Harness racing form guru Craig Rail noticed some standout runners at recent trials.
At Bacchus Marsh, Jays All That was able to win the trial by a large margin and recorded handy time. He is a good chance at Melton this evening.
At Terang, Jilliby Sniper was able to win the trial over the handy performer Keayang Payton, so he should prove very hard to beat at Stawell on Sunday afternoon.
At Bendigo, Hammer produced a solid trial effort, travelling strongly throughout and finding the line well, indicating he is close to resuming.
SHEPPARTON 20/11/25
Trial 1: – BETTOR JAX NZ trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 300m and finished off best to win the opening event. It would have been a good confidence boost for his performance at Wagga this afternoon. SAHARA SEAKRET settled three back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail behind the winner and angled to the outside at the 150m. He chased hard and went down narrowly. PIASTRI finished third after trying to lead throughout and JUST LIKE CHERIE was last for the duration.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – Neck, 12m
Trial 2: – The open class pacer SERG BLANCO NZ was clearly the superior horse of the field and was able to lead throughout. He takes on the open class pacers from a poor draw at Melton tomorrow night. TUPELO finished in second after trailing the leader throughout and holding his ground over the final stages. He is resuming at Wagga this afternoon. LAYDEN has recently joined trainer Kylie Sugars and was last of the three runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – 57.3 Margins: – 6m, 6m
Trial 3: – MY MATE LENNY began quickly to find the lead, broke stride on the first turn and ended up being four back on the markers. He came out three horses wide on the home turn and finished off best to win well. He commenced as the favourite at Shepparton on Tuesday night but tired after finding the front in the early stages. MORNING DOVE began quickly and was able to find the lead when MY MATE LENNY galloped on the first turn. She was run down late but held down second. PASTOR DUNBAR settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the quarter pole and worked home fairly well for third. He is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – 63.00 Margins: – 5m, Neck
Trial 5: – I AM HARRO has joined trainer Stephen Boyington since his latest performance and was able to lead throughout to take out the trial comfortably. ALWAYS SKYE HIGH settled five back on the markers and worked home nicely for second. KALARNEY PRINCE was third across the line after settling four back on the markers. JUST AS I AM was six back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 1100m, broke stride approaching the home turn and finished off quickly for a handy fourth. He is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – 62.2 Margins: – 6m, head
Trial 6: – I AM ON THERUN was without cover early, restrained to be four back on the inside and moved into the death seat again at the 600m mark. He was very strong in the run to the finish and recorded handy time in his success. SPIRIT OF SAHARA finished in second after trailing the leader and coming to the outside on the home turn. COUNTRY ROCKSTAR settled three back on the inside and finished distant third. FEAR THE POWER began quickly to find the lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and peaked late to finish a distant fourth. He is competing at Wagga this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.4 Last Half: – 61.2 Margins: – 10m, 20m
Trial 7: – RAPID RETURN sat in the trail behind KINGS GUARD and was able to drive through along the sprint lane to get the prize. KINGS GUARD attempted to lead throughout. He kicked well clear approaching the home turn but peaked over the latter stages and was run down. He is backing up in a standing start event at Melton on Saturday night. MIDNIGHT EAGLE was last of the trio throughout.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 1m, 30m
BACCHUS MARSH 22/11/25
Trial 1: – GIVE FRED A CLAP was a winner at Cranbourne in August and his last run was in a strong heat of the Super Series. He recorded slick final sectionals to win the opening trial by a large margin. It would have given him a confidence boost leading up to his performance at Maryborough on Monday. ROYLANCE hasn’t raced since July but was able to finish in second with BREATHE EASY and MAGIC MIKE NZ being third and fourth respectively. BREATHE EASY backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night and finished unplaced after enduring a tough run while MAGIC MIKE NZ is resuming from a spell at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.4 Last Half: – 57.3 Margins: – 10m, 2m
Trial 2: – OHSO HANDSOME is a son of Soho Tribeca, which has had several trials recently. He won the trial by a comfortable margin leading up to his debut at Ballarat on Thursday, where he finished eighth. USUAL SUSPECT and WALKWITHME are both unraced juveniles by Art Major and they finished second and third respectively. REBEL BY THE SEA was fourth and SPRINGFIELD RIVER failed to complete the course. REBEL BY THE SEA finished sixth behind SPRINGFIELD RIVER at Ballarat on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 59.4 Margins: – 3m, 8m
Trial 4: – TE AMO has done very well in four starts this preparation with a win and two seconds to his credit. He recorded handy time in his comfortable trial victory so he continues to impress. He was staking a claim with 1300m remaining but unfortunately broke stride and lost her chance at Bendigo on Wednesday night. JUNGLE SPIDER was runner up at his latest Maryborough performance and was able to hold down second again. He backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night and finished unplaced after enduring a tough run. UNKNOWN SON was third across the line and is resuming from a long spell at Melton on Saturday night. KISS AT MIDNIGHT was last of the four runners to complete the course and is competing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.2 Last Half: – 58.9 Margins: – 10m, 2m
Trial 6: – SPRINGFIELD RIVER is a colt by Captain Crunch out of the classy mare Bellasario and won at his final hit-out leading up to his winning debut performance at Ballarat on Thursday night. He failed to finish in trial two but was able to score in trial six by a narrow margin over WEONA OUR RIGHTS, which also backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night, finishing behind him again in fifth. ILLUMINATE ME, an unraced filly by Rock N Roll Heaven for trainer Tyrone Abela finished in third with COLD STORAGE being last of the four runners to the line. COLD STORAGE backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night with a tenth behind SPRINGFIELD RIVER.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.8 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – Head, 6m
Trial 7: – BLACK TUXEDO was able to win in his final hit-out leading up to his resumption at Ballarat on Thursday night and he recorded reasonable time so he is obviously somewhere near his peak. He worked very hard to hold the lead and peaked at the end in his Ballarat performance. SHIRALEE and MIDNITE DESIRE finished second and third respectively and both horses also backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night. SHIRALEE broke stride in the score up and lost her chance at Ballarat, while MIDNITE DESIRE finished sixth behind Are Weasley. ZU HOFFEN wasn’t too far away in fourth position.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – 5m, 6m
Trial 8: – The smart juvenile trotter JAYS ALL THAT broke stride in the latter stages of the Super Series Final at his latest attempt. He was able to win the trial by a large margin and recorded handy time so he quickly bounced back into his peak. He is a good chance at Melton this evening. BALLIANGUS finished a distant second with NELLIE JOY being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 30m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Jays All That
MARYBOROUGH 23/11/25
Trial 1: – Trainer Nick Youngson had all three runners in the trial. FREMARKS PEGGY was able to lead throughout from the standing start with DRESSEDUPINTHECITY sitting in the trail for the duration. KOTA BHARU stepped away well out wide on the track, angled across to be three back on the markers but continuously lost ground and was last of the three runners to complete the course. DRESSEDUPINTHECITY finished third behind Silent Reverie at Ballarat on Thursday night with FREMARKSPEGGY being fifth in the same race.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.4 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – 20m, 100m
Trial 2: – NAKULA NZ ran to the front in a field of just two runners, ran along at a reasonable tempo and was able to hold on to get the prize. MIKI TO SUCCESS was stood down to trial after breaking stride momentarily and causing interference to several runners in his Super Series heat victory. He trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 150m mark and went to the line hard held. He backed up in the Super Series Final at Melton tomorrow night and appears to be one of the leading contenders.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.6 Last Half: – 58.8 Margin: – 1m
Trial 4: – SEGUI LE STELLA competed in a strong heat of the Super Series at her latest attempt. She led throughout to win her trial and dashed home in a sizzling final quarter of 27.5 seconds so her effort was sound. She backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night and finished well for second behind Gallico. VAPAR BRENDA hasn’t raced since July and produced a good performance for second. She settled last of the four runners and finished off solidly in slick final sectionals, which is a good lead into her first up effort at Maryborough on Monday. INSIDE TRADING settled three back on the markers, got around TEEOFFBECA (trailed leader) at the 500m and went back to the sprint lane in the home straight to finish third.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.7 Last Half: – 57.0 Margins: – 1m, 1m
Trial 6: – KEAYANG GALLIANO began quickly to find the lead and ran along at an even tempo. He finished off in a slick final quarter of 27.5 seconds and held off his rivals to get the prize. BON VIVEUR settled three back on the markers and worked home well for second. ALI MACHRISTA was third across the line after trailing the leader throughout and is backing up at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.7 Last Half: – 57.0 Margins: – 1m, 1m
HORSHAM 24/11/25
Trial 2: – I AM SKYE CHIOLA is a 3yo trotter for trainer Janet Exell, which has broken stride in all of her three starts to date and was stood down to trial at her latest attempt. She recorded reasonable time and won the trial by a handy margin over the unraced juvenile trotter VIXAN. VIXAN is scheduled to make her debut at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. KENTUCKY JIM was last of the three trotters across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.9 Last Half: – 60.5 Margins: – 27m, 15m
Trial 3: – ROYAL ROCKSTAR is an unraced gelding by Yankee Rockstar out of the fast mare Muckinbar Lady (1.57.2, $57,725), the dam of three winners in Crossroader (1.58.5), Muckinbar Diva (1.55.1) and Swizzlestick (1.55.6). He was able to win his trial comfortably and makes his debut at Stawell on Sunday afternoon. TORQUE IN HEAVEN broke stride and was stood down to trial at his latest Kilmore effort. He finished in second position with PRINCESS ALEXANDRA being the third horse across the line. TORQUE IN HEAVEN is competing at Stawell on Sunday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.1 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – 3.5m, Head
BENDIGO 24/11/25
Trial 1: – HAMMER hasn’t started since striking trouble in the Nutrien Classic in September. He was able to lead throughout and win his trial in emphatic fashion, dashing home in a slick last quarter of 28.5 seconds in the process. BELIEVE IN SUNNY settled three back on the markers and ran into a distant second. ITZ CLASSIC GOLD finished in third after trailing the leader throughout and is making his debut at Maryborough on Monday. GIANT FRANKIE finished fourth after being four back on the markers.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.2 Last Half: – 58.2 Margins: – 40m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Hammer
Trial 4: – QUEENHIGH FLUSH NZ is a former New South Wales pacer, which joins trainer Michael Tobin. She settled six back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 900m and finished off best. She is making her Victorian debut at Maryborough on Monday. ONE LAST BELLE settled five back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 900m mark and hit the front before the home turn. She was run down over the latter stages but battled on well. She is resuming from a break at Maryborough on Monday. JOEYS HANGOVER trailed the leader, pulled hard and used the sprint lane. He was beaten narrowly at the end and is backing up at Maryborough on Monday. COOL STORY finished in fourth after being four back on the markers throughout and is also racing at Maryborough on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.0 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – 1m, Nose
Trial 6: – ROCKINWITHATTITUDE settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 400m and showed good acceleration to zip through the middle and get the prize. STARZZZ DESTINY began quickly to lead, took cover at the 1700m then moved up without cover again at the 600m mark. He angled a little wider on the home turn and was run down over latter stages. NEPHEW OF SONOKO raced without cover early, progressed forward to find the lead at the 1700m and battled on fairly well for third. He commences from the handicap of 40m at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. LETS WENT trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and used the sprint lane. He only just failed to pick up NEPHEW OF SONOKO at the end and is also scheduled to commence at Maryborough on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.5 Last Half: – 57.5 Margins: – 2m, 4m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 25/11/25
Trial 1: – IM HAVINTOTROT was unplaced for the first time in five starts when he broke stride at his latest attempt. He quickly bounced back with a victory over NARKY INTELLECTUAL, which has broken stride at his past two attempts. NARKY INTELLECTUAL is racing at Melton this evening. MISTER DEVEREAUX finished a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.6 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 3m, 11.5m
Trial 3: – THESTING is an unraced colt by Sweet Lou out of Red Hot Rita for trainer John Yeomans. He finished off in a slick final quarter of 27.9 seconds to win his trial by a comfortable margin. LE GASTON is by Bettor’s Delight out of the good mare Elysees Crest (1.59.3, $228,290) and finished in second position. BINALONG MATE finished in a distant third with ROBUST SALLY being the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.6 Last Half: – 57.3 Margins: – 4.5m, 5m
Trial 4: – LOUIE LOU I has been racing against the open class pacers and was able to gain some confidence with his trial victory over KARTIARE. KARTIARE finished in second position and was only beaten by a narrow margin. He is returning from Western Australia and boasts the good strike rate of five wins from ten starts. UBETTA KNOT finished in third position and MAGIC MIKE NZ was last of the four horses across the line but wasn’t beaten by far. Both UBETTA KNOT and MAGIC MIKE NZ are competing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.4 Last Half: – 55.9 Margins: – ½ neck, 8.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Kartiare
Trial 7: – SPIRITED LASS produced a big trial performance after making an early error when she won a trial at Melton then made a mistake and lost her chance when resuming at Cranbourne. She bounced back with a runaway trial success and is showing enough ability to win races if she can mend her manners. She is competing at Melton this evening. KYVALLEY JUDGE was performing well and showed ability during the Winter months and was able to finish in second position at his comeback trial. WALKING ON WATER and KENNYWOULD both finished just behind KYVALLEY JUDGE and there wasn’t much separating the pair at the finish. WALKING ON WATER is competing at Stawell on Sunday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.0 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – 25m, 1.5m
Trial 8: – GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW was able to win the trial by a large margin. He recorded a quick final quarter of 28.2 seconds and it was a good hit-out for his performance at Melton tomorrow night, where he competes from the standing start. OVERANDOUT was last of the two runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.6 Last Half: – 57.4 Margin: – 21.5m
TERANG 25/11/25
Trial 2: – FOUROUTOFFIVE was a class runner of the trial and recorded a runaway victory in handy time. He has won five races to date and he hasn’t started since an unplaced effort against strong field at Melton in July. LADY SUSPICIOUS was a winner at Ararat in May and hasn’t raced since June. She finished in second position with the two years old trotters STEPBYSTEP and JILLIBY BLISS being third and fourth respectively. LADY SUSPICIOUS is returning from a spell at Stawell on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.6 Last Half: – 58.9 Margins: – 30m, 3m
Trial 3: – JILLIBY SNIPER is an unraced colt by Tall Dark Stranger out of the classy mare Jilliby Jitterbug (1.53.4, $212,480). He was able to win the trial over the handy performer KEAYANG PAYTON so he should prove very hard to beat at Stawell on Sunday afternoon. FIRESIDE is an unraced gelding by A Rocknroll Dance and finished in third position. He makes his debut at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.2 Last Half: – 57.3 Margins: – 3m, 3m
BLACKBOOKER: – Jilliby Sniper
Trial 4: – DHAULAGIRI NZ was runner up in the South Australian Cup then won the St Arnaud Cup. He galloped at the start at his latest Geelong appearance but bounced back with a trial victory in fast time. He is competing against a strong field at Melton on Saturday night. SWEETPASSION hasn’t raced since getting into trouble and finishing unplaced at Melton in May. He is the winner of eight races and nearly $100,000 in Stakes so he is a quality performer. He finished in second with LUVA SCRAP being in third and ALL BLAZING GUNS was the fourth horse across the line. ALL BLAZING GUNS is resuming from a spell at Melton on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.5 Last Half: – 56.2 Margins: – 8m, 2m
