Harness Racing form guru Craig Rail noticed several standout performers at the recent trials.
BACCHUS MARSH 29/08/26
Trial 1: – THE WOOL BROKER is a smart juvenile trotter, which has been runner up at his two starts to date. He was able to win the opening trial by a large margin and backs up in a heat of the Super Series at Melton this evening. NORTHERN SKYE is a 2yo filly by Zenith Stride USA out of the Group 1 winning mare Skye Rocket. She has had three trials for two seconds and a fourth. She finished a distant second but beat the remainder of the field by a large margin. She is also competing at Melton this evening. The Tyrone Abela trained pair TINKERTON and RIVERDALE PIXIE were third and fourth across the line respectively.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.3 Last Half: 61.4 Margins: – 15m, 25m
Trial 3: – OUR PINUP GIRL has had two trials recently and was able to score in her Bacchus Marsh attempt by a comfortable margin. She is resuming from a spell at Cranbourne on Sunday. A ROCKN NIGHTMARE was able to break through for his Maiden success at Shepparton in late July. He was kept ticking over with a trial second and finished ahead of the New Zealand bred pacer CAPTAIN HANK NZ, which has had six trial attempts. FEARLESS SNIPER and STORM VENDETTA finished fourth and fifth respectively with STORM VENDETTA backing up at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.2 Last Half: – 59.4 Margins: – 4m, head
Trial 5: – KISS AT MIDNIGHT has broken stride at her past three race track appearances but was able to gain some confidence with a trial success. She won by over a length from NOBLE COUNT NZ, which was stood down for nine days at his latest performance on July 09 but has already won four races for the season. He is competing at Cranbourne on Sunday night. CHINSKI NZ is a stable mate of NOBLE COUNT NZ and finished just behind him at the end in third position. He is backing up at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. ASPEN BELLE finished some distance away and was last of the quartet to greet the judge. She backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night and finished sixth behind Scar.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.2 Last Half: – 61.0 Margins: – 5m, head
Trial 7: – SONOFPLATINUM is a juvenile gelding by Raging Bull out of Platinum Power (1.53.9, $106,993), whose first foal Platinums Boy (1.57.5, $20,400) has won three races. He won the trial over CALIFORNIA COOL, which has had five trial performances to date. He is by Poster Boy and is being prepared by Tim McGuigan. He makes his debut at Maryborough on Monday. STORM NIEN finished in third position and KELCH failed to complete the course
Mile Rate: – 2.4.5 Last Half: – 58.1 Margins: – 2m, 5m
Trial 8: – PLATINUM JIVE NZ hasn’t raced since being unplaced at Melton in April. He won at his previous two attempts and returned from a break with an easy trial success. EL BOSTON was stood down to trial after galloping at his latest Melton seventh. He was able to re-qualify and will be backing up at Cranbourne on Sunday night. He finished in second position and KHANS CREED was last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.3 Last Half: – 58.1 Margins: – 8m, 2m
MARYBOROUGH 30/08/26
Trial 1: – RYTA began very quickly to find the lead shortly after the start. He ran along at an even tempo and proved to be too strong at the finish. VALLA CHEVAL raced without cover in the early stages and eased in to trail the leader on the first turn. He held his ground over the latter stages and was the second horse across the line. TOOGOOD settled five back on the markers, raced roughly at the 800m mark but recovered to run into a distant third. MUTTABURRA MISS finished fourth after being four back on the markers throughout and ULTIMATE DELITE (trailed leader) was last of the five runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.1 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: – 5m, 10m
Trial 4: – ITZ CLASSIC GOLD settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m mark and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He only scored by a narrow margin but appeared to have something in reserve and is quite a smart trotter when he is able to put it altogether. He is competing in a heat of the Super Series at Melton this evening. HENRYS HORSE finished in second after trailing the leader early and working to the front at the 1200m. VIXAN led early but switched into a pace with 1200m remaining and hung off the track. She raced without cover thereafter and battled on fairly well for third. She is competing at Melton this evening. DONNYOSKO trailed the leader early, then was three back on the markers and returned to being behind the leader when VIXAN made an error. He was the fourth horse to complete the course.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – ½ head, 15m
Trial 5: – IM THE REASON began quickly from a wide draw and was able to slide to the lead shortly after the start. He ran along at even tempo and was never in any danger of defeat. SKADI trailed the leader, came away from the inside at the 500m mark and held his own in the run to the finish. He is backing up at Swan Hill on Tuesday night. HILLCROFT HUSTLER finished in third after settling four back on the markers, moving off the pegs at the half mile marker and being three horses wide from the 500m. ARTFUL ARCHIE settled last of the five runners and worked into a close up fourth at the end.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.0 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – 5m, 1m
ECHUCA 30/08/26
Trial 1: – JACCKA EVAN NZ is a former Southland pacer, which has joined trainer Julie Douglas. He began quickly and worked to the front on the first turn then was completely dominant after that moment. He appeared to be very strong at the finish and scored by a comfortable margin in fast time so he is worth following. He makes his Australian debut at Wagga this afternoon. CEE CEE LOU trailed the leader throughout and finished in second position. He is also competing at Wagga today. WHERES WOOD WOOD clearly had the lowest National Rating of the three runners and was the last horse for the duration of the trial. She is scheduled to race at Swan Hill on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.8 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 6m, 20m
BLACKBOOKER: – Jaccka Evan NZ
Trial 3: – I SEE IRIS settled last of the four runners, was checked at the 1300m but was able to sustain a strong run in the last lap to win the trial nicely. WHENIGROWUP led out then took cover at the 1200m, and moved away from the inside at the quarter pole. He moved out wider on the turn and battled on well for second. ZEE HOUTEN trailed the leader early then contacted the sulky of WHENIGROWUP and almost fell. He quickly regathered momentum then shot around to find the front. He was run down at the end and was third past the post. ELIZABETH ANN settled three back on the markers, was inconvenienced when the trouble occurred at the 1200m but didn’t lose much ground and was last of the quartet to greet the judge.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.3 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 3m, 10m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 01/09/26
Trial 1: – The Group 1 winning trotter ROCKINWITHATTITUDE scored in a field of two runners from the standing start. She jumped away nicely from behind the tape to lead, set up a moderate tempo and won in the sprint up the straight. The former New Zealand pacer ARDEN SEASCAPE NZ trailed the leader, moved to the outside on the final corner and almost drew level in the home straight. Both horses went to the line with plenty in reserve in a trial that was just like track work.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.5 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – Nose
Trial 2: – The outstanding 3yo trotting colt KYVALLEY RAY NZ was able to win his trial comfortably after leading throughout. IRON WOMEN settled last of the four runners, was three back on the markers in the back straight on the final occasion and tried hard over the latter stages. CALABASAS began quickly to trail the leader and finished a distant third. COCONUT MICKEY settled three back on the markers and was battling from the 500m mark.
Mile Rate: 2.0.7 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – 6.5m, 22m
Trial 3: – VIVID DREAM NZ has been transferred to trainer Dean Braun since his latest performance and was able to win his trial first up for the new stable. He settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m and sprinted sharply in a slick last quarter of 27.5 seconds. BROADWAY OBSESSION led out then took cover at the 1700m and waited for the sprint lane. He finished off boldly and missed out by a narrow margin. WAZZANT ME began sharply and was able to find the lead shortly after the start. He ran along at a reasonable tempo and missed out by a narrow margin. SIR KITT settled three back on the inside and finished off fairly well for fourth.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.0 Last Half: – 57.5 Margins: – Neck, 1.5m
Trial 4: – KISS AT MIDNIGHT began quickly to find the lead, took cover shortly afterwards and came to the outside on the home turn. She finished off best to win over KIMBERLEYS TREE, which pushed forward to find the lead shortly after the start. BRIGITTE settled four back on the markers, came to the outside at the 500m mark and worked into a distant third. NATHANS DREAMER followed BRIGITTE throughout the entire trial and ended up being in a distant fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.6 Last Half: – 60.4 Margins: – 1.5m, 10.5m
Trial 5: – ISOLATION settled down last of the five runners, came to the outside at the 1500m and sprinted quickly to surge to the front at the 1400m. He was able to finish off in slick final sectionals to win easily and seemingly with something in reserve. BEARHUNTA was four back on the markers early then five back from the 1400m. He moved up without cover in the back straight on the final occasion, angled in behind the leader approaching the home turn and didn’t peel to the outside at any stage in the home straight. LET’S GO LORNA began quickly to lead, took cover at the 1700m and was shuffled to three back on the markers at the 1400m. She battled on fairly well for a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.8 Last Half: – 56.5 Margins: – 5.25m, 11.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Bearhunta
Trial 6: – NEW SHUFFLE dropped back to be last of the four runners, came to the outside at the quarter pole and ran home strongly for a big victory. BLAKE BOLAC led out then took cover and held his ground over the latter stages for second place. GOOD TOBE LOCKSLEY pushed forward to find the lead shortly after the start, set up a very genuine tempo and was run down at the end. PLAINS IN HEAVEN settled three back on the markers and was last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.1 Last Half: – 56.8 Margins: – 3.5m, Long Neck
BLACKBOOKER: – New Shuffle
