A handful of horses who may shape the forthcoming Grand Circuit season impressed at Victorian trials this week, including Rock N Roll Doo who was stepping out after his Bendigo Cup misfortune.
In the hands of reinsman Anthony Butt, who'll steer the Pryde's EasiFeed Victoria Cup champion until injured trainer Michael Stanley returns, Rock N Roll Doo trialled at Geelong on Monday and swept impressively past Forty Thieves and Keayang Jackie to score.
This week also saw an appearance from Cranbourne, the US-bound Kiwi who has joined trainer David Aiken for a TAB Summer of Glory campaign.
He impressed at Shepparton on January 5 with an all-the-way win.
They were headliners this week, when Sheetweb Waver, Sweet Annie May and Oopzee Daizee were all added to the Blackbook.
Replays for all of the above can be seen below, with the updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
SHEPPARTON 05/01/23
Trial 1: - CRANBOURNE NZ is an extremely strong former New Zealand pacer, who finished second in the Junior FFA on New Zealand Cup Day then competed in the NZ FFA (Group 1 ) on Show Day. He has joined trainer David Aiken and prepared for his tilt at the Shepparton Cup tomorrow night with an effortless all of the way trial victory. HIRANYA NZ trailed the leader and was able to hold on well for second with NATIONAL NEWS NZ coming from last to pick up third. It was a nice display by NATIONAL NEWS NZ and he must be considered as a winning chance at Shepparton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.2 Last Half: - 56.3 Margins: - 5m, 15m
Trial 3: - MOMENTUM SWING settled three back on the markers and came to the outside at the 300m mark. He finished off strongly to defeat the early leader OCCIANO and considering OCCIANO won at Cobram three days later, the form line is strong for MOMENTUM SWING. He is awkwardly drawn at Maryborough on Monday but should prove hard to beat. DUSTONTHEBEACH settled four back on the inside and finished off nicely for a distant third.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.9 Last Half: - 58.2 Margins: - 1m, 10m
Trial 4: - SHEETWEB WEAVER galloped and finished tailed off on debut but if he trots all of the way at Kilmore tonight, he should prove very hard to beat. He settled three back on the inside, moved off the pegs at the 300m and finished fast to defeat the early leader LETTUCE TROT. LETTUCE TROT is resuming since a brave fourth in the 2021 Breeders Crown when he contests a heat of the Central Victorian Championship at Charlton this afternoon so he is a quality horse.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.1 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - Not given
BLACKBOOKER: - Sheetweb Weaver
MILDURA 05/01/23
Trial 1: - ELECTRIC EYE was prepared by David Aiken when he last raced in Victoria and had a short stint with Belinda McCarthy in New South Wales. He has joined trainer Luke Watson and considering he boasts a career best mile rate of 1.55.3 and has earned $62,522 in Stakes, he should be well placed at Mildura. He looked good at his first trial for new trainer Luke Watson as he led throughout and scored by a large margin. NEDS BEACH NZ settled four back on the inside, ended up being three back at the bell and moved to the outside at the 300m mark. He ran into a distant second with JAY MILLER (trailed leader) being in third spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.9 Last Half: - 61.5 Margins: - 20m, 6m
KILMORE 05/01/23
Trial 3: - CELESTIAL TREKKER is now being prepared by trainer Ben Yole and was able to lead throughout in the open class trial. He makes his debut for the new stable at Kilmore this evening but he is taking on a very strong field. FOCUS STRIDE has a National Rating of 98 and was clearly the class runner of the trial but it was still a very good effort. She settled last of the four runners, gave CELESTIAL TREKKER a big start and finished strongly out wide on the track.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - Head, 25.5m
MARYBOROUGH 08/01/23
Trial 1: - MAJOR DRAMA is an unraced filly by Art Major for trainer David Murphy. She led out, took a trail at the 1500m and sprinted home best to win in reasonable time. She is taking on a strong field at Hamilton on Sunday. I KNEW NOT WHERE settled in third position before working to the lead mid-race. She battled on well for a narrow second and should be fitter from that performance considering she hasn’t been to the races since April. TALK IS CHEAP settled in fifth position, came out three horses wide from the 400m and was doing his best work at the end to finish third.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.8 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - ½ head, 15m
Trial 2: - SWEET ANNIE MAY was extremely impressive in taking out the second trial. She settled last of the three runners, came out three horses wide on the home turn and finished off brilliantly to win by a comfortable margin. TRIPLE ZED finished second after trailing the leader throughout and the early pace maker PIRATES OFZANZIBAR was the last one to complete the course.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.7 Last Half: - 56.9 Margins: - 12m, 12m
BLACKBOOKER: - Sweet Annie May
Trial 3: - BACARDI PARDY settled five back on the markers in the early stages, moved away from the inside at the 700m and sustained a strong run to win nicely. ROMANTIC NINA worked hard to find the lead at the 1600m mark, ran along at a genuine tempo and was run down late. The eye-catching performance of the trial came from the Kerryn Manning trained filly OOPZEE DAIZEE. She performed extremely well at a Ballarat trial the week prior and she came from a long way behind the leaders to scoot into third place at the end to continue her good trial form.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 62.4 Margins: - 20m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: - Oopzee Daizee
GEELONG 09/01/23
Trail 1: - OOGA CHAKA defeated the two trotters KEAYANG CHUCKY (behind leader) and KEAYANG NINJA (3 back markers) in his all of the way success from the standing start. He bounced to the front, ran along at a very genuine tempo and established a big lead mid-race so he must be considered as a winning chance at Shepparton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.4 Last Half: - 61.4 Margins: - 50m, head
Trial 2: - ROCK N ROLL DOO NZ bounced back from his below par effort (choked down) in the Bendigo Cup with an easy trial success. He settled three back on the markers, came to the outside on the home turn and produced a powerful finishing burst from the home turn to win easily. FORTY THIEVES NZ finished second after trailing the leader throughout and KEAYANG JACKIE was third after setting the pace.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.9 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - 10m, 2m
Trial 5: - JILLIBY SELWOOD won at his first four races in succession before his form tapered off. He hasn’t raced since January 2022 but he produced a tidy display to defeat a handy field in the fifth trial. He settled four back on the inside, moved into the breeze at the 500m mark and finished solidly to get the prize. JUSTALITTLESIP NZ hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Victoria Derby in October. He came from last of the five runners, angled wide on the home turn and finished fast without being fully extended. FRANK BURNS NZ finished third after setting the speed and the former New Zealander BEACH HOPPER NZ (3 back pegs) was the fourth horse to complete the course. FRANK BURNS NZ should give a forward showing at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.0 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 2m, head
Trial 8: - VICTREE HILL settled down four back on the markers, made his move at the 500m and finished off quickly to win nicely. He is taking on a top field in the Hamilton Trotters Cup on Sunday but he possesses a powerful finishing burst. LADY IN THE SKY began quickly to find the lead and was run down on the line. ALDEBARAN HUEY trailed the leader, came to the outside on the home turn and wasn’t beaten by far in third. It is fair to say that each of the first three horses across the line had something left at the finish.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.3 Last Half: - 62.3 Margins: - 1m, 2m
SHEPPARTON 10/01/23
Trial 1: - The smart trotting mare ALDEBARAN KEEPA NZ hasn’t raced since finishing third in the Breeders Crown in November but she was able to defeat the pacers impressively. She settled down in seventh position then moved into the death seat at the bell before sustaining a long run to get the prize. CRYSTAL FLAME led out, took a trail at the 1400m, used the sprint lane and finished second with A PERFECT DREAM being third after being aggressively driven to find the lead mid-race.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.1 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - 2m, 1m
Trial 3: - FRANCO NORWAY NZ continued his impressive run of form at the trials with another fine effort. He was left stranded without cover, progressed forward to find the lead at the 1400m and scored in fast time, without being pushed at any stage. WILL HE PIKE finished second after leading out then taking cover and THE CRIMSON PRINCE NZ was third after settling down in sixth position then sprinting fast down the back straight on the final occasion.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.7 Last Half: - 57.9 Margins: - 5m, 12m
