It promises to be a big Easter for Blackbookers with no less than eight stepping out in the coming days and getting a chance to frank their eye-catching trials form.
At Maryborough today Cognati debuts in the third, the Aldebaran Park 2YO Trot, for Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars, having continued her encouraging preparation with another hit out at Bacchus Marsh.
And Trial File followers will also circle Little Suzie at Echuca on Sunday, where she's rated a $5 pop to win the Eureka Series Final for Alex Ashwood and Tayla French.
Incognito also looms as a weekend special. John Nicholson's former Tasmanian pacer is one of five new Blackbook additions this week and gets his chance in the Quirks Real Estate Pace on Warragul Cup Day.
Here are this week's Victorian trial highlights. Scroll to the bottom for the updated Blackbook.
SHEPPARTON 07/04/22
Trial 2: - PAS GUARANTEE began brilliantly to lead, rolled along at a genuine tempo and dashed well clear of his rivals to win impressively by a large margin. THREEHUNDREDCASH makes his debut at Echuca on Sunday and finished on fairly well from three back on the markers to be in second with SHIREEN doing her best work at the end to snare third placing.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.2 Last Half: - 58.5 Margins: - 30m, 4m
Trial 4: - ORBIE is awkwardly drawn at Maryborough on Friday but she was able to gain some confidence by defeating SECRET IDENTITY in the final trial. She was without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead over SECRET IDENTITY at the 1700m mark before holding that pacer safely at bay over the concluding stages.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.9 Last Half: - 57.3 Margins: - Head, 15m
BACCHUS MARSH 09/04/22
Trial 1: - MILLWOOD DIOR NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which has joined trainer Craig Demmler. She recorded a mile rate of 1.56.9 at her latest victory at Ashburton and commenced her Australian campaign nicely with a trial victory over FLOWERTOP MOUNTAIN and SPORTSRAMA.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.7 Last Half: - 59.5 Margins: - 2m, 12m
Trial 2: - BULLYS DELIGHT won the open class trial over DRESS SENSE NZ, which hasn’t raced since January 2021 and boasts the lowest National Rating out of the four horses that competed in the trial so he obviously performed well to be beaten by only a head margin. MODERN BLISS was third and AUSSIEPRIDE finished at the tail of the field.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.9 Last Half: - 57.6 Margins: - Head, 4m
Trial 4: - COGNATI wrapped up her trial preparation with a third placed effort behind I’M ABOVE THE LAW. She was taking on older horses at Bacchus Marsh and was an eye-catching third at a Melton trial a week earlier so she appears to be a chance in the opening juvenile trotting race of the season at Maryborough on Friday.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.7 Last Half: - 60.3 Margins: - 1.5m, 2.5m
Trial 7: - INCOGNITO is a former Tasmanian pacer, which has joined trainer John Nicholson. He scored by a large margin and finished off in a slick final quarter of 28.5 seconds so he should be competitive when he next steps out onto the track, considering he has a low National Rating of 47. FIVE STAR SHARK hasn’t raced since December and finished second ahead of SAMMYS OUR GIRL.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.8 Last Half: - 59.0 Margins: - 10m, 10m
BLACKBOOKER: - Incognito
TABCORP PARK, MELTON 11/04/22
Trial 2: - THE LOCOMOTIVE won the trial for the juvenile trotters after settling in third position before pushing around to find the lead at the 900m. He is by Muscle Mass out of the champion mare La Coocaracha (1.58.5, $428,911), which has produced nine winners including Dance Craze (1.55.6, $551,780), La Grange (1.54.2, $163,350) and Mataderos (2.2.8, $131,264). The second placed BASILICA performed extremely well and is worth following. He settled down in last position, came to the outside at the 600m and made up a lot of ground over the concluding stages. He is by Father Patrick and is the first foal out of the Group 1 winning mare Une Belle Allure (1.56.9, $176,810).
Mile Rate: - 2.9.7 Last Half: - 62.51 Margins: - 2m, 59m
BLACKBOOKER: - Basilica
Trial 3: - The outstanding juvenile of last season CATCH A WAVE made a winning return at the trials albeit scoring by a minimal margin. The Gold Bullion and Breeders Crown winner ran to the lead from the start and rolled along at a handy tempo. He was almost run down late but he did appear to be loafing at the end and picked up on the line when the second placed SHEFFIELD SPARKY NZ, which sat in the trail, moved up on his outside.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.0 Last Half: - 57.17 Margins: - ½ head, 5m
Trial 4: - AMANDINE continued her very good trial form with an effortless win over QUEEN OF QUEBEC and COURMAYEUR. She was in the one out and one back trail early then was left without cover so she progressed forward to find the lead at the mile marker and never appeared to be in any doubt, despite hanging away from the pegs on the home turn.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.8 Last Half: - 59.35 Margins: - 15m, ½ head
Trial 7: - HARRY STAMPER NZ is a former New Zealander, which has joined trainer Joe Pace and created a big impression. He settled three back on the inside, came away from the markers at the quarter pole and finished swiftly to defeat a strong field and without being extended at any stage. COURAGE STRIDE also went to the line with plenty in reserve and should take beating at Maryborough on Friday. He was four back on the markers, moved up without cover at the bell and was still very strong at the end. KINGS GUARD finished in third position after setting the speed.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 57.74 Margins: - 8m, 3m
BLACKBOOKER: - Harry Stamper NZ
Trial 9: - CLAUDY AN GUS recorded handy time on his way to an impressive victory in the ninth event. He trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 400m mark and quickly dashed past the early leader APPEARFROMNOWHERE. He established a big lead and seemed to be a little lost when out on his own in the home straight but got the prize in a mile rate of 1.58.0.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.0 Last Half: - 60.25 Margins: - 4.5m, 3m
Trial 11: - ULTIMATE STRIDE NZ pushed forward to find the lead and was able to cruise to victory. He has had numerous trials since coming from New Zealand and continues to make a good impression. ELJAYKAY PHOENIX was three back on the markers and never peeled to the outside in the straight. He went to the line with plenty in reserve and finished a nice second with ALL CASHED UP being in third.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.2 Last Half: - 58.95 Margins: - 5m, 1.5m
BENDIGO 11/04/22
Trial 3: - OZZIE SWEET PEA led throughout in the trial for the juvenile pacers and recorded a winning margin of 28m. She is by Sweet Lou out of the former handy performer Miss Laura Jane (1.56.8, $146,545), making her a close relation to four winners including Ozzie Major (1.55.1, $116,265) and the speedster Ozzie Battler (1.56.2, $208,750) so she is worth following.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.4 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 28m, 1m
Trial 6: - GUARANTEED SECRET is awkwardly drawn for her return to the race track at Echuca on Sunday but she was able to dash home in a slick final half of 57.3 seconds on her way to an easy victory in the sixth trial. She trailed the leader, came to the outside with 600m remaining and showed very good speed at the end to defeat BULLDOG KHAN, which raced fiercely in fourth position and did well to still have a kick left over the concluding stages. JOHN JAMES PRESTON settled down last, trailed into the race in the final 600m (1-2) and went to the line bolting on the back of BULLDOG KHAN, never peeling to the outside at any stage.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 57.3 Margins: - 8m, 1m
Trial 8: - ACCELERE NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which had a stint in New South Wales. He settled down last and came to the outside with 600m remaining to make his winning run. NOTORIOUS JOE trailed the leader, angled onto the back of ACCELERE NZ in the straight and went to the line under a strong hold, never peeling to the outside at any stage in the straight. It was a tidy effort and he might be worth following.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.6 Last Half: - 57.6 Margins: - 5m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - Notorious Joe
KILMORE 12/04/22
Trial 1: - KYVALLEY ARCHER was able to lead throughout in the trial for the juvenile trotters. He is by Father Patrick out of Kyvalley Lily, which has produced two winners including Kyvalley Hacienda (2.1.9, $31,600). MAORI FRANKLIN did a very good job to finish in second position. He settled three back on the inside and finished quickly out wide on the track. ALDEBARAN BROOKE also performed well for third after she was vying for the lead early then broke stride 50m after the start. She chased hard and finished less than a length from the winner at the end.
Mile Rate: - 2.12.4 Last Half: - 63.7 Margins: - 1m, 1m
Trial 5: - DALLAS MIKI was able to back up his trial victory at Mooroopna on Sunday with a win over ITZ BULL SPEED AHEAD NZ in the fifth event. He recorded handy time and will be looking to end the week just as he commenced it with his performance at Echuca on Sunday evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.7 Last Half: - 59.1 Margins: - 3m, 6m
