You didn’t have to win to catch the eye on the Victorian trials circuit this week, with a series of second-placed runners wowing.
Antonov, Dead Set Crazy and The Priestess all joined the Trial File Blackbook after hitting the line second.
Antonov followed in fellow trotter Aldebaran Dino at Shepparton, where the former Kiwi impressed for his new co-trainer Rebecca Bartley and Stephen O’Donoghue, particuarly given his modest national rating.
Emma Stewart also revealed an impressive trotter in The Priestess, who ran second to her resuming Group 1 winner Susan Is Her Name.
The Priestess has brilliant bloodlines, with the Alabar mare from the late Dr Martin Hartnett’s Illawong Moonshine, making her a half to Cover Of Darkness who won $114,860 for Stewart.
Former Queensland trotter Dead Set Crazy, who’s has joined Craig Demmler also impressed, while lightly raced Kiwi pacer Outmazing won his trial for Tim McGuigan to also come under notice.
Here are this week’s highlights from the circuit, with the updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
SHEPPARTON 22/06/23
Trial 1: – SPRING IN HIS STEP began quickly to find the lead at the 1800m, ran along at a genuine tempo and remained strong at the finish to beat a very good line up. LINE UP NZ began quickly to lead, took a trail behind SPRING IN HIS STEP then went to the line hard held on the back of the winner. MAX DELIGHT settled last of the eight runners, moved away from the pegs at the 800m and continued to make ground over the final stages.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.4 Last Half: – 56.9 Margins: – 5m, 5m
Trial 3: – AJAY BREEZY ROSE showed very good gate speed to lead, enjoyed a nice run mid-race and finished off in slick final sectionals to win well. That was her last hit-out before preparing for a trip to Queensland and she should go very well at Redcliffe on Sunday. KIA ORA BEAUTY settled down last of the seven runners, came to the outside at the 800m mark and sustained a long run to finish a game second. TREACHEROUS LASS was third after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.2 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 8m, head
Trial 4: – ALDEBARAN DINO continued his very good trial form when he ran along at a genuine tempo and was untroubled in scoring. He makes his return at Melton tomorrow night and should make his presence felt. The former New Zealand trotter ANTONOV NZ produced a cracking trial for second, considering he has a National Rating of just 52! He trailed ALDEBARAN DINO throughout and seemingly had something in reserve, beating the remainder of the field by fifty metres. LIZZIES SON settled five back on the inside, moved around to be third on the pegs at the 1300m and finished a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – 8m, 50m
BLACKBOOKER: – Antonov NZ
BACCHUS MARSH 24/06/23
Trial 3: – EL BOSTON was able to win the fast class trial in reasonable time. He has been unplaced at his past five attempts but the trial victory would have given him some confidence. SWEET MIRACLE hasn’t raced since March and finished in second ahead of JEMSTONE GLORY.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.8 Last Half: – 59.4 Margins: – 8m, 12m
Trial 6: – PERFIDIOUS SUE is bred to pace and has had a few gait issues at the beginning of her career but her recent trial form has been encouraging and she does have ability when she is able to put it altogether. She was able to win her trial from MONT SALLY with GENTLEMAN SIR NZ, which hasn’t raced since February 2022, being third across the line. PERFIDIOUS SUE can run a good race at Maryborough this afternoon and MONT SALLY has an awkward drawn in the sixth event of the same program.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.1 Last Half: – 62.3 Margins: – 6m, 150m
Trial 7: – OUTMAZING NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which joins trainer Tim McGuigan. He was able to win by a large margin over IM WESLEY with ADMIRALOFTHEFLEET being a similar distance away in third position. OUTMAZING NZ was unplaced in three New Zealand appearances but is worth following in Australia and will take beating at Warragul on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.0 Last Half: – 60.3 Margins: – 15m, 15m
BLACKBOOKER: – Outmazing NZ
ECHUCA 25/06/23
Trial 2: – SHES RUBY ROO trailed the leader, moved to the outside on the home turn and finished off strongly to get up and score. She is competing in a Group 2 event at Menangle on Saturday night. VATICAN HILL NZ began quickly to set the speed, was still in front with fifty metres remaining but broke stride under pressure and lost his winning chance. OVERIT was last of the three runners throughout and continually lost ground in the final lap but he is an unraced maiden and was taking on proven winners.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.8 Last Half: – 60.8 Margins: – Head, Distanced
Trial 3: – OUR CHRISTIANO began quickly from a wide draw to trail the leader, moved away from the inside at the 300m and finished off best to win comfortably. ALIZA HILL finished second after trying to lead throughout and EBONY SANDS was third across the line after being three back on the markers throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.9 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 3m, 15m
MELTON 26/06/23
Trial 3: – DORA LEE is an unraced filly by Majestic Son out of the fine race mare Dora Pepperell. She trailed the leader and came to the outside with a half mile remaining. She sustained a strong run to win comfortably. DEAD SET CRAZY is a former Queensland trotter, which joins trainer Craig Demmler. He settled down last of the six runners, came to the outside at the 800m mark and made up a lot of ground for an eye-catching second. JOEY BEE finished third after attempting to lead throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.0 Last Half: – 60.49 Margins: – 10m, 6.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Dead Set Crazy
Trial 4: – ORCHID STRIDE hasn’t raced since a second at Menangle in March but was impressive in winning the trial after leading throughout in a slick mile rate of 1.55.4. She has a National Rating of 96 so she is on a tough mark but she is very fast and is obviously at her peak. IM A DENNY TOO NZ came from last of the three to run into second and MILLWOOD DIOR NZ (trailed leader) was the last horse to complete the course.
Trial 5: – QUEEN OF QUEBEC galloped wildly at the start but didn’t lose much ground. She settled four back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 300m and quickly moved alongside of the leader BUCKLES on the home turn. She raced roughly turning for home but was too strong in the run to the finish. SIR ED trailed the leader and worked home well for second. He returns from a spell at Maryborough this afternoon and looms as one of the leading chances. DESTRIER came from five back on the inside and worked into third position. BUCKLES peaked late and ended up being fourth across the line but is nicely drawn at Maryborough today.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.4 Last Half: – 59.19 Margins: – 9.5m, 8m
Trial 7: – ARCEE PHOENIX settled three back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 300m and produced a big finish to score in fast time. He remains undefeated in four starts for the season and he continues to impress. I AM PEGASUS trailed the leader and finished second with the early leader ROCKINWITHATTITUDE being third past the post after galloping in the final 100m.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.2 Last Half: – 57.76 Margins: – 16m, ½ head
Trial 8: – SIR EROS won the Tontine Championship then galloped away and lost his chance at his latest unplaced run. He led out then took cover at the 1300m and used the sprint lane to win the trial easily. He is backing up at Melton tomorrow night and should run a good race. ALDEBARAN DEMI settled three back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail with 300m remaining and worked into second with CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY (4 back pegs) being third past the post after moving into the death seat at the 600m.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 60.82 Margins: – 3.5m, 9.5m
HORSHAM 26/06/23
Trial 2: – EASTBRO ADELE hasn’t raced since being unplaced at Hamilton in January. She was able to win her trial by a good margin over THREELIVES, which is an unraced filly by Huntsville for trainer Shannon Edwards and UNIVERSAL BOSS finished a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.7 Last Half: – 60.40 Margins: – 12m, 98m
BENDIGO 26/06/23
Trial 1: – HILLSIDE stepped away reasonably from the standing start and settled three back on the markers. He moved to the death seat with 600m remaining and sustained a long run to win impressively. EVERYBODYLOVESME was slow to begin and missed the start by approximately 40m. She was able to make up the leeway quite comfortably in a slow early tempo then remained four back on the inside. She only came to the outside with 100m remaining and finished off fast for a game second. She is resuming from a break at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 2.12.0 Last Half: – 58.70 Margins: – 1m, 14m
Trial 2: – SHEZ A WARRIOR is a former New South Wales pacer, which joins trainer Julie Douglas. She scored by a narrow margin after leading throughout but she went to the line under a strong hold and recorded slick final sectionals. She is awkwardly drawn at Charlton on Monday but is not without a chance. OZZIE JOYBELL trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 600m and went down by a narrow margin. The classy trotter COURMAYEUR finished a close up third after settling last of the four runners and working home well late.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.0 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – Head, Head
Trial 4: – IMNOPUMPKIN was clearly the class runner of the field and was able to land the prize after leading throughout. EGRET is a classy trotter and finished a game second after coming from last of the five runners. She is a reserve for a Group 2 race at Menangle on Saturday. DIDSHEDOIT NZ led out then took cover and finished in third with OZZIE SWEET PEA being fourth across the line after making a move from four back on the markers at the 700m. DIDSHEDOIT NZ is competing at Charlton on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.5 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 10m, 3m
Trial 5: – THAT’S YOUR OPINION hasn’t raced since a debut second in December but he appeared to be very sharp in his trial victory over ALFIE ALWAYS. He settled three back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 400m and sprinted quickly to snare victory on the line. ALFIE ALWAYS won two races in succession prior to galloping away at Charlton. He showed gate speed to lead and was run down on the line. He is drawn awkwardly at Maryborough this afternoon but looms as a strong winning chance.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.8 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – Head, 3m
BALLARAT 27/06/23
Trial 1: – AMERICAN VICTORY began quickly to lead, set up a slow tempo and hung out under pressure on the home turn but was able to kick on strongly in the straight. He held off BEST DEAL, which settled four back on the markers and obtained an inside run to drive into second position. BROWNIESATMIDNIGHT was three back on the markers throughout and moved into the death seat at the 300m. He finished third in front of the former Queensland pacer GOODTIME LOUIS, which trailed the leader, was held up badly for a run and went to the line under a throttle hold. He finished last of four runners but showed plenty of promise.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.7 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – Head, 2m
Trial 2: – KEAYANG HONEYJOY trailed the leader, came to the outside at the quarter pole and finished off best to defeat the early leader GOODTIME MIKI with the Tatlow Stakes winner PETRACCA finishing last of the three runners but going to the line hard held without coming to the outside at any stage.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.5 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 2m, 1m
Trial 4: – SUSAN IS HER NAME hasn’t raced since winning the Breeders Crown at Melton in November. She led throughout and won comfortably. THE PRIESTESS trailed the leader and came to the outside on the home turn. She chased hard in a slick last quarter and produced a fine display for a juvenile taking on older horses. KEAYANG GUCCI was last of the three runners throughout but was out three horses wide from the home turn and wasn’t beaten by far.
Mile Rate: – 2.10.9 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 2m, head
BLACKBOOKER: – The Priestess
