Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail noticed some standout runners at recent trials.
At Shepparton, Big Nick showed a sharp sprint.
At Maryborough, Scooter Lou was a very impressive winner ahead of his Bendigo assignment on Wednesday night, while Degarmea Teale caught the eye with a strong run for second.
At Bendigo, Rachels Legacy circled the field to win comfortably and looks hard to beat at Mildura on Tuesday night.
At Melton, King Of Normandy looked set to win easily before galloping, making him worth following.
SHEPPARTON 18/09/25
Trial 1: – JACKS ULTIMATE FURY began quickly to find the lead and was always in control of the trial. He went to the line with plenty in reserve and looked very sharp in the run to the finish. He is competing at Wagga this afternoon. ITS CONFIDENTIAL began quickly to trail the leader and never peeled to the outside at any stage. He went to the line hard held and performed very nicely. He is also competing at Wagga today. SERG BLANCO NZ settled last of the four runners, came to the outside with 300m remaining and tried hard in the run to the finish. He is returning from a spell at Mildura on Tuesday night. HEZASWEETIE NZ settled three back on the markers, used the sprint lane and was last of the four runners across the line but wasn’t beaten by far. He is competing at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 4m, 1m (approximately)
Trial 2: – MAURLEN COMPASS raced without cover in the early stages, progressed forward to find the lead and proved to be too strong in the run to the finish. He makes his debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. DRAW THE CURTAIN led out, took cover and used the sprint lane. He chased hard and finished in second position. BIG NICK settled seventh on the markers, came to the outside in the home straight and ran home strongly late for an eye-catching third. AMERICAN GUY settled five back on the markers and worked into fourth position.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 1m, 6m (approximately)
BLACKBOOKER: – Big Nick
Trial 3: – SHADES OF MIKI trailed the leader, came to the outside on the home turn and finished off best to score by a narrow margin. He is competing at Cranbourne on Sunday. FOURTH RESPONSE began quickly to find the lead, ran along at a reasonable tempo and went down fighting. He is racing at Wagga this afternoon. NORMS LADY settled five back on the markers, angled to the outside in the home straight and ran home strongly for third. She backed up with a fifth placed effort at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – Nose, 15m (approximately)
Trial 6: – ANTONOV began quickly to find the lead and was unchallenged throughout the middle stages. He kicked on strongly in the home straight and won by a narrow margin. ESRA KAI trailed the leader and came to the outside at the 400m. He tried over the latter stages and kept on chipping away at ANTONOV’s lead. WORTH WAITING settled last of the four runners, and worked past MIDNIGHT EAGLE (3 back markers) in the home straight.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 1m, 20m
Trial 7: – SKY BELLA began quickly to lead, took cover then came to the outside on the home turn. She finished off nicely in the run to the finish to score by a comfortable margin. FRANKYTHEFRENCHMAN commenced from a wide draw, ran across to find the front on the first turn and was run down over the latter stages. BUMPER SERVICE settled three back on the markers and held her ground over the latter stages to finish in third. DANCE FIGHTER was four back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 700m and battled on fairly for fourth. He had a busy week with a trial, a performance at Kilmore on Thursday and is backing up again at Cranbourne on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 6m, 4m
Trial 8: – KEAYANG SANTIAGO has had a few gait issues at the races recently but his trial form has been strong. He led throughout to win the final trial and he rolled along at a very genuine tempo so it was a good performance. KRAKEY trailed behind the leader throughout, came to the outside on the home turn and chased hard for a close second. He came out four days later to win at Shepparton. COUNTRY ROCKSTAR settled three back on the markers and finished a distant third.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – Head, 18m
KYABRAM 21/09/25
Trial 1: – UPRIGHT hasn’t raced since an unplaced effort at Shepparton in October. He was able take out his trial by a very comfortable margin. LITTLE RAIN CLOUD finished in second with MYLA GIRL was ten metres away in third position. Both LITTLE RAIN CLOUD and MYLA GIRL were both unplaced at the Shepparton trials two days earlier. MYLA GIRL will be racing at Melton this evening. The trotter BACARDI WOOD was last of the four runners across the line.
MARYBOROUGH 22/09/25
Trial 1: – Trainer Emma Stewart was able to provide the first four horses across the line. WILLOWS GIRL raced without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead at the 1100m and was able to hold off her rivals in the run to the finish. NOTGUILTY raced without cover early, pushed forward to lead, took cover at the 1100m and came to the outside on the home turn. He tried hard in the straight and missed out by a narrow margin. SEASIDE BOY led out, took cover and ended up being three back on the markers. He made ground late and finished a close up third. MY BETTOR HALF settled four back on the markers and worked into fourth position.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.2 Last Half: – 56.8 Margins: – Neck, ½ Neck
Trial 2: – MECARNO began well and pushed forward to find the lead shortly after the start. He completely dominated his rivals to win by a large margin. PARIS JAMILLA led out then took cover and finished a distant second with PLEASANT SURPRISE being thirty metres away in third position after settling three back on the markers. The second placed PARIS JAMILLA will be competing at Charlton on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.5 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – 20m, 30m
Trial 3: – SCOOTER LOU was a very impressive winner of the third trial. He raced without cover for most of the journey before angling in behind the leader for a breather at the 600m mark. He kept on kicking in the home straight to get the prize and should go well at Bendigo on Wednesday night. SOME RIDE finished in second after attempting to lead throughout. LOWRIDER settled five back on the markers and made good ground at the end to finish in third. MOST EXCITING was one out and one back and finished in fourth with STAR VISION being fifth after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.2 Last Half: – 57.5 Margins: – 1m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Scooter Lou
Trial 5: – DYNAMITEDAN trailed the leader, moved into the death seat shortly after the start and found the lead at the 1200m. He ran along at a genuine tempo and remained strong at the finish to win in fast time. DEGARMEA TEALE was four back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 400m and sustained a very good run when an eye-catching second. QUATRO MOTH settled three back on the markers and finished third ahead of DENIS WILLIAM, which led out then took cover.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.7 Last Half: – 56.6 Margins: – 5m, head
BLACKBOOKER: – Degarmea Teale
BENDIGO 22/09/25
Trial 2: – SANCHEZ trailed the leader, moved away from the inside at the 300m and finished off boldly for a big win in fast time. He is backing up at Wagga this afternoon. MADIGAN settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 600m and hit the lead before the home turn. He was run down over the concluding stages but finished well ahead of the early leader KIA ORA BEAUTY.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.2 Last Half: – 56.5 Margins: – 6m, 16m
Trial 3: – RACHELS LEGACY settled last on the markers, circled around the field to find the lead at the 1600m and remained strong at the finish to win by a comfortable margin so it was an impressive performance. She is competing at Mildura on Tuesday night and should prove very hard to beat. CAPTAIN MILO began quickly to lead, took cover behind RACHELS LEGACY and battled on fairly well for second. HEAVENLY FLYER trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and finished a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.7 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – 8m, 10m
BLACKBOOKER: – Rachels Legacy
Trial 5: – RAKAROMPA NZ settled five back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 900m and showed very good speed in the back straight to hit the front at the 500m mark. She finished off in a sizzling final half of 56.5 seconds to win clearly. SANDEE CHEEKS settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and finished in second. COOKIE DOUGH settled three back on the markers and finished in third with ORSINO BELLE being in fourth after working to the front at the 1800m. COOKIE DOUGH is racing at Melton tonight and ORSINO BELLE is scheduled to compete at Charlton on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.8 Last Half: – 56.5 Margins: – 12m, 8m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 23/09/25
Trial 1: – NARKY INTELLECTUAL trailed the leader and was a distant second for the majority of the journey before finding the lead when KING OF NORMANDY galloped on the home turn. He won by a large margin. KYVALLEY REEVA NZ settled four back on the markers and worked into a distant second. KING OF NORMANDY began quickly and was able to run along at a genuine tempo. He broke up the field and was a big leader approaching the home turn before he broke stride. It appeared he was going to win easily at the time he galloped so he is worth following.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.6 Last Half: – 62.1 Margins: – 39m, 19m
BLACKBOOKER: – King of Normandy
Trial 5: – WATTS UP PARTYTIME showed good gate speed to lead and was able to back off the pace mid-race. He finished off in a sizzling final quarter of 27.3 seconds and was able to get the prize. GATESYS GEM sat in the trail throughout and chased hard over the concluding stages. She picked up ground in outstanding final fractions so her effort was extremely good. ILLAWONG STARDUST was last of the trio throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.1 Last Half: – 57.0 Margins: – 2m, 24m
Trial 6: – TIMBIMBOO NZ is a handy former New Zealand pacer, which led throughout to win his trial. He set up a moderate tempo, finished off in a slick last quarter of 27.9 seconds and scored comfortably. He makes his Australian debut at Melton tomorrow night. MAGIC MIKE NZ trailed the leader, came to the outside on the home turn and held his own for second. HANDLER was last of the trio throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.4 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 5.5m, 3m
Trial 8: – TIMMY TURTLE NZ was a dominant winner of the final trial. He showed good gate speed to lead and finished off in a quick final quarter of 28.9 seconds to win easily. RUBYS DREAM settled fifth on the markers, came out very wide on the turn and finished off fast for a game second. MAESTRO was four back on the markers and came away from the inside on the home turn. He battled on well for third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.2 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 8.5m, Head
TERANG 23/09/25
Trial 2: – The champion trotter KEAYANG ZAHARA settled four back on the markers, circled around the field to lead at the 1600m and was able to defeat the pacers with ease. She continues to impress at the trials and should be ready for a prosperous campaign. ODIN led out then took a trail behind KEAYANG ZAHARA mid-race. He came to the outside on the home turn but couldn’t make an impression in the straight. HEZ ALL ROCK trailed the leader early and ended up being three back on the markers. He finished third ahead of HAVADASH JOH, which was last of the quartet for the majority of the journey.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 6m, 12m (approximately)
Trial 4: – KEAYANG BASILIKA was the fastest away from the standing start but broke stride shortly afterwards. KEAYANG LAVITA worked to the front then enjoyed a nice run throughout the middle stages. She kicked on well in the straight and was able to get the prize. KEAYANG TWEETYBIRD trailed the leader for the majority journey and tried hard over the latter stages. KEAYANG BASILIKA was last of the trio after his early misdemeanor, came to the outside at the 500m mark and joined the leader on the home turn but he broke stride again in the home straight thus losing his chance.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 2m, 25m (approximately)
MILDURA 23/09/25
Trial 1: – JAXON BEACH was able to lead all of the way in the opening trial and recorded a slick final quarter of 28.4 seconds. He won by a large margin over WATCHTHEATTITUDE, which trailed the leader throughout and raced keenly. RIMU VALLEY was last of the three runners throughout and just missed out on running down WATCHTHEATTITUDE on the line. The winner JAXON BEACH is competing at Mildura on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.7 Last Half: – 57.3 Margins: – 18m, Head
Trial 2: – BIG BAD CHAD was out three horses wide in the early stages, pushed forward to find the lead shortly after the start and was able to win comfortably. SUNSHINE WARRIOR settled three back on the markers and worked into second position with MAJOR TARLZ being in third after leading out then taking cover. The second placed SUNSHINE WARRIOR will be backing up at Mildura on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.3 Last Half: – 61.0 Margins: – 6m, 8m
