Harness Racing form guru Craig Rail has compiled his weekly in-depth report from the state’s trials circuit.
SHEPPARTON 20/08/26
Trial 1: – THEROCKGOD began quickly to find the lead and backed off the tempo mid-race. He dashed home in a sizzling final quarter of 26.8 seconds, seemingly with something in reserve to win well. IM BUTTER BLUE settled three back on the markers and moved to the outside at the 600m mark. He battled on well for second and is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. ROM BARO trailed the leader and used the sprint lane to finish in third position. He backed up with a game fourth in a heat of the Super Series at Kilmore on Thursday night. OUR SPECIAL MEMORY settled fourth back on the markers and moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m mark. He finished in fourth with NEW YORKER being the last one across the line after being out of position at the start and following the field around under a hard hold throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.4 Last Half: – 56.2 Margins: – 2m, 1m
Trial 2: – INDULGEME began quickly to find the lead and was always in control of the trial. He finished off in a quick final quarter of 27.8 seconds and went to the line with plenty in reserve. He is related to the two winners My Ultimate Barney (1.51.4, $196,077) and Towering Fortune (1.55.6, undefeated in 2 starts) and is worth following. He makes his debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. ELIZAJANE settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 300m and chased hard for second. She is also racing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. CRACKIN PHILTRA settled three back on the markers and was the first to make a move. He battled on okay for third with MY MATE ACE coming from last of the five runners to fill fourth position.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.0 Last Half: – 56.8 Margins: – 10m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Indulgeme
Trial 4: – WHITEHAVEN BOY began quickly to race without cover, pushed forward to find the lead and set up a slow tempo thereafter. He was able to hold his rivals at bay to win well. He makes his debut at Melton this evening. CORBIE LAIDIR began fast and was able to lead early. He was stirred up when attempting to take cover and was eventually able to restrain into the position behind WHITEHAVEN BOY. He chased hard in the straight but raced greenly so his effort for second was sound. MUDDY settled last of the four runners, came to the outside at the 500m mark and finished in third. FIND A WAY settled three back on the markers and was the last horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.7 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 2m, 15m
Trial 5: – FULLY RECKLESS NZ continued his impressive form with a classy victory. He settled three back on the markers, trailed the leader from the 1200m and shot along the sprint lane to win easily. He is competing in a heat of the Super Series at Melton this evening. CRIPPA trailed the leader early, was left in front from the 1200m and was run down over the final stages. He is also in a heat of the Super Series tonight. GOCCIADORO settled four back on the markers early then was three back from the 1200m and finished off reasonably well via the sprint lane for third. ARTIES COURAGE settled at the tail of the main division and finished in fourth. SIXANDOUT showed good gate speed to lead but appeared to jump an object at the 1300m mark and broke stride. He remained detached from the group thereafter.
Mile Rate: 1.58.8 Last Half: – 56.3 Margins: – 3m, 1m
BACCHUS MARSH 22/08/26
Trial 1: – KHANS CREED has been unplaced in both of his runs since resuming but his trial form has been okay. He was able to win the opening trial and dashed home in a slick final quarter of 28.5 seconds in the process. He raced very fiercely and had excuses when he backed up at Ballarat on Wednesday night. ARDEN SEASCAPE NZ is a former New Zealand trained filly, which has been placed in all of her three trial performances since crossing the Tasman. She finished a close up second with BRINGSUSJOY being in third on her way to competing at Melton on Saturday night and JUST PEDRO was last of the quartet across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.6 Last Half: – 58.0 Margins: – 1m, 6m
Trial 3: – CLAUDYS HERO has been freshened since a second at Melton in a slick mile rate of 1.56.4 back in June. He was able to hold on and win his trial by a narrow margin over the former Breeders Crown winner PROHIBITED GRACE. Both horses will be competing at Melton this evening. CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY hasn’t raced since February but has been performing nicely at the trials with a win at Maryborough and a third placed effort in his trial on Saturday. THAT’S DUDLEY and a AHUNDREDPLUS finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.3 Last Half: – 58.9 Margins: – ½ head, 2m
Trial 5: – ARZALI ROCKSTAR was a winner at Ballarat on July 09 and has been unplaced in two runs since. She has won two trials at Bacchus Marsh recently and she finished off in a handy final half of 58.9 seconds to win Saturday’s event by a large margin. She then backed up in a heat of the Super Series at Kilmore on Thursday night and finished eighth after enduring a tough run. WEONA OUR RIGHTS has been runner up in two recent race track appearances and kept the momentum rolling with another second placed effort. He finished unplaced in a heat of the Super Series at Kilmore on Thursday night. OUR PINUP GIRL hasn’t raced since April and finished in third position. MEGALODON and FEARLESS SNIPER finished in fourth and fifth respectively.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.0 Last Half: – 58.9 Margins: – 15m, 10m
ARARAT 23/08/26
Trial 1: – MAJOR ROY produced a dominant display to win the opening trial. He scored by a large margin and was able dash home in a final quarter of 28.8 seconds so he produced a good performance. He hasn’t raced since a Charlton victory in a mile of 1.56.3 back in March. NAMELLA was the second horse pass the post. He finished fifth in the Pat Bellman Memorial at his latest effort back in April. ULTIMATE DELITE was the third horse across the line and finished well clear of MY LITTLE TROJAN at the finish.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 9m, 3m
Trial 2: – OFF YOUR FACESKI broke stride at the start and lost his chance at Melton on August 15. He was the class runner of the trial and won by a large margin. He galloped at the start again at Ballarat on Wednesday night and will be racing again at Terang on Sunday. KACOON is an unraced juvenile filly for trainer Rebecca Morissey. She is by Pastor Stephen out of Butterfly Noon and is the second foal. The second dam Chase A Dream won seven races and only produced two foals. BILLYSOPHIA finished a distant third and was well ahead of GULBAHAR.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 75m, 16m
MARYBOROUGH 24/08/26
Trial 1: – DARETODANCE won on debut at Ballarat then travelled up to Queensland for a long stint with trainer Trent Dawson. He won at Redcliffe in September and has returned to trainer Gerrard Jamieson. He has now had three trials and was able to win at his third trial attempt. He dashed home in a final quarter of 27.5 seconds to defeat MYDEEPESTDESIRE, an unraced mare by American Ideal for trainer Justin Lane. THE SPARKLER was given his final hit-out prior to the Super Series heats at Kilmore on Thursday and was the third horse across the line. He finished eighth in his Super Series heat performance. ULTIMATE GRANGE and RYTA were the last two horses to greet the judge.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.7 Last Half: – 57.2 Margins: – Unavailable
Trial 2: – ARTIGAS won three races in succession back in May/June and has been freshened since his latest fifth at Melton. He was able to score over SKYE DIVA, which is an unraced gelding by Skyvalley for trainer Ross Graham. MISTER FUNDADA finished in third at his second trial attempt and HEZA DO GOODA was last of the four runners across the line. The winner ARTIGAS will be racing at Melton on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.6 Last Half: – 63.2 Margins: – Unavailable
TERANG 25/08/26
Trial 1: – KEAYANG LAVITA hasn’t raced since breaking stride and being stood down to trial back in February. She has had four trials recently and was successful in the opening event, which was a standing start race for the trotters. KEAYANG TWEETYBIRD was also stood down to trial at her latest attempt and she was able to run second, being beaten just over a length. Both the winner and the runner up are scheduled to race at Terang on Sunday night. MAORIS AVENGER finished a distant last of the three runners.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.8 Last Half: – 59.4 Margins: – 5m, 25m
Trial 2: – SWEETHEART BART won the Riverina Championship back in April and his latest performance was a third at Redcliffe on July 18. He is a quality horse and was able to take out the trial from the classy trotter HOPPY NZ, which has been racing in good form. RUBYS DREAM has recently joined the Margaret and Paddy Lee training combination and finished a close up third ahead of JILLIBY DREAMLOVER which has returned from her successful Queensland campaign, where she was successful in the Great Square and the 3+4yo Feature before being unplaced in the Inter Dominion Grand Final. JILLIBY AURA and NO MONEY NO HONEY finished fifth and sixth respectively in a strong trial.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.1 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – 2m, 2m
Trial 3: – TACTICALLY PERFECT NZ has only had three starts for two wins and a second. He followed a trial fourth on August 11 with a victory over ROADMASTER. ROADMASTER hasn’t raced since a victory (second past the post) at Melton in a sizzling mile rate of 1.52.1 and he wasn’t beaten by far in his trial performance. MCBART won at Terang when on debut then travelled to New South Wales, where he won two races at Menangle from six attempts. He wasn’t beaten by far in the trial with his third placing. HAPPILY and WATTLEBANK ARNIE NZ were the last two horses to greet the judge. Each of the first three place getters should perform well at Terang on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.1 Last Half: – 56.8 Margins: – Neck, 1.75m
BLACKBOOKER: – Tactically Perfect NZ
Trial 4: – KEAYANG BAZLENKA won the Breeders Crown and the Super Series last season and hasn’t started since a sixth in the New South Wales Derby back in May. He is a quality 3yo trotter and was able to win the trial by a comfortable margin over MUSCLE VALLEY, which hasn’t raced since finishing unplaced in the Port Pirie Cup back in April. DISPERSION is a juvenile colt that was having his first trial. He is by Bling It On out of Jilliby Tameka, whose first foal Shifu (2.0.3) has won two races to date. BUMPER CROP was the fourth horse across the line and MY MOTHER SAID was the fifth horse to complete the course. MY MOTHER SAID will be competing at Terang on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 3m, 2m
Trial 5: – MUFASA BART finished a close up second at Wagga in his latest race track appearance. He finished off in a slick final quarter of 27.8 seconds to win the trial from JILLIBY STRANGER, which has now been runner up in two recent trial performances. MY ATLANTIS hasn’t raced since February and finished in a distant third with the unraced filly KEAYANG MARICRUZ being the fourth horse across the line. All of those four horses used the trial as a stepping stone for the Terang meeting on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.0 Last Half: – 57.4 Margins: – 1m, 10m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 25/08/26
Trial 2: – HELLO POSSUMS was three wide early and restrained onto the markers to be three back on the inside. He moved up without cover at the 500m mark and sustained a strong run to win in handy time. He is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. ROCKAMARA trailed the leader and was inconvenienced before the home turn. He switched into the sprint lane and finished off fast for a game second. BRIDWOOD MASEY settled four back on the markers, angled wide in the home straight and finished off quickly for third. The early leader DENNY ROCKS was the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.4 Last Half: – 57.4 Margins: – 1.5m, Neck
Trial 4: – MY MARIONETTE was without cover early before progressing forward to find the lead. She set up a reasonable tempo then dashed home in a sizzling final quarter of 27.2 seconds to win nicely. KING BALDWIN was three back on the markers, came to the outside on the home turn and finished off swiftly in slick final sectionals to run second. GIDGETT KAY led out then took cover and finished in third position. DEEBRAXTON was last of the four runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.5 Last Half: – 57.4 Margins: – 6.25m, 2.25m
Trial 5: – NAKEDTRUTH came out very quickly and led shortly after the start. She set up a genuine tempo and held off her rivals in the run to the judge. GATESYS GEM settled four back on the markers, came to the outside at the 600m mark and sustained a good run to finish in second position. ALDEBARAN ACRUX USA settled three back on the markers and held her own over the latter stages to fill third spot. CHARLESTON AVENUE finished last of the quartet after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.9 Last Half: – 56.6 Margins: – Head, 5m
Trial 6: – STRAATHDALE produced a brilliant performance in taking out the sixth event and is worth following. He began brilliantly to find the lead and dashed home in a sensational last quarter of 26.4 seconds to win by a large margin. He makes his debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. WAZZANT ME held down second after trailing the leader throughout. TWIGSTAR settled last of the five runners, came to the outside at the 700m mark and did very well to finish in third placing.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.8 Last Half: – 55.6 Margins: – 15m, 1.25m
BLACKBOOKER: – Straathdale
Trial 7: – LOVE THAT BIRD settled three back on the markers and accelerated nicely via the sprint lane to win in a blanket finish. ROYAL LADY NZ began quickly to find the lead shortly after the start and kicked on well to go down by a narrow margin. ROCKINWITHSASS was five back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m mark and worked into a close up third. WHERDASUNDONTSHINE led out then took cover and wasn’t beaten by far in fourth. ZIPPIN PAST settled last of the six runners, moved into the running lane at the 600m mark (1-2) and was very wide on the home turn. She picked up ground in the straight and was beaten by about a length. QUEEN OFTHE SUMMIT was four back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 600m and finished last of the six runners but wasn’t beaten by far.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.9 Last Half: – 60.5 Margins: – 1.25m, neck
Trial 8: – SEATHESTARS is a classy 4yo pacer and produced a dazzling display to beat a handy field. He showed good gate speed to lead, backed off the tempo in the second quarter and reeled off sizzling final sectionals (27.7, 27.3) to win by a large margin. BIG SLEDGE HAMMER raced without cover early, angled in behind the leader at the 1300m and battled on fairly well over the latter stages to fill second placing. He is competing at Melton tomorrow night. NEW SHUFFLE settled last of the six runners, moved into the one out and one back trail at the seven hundred metres mark and worked into third position. MAJOR DRAMA trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and finished in fourth spot.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.6 Last Half: – 55.0 Margins: – 20m, 10m
BLACKBOOKER: – Seathestars
