Harness Racing form guru Craig Rail noticed several standout performers at the recent trials.
At Shepparton, Thunderfire’s performance was tidy in his first public hit-out since April.
At Bacchus Marsh, Matriarch Daisy won her trial comfortably. She should prove hard to beat at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
At Echuca, Sassy Gabby produced a good performance to win the second event and is resuming from a break on Tuesday night.
At Melton, Sweetsugarcandyman was caught without cover on the first turn, broke stride and settled a clear last of the seven runners before making up plenty of ground over the latter stages to finish fourth.
SHEPPARTON 23/07/26
Trial 1: – FULLY RECKLESS NZ showed very good gate speed from a wide draw and speared across to find the lead shortly after the start. He set up a reasonable tempo and was able to hold off the challengers to win the opening event. HUNTER VALLEY RED sat in the trail for the majority of the journey and tried hard in the straight to be beaten by less than a length. He is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. ONELOOK settled five back on the inside, moved off the pegs at the 300m mark and sprinted quickly. He may have peaked a little in the final 30m but produced a reasonable effort to finish in third. MY ROCKING HORSE finished in fourth after settling three back on the markers in the early stages. Both ONELOOK and MY ROCKING HORSE are backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 1.5m, 4m
Trial 2: – LITTLE MISS EMJAY is a juvenile filly by Used To Me out of Little Miss Chlo (2.1.0), whose first foal Little Miss Valley (1.59.1) is showing promise having won three races already in her career. She trailed leader the leader, came to the outside at the 300m and shifted out in the home straight but was able to get the job done. SHEEZ ONE OF US settled three back on the inside, moved through the middle in the home straight and was beaten by a narrow margin. MAYWYN TIKI WAH began quickly to find the lead and set up a slow tempo but was run down over the latter stages, ending up being third across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.0 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – Head, 4.25m
Trial 3: – RAGAZZO MAJOR NZ settled five back on the markers, moved up without cover from the 700m and sustained a long run to win the trial nicely. WHERE IT BEGAN attempted to lead throughout and was run down at the end but he did defeat the remainder of the field by a decent margin. He has drawn on the pole position at Shepparton on Tuesday night. SIR SONNY MAGUIRE NZ settled down last of the eight runners, improved one position with 1100m remaining and left the markers in the back straight on the final occasion. He made up a lot of ground without being fully extended so it was a good performance and he returns from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night. JUST MY LUCK trailed the leader throughout and finished in fourth with NOMORELYING (3 back markers) being the fifth horse to great the judge.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.9 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 3m, 9.5m
Trial 4: – VICI BLOOM trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 300m mark and went to the line untouched to win the trial easily. THUNDA STRUCK finished in second after setting the speed and racing keenly over the middle stages. MAJESTIC MONARCH was last of the trio throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.2 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 10m, 6m
Trial 5: – ALOT LIKE JEANNIE settled three back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 300m and produced a good performance to win in handy time. She appears to be a good chance at Cranbourne on Sunday night. THUNDERFIRE finished in second and it was a tidy performance at his first public hit-out since April. He settled four back on the markers and ran home strongly late, seemingly with something in reserve. CROCODILE SOCKS was the third horse across the line after trailing the leader and using the sprint lane. MY ULTIMATE BILLY NZ settled five back on the markers and worked into a distant fourth. He will have a busy week considering he is engaged to race at both Melton tonight and Shepparton on Tuesday.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.4 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 1m, 7m
BLACKBOOKER: – Thunderfire
Trial 6: – BAY OF FIRES struck trouble at the start and settled five back on the markers. He wanted to race fiercely and came to the outside at the 1100m before grinding out a very strong victory. He backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night with a debut victory in fast time. DEMBE was four back on the markers, circled around the tiring HERNIE to be three back at the 1100m, moved into the one out and one back trail behind BAY OF FIRES in the back straight and battled on well for a close second. PARINI led out then took cover and found the lead again at the 1400m. He was comfortably run down at the end but managed to hold down third. OUTPOST raced without cover early, found the front then took cover at the 1400m and battled into fourth position. He backed up with a fourth on debut and will be racing at Shepparton again on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.6 Last Half: Unavailable Margins: – Head, 15m
BACCHUS MARSH 25/07/26
Trial 2: – JUSTLIKEDAVE has been unplaced at his past four race track appearances but he produced a sound effort at the trials with a victory in a slick mile of 1.58.1 including a very quick last half of 56.3 seconds. He won the trial by a head margin over TOPSIES BLING, which has returned from New South Wales and has performed well in three trials. The pair dashed well clear of the others headed by BRONSKI ROYAL. The winner JUSTLIKEDAVE will be competing at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.1 Last Half: – 56.3 Margins: – Head, 15m
Trial 3: – JAYS ALL THAT hasn’t raced since a win at Bendigo in May. He was successful in his trial over FLOATING MOUNTAIN, which hasn’t been to the races since April but competed well during his last preparation. Both JAYS ALL THAT and FLOATING MOUTAIN are racing at Melton this evening. AHUNDREDPLUS finished a further five lengths away in third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.0 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – ½ head, 15m
Trial 6: – MATRIARCH DAISY has been freshened since a second at Melton in mid-June. She was placed in all of her five starts during her last preparation including a victory in a mile rate of 1.56.8 so she is a talented filly and was able to win her trial comfortably. She should prove hard to beat at Shepparton on Tuesday night. WEONA OUR RIGHTS was a winner at Cranbourne during her last preparation and hasn’t started since March but is returning at Melton this evening. She finished in second with TOPSIE BEWARE, which was given a spell after winning on debut earlier in the season, being the third horse across the line. She should be getting fitter after two recent trial performances and should continue to improve with experience. ILLUMINATE ME was last of the four runners to complete the course.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.0 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – 2m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: – Matriarch Daisy
MARYBOROUGH 26/07/26
Trial 1: – DANCE DANCE DANCE settled three back on the markers, moved off the pegs at the 700m and progressed forward. He sustained the run and was able to win clearly. He is by Dancinginthedark M out of Aldebaran Bridget and is the first live foal out of the mare. BROTHER THOMAS settled four back on the markers, came away from the inside at the 400m and battled on okay for second. STATELY STAR finished in third after setting the speed and SERIOUSLY SAL was fourth after sitting in the trail throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.3 Last Half: – 60.1 Margins: – 12m, 2m
Trial 3: – KELROSE CULLEN trailed the leader and came to the outside on the home turn. He picked up nicely in the straight and was able to claim victory on the line. He is by Soho Tribeca out of Guptas Cullen NZ (1.56.7, $110,935) and is the second foal out of the mare. ELLAMARINA finished in second after attempting to lead throughout. PHILS BOY was three back on the markers and finished in third while LIBERTYS LEGACY was last of the quartet for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 56.7 Margins: – Head, 15m
Trial 4: – SEBASTIANS BOY began quickly and was able to slide to the lead shortly after the start. He completely dominated his rivals and scored by a large margin. AMOUR MATERNAL trailed the leader throughout, lost ground in the home straight but beat her other two rivals by a very large margin. MUNRO KAI settled last of the four runners and was able to roll into third when FAR AS POSSIBLE galloped ahead of him at the 800m mark. FAR AS POSSIBLE was the last horse across the line but is backing up at Maryborough on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.8 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 15m, 70m
Trial 5: – CELESTIAL NEBULAE began quickly to find the lead and set up a reasonable tempo. He kicked on well when challenged in the home straight and held on to score by a narrow margin. He is resuming from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night. FARROH JOE trailed the leader, moved off the markers at the 500m and chased hard in the straight. He just failed in his bid to run down CELESTIAL NEBULAE and had to be content with second place. ALLTHEWAYTOROYALTY settled three back on the markers and finished a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 56.6 Margins: – Nose, 15m
ECHUCA 26/07/26
Trial 1: – PRO HIBITION trailed the leader and used the sprint lane. He finished off well to win the trial by a comfortable margin. MONTANA MUSCLE began well and progressed forward to find the lead. She set up a slow tempo and was run down over the latter stages. She is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. MOONSHINE LOUIE settled three back on the markers and finished third ahead of MORNING DOVE, which moved up without cover from five back on the markers at the 1300m. MORNING DOVE is resuming from a break at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.8.5 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 1.5m, 1.5m
Trial 2: – SASSY GABBY produced a good performance to win the second event. She settled last of the seven runners, moved off the markers at the 700m, gained a trail in the back straight (1-2) and finished hard out wide on the track to win easily. She is resuming from a break at Shepparton on Tuesday night. COMMUNITY ART settled five back on the markers and finished off strongly for a game second. AXIS ANGEL trailed the leader, came to the outside in the back straight and hit the front at the 600m. She tried hard for third and IM ALRIGHT JACK finished off well from four back on the markers to run a close up fourth. The third placed AXIS ANGEL is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.6 Last Half: – 60.7 Margins: – 3m, 1/2head
BLACKBOOKER: – Sassy Gabby
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 28/07/26
Trial 1: – ATA RANGI continued his very good trial form with a stylish victory in a mile rate of 1.56.3. He settled last of the six runners, moved into the death seat at the 800m before gaining the one out and one back trail half way down the back straight. He sprinted quickly at the end in a sizzling final quarter of 27.1 seconds to claim victory. He returns from a break at Melton tomorrow night and is taking on a strong field. ROMEO settled three back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 600m and hit the front on the turn before being run down on the post. He is a very good chance at Cranbourne on Sunday night. IMA TERMINATOR led out then took cover and was held up for a run at a vital stage before working home well through the middle for third. PLAINS IN HEAVEN pushed forward to find the lead shortly after the start and was run down over the latter stages. Both IMA TERMINATOR and PLAINS IN HEAVEN are competing at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.3 Last Half: – 56.1 Margins: – ½ Head, 1.75m
Trial 3: – SEBASTIANS WAITING was heavily supported but lost his chance after galloping away at his latest race track performance. He led out then took cover before angling wide with 150m remaining and sprinting sharply at the end to claim victory. He is racing at Cranbourne on Sunday night. PERFIDIOUS SUE settled three back on the markers, moved away from the inside at the 300m and hit the front on the turn before being run down late. She is returning from a spell at Cranbourne tomorrow night. HARPERSEVEN attempted to lead throughout and was last of the trio at the end.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.6 Last Half: – 59.9 Margins: – 1m, 8m
Trial 4: – MILEY KAY settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the quarter pole and finished off best to win clearly. She is by Downbytheseaside out of Alice Kay (1.54.1, $168,825) and is the first foal. ZAV DAN attempted to lead throughout and was run down at the end. MISS CULLEN settled four back on the markers and worked into a distant third. SWEETSUGARCANDYMAN was without cover on the first turn, broke stride and settled down a clear last of the seven runners before making up a lot of ground over the latter stages to finish in fourth position.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 58.9 Margins: – 3.75m, 7m
BLACKBOOKER: – Sweetsugarcandyman
Trial 6: – BREAK MY ART hasn’t raced since a tenth at Ballarat in February but she recorded a runaway success in the final trial, scoring by over 25m in reasonable time. GIVE FRED A CLAP has had two starts since January and should be building on his fitness. He finished a distant second and was just ahead of GUARANTEED TROUBLE. It was a blanket finish for the minor issue with only a neck separating second through to fifth with GIDGETT KAY and BROADWAY OBSESSION being fourth and fifth respectively. The second placed GIVE FRED A CLAP will be competing at Melton on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.5 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 27m, Head
TERANG 28/07/26
Trial 1: – MISS MUSCLE is a promising juvenile trotting filly, which won impressively at Melton last weekend and was able to keep the momentum rolling with a trial success. She is backing up at Melton on Saturday night. CAITHNESS LADY finished in fourth at her latest race track performance and was able to manage second in her trial effort ahead of MATTYO and DESERT ASSASSIN was last of the quartet across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.5 Last Half: – 60.7 Margins: – 2m, 25m
Trial 2: – BOULEVARD BART has returned from a Queensland campaign and was very sharp in his trial success having run his last quarter in a sizzling 26.5 seconds. He won at Albion Park in a mile rate of 1.54.7 at his last Queensland attempt before returning to Victoria. LE CARDINAL has been in outstanding form this preparation and is a last start Melton victor. He finished in second position and was well clear of GOODTIME CAPTAIN with YANKEE MOJOH being a distant fourth across the line. GOODTIME CAPTAIN is awkwardly drawn in his effort at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.9 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 3m, 12m
Trial 4: – The Nutrien Classic winner SMACK BANG BART has returned from Queensland, where he had no luck in the Protostar. He dominated his rivals in the final trial, winning by 20m in good time. KEAYANG MARICRUZ is an unraced 3yo filly and finished in second position ahead of JILLIBY ECLIPSE, which was stood down to trial after a debut fifth at Terang in February. BANGBANG BOBBIE is an unraced 3yo colt by Ultimate Sniper for trainer Matthew Craven and was the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.5 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – 20m, 1.5m
