Some eye-catching maidens have gone into the Trial File Blackbook after impressive Geelong performances on Monday.
That includes Emilio and Mary Rosati's latest Stride prospect Destiny Stride, who will race for David Miles and did plenty of work before scoring in her trial.
The two-year-old filly is by Captaintreacherous out of 11-time winner Sapphire Stride, whose dam's lines take in Carribean Blaster ($1,113,677), Copper Coast ($382,828) and War Dan ($236,848).
Destiny Stride showed promise, doing plenty of work and then getting home in 59.2 seconds to score by three metres.
The replay is below, as is the run of fellow blackbook addition Arabella Showdown, who is owned and trained by Nicholas O'Connor and was bred by Graeme Rayner.
By Great Success out of Alabama Showdown, who's only other foal was Kylie Sugars' talented Sammy Showdown ($130,460), the unraced six-year-old mare stormed the line to place behind winner Aldebaran Huey.
Here are this week's highlights, with the updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
HAMILTON 16/02/23
Trial 1: - KOWALSKI ANALYSIS has a national rating of 92 and was taking on maiden performers so he recorded an expected victory. He finished unplaced behind Cranbourne in the Pure Steel at his latest race track attempt and will take his place in the Horsham Cup on Sunday. RUTHLESS ENCOUNTER is a son of Lombo Pocket Watch and is yet to make his debut for trainer Rebecca East but will be racing on the same program at Horsham on Sunday. He finished in second place with the unraced trotter SONARMI JOH finishing in third position.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.5 Last Half: - Not Given Margins: - 83m, 5m
MILDURA 16/02/23
Trial 1: - MACH BRILLIANCE started her career in New South Wales, went up to Queensland then travelled to Tasmania and is now domiciled in Victoria. She settled last of the three runners, came to the outside at the 500m and sprinted quickly to overhaul the early leader TACT TORY NZ with CALL ME HENRY being in third. She made her local debut at Mildura on Wednesday night but had no luck in obtaining a clear passage over the concluding stages.
Mile Rate: - Not Given Last Half: - 59.9 Margins: - 3m, 1.5m
Trial 3: - SON OF ZODIAC raced erratically and didn’t appear to handle the track at his Mildura debut but he was a lot more professional at his trial performance, where he led throughout and established a big winning margin. He backed up to win at Mildura on Wednesday night. TRUMP THE ACE finished second after trailing the leader throughout and HUNGRY HOGARTH came from last of the four runners to finish third. He did get up to second on the home turn but just peaked on his run late.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.9 Last Half: - Not given Margins: - 30m, 4m
SHEPPARTON 16/02/23
Trial 1: - RED HOT ASSASSIN has been performing nicely at the trials leading up to her return and was able to lead throughout in the opening event. He made a triumphant return at Echuca on Thursday night. ALFRESCO settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 300m and finished strongly for an eye-catching second. LETSGOBRO led out, took cover before the first turn and obtained an inside run when turning for home. He finished third ahead of CAPTAINS QUEEN, which came from last to fill fourth and is returning from a long spell at Ballarat this evening.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.9 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - 1m, Head
Trial 3: - CAPTAIN HAMMERHEAD was extremely impressive in taking out the third trial. He trailed the leader VIKING in the early stages, took up the front running role at the 1300m and rolled along at a very genuine tempo before running away over the final stages. There was a large margin between first and last at the finish, which is a good indication of how fast he was going. He returns from a spell in the third heat of the New South Wales Derby at Menangle on Saturday night. VIKING finished second and was a long way in front of the third placed LISTEN TO MY HEART, which settled three back on the inside.
Mile Rate: - 1.55.2 Last Half: - 56.2 Margins: - 15m, 20m
Trial 5: - SHEETWEB WEAVER is a trotter that is creating a big impression. He scored by 52m at his latest winning performance at Kilmore and he took on the pacer CHEVRON FLIES NZ in a standing start trial event. He trailed the leader, came to the outside on the home turn and got up in the last stride without being pushed at any stage. That performance was an attempt to give him some confidence before making his standing start debut on Wednesday night but he galloped away.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.5 Last Half: - 57.4 Margin: - ½ head
MARYBOROUGH 18/02/23
Trial 1: - SET ABLAZE continued his good trial form with a victory over DON’T CARE. He settled three back on the inside, made a move at the 1800m and found the lead with a mile remaining. He was able to hold on in the run to the finish. DON’T CARE settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 900m and chased hard. It was a very gallant run by the trotter to miss out by a narrow margin.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.9 Last Half: - Not Given Margins: - Not Given
Trial 4: - MUSCLE MISS prepared for her performance in the Lunar Lass Classic at Melton tomorrow night with a victory over ANIKITOS. She pushed forward to find the lead, set up a slow tempo and was able to hang on in the run to the finish. ANIKITOS made ground from five back on the markers to finish second and CHAMPAGNES was third after being three back on the markers throughout. CHAMPAGNES is competing at Maryborough on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.9 Last Half: - 60.6 Margins: - Head, 10m
KYABRAM 19/02/23
Trial 1: - SUMMERDAYS hasn’t started since being stood down to trial at Shepparton in September. His best form has been in South Australia but he won the trial comfortably over the Tony Barresi trained SPOT THE DEVIL with the trotter TENLILFONZIES being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.12.0 Last Half: - 59.9 Margins: - 10m, 20m
GEELONG 20/02/23
Trial 1: - ALDEBARAN HUEY was stood down to trial after galloping in the latter stages at Geelong last outing. He was able to claim victory in the opening trial after trailing the leader from the 1800m and coming to the outside on the home turn. He is taking on a strong field including Shaunie USA at Melton tomorrow night. FLOATING MOUNTAIN finished second after coming from five back on the markers and ARABELLA SHOWDOWN stormed home from last to pick up third.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.2 Last Half: - 61.8 Margins: - 2m, head
BLACKBOOKER: - Arabella Showdown
Trial 3: - OLLIVICI NZ prepared for his shot at the Grand Prix at Melton tomorrow night with a victory against the pacers. He was without cover early, took the lead at the 1900m then gained a trail with 1400m remaining. He obtained an inside run as the field were turning for home and he sprinted through to get the prize. HEAVENLY GIPSY settled five back on the inside and moved into the one out and one back trail mid-race. She was inconvenienced on the home turn but was able to rally in the straight to pick up second. GIVEITATRY ran home strongly from last to pick up third.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.7 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 3m, 6m
Trial 4: - BELLA LUCY prepared for her effort in the Breed for Speed Silver at Melton tomorrow night with a big victory. She led out then took cover at the 1700m and made her winning bid from the 800m and establishing a big margin at the end. CHAMPAGNES backed up quickly from her trial performance at Maryborough on the weekend and finished second after working to the front shortly after the start. MEADOWVALLEY LOVER trailed the leader early and ended up being three back on the markers before boxing on well for third.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.1 Last Half: - 59.4 Margins: - 70m, head
Trial 5: - DESTINY STRIDE was one of four juvenile pacers prepared by David Miles and was able to land the prize after being without cover early then progressing forward to find the lead. She raced greenly in the leading role but was able to get the prize. LOOKS LIKE DIAMONDS finished in second after moving up without cover, taking a trail behind the leader at the 1200m and using the sprint lane. VIVACIOUS STRIDE led early then took cover and was shuffled back on the markers before finishing third.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.7 Last Half: - 59.2 Margins: - Head, 6m
BLACKBOOKER: - Destiny Stride
Trial 8: - SHARKATTACK prepared for his effort at Maryborough on Monday with a victory over ONECROWDEDHOUR, which is also competing on the same program. He was sixth on the markers early, moved into the running lane (1-2) and came out four horses wide at the 400m to sustain his winning run. ONECROWDEDHOUR settled three back on the inside, angled wide on the home turn and finished off nicely late. The early leader THREEHUNDREDCASH was third past the post.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.9 Last Half: - 59.4 Margins: - 5m, 2m
Trial 9: - POLLY PEACHUM was able to lead throughout and win the ninth trial on the program. JUST BURNFORU trailed the leader and finished second in preparation for his performance at Maryborough on Monday. WARRANTEE settled down last of the six runners, came out three horses wide on the home turn and made up a lot of ground for an eye-catching third. He backed up with another third placed effort at Echuca on Thursday night. NEPHEW OF SONOKO was given a good hit-out against the pacers to prepare for his effort at Melton tomorrow night. He settled down four back on the markers and moved into the death seat at the bell.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.8 Last Half: - 57.6 Margins: - 5m, 4m
CRANBOURNE 21/02/23
Trial 2: - WHOS WATCHING LILY is now prepared locally at Cranbourne by the Jamieson team after formerly being with Andy Gath. She was able to led throughout and win her trial convincingly from KILLARA INSANITY, which trailed the leader and came to the outside at the 300m. BUA MOR was last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.9 Last Half: - 59.4 Margins: - 14m, 25m
BALLARAT 21/02/23
Trial 2: - OUR VINNIE won the Breeders Crown Silver event last season and hasn’t started since competing in the Super Series Final. He appeared to be very sharp in leading throughout and beating his stable mate JIVINGWITHSIERRA, which sat in the trail throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.9 Last Half: - 56.7 Margins: - 10m, 6m
Trial 3: - FIAMMA competed in the Homegrown Classic, Gold Bullion, Breeders Crown and Super Series events at feature race level last season so she is a quality filly. She led throughout and scored comfortably from TREACHEROUS ROCK, which trailed the leader and VINNY ROCK was last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Last Half: - 57.1 Margins: - 3m, 15m
Trial 4: - WHERES THE GOLD NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which has had four wins and a second from five Australian starts. He was able to lead throughout for a comfortable victory over THE RACONTEUR NZ, which was sitting in the trail throughout. IDEALROCKIDEALROLL was last of the three runners throughout but wasn’t beaten by far at the finish.
Mile Rate: 2.3.2 Last Half: - 56.5 Margins: - 5m, 1m
