Harness Racing Victoria form analyst Craig Rail is keen to follow Sirlou after he showed very good acceleration and talent in his Shepparton trial.
Rail was impressed with Happenstobeabeachboy after he extended beautifully in the straight to win by a comfortable margin at Maryborough.
Others to catch Rail’s eye at the trials this week were Keayang Hollywood and Jilliby Zucchini.
TRIAL REPORT
SHEPPARTON 14/11/24
Trial 1: – DESSIE GEE began quickly and ended up being behind the early leader SEBS CHOICE. He switched back to the sprint lane and finished off best to win by a narrow margin. He backed up with a fourth placed effort behind Tango Tara at Bendigo on Wednesday night. SEBS CHOICE finished in second after setting a genuine tempo and FOLLOWTHEACE (4 back markers) was doing his best work at the end to finish in third position. NATIONAL NEWS NZ (5 back markers) was also finding the line nicely in fourth position.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.7 Last Half: – 56.5 Margins: – Head, 1m
Trial 2: – ELATED NZ hasn’t raced since being unplaced at Albury in February but he appeared to be pretty sharp at the trials as he was able to finish off in a slick final half of 57.1 seconds, which is a good form pointer leading up to his performance at Wagga this afternoon. He took the trail behind NOMORELYING on the first turn, came to the outside with 300m remaining and was able to pick up NOMORELYING right on the line. ON THE HUNT came from last of the four runners to pick up third position and he ran a handy final half to do so. Both NOMORELYING and ON THE HUNT will be competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.7 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – Head, 5m
Trial 3: – SIRLOU is an unraced gelding by Sweet Lou for trainer Craig Turnbull. He showed good gate speed to lead out then took cover behind HOORAH PHILTRA before finishing off strongly via the sprint lane. He showed very good acceleration at the end and he appeared to have something in reserve so he is worth following. He will be making his debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. HOORAH PHILTRA held down second position after setting up the speed and FRUGAL FARE came from last of the five runners to be third across the line. HELENS BOY is making his debut for trainer Shane Sanderson at Mildura this afternoon. He settled three back on the inside, moved up to join the leader on the home turn and peaked in the straight but he did take on a handy field and he might find his debut assignment to be easier.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.5 Last Half: – 58.9 Margins: – 5m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: – Sirlou
MARYBOROUGH 16/11/24
Trial 1: – HAPPENSTOBEABEACHBOY settled down last of the four runners, moved into the one out and one back trail at the quarter pole and extended beautifully in the straight to win by a comfortable margin. The Ashleigh Herbertson trained gelding showed a good turn of speed at the end of the trial and might be worth following. HOWSWEETTHESOUND began well to trail the leader, came to the outside at the 500m mark and battled on fairly well for second. LOULOU BOY finished third after setting the speed and being headed on the home turn.
Last Mile: – 2.2.6 Last Half: – Not Available Margins: – Not Available
BLACKBOOKER: – Happenstobeabeachboy
Trial 5: – SEGUI LE STELLA led throughout to win the final event on the program. DARETODANCE sat in the trail throughout and made her run just before the home turn. She missed out by a slender margin. The third and fourth horses across the line are listed as yearlings and officially turn two on January 01. DE BEAU ROCK finished third after settling last of the four runners and coming to the outside on the home turn. He is a colt by Rock N Roll World out of the classy mare Lady De Beau (1.56.2, $206,097), which has already produced three winners including All Starzzz Megan (1.54.3, $71,928) and Amore Rock (1.55.5, $77,747). JUST JIMMY stems from the same maternal family as DE BEAU ROCK being by Rock N Roll World out of All Starzzz Megan. He settled three back on the markers and was the last horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.4 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – Nose, 30m
CRANBOURNE 17/11/24
Trial 1: – ATA RANGI was caught wide early and progressed forward to race without cover. She finished off in a slick final half of 56.9 seconds and recorded a strong victory. LOVE A BELLE attempted to lead throughout and finished in second with ZION JEWEL being in third after racing without cover in the early stages and being restrained onto the markers to be behind the leader.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 56.9 Margins: – 3.5m, 6m
Trial 2: – NICHOLAS CAGE NZ progressed forward to find the lead in a very slow early tempo then was able to rip home in a sizzling final half of 55.9 seconds in a big victory over MISTIE REIGN, which sat in the trail throughout. OZZIE SUNSHINE was last of the three runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.1 Last Half: – 55.9 Margins: – 3.5m, 6m
TERANG 18/11/24
Trial 1: – CODE BAILEY NZ hasn’t raced since April 2023 so he has had a long time off the scene. He was able to zip to the lead from the start and finished off in slick final sectionals to win nicely. He should be getting fitter with every run this preparation. ISTHISJUSTFANTASY trailed the leader throughout and finished on well for second while ROADMASTER settled last of the three runners before angling wide on the home turn. ROADMASTER will be backing up at Terang on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.0 Last Half: – 56.0 Margins: – 2m, 4m
Trial 2: – REGINALDS REIGN prepared for his effort at Terang on Sunday with a convincing victory. He led throughout and dashed well clear over the concluding stages so he is worth thought in his effort on the weekend. KYVALLEY ACTRESS finished second after trailing the leader throughout and coming to the outside at the 500m mark. YETTI settled fourth on the markers, ended up being three back on the inside at the 1200m mark and finished third.
Mile Rate: – 2.8.9 Last Half: – 60.3 Margins: – 20m, 6m
Trial 4: – KEAYANG HOLLYWOOD began quickly and worked to the front at the 1700m mark. He finished off in a slick final half of 57.2 seconds to win nicely. He is competing at Melton this evening and appears to be one of the leading chances. JILLIBY ZUCCHINI led out then took cover and chased hard from the quarter pole. He finished in second and should prove hard to beat at Terang on Sunday evening. The performance of KEAYANG HOLLYWOOD tonight will be a good guide to his chances. MY MATE LUKE was three back on the markers throughout and was the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.5 Last Half: – 57.2 Margins: – 2m, 50m
BLACKBOOKERS – Keayang Hollywood + Jilliby Zucchini
GEELONG 18/11/24
Trial 1: – CLASSY OPERATOR NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which has won five of his seven starts in Australia when competing in New South Wales and in Queensland. He has moved to Victoria and joins trainer Malcolm Bull and he won the opening trial after leading out then taking cover and starting his winning move from the 500m mark. WHERES SEGGY worked to the front shortly after the start and finished in second with YNOBE DAKOTA (3 back pegs) being the third horse across the line. YNOBE DAKOTA will be competing at Terang on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 56.9 Margins: – Short ½ head, 10m
Trial 3: – DOUGS TRIBE showed good gate speed to get across and find the lead shortly after the start. He set up a slow tempo and had a good kick left in the run to the finish, scoring by a comfortable margin. FANCY FREE settled five back on the markers, moved up without cover from the bell and battled on well for second. GOODTIME FEMME was behind the leader throughout and finished third ahead of SCATTERSHOT (3 back pegs), which took some time to warm up but was finding the line well in the final 50m.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.3 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – 8m, 8m
BENDIGO 18/11/24
Trial 2: – Several more rising juveniles made an appearance with OZZIE ROCKER coming out victorious. He is by Rock N Roll Heaven out of the former handy race mare Courtney John NZ (1.55.0), making him a brother to Ozzie Joy (1.54.5). He settled three back on the markers and moved out three horses wide on the home turn before getting home best in the home straight. OUR LONELY WOLF was the only 2yo pacer in the event that was taking on the “yearlings” and he finished second after setting the speed. OZZIE PEARL trailed the leader before coming to the outside at the quarter pole. She is by Rock N Roll Heaven out of Elegant Jewel NZ (1.54.5) and HEAVENLY NIKKY is also a filly by Rock N Roll Heaven but she was last of the four runners throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.10.1 Last Half: – 60.1 Margins: – 2m, 3m
Trial 4: – KEISHA showed very good gate speed to find the lead and was always in control of the trial. She raced a little keenly but shot well clear before the home turn, sustaining the run to score by ten metres. TOORAM DANNY settled five back on the markers, moved to the outside with 400m remaining and finished off nicely for second. LOUBELL also showed some promise with a late closing third after she settled four back on the markers and was the last horse turning for home.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.0 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – 10m, 4m
Trial 5: – PARISIAN ARTISTE continues to race in dynamic form and produced another great performance in his trial victory. He led throughout and completely dominated his rivals to win by a large margin. ZAREM settled three back on the inside, moved off the pegs with 300m remaining and battled on well for second. TICTOK showed very good early speed but couldn’t get around PARISIAN ARTISTE so she restrained in behind to take cover. She finished third with ILLAWONG STARDUST coming from last of the six runners to pick up fourth spot. The second placed ZAREM and the fourth placed ILLAWONG STARDUST are both competing at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.1 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 20m, 11m
Trial 6: – LETSROCKLETSROLL was able to gain some confidence leading into his performance at Melton tomorrow night with a last to first victory. He came out four horses wide from the quarter pole and produced a big finish to win easily at the end. SIRIUS MAJOR settled three back on the inside, moved away from the markers at the quarter pole and finished in second with HEZA SECRET (4 back markers) making late ground for third.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – 57.5 Margins: – 12m, head
MILDURA 19/11/24
Trial 1: – SUPER SUSPECT has shown improvement recently and kept the momentum rolling leading up to his performance at Mildura this afternoon by leading throughout in the opening trial. He recorded handy time in the front running role and gave nothing else a chance. THEBUCKSONYOU gained a one out and one back trail, came out three horses wide at the 600m and finished well for second. RUBBLEONTHEDOUBLE began quickly and trailed the leader throughout, finishing a distant third. He is making his debut at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.2 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 10m, 12m
Trial 3: – DEEWHY began swiftly and was able to find the lead shortly after the start. He hasn’t raced since August but he appeared to be very sharp in his trial success, scoring by twenty-five metres. TRYAGAINFREDDY finished second after settling three back on the markers and chasing hard from the 600m mark. He beat the remainder of the field by a big margin. OZZIES WATCHING came from four back on the markers to fill third spot.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.5 Last Half: – 60.8 Margins: – 25m, 30m
Trial 4: – KEAYANG MOROCCAN began quickly and pushed forward to find the lead shortly after the start. He ran along at a genuine tempo and remained strong at the finish to score nicely. GO AWAY AGAIN took the trail behind KEAYANG MOROCCAN and came to the outside with 500m remaining. He finished second and RIO ROCK was last of the three runners throughout but had no clear run at the finish and still had something to offer. GO AWAY AGAIN will be competing at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.3 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 3m, 1m
.JPG)
