Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail noticed some standout runners at recent trials.
At Cobram, well bred filly Maurlen Compass sustained a run to win well.
At Maryborough, Boulevard Bart was eye catching winning in slick sectionals, while Snippet sprinted well to win at Geelong.
COBRAM 11/09/25
Trial 1: – DEREK THE JET is a quality trotter and was able to down the Metropolitan class pacer in SERG BLANCO NZ. SERG BLANCO NZ forged to the lead shortly after the start and DEREK THE JET sat in the trail before going back to the passing lane and sprinting home swiftly. The overall time was strong and there wasn’t much separating the pair in the run to the judge.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.2 Last Half: – 61.2 Margin: – Head
Trial 2: – ELATED NZ settled five back on the markers, came to the outside at the 600m and sustained a strong run to win convincingly. He backed up at Shepparton four days later and was able to get the prize. DUN ME UP FRANCY began quickly and pressed forward to find the lead shortly after the start. She raced very fiercely and established a big lead mid-race so she did a good job to hold down second. She followed with an unplaced effort at Bendigo on Wednesday night and is backing up again at Shepparton on Tuesday night. SKINNY HORACE led out then took cover and finished in third. He will have to go back to the trials after his effort at Shepparton on Tuesday night, where he over-raced badly and dropped out at the end.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.9 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 6m, Dist
Trial 4: – MAURLEN COMPASS is a filly by Captaintreacherous that shows a lot of promise. She settled three back on the inside, sprinted quickly in the back straight and dashed to the front before sustaining the run to win clearly. RACHELS LEGACY settled down last of the four runners and was doing her best work at the end to finish in second. THE GOLDEN HOOK trailed the leader early, circled around to find the front then took cover behind MAURLEN COMPASS at the 600m mark. He battled on reasonably well for third and will be backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.5 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – 5m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Maurlen Compass
BACCHUS MARSH 13/09/25
Trial 1: – SHES SKY HIGH hasn’t raced since early July but she has won two trials recently with the latest being at Bacchus Marsh on Saturday. She was able to win by thirty metres over RATTLE MY CAGE, which won a trial at Bacchus Marsh two weeks earlier. SHE DRIVES ME finished in third position and was well ahead of MISTER HIGH HOPES. SHES SKY HIGH and MISTER HIGH HOPES are competing at Cranbourne on Sunday and RATTLE MY CAGE will be making his debut at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.7 Last Half: – 60.8 Margins: – 30m, 2m
Trial 2: – SAHARA BREEZE has been freshened since recording three wins in succession in July and early August including the Stylish Memphis Stakes at Menangle. She recorded slick time in scoring over ROCKNROLL WALLA, which is resuming at Melton tomorrow night. IM WESLEY was last of the three horses across the line and backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.2 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – 2m, 6m
Trial 4: – CYCLONE JENNI is a very talented filly that won the Youthful Stakes at her debut. She recorded handy time in her victory over TED BEAR, which had two unplaced starts back in December. SALSAWITHSIERRA finished a distant third ahead of COCO CRUNCH, which is making her debut at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 3m, 8m
Trial 5: – NAKEDTRUTH is a handy trotter and was able to build up some confidence with a victory against the pacers in handy time. She is racing at Melton tomorrow night. SWAYWITHSIERRA is a nicely bred filly, which is yet to make her debut. She finished in second with FOUR LONELY NIGHTS being in third position. FOUR LONELY NIGHTS has recently joined trainer Jason Hackett after previously being with Don Lock. He is competing at Melton tonight and again at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. LEVI EDISON was a distant fourth across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.6 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 2m, 3m
MARYBOROUGH 14/09/25
Trial 2: – I DREAM OF MILLIE has a National Rating of 68 and she was taking on two Maiden juvenile trotters but she began like a jet from the standing start to lead clearly and kept on building on that lead to win by over 100m so it was a very good performance. CEEJAY ON BROADWAY settled three back on the inside and was able to get past NORTHERN TRUSCOTT (trailed leader) over the latter stages. Both CEEJAY ON BROADWAY and NORTHERN TRUSCOTT competed at Ballarat on Thursday and will be racing again at Maryborough on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: (approximately) 125m, 4m
Trial 3: – BOULEVARD BART was extremely impressive in winning the third event. He led out, took cover and made his move at the 500m, dashing past the early leader RABADA and finishing off in slick final sectionals. He is an unraced 3yo for trainer Damian Burns and took on proven Metropolitan performers so he was a dazzling effort and he will prove very hard to beat at Maryborough on Monday. DENIS WILLIAM settled last of the three runners and worked into second with the early leader RABADA being the last horse home.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.2 Last Half: – 56.5 Margins: – 12m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Boulevard Bart
STAWELL 15/09/25
Trial 1: – TO THE NINES has been racing in great form at Mildura and recorded slick time to win the opening trial over his stable mate IM STUCK MAN, which also boasts good form in the Sunraysia. The Aaron Dunn trained juvenile pacer OUT TO STAY finished in third position and is competing at Maryborough on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.2 Last Half: – 58.1 Margins: – 3.5m, 5.5m
Trial 3: – LITTLE LOUIE has been freshened since his latest fourth at Terang. He is a handy Metropolitan class performer and was able to build some confidence leading up to his effort at Melton tomorrow night with a trial victory. SWEETNIKKILOU finished fourth behind the champion mare Eye Keep Smiling in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II at Menangle in May. She finished a close second in the trial and would have benefited from the outing as a lead up to her effort on Saturday. PICK UP ELVIS has won four races in succession and he was taking on proven Metropolitan performers. He finished a close up third.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.5 Last Half: – 57.4 Margins: – Head, 2m
MILDURA 15/09/25
Trial 3: – HES A MODERN BOY has been placed in two of his past five starts but he recorded very slick time to win the trial and a repeat performance will see him running a big race at Mildura this afternoon. He is also backing up at Mildura on Tuesday night. ULTIMATE EGO was a winner at Mildura on August 08 and produced a good performance to finish a close up second. He is backing up at Mildura on Tuesday night. YOU ARE MY SOUL finished a distant third and the trotter ATEGO ROBBO was tailed off. YOU ARE MY SOUL is also backing up at Mildura on Tuesday.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.7 Last Half: – 61.0 Margins: – 1m, 31m
Trial 4: – KIALLA KID was beaten a long way when he was resuming from a spell but he was able to bounce back with an emphatic trial victory leading up to his performance at Mildura this afternoon. He dashed well clear over the concluding stages and defeated BURNING HOT, which hasn’t started since being unplaced at Dubbo in May. The unraced son of Betting Line, NAUGHTY BET was the third horse across the line. He is having his first start for trainer Eddie Sparkes at Midura this afternoon and will be backing up again at Mildura on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.5 Last Half: – 60.2 Margins: – 45m, 7m
GEELONG 15/09/25
Trial 1: – HARRY STAMPER NZ stepped away safely from the standing start and settled in third position. He came to the outside at the 600m and finished off strongly to win by a large margin, seemingly with plenty in reserve. JAKARTA NZ finished in second after setting the speed throughout and his stable mate STRAZEELE was third after sitting in the trail. HILLTOP HUGH was slow to begin and was last of the quartet for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.8.1 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 18m, 18m
Trial 2: – GATESYS GEM settled three back on the inside, moved off the markers with 300m remaining and was three horses wide on the home turn. She produced a powerful finishing burst and was able to win impressively. MISTER BLINDSIDE began fast to find the lead and raced fiercely throughout the middle stages. He battled on well over the latter stages for second. WHATS UP THE HILL was slow to begin and settled down a clear last. He was able to work past COMMODUS, which trailed the leader, loomed as a threat but broke stride on the home turn.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.1 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – 3m, 3m
Trial 3: – SNIPPET settled three back on the markers, angled out three horses wide on the home turn and finished off fast to win nicely. BETTOR PUNTER NZ led out then took cover and came to the outside at the quarter pole. He hit the front approaching the home turn before being run down over the concluding stages. He makes his debut in the Sapling Stakes at Melton on Saturday night. BRAVE ART settled four back on the markers and worked into third ahead of the early leader HAMMERANDTONG.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.6 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: – 3m, 3m
BLACKBOOKER: – Snippet
Trial 4: – SHORELINE DREAM began quickly and was able to work to the front shortly after the start. He coasted around the Beckley Park circuit and was able to win well. I SEA RED sat in the trail throughout and waited for the sprint lane. He chased determinedly and got within half a length of the winner. He is backing up at Melton on Saturday night. SWEET LADY LOU settled three back on the markers and finished third ahead of HILTONS SPIRIT, which settled last of the four runners and raced roughly at the 700m.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.4 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – 1.5m, 6m
Trial 6: – MACH DAN was able to snare victory in the battle of the three Emma Stewart prepared open class pacers. He began quickly and took the trail behind PETRACCA shortly after the start. PETRACCA set up a genuine tempo and looked the winner turning for home but MACH DAN rallied in the final 50m and was able to claim victory on the line. BEYOND DELIGHT was last of the trio throughout.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.7 Last Half: – 56.0 Margins: – Short Head, 4m
BENDIGO 15/09/25
Trial 3: – THE DARK THUNDER settled three back on the markers and came to the outside at the 600m. He sustained a strong run and was able to claim the prize. THIRD EYE settled five back on the markers, waited for the sprint lane and finished off fast for a game second. She is backing up at Maryborough on Monday after. LILLYS TIGER was four back on the markers, gained a one out and one back trail behind THE DARK THUNDER and was restricted for room in the home straight, finishing in third with something in reserve. ALFIE ALWAYS worked forward to get past the early leader TELLA SHES DREAMIN, raced fiercely and established a big lead before peaking late and finishing in fourth. He is backing up at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 61.6 Margins: – 2m, 3m
Trial 4: – FIRE MARSHALL began fairly well and progressed forward to run past the early leader LEIAH JOLIE to adopt the front running role. He set up a moderate tempo before finishing off in a slick final quarter of 27.1 seconds to get the prize. LEIAH JOLIE came to the outside of FIRE MARSHALL from the 400m mark and tried hard for second position. She is making her debut at Shepparton on Tuesday. RAKAROMPA NZ put in a tidy display to come from last of the six in fast final sectionals and run into third.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.8 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – 4m, nose
Trial 5: – CROCODILE SOCKS progressed forward to find the lead shortly after the start. He enjoyed a nice run in the front running role and dashed clear in the run to the finish to score easily. He is backing up at Melton on Saturday night. JOEYS HANGOVER led out then took cover and chased hard for second. He is an emergency at the Shepparton meeting on Tuesday night. COOL STORY was four back on the markers, came to the outside at the 600m and did well over the final 200m to pick up third position. He is making his debut at Cranbourne on Sunday. MISS PIGGY WIGGY began well but was shuffled to three back on the markers mid-race and was the fourth horse across the line. She backed up at Shepparton on Tuesday night with a fourth placed effort.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 58.0 Margins: – 7m, 14m
Trial 6: – ARCEE PHOENIX began well from the standing start and angled into second position behind the leader. He came to the outside with 300m remaining and hit the lead on the home turn before holding off the late challenge of PARISIAN ARTISTE to get the prize. PARISIAN ARTISTE finished off nicely from last of the three runners to go down narrowly. HEPHAESTUS PHOENIX stepped away quickly to find the lead and was overtaken on the home turn but he was taking on two elite trotters on the night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 56.7 Margins: – Neck, 25m
Trial 7: – REPELLING was able to lead throughout to take out the final trial. He finished off in a handy final quarter of 27.9 seconds and was never in any danger of defeat. He is resuming from a spell at Melton on Saturday night. EDWARDE GRANGE trailed the leader throughout and finished in second with LIKEABLE ROGUE being last of the trio for the duration. EDWARDE GRANGE is scheduled to compete at Cranbourne on Sunday and LIKEABLE ROGUE will be racing at Shepparton on Tuesday.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.1 Last Half: – 57.5 Margins: – 4m, 13m
