Harness Racing form guru Craig Rail noticed several standout performers at the recent trials.
SHEPPARTON 03/09/26
Trial 1: – SEA FURY NZ began quickly from the outside of the front line and was able to work to the front at the 1800m mark. He ran along at a genuine tempo and was able to score nicely by a comfortable margin. He is competing at Geelong this evening. SOHO PLAYGIRL settled four back on the markers, moved to the death seat at the 500m and battled on fairly well for second. She is resuming from a break at Shepparton on Tuesday night. OUR SPECIAL MEMORY led out then took cover at the 1800m. He never peeled off the back of the leader in the home straight and appeared to have something left at the finish. He is competing at Wagga this afternoon. TOTALLY STUNNING was three back on the markers throughout and finished in fourth with RONNIE THE HAMMER being in last for the duration. TOTALLY STUNNING is schedule to compete at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.1 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 5m, 1m
Trial 2: – LITTLE MISS MORGAN raced without cover early, angled onto the markers to be four back and made her move at the 700m mark. She drew clear at the end and scored with something in hand. She backed up with a third in a heat of the Super Series at Melton on Wednesday night. THECANDYBARHEIRESS settled three back on the markers, moved away from the inside at the 300m and made good ground at the end. BODYBUILDER finished in third after trailing the leader throughout. FRANKS ALOT was five back on the markers for the majority of the journey and made late ground for fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.8 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 10m, 5m
Trial 3: – DELIZIOSO began quickly and angled in behind the leader on the first turn. He came to the outside at the 300m mark and finished off best to win in reasonable time. CORBIE LAIDIR was four back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 500m and finished off solidly for second. She is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. COASTAL ELEGANCE is also engaged at Shepparton on Tuesday and showed brilliant gate speed to lead clearly and set up a handy tempo throughout. He was run down over the latter stages but finished well clear of the fourth placed ARTIES COURAGE (5 back markers).
Mile Rate: – 1.59.6 Last Half: – 57.5 Margins: – 4m, 5m
Trial 4: – MELICAN settled three back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 700m and ran home well through the middle to gain the prize. FEFEIFOFUM began quickly from a wide draw to trail the leader, moved into the death seat at the 700m and hit the lead on the turn. She shifted out under pressure in the straight and was run down at the end. SIXANDOUT began fast to find the lead and ran along at even tempo. He was run down at the finish and was a distant third across the line. IM A ROCKSTAR settled five back on the markers and worked into fourth position.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.6 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – 2m, 20m
KILMORE 03/09/26
Trial 1: – KYVALLEY JETSTREAM NZ began quickly to race without cover early, angled in to trail the speed and moved to the outside on the home turn. He ran home best to win the prize. GLORIFIED was out of position at the start and was a clear last of the five runners early. He angled wide on the home turn and finished off quickly for an eye-catching second. MYHEARTBEATSTRUE settled three back on the markers, moved to the death seat at the 600m and battled on fairly for third position. SABIHALIL (4 back pegs) finished in fourth on her way to Cranbourne on Sunday night and the early leader CHRISTMAS BABE NZ was last of the five runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.9 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – 8m, 4m
Trial 2: – WICKED CONFESSION began quickly and worked forward to find the lead at the 1800m mark. She then took cover behind SHES ALLABOUTLUV NZ with 1500m remaining and commenced her winning move on the home turn. She finished off in a slick last quarter of 27.9 seconds to win nicely. SHES ALLABOUTLUV NZ has been racing well in Tasmania and did nicely for second after working hard to lead early. BOYSTROUS was four back on the markers for the majority of the trial and moved away from the inside at the quarter pole. He worked home quite well for third and will prove hard to beat at Wagga this afternoon. MCMAYHEM settled last of the five runners and made ground late. SUNSTAR led out, took cover and ended up being three back on the markers from the 1500m. He was the last horse across the line. WICKED CONFESSION ran a brave second in a heat of the Super Series at Kilmore on Thursday night. SHES ALLABOUTLUV NZ finished unplaced behind Let Her Roll in a heat of the Super Series on Thursday night. MCMAYHEM was eighth in his heat of the Super Series at Kilmore.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.4 Last Half: – 56.9 Margins: – 3m, 3m
Trial 3: – ANAKIN was caught without cover and restrained to be last of the five runners in the early stages. He then moved into the breeze again mid-race and sustained a long run to get up and win the trial. EVIE KATE settled three back on the markers, angled wide in the straight and ran home strongly late without being extended. It was a very good effort at her first trial performance. ROCKIN CHARMER finished a close up third after attempting to lead throughout. The first three runners got well clear of BLOOMING (4 back markers) and MOTHER MARIA was the last one across the line after trailing the leader and galloping twice in the final circuit.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.8 Last Half: – 60.3 Margins: – ½ Head, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Evie Kate
Trial 4: – AMERICAN SUCCESS raced without cover early before working to the front on the first turn. He enjoyed a nice run through the middle stages and had a good kick left in the run to the finish to win comfortably. He is racing at Wagga this afternoon. MUDDY was out of position at the start, settled three back on the markers and waited for the sprint lane. He finished off strongly for a game second and is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. KALEB led out then took cover and battled on fairly for a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.6 Last Half: – 57.5 Margins: – 5m, 15m
MILDURA 04/09/26
Trial 1: – LE SPARTACUS began quickly from a wide draw and worked to the front around the first turn. He backed off the tempo mid-race and held on to win by a narrow margin. He was never fully extended at any stage of the event. MIDNIGHT PIRATE led out then took cover and came to the outside on the home turn. He made a lunge on the line and missed out by a narrow margin. RIO ROCK settled three back on the markers and battled on fairly well for third. She is resuming from a spell at Mildura this afternoon. EVA EXPRESS was last of the four runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.6 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – Nose, 7.75m
Trial 2: – AUCKLAND LASS began quickly and found the front shortly after the start. She set up a very slow tempo and won comfortably at the end. BRIEISBETTER trailed the leader and battled into a distant second. The first two horses across the line are backing up at Mildura this afternoon. TAMALIA was three back on the markers and was the third horse across the line. Both LAMBRO BUOY and OUR MAJESTIC MIA made errors in the run and were not able to recover.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.7 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – Unavailable.
KYABRAM 06/09/26
Trial 1: – ELIZABETH ANN is an unraced 4yo mare by the New Zealand bred sire Foreclosure (NZ) out of Waratah Grey (2.4.5) and is related to the race winner Modern Admirer (1.54.6, $36,495). She was having her fourth trial attempt and was able to win in slow time over SUNSHINE MILLIE, which was stood down to trial at her latest race track attempt back in June. She is a daughter of the former top mare Vertigal (1.55.8, $317,380) and has been unplaced in five race track appearances. She has been nominated at Shepparton on Tuesday night. GOODMORNING MIKI finished in third position and YOUR SO RICH was a distant last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.15.0 Last Half: – 64.3 Margins: – Head, 3m
MARYBOROUGH 07/09/26
Trial 2: – YOU’VE BEEN SERVED did a lot wrong in a heat of the Super Series at Kilmore last outing and was stood down to trial. Her form prior was strong and she was able to bounce back into form quickly with a trial success after she settled in the running lane (1-2) and finished well after coming out four horses wide on the home turn. She defeated ULTIMATE GRANGE, which has had four trials for trainer Ross Graham recently and missed out by under a length after gaining a one out and one back trail. ULTIMATE GRANGE is scheduled to make his debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. COOPER CHUBB was also stood down after contesting a heat of the Super Series at his latest attempt and was the third horse across the line after settling three back on the markers. He is competing at Stawell on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.4 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: – 2m, 18m
Trial 3: – FRANCO AMERICANO hasn’t raced since a ninth in the Homegrown Classic at Melton in December. He did win a race from limited opportunities during his juvenile season and started his 3yo campaign promisingly with a comfortable trial success after leading throughout. He defeated STEELY, which is an unraced gelding by Classic Connection out of Bill Dispute (2.2.6, $25,900) and is the first foal out of the mare. STEELY was four back on the markers, moved into the death seat and shifted out under pressure in the home straight, ending up being on the outside fence. SERIOUSLY SAL was stood down to trial after galloping several times in a Super Series heat. She settled three back on the markers and finished in third position ahead of the unraced juvenile filly GULBAHAR (5 back markers), which is by Majestic Son out of Pocket Fantasy (2.5.3, $38,135), the dam of seven winners including Edge Hill (1.55.6, $110,161), My Skypocket (1.59.4, $132,768) and the top trotter Plymouth Chubb (1.56.0, $407,270).
Mile Rate: – 2.8.5 Last Half: – 60.7 Margins: – 3m, 14m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 08/09/26
Trial 1: – LOVEMETO NZ won the standing start trial for the three quality trotters. He began the fastest to find the lead shortly after the start before setting up a slow tempo and dashing home in a slick quarter of 27.8 seconds. He only won by a narrow margin but seemed to have something in reserve. ROCKINWITHATTITUDE trailed the leader throughout, came to the outside at the 500m mark and chased hard. She got close at the end and also seemed to have something to spare at the end. GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW was last of the three trotters throughout but wasn’t beaten by far.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.0 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – Neck, 6m
Trial 2: – BANJO STAR settled five back on the markers, moved to the death seat at the 500m and was out three horses wide at the 300m. He finished off best in a slick quarter of 27.6 seconds and was able to win impressively. DANCE AFFAIR began quickly and ended up being three back on the markers. She left the inside with 300m remaining and tried hard in the straight for second. FUGITIVE NZ began quickly to find the lead from a wide draw. He set up a very genuine tempo and was run down over the latter stages. CLARA ROCKS led out then took cover and battled on fairly for fourth spot.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.5 Last Half: – 56.1 Margins: – 2.75m, 1m
Trial 3: – A SPECIAL OCCASION NZ settled five back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 900m mark and sustained a strong run to win by a large margin. He dashed home in a sizzling final quarter of 26.6 seconds and looked to be very impressive in the run to the finish so he is worth following. BROADWAY OBSESSION began quickly to find the lead and was run down at the end but was able to hold down second by a comfortable margin. AMALFI NZ settled six back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 900m and finished in third. STEEL MIKI finished in fourth after settling three back on the markers around the first turn.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.2 Last Half: – 55.7 Margins: – 9.5m, 6.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – A Special Occasion NZ
Trial 4: – OMNIA settled three back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 600m and sustained a strong run to win nicely. KIMBERLEYS TREE settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and came out three horses wide on the home turn. She tried hard in the straight and finished about a length from the winner. IDEOLOGY led out then took cover and held his ground over the latter stages to finish in third spot. JETZ was the fourth horse across the line after setting up a moderate tempo. He is engaged at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.3 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – 3.5m, 2m
Trial 5: – EZEE FORTITUDE showed very good gate speed from the outside of the front line and zipped to the lead shortly after the start. She got away with a very slow first half of 65.5 seconds and had a good kick left at the end to win the trial. DAYSOFWINEN ROSES settled three back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 600m mark and tried hard in a swift final quarter of 28.1 seconds to finish in second. MY CRYSTAL VISION was four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and finished in third. CRUNCHIE GAMBLER finished in second after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.6 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 2m, 5m
Trial 6: – ALDEBARAN ACRUX USA settled last of the four runners early, moved to third at the 1300m and commenced her winning move from the quarter pole. She finished off solidly to win well. KYVALLEY JETSTREAM NZ finished in second after trailing the leader and waiting for the sprint lane. KYVALLEY RAY NZ began quickly to find the lead and unfortunately broke stride when still a length in front going around the final corner. He finished in third and GLADIATRIX was fourth after settling three back on the markers and continuously losing ground from the mile marker. She wasn’t asked to do much in the trial and will be competing in the Super Series Final tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.8 Last Half: – 58.9 Margins: – 4.25m, 45.25m
Trial 7: – CAPTAIN HANK NZ began quickly to lead early before taking cover. He switched back to the sprint lane and accelerated beautifully to win comfortably. THESTING finished in second after showing good gate speed to lead from a wide draw. BRAVE ART settled last of the five runners, came to the outside at the 600m and finished off stoutly for a nice third.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.1 Last Half: – 59.4 Margins: – 8m, neck
Trial 8: – THE WOOL BROKER began smartly from the pole position and was able to lead comfortably. He got well clear before the home turn and was able to win despite shortening stride in the final 50m. NATHANS DREAMER was three back on the markers early before trailing the leader from the 800m mark. He pegged back the winning margin in the straight and finished a clear second. It was a good effort leading up to his effort at Cranbourne on Sunday night. HEZA DO GOODA trailed the leader early and was battling to keep up a fair way from home and ended up being three back on the markers from the half mile marker. He finished a distant third and KYVALLEY RIDER NZ was trotting roughly in last position for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.6 Last Half: – 62.8 Margins: – 6.5m, 33m
TERANG 08/09/26
Trial 1: – ROADMASTER finished sixth at his first run since December and continued to build on his fitness with a trial success in the opening event. He defeated COLOSSAL HOPE, which recently returned from a reasonably successful New South Wales campaign. The strong open class pacer JILLIBY NITRO finished in third place ahead of BROWNIESATMIDNIGHT. MADRIGAL NZ finished last of the five runners but it was a quality field.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.1 Last Half: – 56.2 Margins: – Neck, 2.5m
Trial 2: – KEAYANG HUSTLER is a beautifully bred colt being by Bold Eagle out of the Group 1 winning mare Kinvara Sue (1.58.2, $163,890) that has produced Kinvara Kate (2.2.1) and the undefeated juvenile trotter Bumper Crop (1.58.7, $54,139), which is the popular elect in the Super Series Final on Saturday night. He was having his first trial and recorded handy time at his easy success so he is worth following. DESCANSO has had three trials recently and finished a distant second ahead of JILLIBY ECLIPSE, which was stood down to trial after her latest eighth ($1.40 fav). The Amy Day prepared DISPERSION was the best of the remainder, finishing in a fourth, over twenty metres from the winner.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – 10m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: – Keayang Hustler
