Three Trial File blackbookers will chase Breeders Crown dreams this weekend, while the Victorian circuit has also delivered a great insight into the first race of the big Friday-Saturday double
Fides will step out tonight for Matt Craven in the Benstud Standardbreds Pace, his first outing since April 7 2020, and he looks well placed going on his Blackbook worthy trial at Terang on October 27.
Then on Saturday night two-year-old trotting filly Rockinwithattitude and two-year-old pacing filly Perfect In Pink will look to turn their Blackbook status into Group 1 wins.
But it's another Craven runner who may produce the first return for Trial File followers. Lotamuscle will step out in the first tonight, the DNR Logistics Trot, having impressed behind stable star Pink Galahs in a Hamilton trial last Friday.
That mention kicks off this week's Trial File notes, which included four more runners added to the Blackbook.
HAMILTON 11/11/22
Trial 1: - The outstanding mare PINK GALAHS was able to win the opening trial over her stable mate LOTAMUSCLE NZ, which was a winner of his latest appearance at Menangle. The mile rate was reasonable so LOTAMUSCLE NZ should prove hard to beat in the opening event at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.7 Last Half: - 59.1 Margins: - Not provided
Trial 2: - Trainer Matthew Craven was able to win all three trials on the program and provided the Quinella in both the first and second trials so he is a trainer worth following. BETTOR CALL ME NZ hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Chariots of Fire in February but he recorded fast time at his trial victory over FIDES, which did perform extremely well at a Terang trial victory several weeks prior. BETTOR CALL ME NZ faces a tough task in the open class event at Melton tonight when resuming against Honolua Bay but is a smart horse and is perfectly drawn. FIDES is also facing a strong field this evening but he possesses high speed.
Mile Rate: - 1.56.0 Last Half: - 55.4 Margins: - Not provided
BACCHUS MARSH 12/11/22
Trial 1: - BREATHE EASY performed below expectations at Ballarat last outing but bounced back with his comfortable trial victory in the opening event. He defeated the former New Zealander HEY GOYOUGOODTHING NZ, which backed up at Geelong on Wednesday night but raced greenly and failed to beat a runner to the line. ANDREW has been freshened since being unplaced in a heat of the Victoria Derby and was the third horse to cross the line. He should run a good race at Warragul on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 57.3 Margins: - 10m, 2.5m
Trial 4: - CINQUANTA recorded slow time but she is a beautifully bred filly being by Huntsville out of the top mare Self Denial so she is worth following on breeding alone. She drew on the pole position and scored by a large margin over ALFS GIRL with SWEET HOUDINI being a further break away in third spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.3 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - 10m, 15m
Trial 5: - HURRICANE HUSSLER has been freshened since his latest unplaced effort at Melton and recorded fast time to score comfortably in his trial. He defeated VILLAGE VOICE with the outstanding trotting mare QUEEN ELIDA finishing third. QUEEN ELIDA will prove very hard to beat in the Breeders Crown Final for 4yo Mares at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.1 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - 15m, 8m
Trial 7: - The New South Wales trained trotter WATTS UP MAJESTIC won the open class event by a good margin and recorded fast time. He is a speedy type and finished third at Menangle in a mile of 1.56.7 at his latest appearance. He is competing the 4yo Entires + Geldings Breeders Crown Final this evening and defeated MAJESTICAL BELLE, OFORTUNA and THAT’S NOT MY GAIT, all of which are also competing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.7 Last Half: - 58.4 Margins: - 15m, 3m
KILMORE 17/11/22
Trial 1: - The mile rate was slow in the opening trial but ON THE HUNT appeared to be impressive. She settled three back on the inside and produced a big finish in a slick final quarter of 28.2 seconds to score easily. She is an unraced daughter of Huntsville and is out of the three times winning mare Petite Agee (1.56.2, $17,983).
Mile Rate: - 2.5.0 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - 9m, 20m
BLACKBOOKER: - On The Hunt
MARYBOROUGH 13/11/22
Trial 1: - RADIUS continues to perform nicely at the trials and was able to win the opening event by a large margin after settling three back on the markers and sprinting quickly from the 600m. KEAYANG SPEAK trailed the leader KARMA QUEEN and was able to work past that mare to finish in second. KATIES WAY was beaten by a long way but she settled last of the five runners and by the time she commenced her run, the leaders were a long way in front of her and she did pick up ground on the second and third place getters over the concluding stages.
Mile Rate: - 1.56.2 Last Half: - 57.7 Margins: - 60m, 2m
Trial 3: - TICTOK is an emergency at Tabcorp Park Melton tonight but produced a good performance to defeat SIR EROS in preparation for the potential effort. She trailed behind the leader SIR EROS and was a little too fast down the home straight. LADY MADGE LEWIS settled four back on the markers and finished strongly for third. She backed up at Stawell on Thursday and finished fifth after enduring a tough run. MISS BROOMFIELD picked up ground after galloping early but she made another error when unplaced at Maryborough on Wednesday.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.3 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 2m, 20m
Trial 7: - WHOS COUNTN prepared for his performance in the St Arnaud Trotters Cup on Sunday with a soft trial win from the standing start. He stepped quickly to lead, set up a slow tempo and was able to hang on in the run to the finish. JUST ABIT DUSTY has galloped in all of his five starts to date and also made an error in the trial but he did show some potential. He missed away by approximately 30m, settled five back on the inside and finished nicely for a close second so he might show some improvement the next time he steps out onto the track.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.8 Last Half: - 58.5 Margins: - Neck, 20m
BENDIGO 15/11/22
Trial 2: - TOORAM CEE CEE might have posted a very slow mile rate but he appears to be a nice type and he is nicely bred being by Betterthancheddar out of the classy mare Lady Octavia (1.57.2, $128,724). He settled four back on the inside and commenced his winning run from the quarter pole, getting away from the early leader EXTRINSIC to win by a comfortable margin.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.1 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - 8m, 2m
Trial 4: - WOW YOU CAN DANCE prepared for his first up performance at Melton this evening with a narrow victory over LOST FOUR WORDS. He settled last of the four runners, moved into the one out and one back trail, and came out three horses wide on the home turn. LOST FOUR WORDS trailed the leader and came to the outside at the 600m so he produced a good display. The early leader BOXOFCHOCOLATES was third and SPORT MENTAL (3 back markers, sprint lane) wasn’t far away in fourth.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.9 Last Half: - 56.7 Margins: - Head, 3m
Trial 5: - KYVALLEY CHIEF NZ hasn’t been racing at his best form recently but he would have gained plenty of confidence with his easy victory over EVERYBODYLOVESME. He settled four back on the inside and moved out three horses wide at the 500m mark. He is taking on a top field including Just Believe in the Breeders Crown Graduate FFA this evening. EVERYBODYLOVESME trailed the leader and made a move at the 500m mark. It was a tidy effort and she should be competitive at Bendigo on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.5 Last Half: - 60.5 Margins: - 4m, Nose
Trial 7: - MONTANA CHEVELLE prepared for her effort in a Breeders Crown event at Bendigo on Tuesday night with a victory over ZESTA LA GO GO. She was in the one out and one back trail early before being left without cover and pushed forward to find the lead at the bell. ZESTA LA GO GO backed up at Echuca on Thursday night but finished unplaced after galloping in the home straight.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.8 Last Half: - 62.7 Margins: - 6m, 6m
Trial 8: - WHATWILLBEEWILLBEE has an exceptional record from the standing start, despite the fact he struggles to stand still before the tapes release. He stepped away well to trail the leader KYVALLEY CLICHY and proved to be superior in the home straight. KYVALLEY CLICHY appeared to have his chance in front and is competing against a very strong field at Melton this evening.
TABCORP PARK, MELTON 15/11/22
Trial 4: - PACIFICO DREAM has been ticking along nicely at the trials and recorded a soft win in the open class event. He was without cover early before progressing forward to find the lead and was never in danger of defeat. MISTER MACEDON produced a very nice performance to come from last of the three runners and pick up second ahead of JEAN LUC. Considering MISTER MACEDON has a National Rating of 68 and his two rivals are rated much higher (120 + 85), he should be competitive when he next steps out onto the track, which is at Warragul on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.9 Last Half: - 56.13 Margins: - 3.5m, ½ neck
Blackbooker: - Mister Macedon
Trial 5: - STARZZZ DESTINY is an unraced gelding and was able to lead throughout to defeat the proven winners in GLENFERRIEMAN (4 back pegs) and BENBULLAN (5 back pegs) so it was a good performance. He was headed by GLENFERRIEMAN in the home straight but kicked back strongly at the end. To add further merit to the performance, GLENFERRIEMAN’s last racetrack appearance was in a semi-final of the Breeders Crown and will be contesting the Breeders Crown Silver event at Bendigo on Tuesday night. STARZZZ DESTINY will be making his debut at Warragul on Monday and should prove very hard to beat.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Last Half: - 57.96 Margins: - ½ head, 6.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - STARZZZ DESTINY
Trial 8: - The former New Zealander WHISKEY CAVALIER NZ is scheduled to make his Australian debut at Melton this evening and he performed well enough in his trial to suggest he will be competitive. He settled four back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 800m, hit the front at the 600m and seemed to switch off once he found the top. He was able to hold on and score but one gains the impression there was a lot more left in reserve. UPSIZE ME NZ trailed WHISKEY CAVALIER NZ all of the way after coming from five back on the markers and gaining a one out and one back trail from the 800m. He finished second and LORD VERDE NZ ran home strongly from last to pick up third.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.3 Last Half: - 55.24 Margins: - 2.5m, 15m
BALLARAT 15/11/22
Trial 1: - TRADIE LADY was probably the star triallist of the week and is worth following. The juvenile trotter took on the pacers, trailed the leader and came to the outside at the 350m mark. She won with plenty in reserve so the future appears to be bright. She is also very well bred being by Trixton out of the French bred mare Glenferrie Unixa, which had several starts in New Zealand and has produced the classy trotters Une Belle Allure and Beau Garcon. LEDECKY, which has been placed at her only two starts to date, finished second after leading and SWEET BELLA (3 back pegs) went to the line under a strong hold to finish in third spot. TRADIE LADY will make her debut in a Breeders Crown Silver event and will take on some talented horses including Uptown Lad but she should give a bold display.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.6 Last Half: - 58.2 Margins: - 3m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: - Tradie Lady
Trial 3: - Only two horses contested the third trial but the 2021 Queensland Oaks runner up SOHO BROADWAY was impressive. She hasn’t raced since winning at Gloucester Park in May but she was still able to race past a handy mare in BONNIE BELLE to win by a good margin.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.2 Last Half: - 58.0 Margin: - 10m
Trial 4: - CANT TOP THIS was able to lead throughout and win the fourth trial but the efforts of his two stable mates MAJOR MOTH and HES IDEAL were very solid. MAJOR MOTH settled last of the three runners, came to the outside at the 300m and went to the line with something in reserve. HES IDEAL trailed the leader, never peeled to the outside at any stage and went to the line bolting at the end.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.7 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - 1m, 3m
STAWELL 17/11/22
Trial 2: - The handy mare MUCKINBAR DIVA used the Stawell trials as a stepping stone to her first up run at Mildura on Monday night. She was able to win the trial from YOU BEAUTY with the juvenile pacer YANKEE MOJOH being a distant third. It is a small field in which MUCKINBAR DIVA is competing at Mildura and she is a definite winning chance.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.1 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - 1.5m, 41m
