Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail noticed some standout runners at recent trials.
At Bendigo, unraced filly Like No Other created a good impression defeating a field of proven winners.
At the same track, Edwarde Grange finished off strongly, seemingly with something in reserve.
At Ballarat, Really Really caught the eye of rail with a sizzling final quarter.
KYABRAM 18/01/26
Trials 1 + 2 were both won by horses trained by Darryn Rowney. CMON CARL LEE was stood down to trial after galloping several times in the run at Shepparton on January 06. He was able to take out the opening trial by twenty metres over the lightly raced trotter ROLY HINSON with KAMARAN being a further thirty metres away in third position. The mile rate for the journey of 2130m metres was 2.9.2. WAITINGNORUNS took out the last trial by a neck. He hasn’t started since finishing twelfth at Bendigo back in March. I AM ON THERUN is maintaining a consistent form line and finished in fourth at Cranbourne at his latest race track appearance. He was kept ticking over with a close up second. ANOTHERORDER hasn’t raced since December 2023 and finished eighty metres away in third position with the winner posting a mile rate of 2.9.6.
MARYBOROUGH 18/01/26
Trial 1: – THE DEVILS FLAME began quickly to find the lead and ran along at an even tempo. He was able to score at the end, seemingly with plenty in reserve. He is returning from a break at Melton this evening. BELLA LOMBO trailed the leader throughout and never peeled to the outside but was driven along over the concluding stages. WHENIGROWUP was last of the three runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.9 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – 1m, 20m
Trial 2: – BONAVISTA BOY began quickly to find the lead and rolled along at a genuine tempo. He was able to hold on at the end and scored in reasonable time. NAMELLA was without cover early, restrained to be three back on the markers and made a forward move at the 500m. She chased hard and missed out by a narrow margin and will be competing at Terang on Monday. FARROE JOE was slow out and was detached from the pack early. He was four back on the markers and was able to pick up STAR RULER NZ (trailed leader) over the latter stages. STAR RULER NZ is scheduled to compete at Terang on Monday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.4 Last Half: – 58.7 Margins: – 1m, 20m
Trial 3: – FONDA RHONDA settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 600m and hit the lead on the home turn. She was able to hold off the late challenge of TITAN STRIDE to get the prize. She is returning from a spell at Melton this evening. TITAN STRIDE began well to trail the leader, moved into the one out and one back trail on the home turn and angled wider into the straight. He finished well and missed by a narrow margin. He backed up at Bendigo on Wednesday night and finished unplaced in the Elmore Cup. ROMANTIC NINA settled last of the four runners, came out four horses wide on the home turn and worked home well for third. She is competing at Wedderburn on Sunday afternoon. ALDEBARAN MAVERICK was last of the four runners to the line after setting the speed.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.0 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – 1m, 2m
Trial 4: – ACACIA STRIDE settled four back on the inside, moved up without cover at the 700m and hit the front at the 500m. He sustained the run to win nicely. IKARA finished in second after trailing the leader throughout and will be backing up at Terang on Monday night. JUMPING JONES settled last of the five runners and finished well for third. KISSMESERENA NZ finished fourth after attempting to lead throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.3 Last Quarter: – 30.8 Margins: – 12m, 6m
Trial 5: – ITZ CLASSIC GOLD began well to find the lead, broke stride momentarily at the 1200m but retained the lead. He was able to defeat the two juvenile trotters in slow time. BERET STRIDE settled three back on the markers and came to the outside with 300m remaining. He finished in second and is a gelding by Zenith Stride, which started his career in America and had three starts in Australia, and is out of the race winning mare Snowflake Stride NZ. LYNX STRIDE is also by Zenith Stride and finished last of the three runners after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.13.9 Last Half: – 65.7 Margins: – 20m, 1m
MILDURA 19/01/26
Trial 1: – RED HOT MIKI raced without cover, restrained to being last of the six runners then moved into the running lane (1-2) at the 700m. He came out four horses wide on the home turn and finished off best to score. AUCKLAND LASS trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 1100m and finished in second. She will be backing up at Mildura this evening. NAUGHTY BET finished in third after attempting to lead throughout and will also be competing at Mildura this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.2 Last Half: – 61.3 Margins: – 1m, 3m
Trial 2: – NEVS DREAM trailed the leader, came to the outside on the home turn and finished off best to get the prize. HES A MODERN BOY attempted to lead throughout and finished in second. He is backing up at Mildura this evening. YOU ARE MY SOUL was three back on the markers throughout and finished in third. The trotters ATEGO ROBBO (4 back markers) and COMMODIOUS MISS, which galloped in the score up, were the last two runners across the line. ATEGO ROBBO is resuming from a spell at Wedderburn on Sunday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.0 Last Half: – 61.2 Margins: – 2m, 14m
Trial 3: – NOBLE TRICK was able to lead throughout to win the final trial with plenty in reserve. CARLISLE CRUISER was last of the three runners, moved through to trail the leader at the quarter pole and worked through the middle late for second. LE SPARTACUS trailed the leader throughout and was last of the three runners across the line. Both CARLISLE CRUISER and LE SPARTACUS will be competing at Mildura this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.4 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – 2m, 4m
GEELONG 19/01/26
Trial 1: – SCHERGER THAT sat in the trail behind the leader HEATSEEKER and came to the outside at the 300m mark. He finished off in a sizzling final quarter of 27.3 seconds to win impressively. HEATSEEKER held down second and JUSTALITTLESIP NZ was last of the three runners throughout but did pick up ground in the slick final sectionals.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.5 Last Half: – 58.1 Margins: – 2m, 1m
Trial 3: – HEAVENLY GEM won the trial for juvenile pacers after she trailed the leader, used the sprint lane and was untroubled at the finish. She is by Rock N Roll Heaven out of Prairie Pearl, which has already produced the handy performer Carramar Solomona (1.55.0, $60,020). ADDISYN MCKENZIE finished in second after settling three back on the markers. She is by Huntsville out of Village Tango (1.56.9, $19,919), which makes her closely related to two winners including the top performer Hesitate (1.51.5, $376,858). KIANA attempted to lead throughout and was the last horse across the line. She is by Vincent out of the handy mare Manthadee (1.54.6, $101,940) and is the first foal.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.7 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 2m, 5m
Trial 5: – LIBERTY STAR DUST settled three back on the markers, came to the outside in the home straight and finished off fast to snare victory on the line. CAPTAIN HANK NZ began well to lead but raced very greenly in the early stages. He travelled kindly once he gained the trail behind the leader then came to the outside at the 300m. He may have switched off once he hit the front and was run down on the line. DIAMONTY QUEEN settled four back on the markers and worked into third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.9 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – Head, 5m
BENDIGO 19/01/26
Trial 1: – MISS DOOBEE was one out and one back early, dropped onto the markers to be four back at the 1200m, moved into the death seat at the 700m and proved to be too strong at the finish. She is competing at Wedderburn on Sunday. She defeated BUNGY, which trailed the leader, angled onto the back of MISS DOOBEE on the turn and never peeled to the outside at any stage. He finished second ahead of the early leader COBARGO MILLY. BLINGBLING is a juvenile gelding by Bling It On as the name suggests. He is out of the American bred mare Mitzi M Hanover USA, which has produced four winners including the handy performers Mitzi Said (1.54.0, $77,485) and Wicked Mitzi (1.53.0, $32,231). He finished fourth after being three back on the markers and breaking stride momentarily at the 600m mark.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.9 Last Half: – 59.4 Margins: – 4m, 9m
Trial 2: – HILLSIDE began very quickly from a wide draw to find the lead. He travelled nicely in the run, kicked clear on the turn and was never in any danger of defeat. CHAMPAGNES was second across the line after trailing the leader throughout. ANTONOV settled four back on the markers and ran to the line strongly late without being pushed. ZIPTIE finished in fourth after settling three back on the inside.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.3 Last Half: – 58.7 Margins: – 8m, 3m
Trial 3: – LIKE NO OTHER is an unraced filly by Bettor’s Wish and created a good impression in defeating a field of proven winners. She settled four back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 500m and raced roughly before the turn before extending nicely in the straight to get the prize. LOCHIEL LAD NZ attempted to lead throughout and kicked clear on the home turn but got leg weary at the end. MANFREDI settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside on the home turn and battled on fairly well for third. IMA BALLERINA finished in fourth after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.2 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 2m, neck
BLACKBOOKER: – Like No Other
Trial 4: – RIDE THE HIGHS led comfortably from the pole position with his two rivals both being off the gate at the start. He set up a genuine tempo and was able to hang on over the concluding stages. EDWARDE GRANGE sat in the trail throughout, switched back into the sprint lane and finished off strongly, seemingly with something in reserve. LE BELLE BIJOUX was last of the three runners throughout but held her own in solid final sectionals.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.2 Last Half: – 56.4 Margins: – Head, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: – Edwarde Grange
Trial 6: – LOVEMETO NZ settled three back on the markers, moved through to trail the leader at the quarter pole and came to the outside on the home turn. He finished off best to win well. I AM WILMA trailed the leader, came off the markers at the 400m and was three horses wide when turning for home. She finished second with the early leader TICTOK being last of the three runners across the line. TICTOK is racing at Melton this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.3 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – 4m, 4m
TERANG 20/01/26
Trial 1: – ODIN has been freshened since an eighth in the Super Series Silver event in early December. He is a speedy type and was able to win the open class trial in reasonable time. AMERICAN ASSASSIN hasn’t raced since June and has joined trainer Kerryn Manning. He finished second with KEAYANG WASABI being in third and JILLIBY ILLUMINATE NZ being in fourth. The former Queensland pacer MADRIGAL NZ has recently joined Matthew Craven and was the fifth horse across the line. JILLIBY ILLUMINATE NZ will be competing at Ballarat tomorrow night and MADRIGAL makes his local debut at Melton this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.7 Last Half: – 58.2 Margins: – 2m, Head
Trial 2: – MCBART backed up his unlucky trial performance several weeks earlier with a victory over the trotters. He is by McWicked out of the classy mare Northern Velocity NZ (1.56.6, $188,264) and is shaping up nicely. The former New Zealander CRUSHER CLYDE NZ won nicely at his Australian debut and kept the momentum rolling with a close up second. He is backing up at Terang on Monday night. LADY SUSPICIOUS finished ten metres away in third position with REGINALDS REIGN and KEAYANG MINNESOTA being fourth and fifth respectively. LADY SUSPICIOUS is scheduled to compete at Wedderburn on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.6 Last Half: – 61.7 Margins: – Head, 10m
Trial 3: – JET ROCK is a smart pacer but hasn’t started since September 2023. He was able to defeat his stable mate OUR ULTIMATE GRACY NZ, which hasn’t raced since August. OUR ULTIMATE GRACY NZ has joined trainer Kerryn Manning after previously being prepared by Kate Hargreaves. COLOSIMO is an unraced gelding by Vincent out of Shady Credit (1.59.7, $7,864) and is the first foal out of the dam. He finished in third with JILLIBY WORPA being the fourth horse across the line. JILLIBY WORPA is resuming from a spell at Terang on Monday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.9 Last Half: – 58.9 Margins: – 1m, 12m
BALLARAT 20/01/26
Trial 1: – BROOKLYN DAN hasn’t raced since a win at Melton in June. He led throughout to win the trial over the unraced colt DOWN AND DAZED, which sat in the trail throughout. DOWN AND DAZED is by Downbytheseaside out of the good mare Dazed And Confused (1.56.8, $172,444), which has produced seven winners including Roll With It (1.53.9, $123,028) and Be Dazzled (1.50.0, $170,650).
Mile Rate: – 2.2.0 Last Half: – 57.3 Margin: – 8m
Trial 3: – STERLING GIGI won the juvenile trial after being three back on the markers and swinging out three horses wide approaching the home turn. He is by Vincent out of the good race mare Diamond Jasper (1.56.2, $67,153) and showed a good turn of speed in the trial. COUTTAS LAW finished settled after trailing the leader and coming to the outside at the 500m. He is by Sweet Lou out of I’m Very Willing (1.59.0, $20,020), which has produced Rudy Gee (1.52.3, $54,417). The early leader TWO STEP PROPOSAL was last of the three runners across the line. He is by the first season sire Dancing Lou, which is a 1.47.4 winning son of Sweet Lou, out of the unraced mare The Blushing Bride.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.8 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: – Head, 30m
Trial 4: – REALLY REALLY has joined trainer Freddy Taiba since his latest performance and finished off in a sizzling final quarter of 27.2 seconds after setting the speed to win the trial. He defeated METEOR MOTH, which is a winner of eight races from just thirteen starts and hasn’t started since June. He trailed the leader and came to the outside at the 300m mark. COLOMBIAN PRINCESS settled three back on the markers and finished in third with SKYZ ABOVE being last of the four runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.2 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – 2m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Really Really
