Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail noticed some standout runners at recent trials.
Recent addition to the Alex Ashwood stable from New Zealand, Miki B, performed well at Shepparton and is set to make his debut at the same track on Tuesday night.
At Bendigo, Celestial Nebulae dominated his trial.
Queen Of Sees, a daughter of super mare Dance Craze, was eye-catching at Melton, as was Uniquely Ideal, who extended beautifully to dash clear. Most Exciting also lived up to his name in his trial.
SHEPPARTON 02/10/25
Trial 1: – THE BRIDE is a Tasmanian pacer, which was placed in the Tasmanian Oaks and has recently joined trainer Alex Ashwood. She showed good gate speed to lead, set up a genuine tempo and held on to score. She is contesting a heat of the Victoria Oaks at Melton tomorrow night. MIKI B NZ is also a recent addition to the Alex Ashwood stable and finished in second after trailing the leader and coming to the outside on the home turn. He makes his Australian debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. EYE WISH finished in third after being three back on the markers and switching back to the sprint lane. She will be looking to keep her undefeated record intact in a semi-final of the Breeders Challenge at Menangle on Tuesday afternoon. MADIGAN, which recently returned from a New South Wales campaign, was the fourth horse across the line after being four back on the markers before moving into the death seat at the 700m mark.
Mile Rate: – 1.55.5 Last Half: – 55.8 Margins: – 1m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: – Miki B NZ
Trial 3: – BENNIE AND THE JETS NZ settled six back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 800m and commenced his winning move at the quarter pole. He backed up to win at Shepparton on Tuesday night. NORDIC REIGN missed away in the score up and chased hard to eventually commence the trial from a position on the second line. She was five back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 800m mark and did well to finish in second. LET IT BE ME led out then took cover and came to the outside on the home turn. He finished in third with LOCKSLEY CAVALIER being fourth after settling down last of the seven runners.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 2m, 5m
Trial 6: – BIG NIK continued his good trial form with an easy victory over DRAW THE CURTAIN, which has also been performing well at the trials. BIG NIK trailed the leader and worked around to find the front over DRAW THE CURTAIN with 1200m remaining. CAMERINA, an unraced filly by Vincent, finished in third position after being three back on the markers. AMERICAN GUY was four back on the markers and was the fourth horse across the line. BIG NIK raced very greenly at his debut performance when unplaced at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.7 Last Half: – 58.0 Margins: – 5m, 4m
Trial 7: – TOTALLY STUNNING settled three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 600m and quickly hit the lead at the 400m mark. She sustained the run and scored by a large margin and backed up at Bendigo on Wednesday night with an unlucky second, where she boomed home late from last on the home turn. COUNTRY ROCKSTAR settled four back on the markers and came way from the inside turning out of the back straight on the final occasion. He ran into a distant second with IMA TIGGY TIGER being in third after settling five back on the markers and never peeling to the outside at any stage.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.3 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – 25m, 5m
KYABRAM 05/10/25
Trial 1: – LITTLE RAIN CLOUD was beaten by a long way when resuming but he was able to take out his trial at Kyabram. He was able to win by a narrow margin over MYLA GIRL, which was stood down to trial after her latest ninth at Melton. TEMPTING TIGER finished a distant third ahead of ROLY HINSON.
Mile Rate: – 2.9.1 Last Half: – 62.3 Margins: – Head, 10m
CRANBOURNE 05/10/25
Trial 1: – THE PREACHER began brilliantly from the standing start and led clearly. He won impressively on debut then finished fourth in the Tatlow Stakes and the manners he showed at the start all goes well for the forthcoming Redwood Classic. He won the trial without being pushed at any stage. MEVIA was second throughout and KLYMENE was last of the three runners for the duration after making an error. Both MEVIA and KLYMENE will be backing up at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.5 Last Half: – 60.8 Margins: – 20m, distanced
Trial 2: – BELLA LOUISE settled three back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 400m and was able to win untouched. She is scheduled to compete at Cranbourne on Sunday night. THAT’S MY CARDIGAN trailed the leader, moved up without cover at the 600m, hit the front at the 500m and broke stride when in second with 50m remaining. DOOR SLAMMER broke stride in the score up but was able to recover enough to find the lead. He set up a reasonable tempo and was beaten 500m from home.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – 32m, 80m
BENDIGO 06/10/25
Trial 1: – DELIZIOSO pressed forward to find the lead shortly after the start and ran along at a genuine tempo. She held off her stable mate STAR TO FALL in the run to the finish. STAR TO FALL settled three back on the markers and moved into the death seat at the 500m. He battled on well and went down by a narrow margin. CAPTAIN MILO settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m and finished off okay for third. LITTLE SASSY BOY led out then took cover and was the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.0 Last Half: – 57.4 Margins: – 1m, 4m
Trial 3: – GOLDEN TRIBE was four back on the markers early and was fifth from the 1200m. He moved up without cover from the 600m mark and sustained a strong run to win the prize. He is backing up in a heat of the Victoria Derby on Saturday night. MITZI SAID settled last of the seven runners, moved up without cover at the 1400m and sprinted sharply to find the lead at the 1200m. She fought on strongly for a game second. REIGN EM IN began quickly and drove through to find the lead in the early stages. He took cover mid-race and battled on fairly well for third. DO IT was six then seven back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and finished in fourth. NEW YORKER made some ground from four back on the markers and was the fifth horse across the line. He will be racing at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.6 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – 2m, 7m
Trial 5: – KOUFAX settled three back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 600m mark and finished off best to get the prize. He will be resuming from a spell at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. THE CHOOK trailed the leader, made a move in the back straight on the final occasion and dashed to the lead. She was run down in the latter stages but was able to beat the remainder of the field by a good margin. CANADIAN ALM settled four back on the markers and finished a distant third and the early leader THE RED AVENGER broke stride with 600m remaining.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.4 Last Half: – 61.7 Margins: – Head, 100m
Trial 7: – CELESTIAL NEBULAE began fast and forged to the lead shortly after the start. He established a big lead in the early stages and remained strong at the finish to win nicely. POLLY PEACHUM began quickly to lead, took cover and was able to hold down second. COUNTRY ROCKSTAR settled four back on the markers, moved out three horses wide at the turn and worked home reasonably well for third. The trotter WISH UPONA DREAM came from five back on the markers and finished in fourth position. She is competing at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.3 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 5m, 15m
BLACKBOOKER: – Celestial Nebulae
MILDURA 06/10/25
Trial 1: – MY ULTIMATE JIMMY NZ settled last of the four runners, moved into the death seat at the 700m and sustained a long run. He dashed clear at the end and went to the line untouched to win comfortably. He is backing up in a heat of the Victoria Derby on Saturday night. KIALLA KID pushed forward to find the lead, set up a genuine tempo and was run down over the latter stages. RIMU VALLEY NZ trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and worked into the one out and one back trail at the 300m. He finished third with MY ULTIMATE BILLY NZ being last of the four runners after leading out then taking cover.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – 59.3 Margins: – 6m, 3m
Trial 3: – CARLISLE CRUISER began quickly and attempted to find the lead before striking trouble at the 1700m mark. He ended up trailing the leader and finished off best to win nicely. LOSEASHOE began quickly to work forward and find the lead. He ran along at a reasonable tempo and was run down over the latter stages. SNEAKY PHILTRA raced without cover throughout and wanted to race fiercely so he did a good job to finish in third.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 61.7 Margins: – 4m, 6m
HORSHAM 06/10/25
Trial 2: – EYENEEDTHAT hasn’t raced since competing in the Rising Star at Ballarat in June. He was able to record handy time in winning his trial over stable mate HOT ROCKS, which hasn’t raced for nearly a year but is returning to the race track at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. The open class trotting mare JAZSPUR will also be racing at Maryborough on Monday and finished in third position with the unraced juvenile gelding VINCENT ORILEY finishing in fourth for trainer Jim Barker.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.1 Last Half: – 58.0 Margins: – 5m, 17m
Trial 3: – IJUSTCANTSEEIT is a juvenile trotting filly by Wishing Stone for trainer Rebecca Morissey. She recorded a runaway victory over KENTUCKY JIM, which hasn’t raced since May 2023. VANCE LANE has ability when he puts it altogether and was the third horse across the line with LITTLER being the last horse home. The winner IJUSTCANTSEEIT will make her debut at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.3 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 26m, 8m
MELTON 07/10/25
Trial 2: – LUVTOBEUPTOME settled five back on the markers and gave the leaders a big start. He sustained a strong run and considering the final half was recorded in a sizzling 55.2 seconds, his effort was outstanding. He appears to be very hard to beat at Cranbourne on Sunday. SOME RIDE began quickly and attempted to lead throughout. He was run down over the latter stages but the time was fast so his effort was still sound. STAR VISION trailed the leader and came to the outside with 500m remaining. He finished in third with ROCKNROLL WISH NZ being in fourth after settling three back on the inside.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.8 Last Half: – 55.2 Margins: – Neck, 6.75m
Trial 3: – QUEEN OF SEES is a beautifully bred filly and looks to have inherited the ability of her family. She is by Bold Eagle out of the Group 1 winning daughter of the champion La Coocaracha in Dance Craze and is worth following. She trailed the leader early, moved to the outside with 300m remaining and dashed well clear at the end, seemingly with plenty in reserve. LEO GALLEON attempted to lead throughout and finished in second with PASS THE SALT being in third position after settling four back on the markers.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.0 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 13.5m, 2.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Queen of Sees
Trial 4: – MOST EXCITING appears to be an exciting prospect after his runaway trial victory. He settled down five back on the markers, moved away from the inside at the 1100m and worked to the front at the 900m mark. He dashed home in a sizzling final quarter of 27.4 seconds and looked very strong on the line. GIDGETT KAY gained a nice trail early, was left without cover and pushed forward to find the lead at the 1100m mark before taking a trail behind the eventual winner. She finished a distant second with SWEET AND GORGEOUS doing well for third after leading out and being shuffled back on the markers to be in fourth from the 900m mark.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.1 Last Half: – 55.3 Margins: – 28m, 17m
BLACKBOOKER: – Most Exciting
Trial 5: – MEGA SPUR began quickly to find the lead and was able to score comfortably. The win should have given her plenty of confidence leading up to her performance at Melton tomorrow night. HILLTOP HUGH was five back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 800m and sustained a good run for second. TWEEDLEDEE NZ settled three back on the markers, used the sprint lane and finished off nicely for third. He has recently returned to Victoria from South Australia and is racing at Melton tomorrow night. MOJITO MADNESS settled six back on the markers and worked into the one out and one back trail at the 800m before battling on okay for fourth. She returns from a break at Melton this evening. IMHAVINAGOODTIME was four back on the markers and finished fifth and HEZA GUN was last of the six runners across the line after trailing the leader and breaking stride with 100m remaining. HEZA GUN is competing at Melton on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.8 Last Half: – 59.9 Margins: – 3.25m, 1m
Trial 6: – SEASIDE BOY settled three back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 700m and finished off brilliantly to win by a large margin. TOWERING FORTUNE began quickly to lead and was run down over the latter stages. RIDE HIGH CAPTIN settled five back on the inside, attempted to follow up behind SEASIDE BOY in the final 700m and battled into a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.1 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 20m, 5m
Trial 8: – UNIQUELY IDEAL trailed the leader and came to the outside with 500m remaining. She extended beautifully in the final quarter and dashed well clear in the run to the finish. GIVE DAVE A WAVE attempted to lead throughout and finished in second position. He is backing up at Melton this evening. GALAXY LASS settled four back on the markers and finished in third with IMAGINATION ORO (3 back pegs) being the fourth horse across the line. She is competing at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.5 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – 38m, 10.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Uniquely Ideal
Trial 9: – BEYOND DELIGHT settled three back on the markers, moved through to trail the leader on the home turn and sprinted fast along the sprint lane to win nicely. BULLETPROOF BOY began quickly to find the lead, set up a genuine tempo and was run down at the end. He has drawn on the pole position for his return at Melton on Saturday night. RAGING WHITEBAIT NZ trailed the leader, came to the outside with 300m remaining and peaked late, finishing in third.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.5 Last Half: – 55.9 Margins: – 6m, 3.5m
TERANG 07/10/25
Trial 1: – ROADMASTER was stood down to trial after suffering atrial fibrillation at Melton on September 06. He bounced back with a comfortable victory in fast time over ROCKNALLOVERTHEWORLD NZ, which hasn’t raced since a Sydney trip at the end of last season. The open class trotter KEAYANG CHUCKY finished last of the trio.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.8 Last Half: – 56.7 Margins: – 10m, 100m
Trial 2: – KEAYANG HOLLYWOOD hasn’t raced since completing four wins in succession back in June. He was able to record a victory over ODIN with the open class pacer KEAYANG TOKYO being third across the line. The classy mare SWEET IDEAL was last of the four runners in what was a quality trial.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.4 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 2m, 1m
Trial 4: – JILLIBY DOOLEY is a colt by American Ideal for Margaret and Paddy Lee and dashed home in a slick final quarter of 28.2 seconds to win his trial from DESIGNERGIRL. KEAYANG MEMORY finished in third position with CARAPAZ being last of the four horses across the line. CARAPAZ is competing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.4 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – 1m, 3m
Trial 6: – KEAYANG TWEETYBIRD was an impressive winner at Bendigo in August and was able to take out the final trial by a comfortable margin. She is competing at Maryborough on Monday and should prove hard to beat if she delivers a fool proof display. KEAYANG BAZLENKA is a classy juvenile trotter, which remains undefeated in two attempts. He finished in second and the Nutrien Classic winner JILLIBY AURA was the third horse across the line ahead of ADELAIDE RED and ROSEOFTHEWINDS.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.9 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – 3m, 15m
