Prettyboy Harry was very green in his debut through the Vicbred Super Series in September, but showed he’s got a stack of ability with an impressive trial display last week.
The Brent Thomson-trained squaregaiter thrashed his rivals at Shepparton and his performance quickly saw Craig Rail add him to his Blackbook.
He was joined on the list of horses to follow by Gary and Debbie Quinlan’s trotter Beratini, who trialed well at Melton on Monday night as he warms up for his first start since December last year.
TRIAL REPORT
SHEPPARTON 05/10/23
Trial 1: - SERG BLANCO NZ hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Blacks A Fake FFA in June but he appeared to be very comfortable in his trial victory, where he led throughout. WESTERN SONADOR settled last of the three runners and worked into second position with the unraced gelding FOLLOWTHEACE (trailed leader) being the last one across the line but he was taking on open class horses.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.8 Last Half: - 56.6 Margins: - 8m, 12m
Tria 4: - PRETTYBOY HARRY took on a very good field in a heat of the Super Series at his debut. He is a promising horse and once he gets into the maiden class, he will prove hard to beat. He led throughout to win his trial by thirty metres with SILVER SPOON being in second after trailing the leader and NIGHT SKY was last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.5 Last Half: - 59.6 Margins: - 30m, 18m
BLACKBOOKER: - Prettyboy Harry
Trial 5: - BIG BAD OSSIE began quickly to find the lead, took cover and moved away from the markers on the home turn. He finished off quickly to defeat the early leader KICKER ROCK with JAPANESE MIKI being a distant third after settling four back on the markers. BIG BAD OSSIE hasn’t raced since February and will be shooting for a hat trick when he returns from a spell. KICKER ROCK is a promising maiden that is yet to make his debut.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 58.1 Margins: - Head, 15m
MARYBOROUGH 08/10/23
Trial 1: - VAPAR BRENDA hasn’t raced since being unplaced at Ballarat in May. She settled four back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 600m and finished off boldly to win the trial. TRAVEL BUG began very quickly to lead then took cover and moved to the outside on the home turn. He continued his good trial form with a handy finishing second. THE PENNY DROPS was third across the line after pushing forward to lead shortly after the start.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - Head, 5m
Trial 3: - OUR ULTIMATE GRACY NZ continued her very good trial form with a runaway victory. She powered to the lead shortly after the start and completely dominated in winning by fifty metres. WELEASE WOGER trailed the leader throughout and finished second with CARRAMAR BULLOCK being last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.9 Last Half: - 59.5 Margins: - 50m, 150m
Trial 6: - AETOS DYNAMIS continued his very good trial form with an easy victory over GAELIC SON. He trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers at the bell, moved away from the inside at the 150m and scored untouched. He backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night and was able to record a victory at his debut. GAELIC SON was four back on the markers until moving to the outside at the 700m and ROMANTIC NINA broke stride several times in the run but still managed third.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.0 Last Half: - 61.0 Margins: - 4m, 4m
CRANBOURNE 08/10/23
Trial 1: - KHEIRON appeared to be well graded in the trial considering his National Rating of 64 and once he bounced to the front from the standing start, he was always in control. He raced away to win by a large margin over MOJITO MADNESS, which lost approximately thirty metres with a bad getaway then came from three back on the markers to finish in second. THUNDER WING trailed the leader throughout and was the third horse across the line. KHEIRON commences from the handicap of 30m in his effort at Warragul on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.3 Last Half: - 60.3 Margins: - 24m, 2m
Trial 2: - SPRING BLUE was an impressive winner of the final trial. She settled three back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail on the home turn and only came to the outside with fifty metres remaining before sprinting very fast at the finish. PERSHING trailed the leader and came to the outside at the 300m, hitting the lead in the straight before being run down at the end. DEMON REACTOR was third after trying to lead throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.9 Last Half: - 60.3 Margins: - 1m, 8m
MELTON 09/10/23
Trial 1: - BERATINI was the slowest away from the standing start but made a move from the 1300m and quickly got around the field to find the lead at the 1100m. He sustained a long run and scored impressively. EWING trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and moved to the death seat at the 700m mark. He battled on well and considering he is a juvenile trotter taking on older horses, it was a good performance. NAKEDTRUTH came from four back on the markers to finish in third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.0 Last Half: - 59.59 Margins: - 8m, ½ head
BLACKBOOKER: - Beratini
Trial 4: - KARTIARE is a gelding by Bling It On out of the fast mare Misty Cullen. He was able to lead throughout to defeat HES FROM HEAVEN NZ, which trailed the leader and came to the outside on the home, missing out narrowly. OUR SAYDIE KAY was four back on the markers before coming to the outside at the 500m mark and finished a close up third. The overall time was reasonable and the top three pacers finished well ahead of the remainder of the field.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.2 Last Half: - 57.38 Margins: - ½ head, 2m
Trial 7: - CAPTAIN BELLASARIO finished off in sizzling final sectionals to win the open class trial from Victoria Cup aspirant CAPTAIN RAVISHING with WHERES SEGGY being third across the line. PRIVATE EYE backed up his eye-catching trial performance a week earlier with a fourth placed effort with MAJESTIC CRUISER being last of the five runners across the line. CAPTAIN BELLASARIO strikes a suitable race at Melton tomorrow night and should prove hard to beat.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.4 Last Half: - 54.72 Margins: - ½ neck, 6.5m
Trial 8: - I AM PEGASUS showed brilliant gate speed to lead, raced keenly throughout the middle stages and remained strong at the finish to win easily. She failed to beat a runner to the line at her latest performance in August but she appeared to be back to her best form in the trial. LATRELL NZ trailed the leader throughout and finished in second position with IRON LOVE coming from last of the four runners to fill third spot. ETSIC ETAITVRAI was three back on the inside and was last of the four runners to cross the line but she is a 3yo filly and was taking on the Metropolitan class trotters.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.5 Last Half: - 59.88 Margins: - 12.5m, 2m
Trial 10: - ARCEE PHOENIX prepared for his effort in the Bill Collins Sprint at Melton tomorrow night with a big win over HOT TO TROT NZ. He was four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m and finished off hard in a slick last quarter of 27.7 seconds. He is facing the toughest test of his career tomorrow night but he is right at his peak form. HOT TO TROT NZ was taking on a top field and produced a game effort to finish second. He trailed the leader and came to the outside with 500m remaining. He is racing in the final event at Melton tomorrow night and might run a cheeky race. OFORTUNA finished third after setting the speed with EGRET (3 back pegs) and CRAVACHE DOR (5 back pegs) being fourth and fifth respectively but were never fully extended.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.6 Last Half: - 57.43 Margins: - 1.5m, 7.5m
