Harness racing form guru Craig Rail spotted three key runners worth following from recent trials across Victoria.
Atua Magic stood out with a dominant Shepparton win, sustaining a long run from well back to score by a big margin.
The Private Deal impressed at Geelong with a strong third after weaving off the markers and launching wide late.
Tooram Magic looked sharp at Bendigo, rolling to the front mid-race and clearing out stylishly, putting himself right in the mix for Geelong tonight.
SHEPPARTON 04/12/25
Trial 1: – ATUA MAGIC NZ hasn’t raced since a third in the Protostar back in July. He is a very smart juvenile pacer and dominated his rivals after settling five back on the markers and moving to the outside at the 1200m. He sustained the run and scored by a large margin. LOIERO settled three back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 700m and ran to the line under his own steam. He was beaten by a smart one so his effort was strong. He makes his debut at Maryborough on Monday and meets another handy one in Springfield River but he should be competitive. ALDARON raced without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead and was run down over the latter stages. He is making his debut at the Gunbower Cup program on Sunday
Mile Rate: – 2.1.3 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – 12m, 10m
BLACKBOOKER: – Atua Magic NZ
Trial 2: – DANGEROUS settled three back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the quarter pole and was able to outstay the early leader FRUGAL FARE in the run to the finish. FRUGAL FARE performed well for a close second and FOLLOW THE ACE was the last one home after sitting in the trail throughout. DANGEROUS is competing in the open class event at Melton on Saturday night and FRUGAL FARE is resuming in the Gunbower Cup on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.7 Last Half: – 57.0 Margins: – Head, 8m
Trial 3: – SAHARA SEAKRET began quickly to find the front, ran along at a reasonable tempo and was too good in the run to the finish. He backed up with a handy second at Bendigo on Wednesday night. PIASTRI trailed the leader and angled to the outside approaching the home turn. He tried hard in the straight but couldn’t pick up the winner. He will make his debut at Gunbower on Sunday. RISE AGAIN finished in third after being three back on the markers and WICKED CONFESSION worked into fourth after racing without cover early before easing back to last.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 2m, 15m
Trial 5: – BIG BAD OSSIE settled five back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 700m and finished off best to get the prize. SPIRIT OF SAHARA trailed the leader, angled wide with 150m remaining and finished off fast for a close second. He followed with a close second at Shepparton on Tuesday night and is racing again in the last race at Gunbower on Sunday. LAYDEN was four back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 700m and dashed to the front at the 300m before peaking late and finishing in third. He makes his debut for trainer Kylie Sugars at Geelong this evening. HOORAH PHILTRA was the fourth horse across the line after trying to lead throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 56.2 Margins: – 1m, Neck
Trial 7: – COUNTRY ROCKSTAR began very quickly and was able to work to the front at the 1700m. She ran along at an even tempo and was never in any danger of defeat. MISS HERMES settled five back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 800m and battled on well for second. FULL CRUNCH AHEAD settled six back on the inside and moved away from the pegs at the 600m. He picked up ground from a long way from the leaders and ran into third. MY LADY SARAH settled down in seventh position and picked up late ground for a distant fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.3 Last Half: – 61.0 Margins: – 5m, 7m
MARYBOROUGH 07/12/25
Trial 1: – JUSTABITSTORMI is a rising 2yo pacer for trainer Ash Warton by Modern Art out of Juslikeroyalty (1.56.3, $38,190) and is the first foal out of the mare. He was able to lead throughout to defeat the older horses by a comfortable margin. TRICODE was three back on the markers, moved off the inside at the 300m and battled on well for second. ROCKADILLY finished in third after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.5 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 2m, 2m
Trial 2: – COOPER KAI settled three back on the markers, moved through to trail the leader at the half mile marker and came to the outside on the home turn. He finished off best to win the trial comfortably and importantly, was able to re-qualify for his performance in the Breeders Crown Final at Melton tomorrow night. CHANTILLY LASS finished in second position after attempting to lead throughout and is also competing in a Breeders Crown Final tomorrow night. LEZAMA trailed the leader, moved into the death seat at the 800m and broke stride on the home turn. She was the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.7 Last Half: – 59.3 Margins: – 10m, 3m
Trial 5: – TITAN STRIDE hasn’t raced since finishing fourth in the Foundation Final at Menangle back in April. He began quickly to find the lead and ran along at a reasonable tempo. He was always nicely clear of his rivals and scored impressively. ROBBINMEMATES finished in second after settling four back on markers and running to the line fairly well. He is backing up at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. DUNS BOY was the third horse across the line after trailing the leader throughout. MAJOR MAX (4 back markers) finished in fourth and MY HIGH PEAK was last throughout, breaking stride at the 300m.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 58.0 Margins: – 10m, 10m
Trial 6: – ROCKNROLL COWBOY settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and finished off best. TAP TO PAY settled last of the six runners, moved to the death seat at the bell and hit the front at the 600m. She tried to sustain a long run and battled on well in the latter stages to finish in second. She has a trailing draw for her effort at Swan Hill on Tuesday night. FLAMING MEL finished in third after trying to lead throughout. He is resuming at Gunbower on Sunday afternoon. BELLA LOMBO finished in fourth after settling five back on the inside.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.9 Last Half: – 58.0 Margins: – 6m, 15m
KYABRAM 07/12/25
Trial 3: – CRESCO THUNDASTRUK hasn’t raced since being unplaced at Shepparton in August. He was able to defeat EPIC ORION, which recently returned from a brief Queensland campaign and will be appearing at Gunbower on Sunday afternoon. NELLS ALL BLISS finished in third ahead of MAURLEN GRACE and TROUBLE LOOMING.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.9 Last Half: – 61.5 Margins: – 1m, 4m
Trial 4: – MAHINDI NZ has returned from a successful Queensland campaign and was able to win his trial by a large margin. He is backing up at Gunbower on Sunday afternoon. He was able to defeat UPRIGHT, which has been unplaced in all three starts since returning from a long spell. WHATS GLENDA GOT hasn’t raced since a win at Mildura in January. She finished a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.8 Last Half: – 62.2 Margins: – 20m, 150m
GEELONG 08/12/25
Trial 1: – CAPTAIN BELLASARIO led and scored in what ended up being a solo trial. Despite having no opposition, he was still able to record fast time and he ran a last quarter of 26.4 seconds! He meets a strong field at Geelong this evening but he has the speed to be in the finish. SMIRKIN SERENE was using the trial to get back into the draw for her effort in the Breeders Crown Final on Saturday night. She got away safely then was virtually pulled out of the trial.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.7 Last Half: – 55.4 Margin: – 200m
Trial 2: – Four rising juvenile pacers for trainer Courtney Slater did battle in the second event. GOODTIME ORO was the victor after trailing the leader and working through to find the front at the bell. He is by Goodtime Floyd, which won four races out of twelve starts just over five seasons ago. He has four live foals on the ground. The dam Shining Oro boasts a career best mark of 1.52.8 and GOODTIME ORO is the second foal. THE PRICE (Stay Hungry – Molly Pitcher 2.1.2, $23,011) finished in second after leading out, angling away from the inside at the 1200m then ducking in behind the leader. LETITRIDELUV (Ride High – Luvthisone 1.54.8, $63,124) finished in third after settling last of the four runners, moving into the death seat at the 700m and hanging out badly on the home turn. SHOWSOMELUV (Bettors Delight – Reaza Grunter 1.50.8, $110,047) settled three back on the markers and broke stride at the 500m. She was last of the quartet across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.6 Last Half – 59.4 Margins: – 20m, 5m
Trial 3: – DOUGS TRIBE settled four back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 1500m and worked to the front at the 1200m. He was always in control of the trial and won with plenty in reserve. ROLINGINTHEDEEP was six back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 1100m and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He finished second and THE PRIVATE DEAL produced a very good performance for third after being five back on the markers, moving into the running lane (1-2) and coming out four horses wide on the home turn.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.1 Last Half: – 58.9 Margins: – 6m, head
BLACKBOOKER: – The Private Deal
Trial 5: – SCAR began quickly to trail the leader, moved up without cover at the 600m and proved too strong in the run to the finish. He has been racing well for trainer Robert Young and is backing up tonight in the Bacchus Marsh Trotting Cup. CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY settled three back on the inside, moved out three horses wide at the 600m and battled on fairly well for second. HESALLMUSCLE NZ was the third horse across the line after attempting to lead throughout.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.8 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 4m, 15m
BENDIGO 08/12/25
Trial 1: – WHATTA YA UP TAA was stood down to trial at Mildura last outing and bounced back with a convincing victory, where he settled three back on the inside, moved around to find the lead at the 1500m and was very comfortable in the run to the judge. ENABLE ME NZ led out then took cover and used the sprint lane to finish in second. MAJOR BYE trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the pegs at the 1500m and battled on fairly for third. TAKEMEBYTHEHEART settled last of the six runners, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 800m and finished in fourth position.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.5 Last Half: – 57.5 Margins: – 4m, 3m
Trial 3: – PIPALICIOUS is a juvenile trotter, which hasn’t started since July. She led throughout for an easy victory over SAYAPRAYERFORME (trailed leader) with PARDRAY being last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.8 Last Half: – 60.1 Margins: – 22m, 4m
Trial 4: – TOORAM MAGIC settled four back on the inside, moved up without cover at the 1800m, worked to the front at the 1700m and ran along at a genuine tempo. He dashed well clear of his rivals at the end and appeared to be very impressive. He appears to be a chance at Geelong this evening based on that performance. ROCKINWITHATTITUDE began quickly to find the lead, trailed the leader at the 1700m and battled on well for second, beating the remainder of the field by a comfortable margin. TICTOK settled three back on the markers and finished in third. JILLIBY ILLUSION settled last of the five runners, came to the outside at the 300m mark and worked into fourth.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.8 Last Half: – 56.9 Margins: – 18m, 16m
BLACKBOOKER: – Tooram Magic
Trial 5: – MASON JOLIE settled four back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 700m and sprinted quickly down the back straight. She sustained the run to win impressively. ALDARON trailed the leader, was held up for a run at a vital stage and worked home well for second. It was another reasonable trial effort after backing up from the trial at Shepparton a few days earlier. LUVN MARY finished in third after attempting to lead throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.6 Last Half: – 56.9 Margins: – 4m, 7m
Trial 6: – ALDEBARAN SUE settled three back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the bell and hit the front at the 400m mark. She dashed away at the end and scored nicely, which would have given her plenty of confidence leading up to her Breeders Crown performance tomorrow night. CENTURION DREAM was aggressively driven to find the lead at the 1700m. She was no match for ALDEBARAN SUE at the end but she comfortably held down second place. FRANKYTHEFRENCHMAN broke stride in the latter stages of his unplaced effort at Horsham last week. He put in a very tidy performance for third after he was caught wide early, restrained to be last of the seven runners and ran home strongly at the end. He is scheduled to compete at Gunbower on Sunday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.4 Last Half: – 58.1 Margins: – 9m, 15m
TERANG 09/12/25
Trial 4: – JILLIBY SNIPER is a very smart juvenile, which blitzed his rivals at his debut victory at Stawell. He dashed home in a slick final quarter of 27.7 seconds to win his trial comfortably. HAVADASH JOH finished in second position on his way to his performance at Maryborough on Monday and was three metres ahead of the Metropolitan class trotter IMPERIAL MONARCH NZ.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.2 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 3m, 3m
Trial 5: – ISTHISJUSTFANTASY is a smart mare that hasn’t raced since a second at Melton in August. She won the Teeny Teeny Stakes at Menangle three starts ago and she recorded fast time in her trial success over stable mate ROCKNALLOVERTHEWORLD NZ. There was only a head separating the pair at the finish so both horses performed very well in the trial.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.6 Last Half: – 56.5 Margin: – Head
