It's a big night ahead at Melton tonight for Trial File followers with four Blackbookers to step out including a new addition.
Ozzie Punta will contest tonight's Download The TAB App Today 3YO Pace, race three on the Melton card that's headlined by a star-studded first Mercury 80 heat.
For trainer Julie Douglas, Ozzie Punta will have plenty of admirers after producing an eye-catching trial at Bendigo on Monday when he "finished fast out wide on the track to pick up third".
The performance saw him lob into the Blackbook, where he's joined by Jacksboy (R3 N8), Regal Rock (R5 N6) and Our Lady Lara (R8 N4) who also race tonight.
Scroll down for replays of the latest Blackbook additions, with the updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
BACCHUS MARSH 14/01/23
Trial 3: - MAJESTICAL BELLE was clearly the class runner of the trial but she was able to record reasonable time and scored by a large margin. She is meeting a strong field at Ballarat tomorrow night. CHERMEAR PRINCESS showed promise during her juvenile campaign and finished second, beating more experienced horses by a comfortable margin in the trial, which is an encouraging sign. FLOATING MOUNTAIN filled third spot ahead of SILENT REVERIE, HES THE MIGHTYSPIN and SONNY BROOKE.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 20m, 10m
Trial 4: - DIEGOS DIAMOND finished off in a slick final quarter of 28.1 seconds to win comfortably. He hasn’t started since a seventh in September but he performed consistently during his last preparation. He returns from a break at Geelong on Sunday. FIVE STAR SHARK hasn’t started since galloping away at Cranbourne in October and finished in second position with JOSHUA RICHARD NZ being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.2 Last Half: - 58.1 Margins: - 8m, 3m
Trial 5: - BRIGITTE ROYALE is a promising maiden, which has been placed in seven of her thirteen starts to date. She has recently joined trainer Ken Tippet and was able to take out the final trial by a large margin. FUN ON RUM hasn’t raced since the Mildura Cup Carnival last season. She has joined trainer Declan Murphy and was able to finish second ahead of MARIACHI and ONE OVER DA SON NZ.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.1 Last Half: - 61.2 Margins: - 10m, 2m
KYABRAM 15/01/23
Trial 1: - LITTLE MISS LILY was the winner of the only trial. The daughter of Lennytheshark has only had two starts for a second and a fourth and won the trial by a comfortable margin. LETS GO CRESCO was stood down to trial at his latest attempt in November and was able to fill second spot with UPRIGHT being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.0 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - 5m, 5m
BENDIGO 16/01/23
Trial 2: - GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW continued his impressive trial form with a runaway success. He led out, took cover at the 1800m and commenced his winning run from the 300m. THE VICARS GIRL settled three back on the markers, came to the outside on the home turn and finished off quickly for second with the early leader ROMANTIC NINA being third across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.5 Last Half: - 59.8 Margins: - 20m, head
Trial 3: - CELTIC CASH raced without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead at the 1500m then ran along at a genuine tempo. He established a big lead and was approximately 50m in front with 300m remaining but broke stride. He was overtaken by BEAUTYBOUCHEA, which came from four back on the markers, on the home turn but was able to recover in time to gather enough momentum to get the prize so it was a tidy display.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.0 Last Half: - 65.7 Margins: - Head, 16m
Trial 4: - ALDEBARAN CRESCENT began sharply to find the markers shortly after the start. She ran along at a genuine tempo and appeared to be very strong at the finish, winning clearly from IS THAT A BID, which sat in the trail throughout. ALDEBARAN CRESCENT is first emergency for the E B Cochran Cup at Ballarat tomorrow night. BEAU GARCON was able to pick up some ground from last of the four runners to fill third spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.8 Last Half: - 57.5 Margins: - 9m, 7m
Trial 5: - GUARANTEED SWEETIE was able to trail the leader from the pole position and came to the outside with 400m remaining. She staged a good battle with the early leader TALISKER SKIPPER and was able to get up on the line. TALISKER SKIPPER is making his debut at Geelong on Sunday. The eye-catching run of the trial came from OZZIE PUNTA. He was caught wide early, restrained to last and finished fast out wide on the track to pick up third. He meets a handy field but has come up with the pole position at Melton tonight.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.2 Last Half: - 59.8 Margins: - Head, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Ozzie Punta
Trial 6: - ALWAYS THE SHOWMAN prepared for his effort at Melton this evening with an effortless trial win over HOUSTON STREET. He began fast and found the lead, backed off the tempo and had a good kick left in the run to the finish. HOUSTON STREET came from three back on the markers to finish second and EYE SEE PHILTRA (4 back markers) did a good job to fill third place after racing fiercely during the middle stages.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.5 Last Half: - 59.0 Margins: - 5m, Neck
Trial 9: - FOCUS STRIDE hasn’t raced since finishing unplaced in a heat of the Inter Dominion series but has been performing nicely at the trials. She showed brilliant gate speed to lead and zipped home in a brilliant last 800m of 55.8 seconds to win by a clear margin. She is competing at Ballarat tomorrow night. MAJOR WATSON NZ had every chance after trailing the leader and finished second with IDEAL PACE being last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Last Half: - 55.8 Margins: - 8m, 2m
CRANBOURNE 17/01/23
Trainer Scott Ewen won the two pre meeting trials at Cranbourne with COASTAL GIRL and BULLETPROOF BOY, both horses leading throughout in small fields. COASTAL GIRL returns from a break at Melton this evening and BULLETPROOF BOY will be contesting a heat of the Mercury80 series on the same program.
BALLARAT 17/01/23
Trial 2: - KEAYANG MOROCCAN settled five back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 900m and finished off strongly to score. BROADWAYS GIRL produced a nice performance to fill second spot. She was without cover early, got eased to be four back on the markers and finished quickly. SOHO BOCOCA settled three on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 1100m and battled on well for third with SUNDIATA being fourth after trailing the leader.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.9 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - 5m, Head
Trial 3: - JILLIBY SELWOOD hasn’t raced for nearly a year but he continues to impress at the trials. He trailed the leader HES A COOL MACH and finished fast to win impressively. He returns from a spell at Geelong on Sunday and appears to be a strong winning chance. HES A COOL MACH attempted to lead throughout and finished second with MONSIEUR DELACOUR being last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.5 Last Half: - 56.4 Margins: - 2m, 30m
BLACKBOOKER: - Jilliby Selwood
Trial 4: - KEAYANG JACKIE is a smart mare, which has won ten of her twenty-two starts. She settled last of the three runners, came out three horses wide on the home turn and finished quickly to get the prize. FARADY HANOVER USA finished second after trailing the leader and ZOLIVER was run down in the final stages after racing fiercely in the lead.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.4 Last Half: - 56.3 Margins: - 2m, 12m
Trial 6: - KEAYANG CHUCKY was very competitive at feature race level last preparation and was able sprint home in a slick final quarter of 28.1 seconds to win his trial. He trailed the leader, moved to the outside at the 700m and was strong at the finish. He is an emergency for Geelong on Sunday and is a winning chance if he gains a start. KEAYANG NINJA finished second after being three back on the markers and moving into the one out and one back trail at the 700m. He hasn’t raced since 2021 after finishing second in the Breeders Crown and third in the Wagon Apollo Mile in a slick mile of 1.55.5.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.8 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - Head, 8m
BLACKBOOKER: - Keayang Chucky
