Harness Racing form guru Craig Rail has compiled his weekly in-depth report from the state’s trials circuit.
BACCHUS MARSH 24/10/26
Trial 2: – MISTER DEVEREAUX broke stride at the start and did well to finish as close as he did when sixth in the Need for Speed Prince Final at Melton on October 10. He won a trial at Geelong prior to heading to his Bacchus Marsh performance on Saturday, where he was successful again. He is taking on a top field at Maryborough on Sunday. He was able to defeat SUMMIT MEETING, which hasn’t raced since making an error and finishing fifth at Geelong in May. She has had three trials recently and has been placed in all three. MOONLIGHT BILLY finished in third position. He also galloped at his latest race track appearance. MEGABAND NZ and HEMINGWAY SPECIAL finished fourth and fifth respectively. HEMINGWAY SPECIAL finished unplaced at his debut several days later.
Mile Rate: – 2.11.0 Last Half: – 60.3 Margins: – 3m, 12m
Trial 3: – SCHERGER THAT is a smart pacer when racing at his peak form and commenced his new campaign with a comfortable trial success. He has won five races and boasts a career best mile rate of 1.56.0. He scored by a length over VICTORY GEORGE, which has returned to Victoria after spending time racing in South Australia and in Tasmania. XLENDI STAR finished last of the three runners but he wasn’t beaten by a large margin and is returning from a spell at Swan Hill this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.7 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 3m, head
Trial 5: – APRIL SUN hasn’t raced since being unplaced at Ballarat in May. He followed a second at a Maryborough trial performance with his easy Bacchus Marsh victory. He has won five races in his career to date and his new preparation has been able to get off to a reasonable start. He is competing at Maryborough this afternoon. UNKNOWN SON hasn’t started since November but he has had five trials recently so he should be building on his fitness. SPEAKS VOLUMES was performing at the trials in Victoria before making his debut in New South Wales. After having several efforts in New South Wales, he competed in South Australia and has now returned to Victoria. He finished in third and SKYTE was last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.6 Last Half: – 61.1 Margins: – 10m, 20m
Trial 6: – RAKAROMPA NZ continued her good trial form with a runaway success in the small field of three runners. She was placed in strong grade at her first two trial attempts prior to Saturday’s handy success. TRAILBLAZER has been unplaced in all of his ten starts since coming from South Australia but has been freshened since his latest performance. He finished in second with ILEANA, which is a speedy mare that boasts a career best mile rate of 1.56.5 and hasn’t commenced since April, being the last horse to greet the judge.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.7 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – 20m, 4m
Trial 8: – MAMMALS BLAZE has joined trainer Joe Pace since his latest unplaced effort at Shepparton in September. He recorded reasonable time at his trial victory over REBEL BY THE SEA, which hasn’t started since April. GOZO SWEET was having his first public hit-out since July and was last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.9 Last Half: – 58.7 Margins: – 5m, 6m
ECHUCA 25/10/26
Trial 3: – ALCATRAZ MISS trailed the leader and came to the outside with 700m remaining. She was able to sustain a good run in the final circuit and gained the upper hand in the final 50m to get up and win the event. BACK DATED drew on the outside of the three runners but showed sufficient early speed to find the front. He battled on well and missed out by a narrow margin. COOKIE CRUMBLE was last of the three runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.8 Last Half: – 60.4 Margins: – Neck, 6.5m
Trial 4: – LOOK AWAY trailed the leader and came away from the inside at the 500m. She was able to finish determinedly and scored by a handy margin. SUNSHINE MILLIE settled last of the three runners after beginning slowly from the pole position, came to the outside on the home turn and worked into second position late. ALCATRAZ GIRL pulled hard in the score up, led clearly and continued to race fiercely during the early and middle stages before peaking at the end to be last of the trio across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.7 Last Half: – 62.3 Margins: – 10m, 6m
Trial 5: – TRYX VIXEN trailed the leader, moved around to find the lead at the 1200m and travelled nicely thereafter. She was able to dominate the trial and raced clear at the end to win easily. She backed up with a big victory at Shepparton on Wednesday night. DESTINY KEPT began quickly and found the lead in the early stages. She backed off the tempo and ended up being in the trail from the 1200m before battling into a distant second. DEEP WELL settled three back on the markers and remained at the tail of the field for the duration of the trial.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.5 Last Half: – 61.3 Margins: – 20m, 6m
MARYBOROUGH 25/10/26
Trial 2: – OLIVER SMUDGE began quickly from a wide draw to find the lead, took advantage of others making errors in the early stages and backed off the tempo mid-race. He got away over the final part of the journey and scored by a big margin. He strikes a suitable assignment at Charlton on Monday and should run a good race. MATISOFF trailed the leader throughout and battled into a distant second. He is scheduled to race at Maryborough this afternoon and also at Charlton on Monday. LUCKY YOU settled four back on the markers, got to be three back on the inside at the 1700m and ended up being beaten by a fair distance into third. He is competing at Maryborough this afternoon. CHELSEA LANE, BLUE SKYE ALM and BULGANA BAN LIST were all tailed off.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.4 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 24m, 17m
Trial 3: – MEZZANOTTI was the most impressive trial winner of the day. She was without cover early and dropped back to be last of the six runners shortly afterwards. She made a move from the 1200m, zipped around the field to find the lead at the bell then produced a strong third quarter of 28.3 seconds to establish a big lead. She sustained the run to score by a big margin. OUR ULTIMATE ELLA was four then five back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 600m and worked home quite well for a distant second. She is backing up at Charlton on Monday afternoon. JOKIC led out then took cover with a lap remaining and battled on fairly for third. LIVING THE DREAM began well and was behind the leader early. He was three back on the markers when MEZZANOTTI crossed to the lead then moved into the one out and one back trail behind OUR ULTIMATE ELLA. He was the fourth horse to greet the judge.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.7 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – 25m, head
BLACKBOOKER: – Mezzanotti
Trial 4: – ROCKNROLL WILLOW was allowed to balance early, progressed forward to find the lead at the 1700m and finished off in a quick final quarter of 28.4 seconds to win the trial. KING KASEY led out then took cover at the 1700m before leaving the markers at the 400m. He tried hard in the straight and went down narrowly. NICE ONE CENTURION was last of the three runners for the majority of the journey but wasn’t beaten by a large margin.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.7 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – 1m, 3m
HAMILTON 26/10/26
Trial 1: – BELLEVUE BOY is an unraced 4yo gelding by The Storm Inside for trainer Jim Barker. He was able to win the opening pre meeting trial from MAYBEDONTKNOW, which is also unraced. She is a mare by Cullens Hope out of Keayang Sassy and is the first foal. She was born on February 05, 2022 so she was a very late foal and has been given plenty of time before heading to the races. She is making her debut at Mount Gambier this evening.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – Unavailable
Trial 2: – DOUBLE HELIX hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Horsham Cup in December. He is the winner of eleven races and nearly $100,000 in Stakes so he has done a good job for his connections and was clearly the class runner of the trial. He was a runaway winner ahead of the unraced gelding ALLTHEBOYSLEFT with JUDIELLE being in third position. JUDIELLE hasn’t raced since August 2024 but is resuming at Mount Gambier this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.6 Last Half: – 61.6 Margins: – 31m, 2m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 27/10/26
Trial 1: – The outstanding juvenile trotter VERBICI made a terrific impression at his final hit-out before the Redwood Classic. He stepped away sharply from the standing start to lead, took cover at the 1300m and came to the outside at the 300m mark. He looked very strong at the end and seemingly had plenty in reserve. KYVALLEY MAVEN began in second before circling around the field to lead at the 1300m. He couldn’t repel the challenge of VERBICI in the home straight. FARROKH missed the start by approximately 40m, chased hard to tack onto the leading duo and wasn’t beaten by far at the end so it was a tidy display. He is competing at Maryborough on Sunday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.1 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 3.5m, 1m
Trial 2: – SOLS ME NAME progressed forward from a wide draw and found the front at the 1200m mark. He backed off the tempo mid-race and finished off in a slick final quarter of 28.2 seconds to win the trial. HARLEY LANE began the fastest and found the lead shortly after the start before taking cover behind her stable mate. She used the sprint lane and did well to pick up ground on the winner, running out of time at the end and missing out by a narrow margin. CAPTAINS RUSH settled three back on the inside, moved away from the pegs at the 500m mark and battled into a distant third. CALYPSO MISTRESS came from five back on the markers to work into fourth position.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.6 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – Neck, 13m
Trial 3: – PASTOR JAY JAY trailed the leader, used the sprint lane and finished off best to win the trial. STREAK ON BY settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the quarter pole and tried hard over the latter stages. He is making his debut at Maryborough on Friday afternoon. ALDEBARAN MIGUEL finished in third after attempting to lead throughout and WITH A LITTLE HELP was last of the four runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.4 Last Half: – 63.6 Margins: – 1.5m, Long Neck
Trial 4: – ALWAYS BE VICKI NZ settled last of the five runners, was aided by the leader galloping with 300m remaining and continued to use inside runs before dashing along the sprint lane to land the prize. MAKEOVER MIKI settled four back on the markers, came to the outside going around the home turn and finished in second position. NOTALOTTALOTTIE began well to trail the leader and battled on fairly well for third. ANGELS DAUGHTER was the fourth horse across the line after settling three back on the markers and the early leader LITTLE WING galloped wildly when clearly in front with 300m remaining hence was the last one across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.6 Last Half: – 59.4 Margins: – 1.5m, 7m
Trial 5: – MONARO DEAN NZ trailed the leader and was left in front with 500m remaining. He got a long way clear of the remainder of the field and won easily. GATESYS DELIGHT was very slow to move and was a clear last early. He was three back on the markers from the 1300m and trailed the leader from the 500m but he couldn’t go with the winner. He is competing at Maryborough on Sunday. RYMES was three wide early, progressed forward to find the lead at the 1300m but broke stride late and lost his chance, finishing a distant third. I DON’T LIKE IT led early but broke stride at the 1300m and was tailed off for the remainder of the trial.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.0 Last Half: – 61.8 Margins: – 34m, 28m
BLACKBOOKER: – Monaro Dean NZ
Trial 6: – UNCLAD was able to produce a confidence building victory leading up to the Victoria Derby on Sunday. He settled last of the three runners, sprinted sharply from the 400m to hit the front then was allowed to coast down to the line to win softly. KYVALLEY JUDGE trailed the leader and battled away over the latter stages to finish in second. COCONUT MICKEY attempted to lead throughout and finished in third but wasn’t beaten by far. He is favourably drawn at Maryborough on Sunday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.5 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 2.5m, 2.5m
TERANG 27/10/26
Trial 1: – POSTMANS CHOICE trailed the leader early, settled three back on the markers mid-race and gained a one out and one back trail from the 500m. He finished off the best in handy final sectionals to grab victory on the line. AUSTON led out then took cover and commenced his run from the 500m mark. He hit the lead in the straight but was run down late. LET’S DANCE GIRL was four back on the markers, moved through to trail the leader turning out of the back straight and battled on fairly for third. BIG CAT ORO raced without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead and was run down over the latter stages, finishing in fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.5 Last Half: – 57.2 Margins: – Head, 10m
Trial 2; – JILLIBY CONNECTION trailed the leader, moved to the outside on the home turn and finished off best to win softly. He is backing up at Maryborough on Sunday and appears to be a good chance. EMMWALLEN settled three back on the markers and finished off well to snare second position. LIVERMERE showed his natural gate speed to lead and ran along at an even tempo before being run down over the latter stages. He is competing at Mount Gambier this evening. JILLIBY CLASSIC settled four back on the markers and finished in fourth with AURORA PEARLS being last of the five runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.3 Last Half: – 59.3 Margins: – 1.5m, 1.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Jilliby Connection
Trial 3: – SPOOKY MOTH began quickly to lead before taking cover and angling out three horses wide on the home turn. She produced a strong finish in a quick final quarter of 28.4 seconds to win the trial. LEXINGTON trailed the leader early, pushed forward to find the lead at the 1300m and was run down at the end. CATCH A BUTTERFLY settled three back on the markers, moved through to trail the leader on the home turn and used the sprint lane. She held her own in the straight and finished in third. I SEA RED picked up ground from five back on the markers to finish a close up fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.0 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 1.5m, 1.5m
Trial 4: – SOME AMERICAN began brilliantly to find the lead and backed off the tempo mid-race. He finished off in a sizzling final half of 54.7 seconds (27.4 last quarter) to hold on and get the prize. GOLDEN TRIBE trailed the leader and did a great job to finish as close as he did, failing by only a nose margin. LUVA SCRAP settled last of the four runners and finished a distant third with HILLTOP BLOSSOM (3 back markers) being the last horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.6 Last Half: – 54.7 Margins: – Nose, 20m
BLACKBOOKER: – Golden Tribe
Trial 5: – SOME MAGIC began fast to lead and was always in control of the trial, winning by a comfortable margin. ULTIMATE JOY settled three back on the markers, waited for the sprint lane and worked through nicely for second. HILLTOP STAR finished third after trailing the leader and coming to the outside on the home turn. TREACHEROUSDAN was last of the four runners for the entirety.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.3 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – 6m, head
Trial 7: – SOMEONE SPECIAL trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 500m mark and was able to get up and win on the line. NUDOORA enjoyed a nice run in the leading role and was run down in the shadows of the post. KENZINGTON raced without cover in the early stages, restrained to be last of the four runners, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He worked to the line well for a handy third with SEETON (3 back markers) being last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.9 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: – Head, 2.5m
