La Machane won 20 of her 61 starts and more than $330,000 for connections in Ross and Greg Sugars' care and the mare's making just as big an impression in the breeding barn.
Having given us La Puddie ($137,179) and La Captain ($182,020), the Bettors Delight mare has another nice type in Benbullan, who has zipped into the Trial File Blackbook.
In Jayne Davies' care, the four-year-old entire won one of his two starts as a two-year-old but hasn't been seen since breaking and running 12th on October 31, 2022.
However, he has reemerged and caught the eye with his Cranbourne trial to be one of four Blackbook additions.
Here are this week's highlights from the Victorian trials circuit, with updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
SHEPPARTON 21/03/24
Trial 1: - DANGEROUS began well and ended up being behind the leader before coming to the outside with 500m remaining. He finished off fast and was able to get up in slick time. WESTERN SONADOR began quickly to find the lead and was run down in the latter stages. MONGIANA was three back on the markers throughout and finished a distant last of the three runners.
Mile Rate: - 1.56.4 Last Half: - 55.1 Margins: - 1m, 20m
Trial 2: - NO LUCK began quickly to find the lead and ran along at even tempo. He kicked on well and finished off in handy final sectionals to win the trial. He backed up at Shepparton on Tuesday night and recorded an impressive win on debut. MIKI LOCH trailed the leader throughout and finished in second with LILLY LOTUS being in third after being three back on the markers and moving up without cover at the 500m mark.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.2 Last Half: - 57.6 Margins: - 4m, 1m
Trial 3: - The classy trotter LOCKSLEY LOVER settled in seventh position, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 1300m and raced without cover from the 1100m. He hit the lead at the 500m and sustained the run to win by a large margin. SON OF A BROAD began well and was out three horses wide early before angling onto the markers to end up being three back on the inside. He finished off reasonably well for second with SHEZA PLEASURE making a move from sixth to find the lead at the 1100m and battling into third.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.9 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - 20m, 15m
Trial 6: - HONEST HARRIETTE settled four back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m, came out three horses wide on the home turn and finished off best to win the prize. She followed with an unplaced effort at Shepparton on Tuesday night but was unsuited in a leader dominated event. KICKER ROCK was three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 500m and hit the front at the 300m. He was run down late but battled on quite well for second. THEVICEPRESIDENT settled five back on the markers, moved into the running lane (1-2) at the 500m and switched back to the inner in the home straight. He finished off fast for a game third and must be given a winning chance at Victor Harbor on Sunday afternoon.
Mile Rate – 2.2.8 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - Head, Neck
BACCHUS MARSH 23/03/24
Trial 1: - The classy trotters for trainer Jess Tubbs DICHOTOMY and SHES RUBY ROO did battle in the opening trial. It was a standing start event and considering a slow mile rate of 2.14.7 and with only a head separating the pair, it seems the trial was just like track work with DICHOTOMY scoring by a narrow margin.
Mile Rate: - 2.14.7 Last Half: - 62.3 Margin: - Head
Trial 4: - CALEDONIAN TERRA hasn’t raced since November but he was a dominant winner of his trial over RENDEZVOUS, which also hasn’t raced for some time. TRIROCKIN is out of the former classy mare Triliner and he hasn’t raced since July last year but was able to manage to pick up third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.1 Last Half: - 60.8 Margins: - 15m, 3m
Trial 8: - FEARLESS WRITER is an unraced filly by Sports Writer out of Be Not Afraid (1.56.6, $39,115) with which trainer Phillip Chircop prepared to five victories between 2016 and 2019. She was able to win the trial by a narrow margin over FULL MOON, which is a lightly raced pacer for trainer Tim McGuigan. GOODTIME LOUIS hasn’t started since September but was able to finish a close up third ahead of MIKI SHEFFIELD.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.3 Last Half: - 61.2 Margins: - Nose, 3m
Trial 9: - TALLULAH LEE is a speedy pacer that hasn’t had much luck in two starts back from a spell. She has a personal best time of 1.55.6 and would have gained some confidence with her trial victory over SHADOW CELT, which boasts the record of three wins and a third from just four attempts. SOMEBEACHDREAMIN finished a distant third with VILLAGE VOICE being the fourth horse across the line. TALLULAH LEE will be competing at Charlton on Monday and is awkwardly drawn on the inside of the second line.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.6 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 1.5m, 15m
MARYBOROUGH 23/03/24
Trial 1: - KYRGIOS is an unraced gelding by Auckland Reactor for trainer Trevor Patching. He is out of Arbit Serena (2.0.5, $18,547) and won his trial comfortably after settling three back on the markers and moving into the death seat at the 900m. He will be making his debut at Charlton on Monday. ZERO DOUBT finished in second position after setting the speed and is backing up at Stawell on Friday. HES GONESKI was third across the line after settling down in fifth before finding the back of the eventual winner KYRGIOS in the final circuit. He will also be competing at Stawell.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.9 Last Half: - 59.1 Margins: - 10m, 6m
Trial 3: - DESTINY KEPT is an unraced juvenile filly by Changeover out of Daintys Rose for trainer Trevor Patching. She led throughout to win her qualifying trial by a comfortable margin and is a close relation to the in-form pacer Watching The Boys. She will be making her debut at Charlton on Monday. FUEGO CRUZADO Is a filly by Ultimate Machete for Shaun and Jason McNaulty. She came from last of the three runners and was doing her best work at the end. NIGHT TRIPZ, a filly by Follow The Stars for trainer Wayne Jackson, was last of the three runners home after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.1 Last Half: _ 60.3 Margins: - 12m, 1m
ECHUCA 24/03/24
Trial 1: - TWILIGHT BEACH settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 1000m and ran home well out wide on the track to get the prize. LOOK AWAY settled three back on the inside and also finished off well to be beaten narrowly in a blanket finish. The trotter INSPIRE was three horses wide early, ended up being in the one out and one back trail before being left without cover. He eventually got cover again in the last lap before being held up for a run at a vital stage and finishing off well via the sprint lane. CROCODILE BLOOD was behind the leader early before circling around to find the front mid-race and finished just ahead over COVERED KYLIE, which led out then took cover at the 1100m. COVERED KYLIE is perfectly drawn on the pole position for her effort at Cranbourne on Friday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.2 Last Half: - 63.0 Margins: - Head, Head
Trial 3: - OUR ART WORK is a strong pacer and was always going to be hard to run down once he found the lead. He was able to kick on too well at the end and secured a trial victory. REBEL WITH A GRIN NZ trailed the leader and used the sprint lane to finish second and BE A GOOD SCOUT finished last of the three runners but wasn’t beaten by far after trying to make a run from three back on the markers at the quarter pole. The second placed REBEL WITH A GRIN NZ is scheduled to compete at Cranbourne tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.9 Last Half: - 60.5 Margins: - 2m, Head
CRANBOURNE 24/03/24
Trial 1: - MARIANNA BROMAC NZ was able to work home in a reasonable final half to get the prize in the opening trial. She disappointed first up since December but she is obviously getting fitter and is backing up at Cranbourne tomorrow night. IM ROWDY started from the pole position and finished in second position with REINDER backing up a reasonable trial effort a week earlier to pick up third. REINDER will be competing at Echuca on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.5 Last Half: - 57.7 Margins: - 3m, 1.5m
Trial 3: - BENBULLAN is a beautifully bred pacer, which won on debut then galloped at his second attempt back in October 2022 and hasn’t been back to the races since. He is a smart horse and indicated he was ready for a big first up performance with his runaway trial success. GOTTAHAVEAHOBBIE finished in second position ahead of EYECON NZ, which recently joined trainer Kyle Marshall and JILLIBY DINGO was last of the four runners across the line. The second placed GOTTAHAVEAHOBBIE will be competing at Cranbourne tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.1 Last Half: - 56.9 Margins: - 18.5m, 1.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Benbullan
BENDIGO 25/03/24
Trial 2: - BILLY ZIPPIN has always shown his fair share of ability and was able to lead throughout from a wide draw to win his trial. STARTEDASAWHISPER trailed the leader and came to the outside at the 300m mark. She chased hard and finished a close second. WINNIES DREAM settled four back on the inside and worked into third ahead of SOPHIES MOTION, which used the sprint lane from last and went to the line hard held.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.8 Last Half: - 62.4 Margins: - 1m, 1m
Trial 5: - VOLDAGHA is a juvenile colt for trainer Rebecca Bartley. He is by Volstead out of Cashel Dagha, the dam of four winners including Kyvalley Boomerang (1.57.4, $244,034) and Flash Kyvalley (1.56.6, $164,692). He was without cover early before pushing forward to lead at the 1100m and was able to score convincingly. PATRICIA RUBY NZ led out then took cover and finished second with ENCHAUFFOUR being last of the three runners across the line but putting in a big performance after galloping mid-race and chasing very hard in the last lap.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.4 Last Half: - 63.4 Margins: - 10m, 14m
BLACKBOOKER: - Voldagha
Trial 6: - The American bred trotter NABRINA USA came from three back on the markers and produced a strong finish to win over THIRD EYE, which trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 500m and hit the lead on the home turn. SEEYOUINMYDREAMS worked home well from being five back on the markers to be in third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.9 Last Half: - 61.4 Margins: - 2m, 10m
Trial 7: - TOORAM MAGIC was a very impressive winner of the seventh trial. He settled four back on the inside, came away from the markers at the 1600m, dashed to the lead at the 1400m and won untouched by a handy margin. He is nicely drawn for his debut performance at Charlton on Monday and should prove hard to beat. OUR ULTIMATE GRACY NZ trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and moved to the outside with 300m remaining. She chased hard and ran a game second. ITZ NORMAS LAST led out then took cover and finished a distant third. She will be competing at Echuca on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.7 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 8m, 25m
BLACKBOOKER: - Tooram Magic
Trial 8: - BETTER KISS ME began quickly and pushed forward to find the lead at the 1800m. He ran along at a genuine tempo and sustained the run to win the trial nicely. He is backing up at the Charlton meeting on Sunday. OUR LUCIANO settled six back on the inside, moved up without cover at the 700m and sprinted quickly in the last lap to run an eye-catching second. He continued his strong trial form and is backing up at Melton on Saturday night. PLAYNICE began quickly to lead, took cover and battled on fairly well for a distant third. He is scheduled to compete at Charlton on Monday. The trotter ZAREM battled on well from four back on the markers to finish fourth in quick time.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.0 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 4m, 12m
Trial 9: - DANGEROUS began quickly and was able to angle in behind the leader on the first turn. He came to the outside on the home turn and finished off best in handy time to make it two trial victories in less than a week. VANQUISH STRIDE NZ settled six back on the inside, came away from the markers at the 500m and sprinted very fast until peaking a little at the 100m but he still produced a game performance. He has drawn on the pole position in the Tiger Tara FFA at Melton on Saturday night. MONGIANA settled three back on the inside, used the passing lane and finished off nicely for third in front of the early leader LUDACROUS.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.8 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 6m, head
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 26/03/24
Trial 1: - KEAYANG KURKI is a juvenile trotter for trainer Antti Ruokonen and produced a very good performance after galloping away and losing 30m at the start. She was five back on the inside and sprinted sharply to win easily. She is by the American bred stallion Royalty For Life, whom has 8 live foals on the ground in Australia, out of Hillary Hill, a daughter of Box Brownie, the dam of Brunelleschi (1.57.7, $225,814). PARLEZVOUS PATTY finished in second position after trying to lead throughout. She is out of the classy mare Parisian Chic (1.58.8, $63,503) and is the second foal of the dam. ALDEBARAN ABEL trailed the leader and came to the outside on the home turn. He battled on okay in the straight to finish a close up third.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.0 Last Half: - 63.5 Margins: - 2.5m, Head
Trial 2: - HATCHBACK has recently returned from his Queensland Inter Dominion campaign and produced a terrific performance after leading throughout and recording a slick final half of 56.71 seconds. BALTICA NZ finished in second position after beginning quickly and getting in behind the leader. DICHOTOMY was four back on the inside and finished off nicely into third position. SHES RUBY ROO was fourth after racing without cover early and angling onto the markers to be three back on the inside.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.7 Last Half: - 56.71 Margins: - 2.5m, 5m
Trial 3: - SCHERGER THAT began quickly to find the lead and dashed well clear in the run to the finish. It was an extremely impressive performance by the son of American Ideal and he is the first foal out of the race winning mare Garta NZ so he is worth following. SCHWARZ settled four back on the inside, moved up without cover at the 600m and finished a distant second. HUMOUR ME raced without cover early before restraining to be three back on the markers. He battled on reasonably well for third.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.3 Last Half: - 57.72 Margins: - 18.5m, 4.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Scherger That
Trial 4: - CHINESE WHISPER NZ was clearly the class runner of the trial and was able to get the job done. He settled four back on the markers and moved to the outside at the 500m to record a strong victory. COGNATI attempted to led throughout and was run down in the latter stages but delivered an honest performance. OUR MARVELLA NZ was three back on the markers and was able to work past MOONWALKA, which trailed the leader, to pick up third position. MOONWALKA had his chance in fourth but should be fitter for his effort at Melton on Saturday night, where he makes his debut for trainer Andy Gath. Others in finishing order were GAELIC LAD (5 back markers), HOT TO TROT (6 back markers) and KYVALLEY AMANDA (broke early) so it was a quality trial.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Last Half: - 57.37 Margins: - Not given
Trial 6: - WATTS UP PARTYTIME hasn’t started since finishing third in the Breeders Crown in November but he produced a dazzling display. He steamed to the front from a wide draw and kept on running to score by nearly fifty metres in a slick mile rate of 1.57.8. KYVALLEY MICHAEL NZ was beaten by a long way but he still delivered a pleasing performance for second after working home nicely from four back on the markers. SOSO MAJESTIC moved away from the markers at the 700m and came from sixth to pick up third with NO TELLING HEATHER (5 back markers) being fourth across the line. NO TELLING HEATHER is backing up at Melton on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.8 Last Half: - 56.57 Margins: - 48m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Watts Up Partytime
Trial 8: - CIGANO began quickly to lead then took cover at the 1300m before starting his winning run in the back straight on the final occasion. He was able to win comfortably at the end and appears to be very promising. He is by Poster Boy out of the fast mare Frankincense (1.55.3, $68,120) and is the first foal of the dam. I AM THE STORM made it a quinella for trainer Clayton Tonkin after working to the front and racing greenly. He is also by one of the former stable stars in The Storm Inside and is out of the classy mare Caitlyn Clarke (1.53.7, $108,222) so he should continue to improve with the benefit of experience. INSIDE AFFAIR came from last of the four runners to pick up third spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.5 Last Half: - 57.52 Margins: - 5.5m, 9m
Trial 9: - KEAYANG ZAHARA couldn’t have been more impressive in her trial success. She settled four back on the inside and commenced her winning run from the 700m mark, sprinting quickly to score by over thirty metres. She is by Volstead out of the former classy mare Keayang Yankee (1.55.4, $51,240), which won nine of her nineteen starts. THE PRIESTESS hasn’t started since finishing third in the Nutrien Final in August and has joined trainer Chris Svanosio. She settled five back on the inside and attempted to follow forward behind KEAYANG ZAHARA from the 700m mark. She couldn’t sprint as quickly as the winner but was able to work into second place. DORA LEE was third after setting the speed and ALDEBARAN MARCUS was fourth after trailing the leader throughout.
Trial 10: - YAMBUKIAN began quickly and progressed forward to find the lead over HITTHEROADJACK NZ shortly after the start. He finished off in a sizzling last quarter of 26.76 seconds and appeared to be very sharp leading up to his performance in the Tiger Tara FFA at Melton on Saturday night. HITTHEROADJACK NZ battled on well for second after trailing the leader throughout and JILLIBY ADORE was third on the markers for the majority of the trip and tried to make up ground from the 300m mark. YOUNGGIFTEDANDBLACK NZ was last of the four runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: - 1.56.5 Last Half: - 55.18 Margins: - 8.5m, 2.5m
Trial 11: - RENEWAL began quickly to lead and finished off in slick final sectionals to get the prize. KEAYANG TOKYO settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat from the quarter pole and chased hard for a game second. HES A MEISTER NZ is a former New Zealand pacer for trainer Adam Kelly. He trailed the leader and appeared to have his chance but he held his own in a slick final quarter of 27.14 seconds and his form across the Tasman is strong.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.6 Last Half: - 56.74 Margins: - 3m, 1.5m
