third. SILVER POWER NZ will also back up in the Sumthingaboutmaori FFA at Melton on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.9 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 12m, 4m
Trial 7: – The former New Zealand pacer PLATINUM PRINCE NZ was an impressive winner of the seventh event and will prove extremely hard to beat at Ouyen on Sunday. He raced without cover and was racing fiercely but as he was trying to draw to the lead, he dropped the bit. He eventually got across to the markers at the 800m and he looked strong going to the line to win nicely. DAGGY LAMB NZ is also a former New Zealander, which should go well in Victoria. He was four back on the pegs, moved away from the inside and was left without cover for the last half mile. He tried hard and was beaten by a narrow margin.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.9 Last Half: – 58.7 Margins: – Neck, 16m
BLACKBOOKERS: – Platinum Prince NZ & Daggy Lamb NZ
Trial 8: – JOHN JAMES PRESTON has a National Rating of 54 and comfortably defeated three horses with rating numbers of 67, 63 and 75 so he is definitely worth following. He led throughout and dashed home in a slick final quarter of 27.7 beating MAGIC MIKE, HAVANA and CHASE THE HAT TRICK.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.0 Last Half: – 57.0 Margins: – 3m, 3m
BLACKBOOKER: – John James Preston NZ
