Tabcorp Park Melton served up a stunning day of trials on Tuesday that saw seven eye-catchers plucked out and plonked into the Trial File Blackbook.
Big names like Act Now, Ladies In Red, Code Black and Joanna went toe-to-toe (see replay via link below) in trial six, while a host of others put their best hoofs forward to earn acclaim.
Anton Golino-trained trio Amandine, Kings Guard and Montelena, Josh Dickie and Sammy Kilhour’s Power Up, Jess Tubbs’ Cognati, Nathan Purdon’s Miramanee and Adam Kelly’s Lalibella were all short-listed as ones to watch at Melton.
Here are Craig Rail’s highlights from this week on the trial circuit, with the updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
Click here for more trial replays.
MARYBOROUGH 03/04/22
Trial 1: – SHESMYBABY is the winner of eight races and now joins trainer David Murphy. There is no video replay available for the opening trial but she dashed home in slick final fractions (56.1, 27.7) so she is obviously close to her peak form.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.6 Last Half: – 56.1 Margins: – 6m, 1m
Trial 2: – FREMARKSTILLY hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Super Series Final in December but she was able to lead throughout and coasted to victory in the second event. She is a smart filly and might be ready for a prosperous season. She will prove hard to beat in the opening event at Cranbourne on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.0 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – 15m, 10m
Trial 5: – SONNYBOY hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Super Series Silver event in December but he appeared to be close to his peak with his victory over VICTREE HILL. He trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 700m, quickly ran to the lead and sustained the run to get the prize. VICTREE HILL trailed SONNYBOY all of the way and wasn’t fully extended in second.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.3 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 4m, 50m
Trial 6: – PANANIA NORTH was able to lead throughout to defeat KARMA QUEEN. She finished off in a slick final half of 56.8 seconds and won by twenty metres so she should prove hard to beat at Horsham on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 56.8 Margins: – 20m, 15m
Trial 7: – THE PENNY DROPS was given standing start practice and a reasonable hit-out in his lead up to the Bendigo Cup this evening. He commenced well, moved up on the outside of the leader and was allowed to stride in the final 150m. It would have been a good confidence builder leading up to tonight’s feature event.
Mile Rate: – 2.10.9 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 20m, 50m
BENDIGO 04/04/22
Trial 6: – The Swan Hill Cup and Inter Dominion Heat winner MALCOLMS RHYTHM took on a field that had horses with a National Rating that was approximately half of his National Rating assessment of 120 so he went on for an expected win. He settled in fourth position, gained a one out and one back trail behind ANIMADO and made his run in the final 150m. The winning margin was slender but he was jogging across the line and it will give him confidence leading into the Captain Sandy FFA at Melton tomorrow night. ANIMADO led out, took a trail and made his run ahead of MALCOLMS RHYTHM so it was a good performance for second and he appears to be a chance at Bendigo this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.9 Last Half: – 57.2 Margins: – Nose, Head
Trial 8: – LOOKOUT NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which has joined trainer John Tormey and created a big impression. He scorched to the lead shortly after the start, ran along at a genuine tempo and scored by a large margin. He makes his Australian debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night and will prove almighty hard to beat. LITTLE SUZIE NZ is also a former New Zealander and has joined trainer Alex Ashwood. She settled in fifth position and chased hard from the 800m to finish second. She was beaten by a good margin but she defeated the remainder of the field by over 30m, which suggests she should run a big race first up at Bendigo this evening.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.0 Last Half: – 56.5 Margins: – 16m, 32m
BLACKBOOKERS: – Lookout NZ & Little Suzie NZ
Trial 9: – GUARANTEED SECRET began fast and was able to lead throughout. She scored by a large margin and finished off in slick final sectionals so it was a promising start to her campaign. NIKI NAH NAH settled fifth on the inside and popped off the markers with 700m remaining. She appeared to be under pressure on the home turn but kept on giving over the concluding stages for a handy second.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.0 Last Half: – 58.1 Margins: – 17m, Nose
TABCORP PARK, MELTON
Trial 3: – MIKIPELO is a juvenile gelding out of a race winning daughter of the top mare Tupelo Rose. He led throughout and dashed well clear over concluding stages to post an impressive victory. MIKIS JOE finished seventeen metres behind the winner but he hit the line hard via the sprint lane and he is out of the former champion mare Pelicanrama (1.53.4, $725,271).
Mile Rate: – 2.1.6 Last Half: – 58.19 Margins: – 17m, ½ neck
Trial 5: – JUST A BIT TOUCHY won the Breeders Crown and finished third in the Super Series Final last season. She settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 500m and sprinted quickly to take out the prize in a very strong trial. COURAGE STRIDE continued his good trial form with a handy finishing second. He settled five back on the inside and angled into the one out and one back trail behind JUST A BIT TOUCHY over the concluding stages. AMANDINE was also impressive in finishing third. She is a maiden from seven starts but she hit the line strongly from three back on the markers so she appears set to have a better season.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.6 Last Half: – 59.65 Margins: – 3m, 11m
BLACKBOOKER: – Amandine
Trial 6: – ACT NOW was able to lead throughout in the open class trial. He ran right up to his usual high standard and won easily but the star of the trial was definitely LADIES IN RED. She settled down last of the four runners, came to the outside with 250m remaining and made ground without being pushed in scintillating final sectionals (54.93, 26.66). She commences her four years old season on a very tough mark but it was an awesome performance.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.3 Last Half: – 54.93 Margins: – 7m, Neck
Trial 7: – INTERVIEW progressed forward to find the lead at the 1800m and was able to win nicely. KINGS GUARD is a 3yo trotter and did very well to finish second in a strong field. He hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Tatlow Stakes back in October and he came from three back markers, sprinted sharply to join his stable mate in the home straight and went to the line with something in reserve. CONSTANTINOPLE came from last to finish third in another good event.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.7 Last Half: – 58.38 Margins: – 1.5m, 9m
BLACKBOOKER: – Kings Guard
Trial 8: – PLAYING UP was able to defeat BEACH VILLA and OUR LITTLE JET in an Emma Stewart trained trifecta. She settled three back on the inside and finished off best with BEACH VILLA coming from last to pick up second. She trailed into the race nicely and switched into the sprint lane in the home straight. OUR LITTLE JET finished third after setting the speed and the former New Zealander POWER UP NZ put in an eye-catching display to finish fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.6 Last Half: – 57.87 Margins: – 1.5m, 2.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Power Up NZ
Trial 9: – MONTELENA is a maiden from five starts but she won’t remain a maiden for long. She pushed forward to find the lead and motored away from her rivals to win by nearly thirty metres with stable mate LA PERRIERE being in second after settling three back on the pegs.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.0 Last Half: – 59.9 Margins: – 29m, 5.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Montelena
Trial 10: – WHIRLWIND WILBUR trailed the leader BELLEZA and was able to finish off best via the sprint lane to get the prize. The eye-catching run of the trial came from the Jess Tubbs prepared filly COGNATI. She settled four back on the inside and finished off very nicely at the end.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.7 Last Half: – 62.01 Margins: – 1.5m, 6m
BLACKBOOKER: – Cognati
Trial 11: – KHAFAJI was able to defeat PETILLANTE and ANOTHERBIGMAN in another strong trial where trainer Emma Stewart prepared the trifecta. He settled sixth on the markers, moved into the running lane at the 600m (1-2) and produced a big finish to claim victory. PETILLANTE worked around the field from a rearward position to find the lead at the 1400m. MIRAMANEE has only had one start and that effort was back in June so it was an excellent performance to finish fourth. She settled five back on the inside and finished strongly via the sprint lane.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.3 Last Half: – 57.85 Margins: – 1.5m, 3m
BLACKBOOKER: – Miramanee
Trial 12: – NORMANDY BELLE was able to lead throughout and produced a top performance for a horse with a National Rating of 62. ALDEBARAN TESS came from seventh and moved into the death seat at the 800m. She sprinted quickly down the back straight and loomed as a winning chance but peaked a little in the latter stages. ULTIMATE STRIDE NZ settled three back on the markers and finished off well in the latter stages. The classy trotters BANGLES, UTOPIA and QUEEN ELIDA NZ were the last three runners across the line but they weren’t knocked around at any stage.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.6 Last Half: – 58.17 Margins: – Neck, 8m
Trial 13: – MOMENTSLIKETHESE was able to lead throughout and held off the challenge of the Breeders Crown and Southern Cross champion ENCIPHER, which trailed the leader and closed in via the sprint lane. The last quarter was run in 26.52 seconds so it was an excellent performance by both runners. MOMENTSLIKETHESE resumes from a break in the Blossom Lady at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 55.73 Margins: – ½ head, 11m
Trial 14: – WYATTFLYNN settled four back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and ran home well to score over ALBY TWO CHAINS, which angled into the death seat from three back on the markers in the back straight on the final occasion. WYATTFLYNN is competing against a suitable line up at Horsham on Monday and should prove hard to beat. LALIBELA came from five back on the inside and ran home strongly late for an eye-catching third so she appears to be one of the leading chances in her event at Cranbourne on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.1 Last Half: – 58.17 Margins: – ½ Neck, 1.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Lalibela
Trial 15: – TOUGH TILLY won the Australian Gold in May and hasn’t started since a fourth in a semi-final of the Super Series in November. She looked very sharp in coming from the one out and one back trail to gun down her stable mate BEACH MUSIC, which set the speed, in the final trial on a quality program of fifteen trials.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.8 Last Half: – 55.7 Margins: – 1m, 9m (approximately)
