Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail noticed some standout runners at recent trials.
At Shepparton, former New South Wales pacer Reno Ace showed sharp early speed to lead and powered away late for a dominant win, looking a strong chance on debut there Tuesday night.
At the same venue, Banos caught the eye when settling six back on the markers before charging home to finish second.
At Maryborough, juvenile pacer Themidnightexpress took on older horses, found the lead early and kept finding to score convincingly.
At Melton, Seathestars settled four back on the markers, eased into clear air at the 300 metres and ran home strongly for an eye-catching second.
SHEPPARTON 22/01/26
Trial 1: – DALLASCOWBOY was in several different positions in the run but he was able to get the job done. He led out, took cover, was shuffled to three back on the markers and trailed the leader again from the quarter pole before coming to the outside on the home turn. He is a good chance for his debut performance at Charlton on Monday. MASTER MIKI was four back on the markers before circling around to find the lead at the 1300m. He set up a slow tempo and was run down in the sprint to the finish. He is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. PARINI settled last of the five runners and worked into a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.0 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – 2m, 25m
Trial 2: – SERG BLANCO NZ was clearly the class runner of the trial and dominated his rivals. He speared to the front in the early stages and was always in control. OUR SPECIAL MEMORY is a former New South Wales trained pacer that boasts a strong record. She settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 300m and worked home quite well. She is competing at Wagga on Monday afternoon. OTTOS WEALTH finished last of the three runners after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.3 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 12m, 20m
Trial 3: – RENO ACE is a former New South Wales pacer, which joins trainer Craig Turnbull. He began very quickly to lead, ran along at a reasonable tempo and shot away from his rivals over the latter stages to win by a big margin. He is making his local debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night and appears to be a winning chance. FLOPPA broke stride in the score up and settled last of the six runners. He did well to work into second place. I AM ON THERUN was without cover early, dropped to be four back on the markers at the 1600m and battled on fairly well for third. SPIRIT OF SAHARA came from five back on the markers to finish in fourth and will be competing at Charlton on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.2 Last Half: – 58.2 Margins: – 30m, Neck
BLACKBOOKER: – Reno Ace
Trial 4: – MISSYS INTEREST settled five back on the markers, moved away from the inside at the 1700m and progressed to be three back on the markers at the 1500m. She was still quite a distance from the leader in the back straight on the final occasion but chased hard and came away from the markers on the home turn. She sustained the run to get the prize. BANOS produced an eye-catching performance to finish in second. He settled six back on the markers and produced a big finish in the home straight. CMON CARL LEE began quickly to find the lead, pulled very hard and established a big lead mid-race then peaked at the end to finish in third. CYCLONE NOELZIE was three back on the markers, four back from the 1500m and finished in fourth position.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.0 Last Half: – 62.3 Margins: – 2m, 1m
BLACKBOOKER: – Banos
BACCHUS MARSH 24/01/26
Trial 1: – DALTON SHARD NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which has won ten races and $256,316 in Stakes. He is on a tough mark with a National Rating of 100 but he is a smart horse and finished off in a sizzling final quarter of 27.3 seconds to win the opening trial on his way to his Australian debut in the Devonport Cup on Saturday. He was able to defeat BIG BOY MAL in a field of just two runners.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 56.2 Margin: – 4m
Trial 3: – ISOLATION endured a tough run and faded when resuming since July. He was able to rip home in a brilliant final half of 55.5 seconds to win the trial so he is capable of showing improvement. He didn’t have much luck and finished fifth at Ballarat on Thursday night. CRUSADER MISS is a former New South Wales pacer, which recently joined trainer Carson Millar. She finished a close second in fast time and her first up third in Victoria was strong. She backed up with a victory at Ballarat on Thursday night in a smart mile rate of 1.54.2. CALEDONIAN RANGER was in third across the line and finished about a length clear of GENERAL LINCOLN, which was last of the quartet home.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.9 Last Half: – 55.5 Margins: – ½ head, 5m
ECHUCA 25/01/26
Trial 1: – BUNGY began well and was able to work to the front shortly after the start. He set up a moderate tempo and was able to go down to the line to win with something in reserve. He is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. COOL KELDA settled three back on the markers, worked through to trail the leader at the 500m mark and tried hard in the straight for second. ANOTHERORDER trailed the leader early, came away from the inside at the 500m and was immediately under pressure thereafter. He finished a distant third with TROUBLE LOOMING being last of the quartet throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.0 Last Half: – 61.6 Margins: – 4m, 20m
Trial 3: – HEZ HARRYWHO began very quickly to find the lead, ran along at a reasonable tempo and finished off strongly to win by a large margin. He is competing at Wagga on Monday afternoon. PEE BEES DELIGHT settled three back on the markers, switched into the sprint lane in the home straight and worked into a distant second. She is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. LITTLE RAIN CLOUD finished third after trailing the leader throughout. WAITINGNORUNS was last of the four runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.0 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 30m, 2m
MARYBOROUGH 25/01/26
Trial 1: – TOWERING FORTUNE trailed the leader and came to the outside on the home turn. He finished off best in a slick final quarter of 28.2 seconds to win nicely. INSIDER TRADING settled three back on the markers, angled out three horses wide on the home turn and did well to close in late for second. He is scheduled to compete at Charton on Monday afternoon. The juvenile pacer ALWAYSTHEPRINCESS finished in third position after setting the speed.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.9 Last Half: – 57.3 Margins: – 1m, 4m
Trial 3: – THEMIDNIGHTEXPRESS is a juvenile pacer and was taking on older horses. He began quickly to find the lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and remained strong at the finish to score nicely. MAXBECA trailed the leader, came away from the inside at the 500m mark and tried hard for second. He is competing at Charlton on Monday afternoon. FANTASY FLIGHT settled four back on the markers and finished in third position. EMJAY KRUZER settled three back on the markers, moved through to trail the leader at the 500m and used the sprint lane. He was the last one across the line but wasn’t beaten by far.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.3 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 1m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Themidnightexpress
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 27/01/26
Trial 1: – NEW SHUFFLE trailed the leader, moved to the outside at the quarter pole and was able to finish off in a sizzling final quarter of 26.5 seconds to win the prize. SEATHESTARS settled four back on the markers, moved away from the inside at the 300m and ran home strongly for an eye-catching second. SON OF MAC NZ began fast to lead, set up a genuine tempo and was run down over the latter stages but wasn’t far from the winner. BLAKE BOLAC finished a close up fourth after settling three back on the markers and using the sprint lane. JUSTALITTLESIP NZ was five back on the markers and finished in fifth with ALWAYS BE BLAKEY being last of the six runners throughout.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.6 Last Half: – 54.6 Margins: – Head, 2.75m
BLACKBOOKER: – Seathestars
Trial 3: – I SEA RED trailed the leader, angled wide at the 150m and ran home strongly to get up and win on the line. STEEL MIKI settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 300m and loomed up to hit the lead on the home turn. He was run down in the latter stages but still produced a decent performance to finish a close up second. NINEDOLLA TOASTIE was the third horse across the line after trying to lead throughout. She did race greenly on the first turn and wanted to drift away from the markers. BINALONG MATE was last of the quartet throughout and will be competing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 58.2 Margins: – 1.25m, 1.25m
Trial 4: – HEAVENLY GEM led out then took cover at the 1100m. She went back to the sprint lane and finished off best to win nicely. She has been performing nicely at the trials over the past few weeks. STERLING GIGI began quickly and trailed the leader early, before ending up being three back on the markers. He moved up without cover at the 500m and was forced out a little wider over the latter stages but battled on okay for second. JACWILL KID was four back on the markers and waited for the sprint lane. He finished off well for a close up third. He is by Huntsville out of the fast mare Ruby Delight (1.56.8, $18,560). She has already produced the proven race winner I Sea Red (1.55.2). ADDISYN MCKENZIE settled three back on the inside, circled around to find the lead at the 1100m and shifted out under pressure at the end, finishing last of the four runners.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.6 Last Half: – 60.8 Margins: – 4m, Neck
Trial 5: – HIGH TIMES is an unraced gelding by Ride High out of Our Front Page NZ (1.58.1), which has produced the race winner Peejay Mack (1.57.9). He began quickly to lead, took cover and ended up being three back on the markers at the 1200m. He angled wide at the 150m and finished off best to win by a narrow margin. PRICILLA trailed the leader early, circled around to lead at the 1400m then took cover again at the 1200m. She moved up into the death seat at the 500m mark and battled on well for a close second. PHURPHY finished in third after settling last of the six runners, circling around the field to find the lead at the 1200m and being run down at the end. LUCKY VINCENT was four then five back on the markers, angled out four horses wide on the home turn and worked into fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.5 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – ½ Head, 5.75m
Trial 6: – ALDEBARAN ACRUX USA began quickly to find the lead, ran along at a very genuine tempo and proved too strong in the run to the finish. She produced a very impressive performance and won in fast time. MCGEE has returned to Victoria after a successful stint in Queensland. He sat in the trail and couldn’t go with ALDEBARAN ACRUX USA over the latter stages, being beaten by thirty metres on the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.9 Last Half: – 60.8 Margin: – 30m
