Harness Racing form guru Craig Rail noticed several standout performers at the recent trials.
At Mildura, Shudaboughtaboat created a good impression at his first public appearance locally. He was without cover early, angled in to trail the leader and moved away from the inside with 600m remaining. He dashed away at the end and appeared to have something up his sleeve.
At Shepparton, Melican won by a clear margin and seemingly with a lot in hand. She is racing at Kilmore on Wednesday night.
At Kilmore, Tombeur went to the line untouched and looked impressive in winning clearly.
SHEPPARTON 17/09/26
Trial 1: – PASTOR DUNBAR ruined his chances in the Super Series Final where he galloped away and gave away a big start. He ran an enormous race to finish in fourth position and backed up that performance with a victory at the trials. He began safely, moved up without cover and edged forward to find the lead before taking cover at the 1600m. He waited for the sprint lane, drove through and won with plenty in reserve. IJUSTCANTSEEIT also galloped away at her latest attempt. She progressed forward to take the lead away from PASTOR DUNBAR and was run down at the end but was far from disgraced. She is backing up at Melton this evening. MAORIS MAC settled last of the four runners, angled wide on the home turn and finished off handily for third. She resumed at Melton Saturday night. HAMMER was three back on the markers for the majority of the trial and was the last horse across the line but wasn’t beaten by far in a quality trial. He is resuming in a heat of the Need for Speed Prince at Melton on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.7 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 1m, 4m
Trial 2: – AUSSIE JAY MAC NZ showed very good gate speed to find the lead shortly after the start. He dashed home in a slick final quarter of 27.6 seconds and put in a dominant display. He is scheduled to compete at Shepparton on Tuesday night. LA SMOOCH trailed the leader throughout and battled on fairly for a distant second. She is also engaged at Shepparton on Tuesday. DELIZIOSO settled fifth on the markers, moved away from the inside at the 500m mark and kicked on well for third. RONNIE THE HAMMER settled last of the six runners and was doing his best work at the end to finish in fourth. Both DELIZIOSO and RONNIE THE HAMMER are also competing at Shepparton.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.6 Last Half: – 56.7 Margins: – 10m, 6m
Trial 4: – ARTIES COURAGE is an unraced 3yo filly by Lochinvar Art for trainer Courtney Laker. She gained a nice trail early before being left without cover from the 1700m. She then progressed forward to find the lead with 1300m remaining and was able to hold off her rivals to score in the trial without being pushed. She makes her debut at Shepparton on Thursday night. AMERICAN SUCCESS began quickly to race without cover in the early stages, worked to the front then took a trail behind ARTIES COURAGE. He came away from the inside on the home turn and finished off well, seemingly with something in reserve. ZEE HOUTEN was headed off at the start and was four back on the markers early. He was able to get into third at the 700m mark and remained in that position for the remainder of the trial. He is competing at Kilmore on Wednesday night. SIXANDOUT galloped away and settled five back on the markers. He left the markers in the back straight on the final occasion and finished in fourth position.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 58.0 Margins: – 1m, 15m
Trial 5: – MELICAN began well and was behind the leader in the early stages. He circled around to find the lead at the 1100m and was always in control thereafter, winning by a clear margin and seemingly with a lot in hand. He is racing at Kilmore on Wednesday night. CAZADERO settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail with 500m remaining and came out three horses wide approaching the home turn. He battled on well for second and finished ahead of LIKE NO OTHER, which settled last of the five runners and picked up ground over the latter stages. ISLAND BECKHAM led out then took cover and finished in fourth spot. Both CAZADERO and LIKE NO OTHER are competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 10m, 6m
BLACKBOOKER: – Melican
MILDURA 18/09/26
Trial 1: – MY ULTIMATE JIMMY NZ began brilliantly to find the lead and was able to win the open class trial. He was headed on the home turn but he kicked back strongly in the straight and got the job done. PRIORITISE began nicely and was able to angle in behind the leader from the outside draw. He loomed up to win on the home turn but was worried out of the prize by MY ULTIMATE JIMMY NZ. Considering the last half was a very fast 56.9 seconds, both horses performed extremely well. MODERN GINGER settled in third and remained in that position while NEVS DREAM was last for the duration. MODERN GINGER and NEVS DREAM are both competing at Mildura on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.0 Last Half: – 56.9 Margins: – Head, 12m
Trial 2: – SHUDABOUGHTABOAT NZ is new to the Robert Nolan stable and created a good impression at his first public appearance locally. He was without cover early, angled in to trail the leader and moved away from the inside with 600m remaining. He dashed away at the end and appeared to have something up his sleeve. MASON DIXON LINE finished in second after attempting to lead throughout. CRUEL MISTRESS was the third horse across the line after settling three back on the markers.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.2 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – 15.5m, 1m
BLACKBOOKER: – Shudaboughtaboat NZ
KYABRAM 20/09/26
Trial 1: – PLEASURE TO HAVE is a handy juvenile trotter, which finished fourth in a heat of the Super Series then followed with a sixth in the Final, where she galloped away. She was able to win the trial over CREATABLE, which has only had one start since 2025. ZINGARA LASS hasn’t raced since being unplaced at Maryborough in December and finished a close up third with SAINT EYES being the last horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.11.8 Last Half: – 62.8 Margins: – 1.5m, 4m
Trial 2: – DESTINY KEPT hasn’t raced since being stood down to trial at Kilmore on June 18. She is a maiden from 38 starts but was successful in her trial performance by a good margin. SKYVALLEY BOY was also stood down to trial at his latest performance and followed a Shepparton trial fifth with his second placed effort on Sunday morning. ELIZABETHAN ANN is an unraced mare and was having her fifth trial. She finished in a distant third and the last pair LOVE A BULL and COOKIE CRUMBLE were both tailed off.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.0 Last Half: – 64.1 Margins: – 20m, 40m
GEELONG 21/09/26
Trial 1: – EXOTIC CHESTER trailed the leader and came to the outside with 500m remaining. He hit the lead in the front straight and was able to win by a comfortable margin. SOHO CHARMER settled three back on the markers, moved onto the back of EXOTIC CHESTER at the 500m mark and never peeled to the outside at any stage. He went to the line jogging and probably could have won the trial if driver Michael Stanley allowed him to stride. The early leader THREETWENTYTHREE was last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.9 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – 4m, head
Trial 2: – DIAMOND AURORA is an unraced juvenile colt by Bettor’s Delight out of Diamond Cullen and was having his second trial after a fourth at Melton back in June. He trailed the leader for the majority of the trial, angled wide on the home turn and finished off fast to claim victory on the line. FORT LEVENWORTH was three back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 700m mark and joined the leader in the back straight before running to the front. He kicked back strongly when headed in the home straight and missed out by a narrow margin. LANIKAI WARRIOR trailed the leader early, broke stride at the 1800m and lost approximately twenty metres thus settling in a clear last. He followed up behind FORT LEVENWORTH in the back straight and loomed up to hit the lead in the straight but was run down at the end. ROCK POSTER settled four back on the markers and finished in fourth with the early leader KIANA being the last horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.7 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – Head, 1.25m
Trial 5: – EMMWALLEN began quickly but couldn’t lead and angled in behind the leader going around the first turn. He came to the outside at the 500m mark and finished off best to win convincingly. FRANCO AMERICANO began quickly and held off the early challenge of EMWALLEN to find the lead. He backed off the tempo mid-race and was run down at the end but he beat his other two rivals by a comfortable margin. UNKNOWN SON was the third horse across the line after being three back on the markers throughout and KICKABARREL was last for the duration after galloping at the start and losing approximately fifty metres.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.7 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – 12m, 10m
TERANG 22/09/26
Trial 2: – JILLIBY NITRO won the Geelong, Terang and Mildura Cups earlier in the season and hasn’t started since May. He was clearly the class runner of the trial and blitzed his rivals to win in fast time. MADRIGAL NZ hasn’t raced since a third at Menangle in March. She is a speedy mare that has won fourteen races and finished in second ahead of her stable mate CRIME WRITER. Each of the three runners listed are competing in the opening event at Terang on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.8 Last Half: – 55.4 Margins: – 25m, 1m
Trial 3: – JILLIBY ZUCCHINI hasn’t raced since a seventh at Penrith in December 2024. She won races at Terang and at Menangle during the 2024 season and her Terang trial success was her second recent trial display so she is building on her fitness. She is resuming at Terang on Monday. KEAYANG HUSTLER is performing well at the trials and finished a close up second. He is bred to be a handy trotter but is making his pacing debut at Terang on Monday. IDEAL HIGH is an unraced juvenile by Ride High out of Ideal Glory and is the first foal. He finished in third on his way to his debut at Terang on Monday with AURORA PEARLS being last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – 2m, 12m
Trial 4: – JILLIBY CONNECTION was placed at a Terang trial effort back in April then was put away. She made a successful return to the track with a narrow success. She is by the French Stallion Classic Connection out of the classy mare Norquay (1.56.9, $122,640) and is the first foal. MAORIS AVENGER was a winner at Stawell in June and finished in second position ahead of CUDGEE BREEZE, which has been competing in Super Series events recently. WEDGE TAIL EAGLE hasn’t raced since breaking stride at Wedderburn in January and finished a close up fourth. He is resuming at Terang on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.7 Last Half: – 60.3 Margins: – Head, 1.25m
KILMORE 22/09/26
Trial 1: – WALLIS began slowly from the standing start and was last of the four runners on settling down. He finished off nicely in a slow last quarter to snare victory on the line. He is resuming in a strong field at Melton this evening. MISS KOMMUNICATION settled three back on the markers and battled on well for a close second. KENNYWOULD began well to trail the leader, obtained an inside run to hit the lead at the 800m mark then took cover again before gaining another inside run to hit the lead approaching the home turn. He was run down over the latter stages and ended up finishing in third. KENNYS SON began very quickly to lead comfortably. He hung out badly at the 800m and lost the lead before recovering and working to the front again. He hung out and galloped on the home turn thus losing his chance altogether.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.6 Last Half: – 61.1 Margins: – Head, 8.25m
Trial 4: – KYVALLEY DIABLO was four back on the markers early then three back and commenced his winning run in the back straight on the final occasion. He sustained a long run and kicked on strongly to win nicely albeit narrowly. DUNDEA settled four back on the markers, angled to the outside on the home turn and finished off swiftly for a game second. ROYAL LADY NZ trailed the leader early then obtained the front when BILLY ZIPPIN broke stride with 1100m remaining. She went down fighting and missed out by a narrow margin in a good finish.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.1 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – 1/2head, Nose
Trial 5: – TOMBEUR was five back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 700m and came out three horses wide from the 300m mark. He went to the line untouched and looked impressive in winning clearly. BETTOR DOO NZ began quickly to find the lead, backed off the tempo in the early stages and was run down at the end. He is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. LE BREADSTICK is an unraced juvenile by Mel Mara out of Rainbow Banner NZ (2.1.1, $35,371), which has produced the two winners Le Wi Bulent (2.3.4) and White Lion (2.4.4). He is a late foal having been born in January and finished third at his first trial attempt after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.3 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 5m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Tombeur
Trial 6: – DEMBE was without cover early before pushing forward to find the lead at the 1800m. He was able to get away with a clear lead mid-race and sustained the run to win easily. He is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. LEAP OF LOGIC was three back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 600m mark and kicked on well for second. He is competing in a heat of the Canola Cup at Eugowra on Sunday afternoon. YA BOTTOM DOLLAR led out then took cover at the 1800m and finished a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.8 Last Half: – 58.7 Margins: – 10m, 10m
Trial 7: – ABOUTTIME showed very good gate speed to lead, backed off the tempo mid-race and dashed home in a sizzling final half of 55.6 seconds with a sizzling back straight quarter of 27.4. He won clearly from ANAKIN, which sat in the trail throughout and tried hard. ANAKIN is competing at Kilmore on Wednesday night. The open class trotter LOVEMETO NZ was beaten by over twenty metres but sectionally his run was outstanding. He settled last of the five runners, waited for the sprint lane and finished off strongly. He must be considered as a chance at Melton on Saturday night. LE BETTY settled four back on the inside and finished fourth. CROCODILE SOCKS was three back on the inside, moved to the outside at the 700m but broke stride on the home turn and lost his chance of finishing closer.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.2 Last Half: – 55.6 Margins: – 8m, 15m
BALLARAT 23/09/26
Trial 1: – HOLD THAT MOMENT came out very quickly from the outside of the front line to find the lead. He was a clear leader mid-race and never really appeared to be in any danger of defeat. GAELIC LADY settled three back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 700m and sustained a good run for second. It was a very good trial leading into her performance at Terang on Monday, where she appears to be a good chance. ASONGOFTHEHEART had a trial back in June and was put away. He finished third at his comeback trial after settling five back on the markers and angling wide into the straight. GULBAHAR settled four back on the markers and was the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.5 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – 3m, 25m
