Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail noticed some standout runners at recent trials.
Charlie Tactics led throughout at Geelong and scored untouched by twenty metres.
At the same track, Aldebaran Susanne recovered from an early break to sprint home and win. She shapes as a major player at Maryborough on Monday.
At Bendigo, Hitch To His Star sustained a long run from the back to grab victory on the line.
Also at Bendigo, Phurphy made late ground after racing without cover to finish second.
KYABRAM 17/08/25
Trial 2: – IM ALL BUSINESS was an impressive Kilmore winner two starts ago and hasn’t raced since finishing unplaced at Wagga in May. He boasts a handy personal best time of 1.55.2 and was able to win his trial over COZMO, which is an unraced mare by Vincent out of the classy mare Pembrook Caesar (1.53.0, $77,432). DUSTY PHILTRA finished a close up third ahead of POPPY PALACE. IM ALL BUSINESS resumes at Wagga this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.5 Last Half: – 60.2 Margins: – Head, 2m
Trial 3: – ROCKING TIFF hasn’t raced since being unplaced at Shepparton in May. She boasts three career victories including a win in a sizzling mile rate of 1.56.6 so she appeared to be the class runner of the trial. She won clearly over LUNADIVA, which is an unraced mare by Vincent out of Neishars Jet (2.1.9, $12,8610). PEE BEES DELIGHT finished a further four metres away in fourth position.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.4 Last Half: – 60.5 Margins: – 10m, 4m
MILDURA 18/08/25
Trial 2: – POWERSOFPERSUASION settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the bell and commenced his winning move with 600m remaining. He finished off best to win well. KIALLA KID finished in second after attempting to lead all of the way and returns from a spell at Mildura this afternoon. LOUIEVILLE trailed the leader throughout and finished in third with WATCH THE ATTITUDE being last across the line after leaving the position of being three back on the markers to race without cover with 1000m remaining. LOUIEVILLE is competing at Maryborough on Monday and WATCH THE ATTITUDE will be competing at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.7 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – 2.5m, 10m
Trial 3: – SLOANIE BEL began quickly and was able to fire to the lead shortly after the start. He set up a slow tempo and was able to hold on in the run to the finish. BAZZAS LEGACY is an unraced juvenile pacer by Ultimate Sniper for trainer Danny Weinert. He trailed the leader and came to the outside on the home turn, picking up ground in the run to the finish. NOOSA BOY settled four back on the markers, got around the tiring EMMA ROX (3 back markers) in the back straight then angled out three horses wide on the home turn. He was finishing off well for a close up third. EMMA ROX is backing up at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.8 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 1m, 1m
Trial 4: – IM ALRIGHT JACK began quickly to find the lead and set up a moderate tempo. He was appeared to be comfortable throughout and scored untouched by just over a length. AUCKLAND LASS settled three back on the markers, moved off the markers to park without cover at the 1300m and battled on okay for second. TAMALIA began well and ended up being behind the leader. She drifted out in the home straight and ended up finishing in a distant third. Both AUCKLAND LASS and TAMALIA will be competing at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.2 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 3.5m, 18m
GEELONG 18/08/25
Trial 1: – CHARLIES TACTICS began quickly and was able to slide to the front. He was in complete control of the trial and dashed well clear in the run to the finish to win by twenty metres without being extended. He put in an eye-catching performance at the trials a week earlier so he appears to be worth following. MOREEP finished in second after trailing the leader throughout. MINNIE MIA was three back on the markers for the duration and remained in third while FRENCH MISSILE lost his chance by galloping away.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.6 Last Half: – 61.3 Margins: – 20m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: – Charlies Tactics
Trial 3: – ALDEBARAN SUSANNE produced a very tidy performance to score after she broke stride at the start and lost approximately twenty metres. She sprinted quickly from three back on the markers and was able to gain the upper hand over the latter stages, defeating CALL ME JACK, which has a National Rating that is eleven points higher. She should be very competitive at Maryborough on Monday. CALL ME JACK trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 400m mark and hit the front approaching the home turn. He was run down over the latter stages but beat the remainder of the field by a large margin. BAR TAB galloped away and was a clear last early. He worked past the early leader HEZA GUN in the straight and won the battle for third and fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.9 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 1m, 25m
BLACKBOOKER: – Aldebaran Susanne
Trial 4: – CITY ROCKSTAR began quickly and was able to assume his favourite role of being the pacemaker. He set up a genuine tempo and held off his rivals in the run to the finish. He is capable of improving on his numerical form when he competes at Shepparton on Tuesday night. I SEA RED settled three back on the markers, moved up without cover with 400m remaining and finished well without being fully extended. He is perfectly drawn in the Youthful Stakes at Melton on Saturday night. HEY GIGI trailed the leader and used the sprint lane to finish a close up third. VOODOO RANGER NZ was last of the four runners throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.3 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – Head, Head
Trial 5: – BEARHUNTA began quickly to find the lead and ran along at a genuine tempo. He kept on kicking in the home straight and was able to win impressively. FEARLESS WRITER settled last of the four runners, came to the outside at the 500m and switched back to the inner on the home turn. He finished well via the sprint lane to pick up second. BUSLOAD OF FAITH NZ trailed the leader and came to the outside with 300m remaining. He finished third and IRISH JONZIE (3 back markers) was last of the quartet after breaking stride in the back straight on the final occasion.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.1 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 2m, 1m
BENDIGO 18/08/25
Trial 1: – CARLISLE CRUISER hasn’t raced since a fourth at Globe Derby in May. He was able to record handy time in winning the opening trial over THE MAHARANI NZ, which is a former Queensland pacer that finished unplaced at his local debut but showed improvement in the trial. He finished second with ROCK PHONE being in third position.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.9 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 3m, 2m
Trial 3: – DANGEROUS settled three back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 600m and proved too strong in the run to the finish. MITZI SAID trailed the leader and used the sprint lane. She finished off well in slick final sectionals for a handy second and is not without a chance at Melton tomorrow night. SERGEANT LOU attempted to lead throughout and finished a close up third. MADIGAN raced in the death seat early before being restrained to last. He remained at the rear of the field for the rest of the event.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.7 Last Half: – 56.1 Margins: – 2m, Head
Trial 4: – HITCH TO HIS STAR settled five back on the markers and moved into the death seat at the 800m mark. He sustained a long run and was able to get up on the line. It was a good performance leading up to his resumption at Shepparton on Tuesday night. SONORA SUNSET began quickly to find the lead and went down fighting in reasonable time, finishing in second. She should go well at Mildura this afternoon. TASTE IT led out then took cover and battled on well for third. He is backing up at Cranbourne on Sunday night. MISS JOPLIN settled last of the six runners, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 800m mark and never peeled to the outside at any stage. She went to the line with something in reserve and is perfectly drawn at Shepparton on Tuesday night. MAGGIE MOTH finished fifth after settling three back on the markers and will be racing at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.3 Last Half: – 57.0 Margins: – 1m, head
BLACKBOOKER: – Hitch To His Star
Trial 5: – JIMMY BREEZE NZ began quickly to move up without cover, worked to the front and rolled along at an even tempo. He remained strong at the finish and scored by three metres on the line. PHURPHY settled last of the seven runners, moved up without cover at the bell and progressed forward. He wanted to hang in over the latter stages but he kept on making ground and produced a good effort to fill second spot. IM TERRORTORIAL NZ finished third after leading out then taking cover and will be backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. SIXTO settled three back on the markers and was the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 60.2 Margins: – 4m, Nose
BLACKBOOKER: – Phurphy
Trial 6: – ALDEBARAN SUE began quickly to lead and travelled strongly throughout. She kicked well clear before the home turn and won by a convincing margin. SKYBELLA settled five back on the markers and came to the outside at the 500m mark. She finished off solidly and ran a game second, beating the remainder of the field by a large margin. ANGOVE settled three back on the inside and moved up without cover at the 700m mark. He finished in third position with VICTREE VIC being fourth after trailing the leader throughout. ANGOVE is scheduled to compete at Maryborough on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.9 Last Half: – 60.2 Margins: – 8m, 14m
Trial 8: – STAR TO FALL settled three back on the markers and sprinted sharply from the 500m mark. He sustained the sprint to win by a clear margin. ROCKNROLL ROSANNA trailed the leader throughout and finished in a distant second. PICK UP ARTIST settled fourth on the markers and finished off reasonably well for third. The early leader THE NINJA tired over the latter stages to finish a distant fourth.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.3 Last Half: – 61.4 Margins: – 14m, 9m
ARARAT 18/08/25
Trial 2: – BLACKJACK OPAL is a juvenile pacer for trainer Tony Bond, which hasn’t started since a seventh at Charlton in April. He was able to defeat older and more experienced horses by a comfortable margin. ICANMOTOR was stood down to trial back in May and finished in second position to requalify ahead of CRIME BOSS with SOHO AMARYLLIS, an unraced filly by Soho Tribeca, being the fourth horse across the line. ICANMOTOR is resuming at Maryborough on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.0 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 5m, 25m
Trial 3: – GOODTIME MACH hasn’t raced since April but will be getting fitter after several recent trial performances. He was able to post handy time in his runaway trial victory. BARBADOS ROSE finished in second position with the trotter DOUBLE HELIX being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.4 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 49m, 3.5m
BALLARAT 19/08/25
Trial 1: – ELLE PERFECTO is a talented juvenile trotter, which has won three races for the season. He trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 400m and sprinted home best to win the trial comfortably. PIQUE began well to find the lead and was able to battle on fairly well for second. ALDEBARAN BRIANNA was without cover early before restraining on the markers to be three back and was the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.7 Last Half: – 61.2 Margins: – 8m, 5m
Trial 3: – LESTER has a low National Rating of 37 and was able to defeat horses with much higher ratings. He trailed the leader early, pushed forward to find the lead at the bell and finished off in a handy final half of 57.9 seconds to get the prize. MIDNIGHT CRIMES settled three back on the markers and worked home well for a close up second. LET’S GO LORNA led early, took cover behind the eventual winner and came to the outside with 400 remaining. She finished in third with SHEZALLRHYTHM being last for the duration after beginning slowly.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.7 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 1m, 1m
Trial 5: – EMMWALLEN trailed the leader throughout and came to the outside with 400m remaining. He finished off sharply to win comfortably. ZOOM ZOOM BOOM began quickly to find the lead and slowed the tempo mid-race. He battled on fairly well for second with the Metropolitan class trotter LITTLE YANKEE being the third horse across the line after settling three back on the markers. LITTLE YANKEE has been withdrawn from his effort at Melton on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.1 Last Half: – 58.7 Margins: – 6m, 1m
