Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail noticed some standout runners at recent trials.
At Shepparton, Caties Son began quickly to find the lead, raced fiercely during the middle stages and dashed well clear at the end to record a very good victory. He is racing at Albury tonight.
At Bendigo, Captothemax performed greenly but looked strong in the run to the finish, winning untouched.
At Melton, Juvenile filly La Cantatrice dashed home well and showed promise.
SHEPPARTON 05/02/26
Trial 1: – AETOS DYNAMIS was four back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 600m and sprinted sharply over the final stages to win by a large margin. He is resuming from a spell at Charlton on Monday afternoon. JILLIBY TOPGUN trailed the leader throughout and finished in second position with ROLY HINSON coming from three back on the markers to finish in third. ROLY HINSON is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. BEAUTYBOUCHEA settled six back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 700m mark and worked into a distant fourth. She broke stride and lost all chance when resuming at Kilmore on Thursday. The early leader ISLAND RUBEE was the fifth horse across the line. She backed up with an unplaced effort at Shepparton on Tuesday and will competing at that venue again this week.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.3 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – 25m, 1m
Trial 3: – CATIES SON began quickly to find the lead, raced fiercely during the middle stages and dashed well clear at the end to record a very good victory. He is racing at Albury tonight. SHEZAGLAMOURGIRL settled last of the six runners, came to the outside with 700m remaining and sprinted quickly down the back straight. She got to second at the quarter pole and got within a length of CATIES SON. She couldn’t go with the winner late but she beat the remainder of the field by a large margin. LOIERO settled five back on the markers, came to the outside at the 600m and worked into third. GET SET JETT trailed the leader early, was three back on the markers at the 900m and battled into fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.3 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – 22m, 30m
BLACKBOOKER: – Caties Son
Trial 4: – FLOPPA trailed the leader, worked to the front at the 1600m and dominated his rivals thereafter. He dashed well clear at the end to score by thirty metres. He is backing up at Albury this evening. LADY DEEKAYNWHY settled three back on the markers and worked into a distant second. MAD PUNTA came from five back on the markers and worked into third position. COOL KELDA settled six back on the markers, came to the outside at the bell but couldn’t make ground originally then rallied into a distant fourth. She is racing at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.8 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – 30m, 8m
Trial 5: – WESTERN SONADOR was three back on the markers, moved away from the inside at the 1600m and found the front at the 1400m. He set up a genuine tempo and remained strong at the finish to get the prize in fast time. He is racing in the Albury Cup this evening. FOLLOWTHEACE was four back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 500m and battled on well for second. SOAP AND BUBBLES was five back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail behind FOLLOWTHEACE and only peeled to the outside with 100m remaining. She worked home nicely for third. SERG BLANCO NZ trailed the leader and used the sprint lane but couldn’t lift over the latter stages. He finished fourth with JILLIBY FABIO (3 back markers) being the last one to the line in a very strong field.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.2 Last Half: – 56.6 Margins: – 5m, 3m
Trial 6: – SEA FURY NZ began very quickly from a wide draw and rolled to the top shortly after the start. He ran along at a genuine tempo and shot well clear at the end, scoring by forty metres. It was a very impressive display and he backed up with a big victory at Maryborough on Wednesday afternoon. NOMORELYING settled five back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m and worked into a distant second. FLOJOS BEST trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and finished in third. He is competing at Albury this evening. SOHO PLAYGIRL led out then took cover and finished in a distant fourth.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.3 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 40m, head
STAWELL 09/02/26
Trial 1: – THAT’S KEVIN is an unraced 3yo pacer by Fear The Dragon out of Takeiteasyonme (1.58.3, $53,148), which has produced two winners in The Dux (1.59.6) and I’m Lord Tommy (1.54.4). He was able to win the trial by a large margin over BUBBLE OVER, which has been placed in several recent trial performances. The juvenile pacers SWIM SUIT and LOUS MAMBO finished third and fourth respectively.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.4 Last Half: – 59.9 Margins: – 10m, ½ neck
BENDIGO 09/02/26
Trial 1: – RUMPELSTILTSKIN raced without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead at the 1300m and finished off in a slick final quarter of 27.4 seconds to win the trial. WICKED ONE was behind the leader early and was shuffled back to last mid-race. He moved into the running lane (1-3) at the 700m then commenced his forward move with 500m remaining. He finished off well to get into second position. He is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. WHATS GLENDA GOT settled down last, gained a one out and one back trail at the bell and finished off well for third. She is competing at Charlton on Monday afternoon. COOL KELDA was without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead then took cover at the 1300m. She battled on fairly well for fourth after backing up quickly from her trial effort at Shepparton on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.4 Last Half: – 58.7 Margins: – 2m, 1m
Trial 2: – CRIPPA began quickly to find the lead shortly after the start and was always in control of the trial. He raced away from his rivals over the latter stages to win by thirty metres. KENZINGTON finished in second after trailing the leader throughout. NIGHT TIME GLORY galloped away and was a clear last early. He chased hard and was able to run into a distant third. BLINGBLING and LEXXINGTON were both slow to begin and were always well away from the leader. They finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.2 Last Half: – 60.6 Margins: – 30m, 16m
Trial 5: – ENABLE ME NZ was in the one out and one back trail, angled in to settle three back on the markers at the 1700m and came to the outside with 400m remaining. He sprinted very quickly over the latter stages and scored by a large margin, although the final sectionals were moderate. He is backing up at Charlton on Monday afternoon. FLOJOS BEST was four back on the markers for the majority of the trial, moved through to trail the leader at the 500m mark and battled on well for second without being fully extended. He was backing up from his trial effort at Shepparton on Thursday and is having a busy time considering he is racing again this afternoon. BEST BY A MILE settled in the second half of the field and was left stranded without cover. He progressed forward mid-race and battled on fairly well for a distant third. DEVILS GAIT settled five back on the markers and was the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.8 Last Half: – 62.4 Margins: – 24m, 5m
Trial 8: – CAPTOTHEMAX settled last of the five runners, moved up without cover at the 800m and wanted to hang out and race greenly but was still able to progress forward. He continued to make ground and hit the lead on the home turn before looking strong in the run to the finish, winning untouched. He is an unraced son of Capt Midnight and should continue to improve with the benefit of experience. BLOOMING settled three back on the markers, moved around to find the lead at the 1100m and battled on well for second. I AM MOLLY showed very good gate speed to lead, took cover mid-race and battled on fairly well for third.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.3 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – 4m, 8m
BLACKBOOKER: – CAPTOTHEMAX
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 10/02/26
Trial 1: – BULLETPROOF BOY settled last of the three runners, came to the outside on the home turn and produced a powerful finishing burst in a sizzling final quarter of 26.6 seconds to win impressively. It was a good hit out leading up to his performance against a stellar field in the Hunter Cup tomorrow night. SON OF MAC NZ finished in second after trailing the leader and using the sprint lane. JUSTALITTLESIP began quickly to find the lead, set up a genuine tempo and was last of the three runners across the line but wasn’t beaten by far.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.9 Last Half: – 55.5 Margins: – 4.75m, head
Trial 2: – TARA VICTORY NZ began quickly to find the lead shortly after the start. He set up a genuine tempo and finished off in a slick final quarter of 27.3 seconds to win the trial impressively. VINCENZO raced without cover early, angled in behind the leader and battled on okay for second. He is backing up at Melton tomorrow night. ALWAYS BE BLAKEY settled last of the eight runners and finished off well to work into a distant third. IN AN IDEAL WORLD was five back on the markers and got checked at the 700m mark. He progressed forward in the back straight and battled on okay over the latter stages to finish in fourth.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.6 Last Half: – 55.6 Margins: – 7m, 13m
Trial 4: – LA CANTATRICE is a juvenile filly for trainer Geoff Webster by Poster Boy out of Dougs Diva (1.57.7) and is the first foal out of the mare. She settled three back on the markers and moved into the one out and one back trail then finished off well from the 300m mark. HAWKESDALE DEED is a filly by Guaranteed out of More Than Modern (1.57.2) and is the second foal with the first being the proven winner Jilliby Rippa (1.58.5). She was four back on the markers early, moved into the death seat at the 600m and battled on well for a close second. FANTASY FLIGHT trailed the leader and used the sprint lane to finish in third. He is by Always B Miki out of the good mare All Inflight (1.56.2), which won five of her eight starts and has produced the two winners Mikis Pride (1.53.2) and Attagirl (1.59.1). ROCKLEIGHS LEGACY is a stable mate to the winner and finished a close fourth after setting the speed.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.2 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – Neck, 1.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – La Cantatrice
Trial 6: – I AM WILMA began quickly to find the lead and ran along at an even tempo. She scored comfortably and seemingly had plenty left in the run to the finish. HILLTOP HUGH settled last of the four runners, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 300m and ran home well late to finish in second. MEGA SPUR was three back on the markers, came to the outside at the 300m and tried hard for third. SIX NATIONS was last of the four runners after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.0 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: – 2.5m, 1m
Trial 7: – RAMBO SUFFARELL began sharply and was able to find the lead shortly after the start. He dashed home in a handy final half and raced well clear of his rivals at the end to score by a large margin. COCONUT MICKEY was three back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 700m mark and battled on fairly well for a distant second. He is travelling across to South Australia to compete in the opening race at Globe Derby on Saturday night. FROSTY GIRL NZ settled seven back on the markers, moved up without cover at the bell and found the one out and one back trail at the 700m. She finished a distant third with HEART OF GRACELAND being the fourth horse across the line after settling four back on the markers.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.5 Last Half: – 58.9 Margins: – 13.75m, 20m
MARYBOROUGH 11/02/26
Trial 1: – NANCYS BOY NZ hasn’t raced since April 2021! He is the winner of eight races and boasts a personal best time of 1.57.0 so he is a handy type when at his peak. He recorded reasonable time in his runaway trial success over the trotter TUBBS NOW SLIM. The juvenile trotters trained by Mark Hayes TEQUILA SEVEN and ROXSTER finished third and fourth respectively. TEQUILA SEVEN is by Pastor Stephen out of Tequila Bree (2.2.4) and is the first foal out of the dam. ROXSTER is a son of Father Patrick and is out of Gypsy Flair, a daughter of the top mare Fiona’s Flair (2.2.8, $79,434). Gypsy Flair has had seven foals and the first six have all been winners! The best performers have been Banglez (1.57.8, $127,350), Just A Bit Touchy (1.59.3, $135,290) and Keayang Gypsy (1.57.1, $34,705).
Mile Rate: – 1.59.3 Last Half: – 57.3 Margins: – 35m, 150m
TERANG 11/02/26
Trial 1: – JILLIBY BALLERINI had a final hit-out leading up to her performance in the Great Southern Star series on Saturday night. She has remained undefeated in four starts since returning from New Zealand and smashed the track record at Kilmore on Saturday night so she is racing in peak form. She was able to win the trial from IMPERIAL MONARCH NZ, which is also competing in a heat of the Great Southern Star tomorrow night. He made an error and finished unplaced in the Ballarat Cup at his latest appearance. TOMAHAWK BART was last of the three horses across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.9 Last Half: – 57.01 Margins: – 2m, 1m
Trial 2: – MCBART is a son of McWicked that has performed nicely at the trials and was able to take out the second event. The overall time was slow but he was able to dash home in a slick final quarter of 28.06 seconds to get the job done. KEAYANG DREAMGIRL is an unraced filly by Tall Dark Stranger out of Keayang Shekitout (1.52.7, $100,920) and will be the only foal out of the dam. She finished in second ahead of TAKE THE MIKI, which is a juvenile gelding by Always B Miki out of I’m Wrongly Accused (1.58.5), making him a close relation to Kimble (1.53.2, $349,534) and Rubins Plight (1.57.7, $118,373). He was the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.4 Last Half: – 58.06 Margins: – 2m, 5m
Trial 3: – KEAYANG PASSION is a filly by Stay Hungry out of the top mare Roger’s Passsion (1.56.6, $136,446), which has produced another terrific performer in Captain Hammerhead (1.51.4, $339,416). He was able to defeat MUFASA BART in the final trial with ANOTHER WOODS, an unraced entire by Restrepo, finishing in third position.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.6 Last Half: – 58.02 Margins: – 1m, 5m
