A regally bred Emma Stewart two-year-old and a Kiwi bred colt with a big and devoted ownership group were among the eye-catchers on this week's trial circuit.
Major Celebrity and Louie Lou I both earned places in the Trial File Blackbook for their efforts in the fourth work-out at Tabcorp Park Melton on Tuesday.
Major Celebrity was bred by Richard Camilleri by pairing stallion Art Major with his mare Celebrity Ball, who hails from Peter Gleeson and Bruce and Craig Cameron's brilliant late broodmare Larrakeyah Lady.
Not only did the latter produce Safe And Sound ($995,6060) and Gold Rocket ($393,387), but her generational lines have been extraordinary. Major Celebrity is the 10th foal out of Celebrity Ball, the first was All The Magic, dam of Rocknroll Magic ($466,183), Ride High ($289,427) and Always Fast ($163,010).
And Major Celebrity gave great signs of impending success in winning her trial by 40 metres, a margin aided by a galloping Captrock Captroll impeding those behind.
Despite the big gap, Louie Lou I, who's racing for Chris Svanosio, also earned a Blackbook inclusion having "made up a lot of ground over the concluding stages".
Wrap and replays below with the updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
SHEPPARTON 28/04/22
Trial 1: - WILL HE REIGN and RORYVILLE were wrapping up their Australian Gold preparations with a trial performance at Shepparton. WILL HE REIGN led out then took a trail behind LIBERTY CREST and finished off best to grab victory over LIBERTY CREST on the line. RORYVILLE finished third after settling three back on the markers and went to the line jogging. Both horses performed extremely well in their Australian Gold heat with WILL HE REIGN being an unlucky third and RORYVILLE finishing a close second behind Mister Hunter. LIBERTY CREST will meet a smart filly in Perfect In Pink at Kilmore on Tuesday night but he should run a good race from the pole position.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.5 Last Half: - 60.3 Margins: - Head, 8m
Trial 4: - BIG BAD OSSIE was out three horses wide early, pushed forward to find the lead at the 1700m and ran away to win easily. He made his return to the race track in a strong heat of the Gold Bullion at Bendigo on Thursday night but failed to beat a runner to the line. NO MOTIVE settled three back on the markers and finished off well for second. He will return from a break at Shepparton on Sunday and the unraced mare ROAM showed ability by coming from last to pick up third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.6 Last Half: - 58.2 Margins: - 20m, 6m
Trial 7: - The former New Zealand pacer HIGH FLYING HARRY NZ was very impressive in taking out the final trial and should perform very well at his Australian debut at Shepparton on Sunday. He led out, took a trail at the 1600m and coasted down to the line to win untouched. The Group 1 winning filly JUST HOPE settled in last position, trailed into the race out three horses wide and was very wide on the home turn. She finished fast for second and backed up to impressively win a heat of the Gold Bullion at Bendigo on Thursday, which is a strong form pointer for HIGH FLYING HARRY NZ on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.4 Last Half: - 57.5 Margins: - 2m, 6m
BLACKBOOKER: - High Flying Harry NZ
BACCHUS MARSH 30/04/22
Trial 2: - The fast class trial was won by the Craig Demmler prepared HURRICANE HUSSLER, which hasn’t raced since October. He had the lowest National Rating out of every horse in the trial and he dashed home in a slick final half of 57.2 seconds so he might be worth following. THE CHANCER finished in second and BLISSFULL STRIDE, which was successful when resuming at Cranbourne a week earlier, was in third. THE CHANCER and BLISSFULL STRIDE will be competing in the sixth event at Yarra Valley this afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.6 Last Half: - 57.2 Margins: - 1m, 8m
BLACKBOOKER: - Hurricane Hussler
Trial 5: - SWEET SANGRIA kept the momentum rolling after her first up Geelong victory when she defeated CARUSO STAR in the fifth event. She has done well since coming from Queensland and is at her peak but she is drawn awkwardly at Shepparton on Sunday. CARUSO STAR finished less than a length from the winner and will make an appearance at Yarra Valley this afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.8 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - 2.5m, 5m
Trial 8: - The last trial proved to be a good form pointer with both the winner DARING ANGEL and the third placed TENNERSON being successful at Ballarat on Wednesday night. That might be an encouraging sign for the second placed OUR SAFARI SUN for when he next steps out onto the track.
Mile Rate: - 2.12.8 Last Half: - 60.6 Margins: - 2m, 5m
MILDURA 01/05/22
Trial 2: - CEMETERY BAY is poorly drawn for his assignment this evening but he kept his good form rolling with a trial victory over NATIONALDRAFT and BETTORZ BEACH. He led out, took a trail and was too swift for the leader NATIONALDRAFT in the straight. BETTORZ BEACH settled three back on the inside and held down third. He makes his Mildura debut for trainer Allan MacDonald this evening, whereas NATIONALDRAFT will take the open class first up.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.4 Last Half: - 57.7 Margins: - 5m, 6m
Trial 3: - FLAME BLASTER indicated he should be competitive in the fourth event this evening with a victory over SEEKING AMNESTY. He settled down in in fourth position, came out three horses wide at the quarter pole and was able to sprint quickly to get the prize.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.1 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - Head, 30m
MARYBOROUGH 01/05/22
Trial 2: - The Super Series winner EBONYS AVENGER appeared to be very sharp in her victory over SONNYBOY. She settled four back on the inside, moved up without cover at the 700m and went to the line with plenty in reserve. SONNYBOY began quickly to lead then repelled a challenge from EVERYSECONDCOUNTS in the back straight on the first occasion. He kicked on strongly for second and EVERYSECONDCOUNTS did well to hold on for third ahead of HESANAVENGER.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.9 Last Half: - 61.3 Margins: - 8m, 3m
Trial 4: - THAT OTHER THING has shown some ability at the trials and took out the fourth event over MAJESTIC SHINING and RILEYS PEGASUS. He began very fast to lead clearly but galloped shortly afterwards and lost approximately 50m. He chased hard to tack on and still had enough petrol at the end to run away from his rivals to score easily. He backed up with a fourth placed effort at Bendigo on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.1 Last Half: - 64.4 Margins: - 34m, 50m
Trial 6: - STINGOFAWASP hasn’t started since finishing fifth in the Super Series in December. She was placed in the Homegrown Classic and in the Tatlow Stakes last season so she is a quality filly. She began fast to lead and completely dominated her rivals, defeating WILL MAVERICK by thirty metres so she appears to have a prosperous season ahead.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.6 Last Half: - 59.8 Margins: - 30m, 6m
KYABRAM 01/05/22
Trials 1 + 3: - Trainer Graham Moon prepared for the Shepparton meeting on Sunday with his two runners FLAME LADY NZ and ZACH LOWE NZ recording easy trial victories. FLAME LADY defeated ROCKYBOMBA by fifteen metres in a mile rate of 2.6.3 and ZACH LOWE NZ also won by fifteen metres, recording a mile rate of 2.6.5.
HAMILTON 02/05/22
Trial 2: - The juvenile pacer KEAYANG SANTIAGO was able to defeat SPORTY CULTURE and YOU BEAUTY. KEAYANG SANTIAGO is by Betting Line and is the first foal of the race winning mare Emerging Force. He won the trial by a comfortable margin in a mile rate of 1.59.7.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.7 Last Half: - 58.2 Margins: - 3m, 2.5m
BENDIGO 02/05/22
Trial 1: - INSPIRE is performing well enough to win a race at good odds in the near future and was impressive in taking out the opening trial. The mile rate was slow but he galloped away and was a clear last early before commencing his winning move with 600m remaining. He is racing at Shepparton on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.12.4 Last Half: - 61.1 Margins: - 2m, Nose
Trial 2: - BOXOFCHOCOLATES has been impressive over the past two weeks with two soft trial victories. She settled three back on the markers and accelerated beautifully in the straight to dash past the early leader TAY TAY in the final 50m. TAY TAY didn’t help her chances by racing fiercely in the leading role and became a little leg weary in the final 50m. She should be fitter from that run and possesses a brilliant burst of speed when she is at her peak form.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.9 Last Half: - 56.4 Margins: - 3m, 5m
Trial 4: - LITTLE SUZIE NZ had little luck during the Mildura Cup Carnival and was in good form prior. She moved up without cover, hit the front approaching the home turn and dashed clear at the end to win easily over the early leader TREACHEROUSTIMES with FLY LIKE AN ANGEL being third across the line. LITTLE SUZIE NZ is competing at Shepparton on Sunday whereas TREACHEROUSTIMES resumes at Kilmore on Tuesday. Both horses performed well enough at the trials to be competitive in their respective events.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 16m, 5m
Trial 7: - DANGEROUS is a juvenile colt by Sweet Lou out of the classy mare Ark Monroe. It is a strong maternal family, which has had a lot of success in Queensland so DANGEROUS is nicely bred. He led throughout, recorded handy time and looked to have something in reserve so he is worth following. MY LADY SARAH finished second and OZZIE LARAKIN was doing his best work at the finish in third.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.8 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - 5m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - Dangerous
TABCORP PARK, MELTON 03/05/22
Trial 1: - EXALTED has done a few things wrong at the trials but has shown a lot of potential and she was brilliant in her victory over ROCKINWITHATTITUDE and TRIUMPH STRIDE. She was out of position at the start before being driven aggressively to find the lead at the 1300m mark then continued to run along, putting a space on her rivals and scoring by nearly 60m!
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 62.62 Margins: - 58m, 25.5m
Trial 2: - TRIPLE EIGHT NZ took out the open class trial after settling three back on the markers before moving into the death seat at the 500m mark. ITS EBONYNIVORY trailed behind her stable mate ITS BEAUJOLAIS and accelerated nicely via the sprint lane to finish second. BETTER ECLIPSE settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail and picked up ground for third. It was a sizzling final quarter of 27.42 seconds and he was seemingly jogging in the run to the finish. The early leader ITS BEAUJOLAIS was fourth and DON’T HOLD BACK was doing his best work at the end at the finish for fifth.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.9 Last Half: - 55.87 Margins: - 2.5m, 1.5m
Trial 4: - MAJOR CELEBRITY is a son of Art Major out of the race winning mare Celebrity Ball making him a close relation to seven winners including the $100,000+ earners Starburst Girl and Our Celebrity. He came from four back on the markers at the 1100m to find the lead, was aided by CAPTROCKCAPTROLL galloping at the 800m mark but appeared to be very impressive in running away to score in a mile rate of 1.57.6. Two horses that were eye-catching after being severely checked at the half mile marker were LOUIE LOU I NZ and AUREUS, both of which made up a lot of ground over the concluding stages. There should be several winners coming out of this trial.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.6 Last Half: - 58.00 Margins: - 37.5m, Nose
BLACKBOOKERS: - Major Celebrity + Louie Lou I NZ
Trial 8: - The former New South Wales trained pacer CHUBBY CHECKER NZ, which boasts a career best mile rate of 1.52.2 at Menangle, was able to win the eighth event nicely and without being pushed over MORVAH. He settled three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 500m and was very strong on the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Last Half: - 57.40 Margins: - 1.5m, 3.5m
Trial 9: - The classy trotter OLLIVICI may have been beaten by the maiden pacer FIVE STAR SHARK, which led for the majority of the journey, but he was very impressive in finishing second. He settled in fifth position, waited for the sprint lane and charged home to be beaten by a narrow margin.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.2 Last Half: - 58.94 Margins: - Neck, 4m
KILMORE 04/05/22
Trial 3: - SICARIO appeared to be the class runner in the open grade event and was able to dominate his rivals after finding the lead shortly after the start. He ran away to defeat RUN BOY RUN, which was in the trail and CHAPTER ONE was last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - Not given Last Half: - Not given Margins: - 25m, 8m (approximately)
Trial 4: - RAINBOWSEND settled in a rearward position, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 700m and came out three horses wide from the 300m when he finished off nicely to defeat ROLLWITHEUNICE, which was left stranded without cover at the half mile marker. LEAVE YOUR HAT ON led out, took a trail and was held up for a run at a vital stage before running home well along the sprint lane to finish in third position.
Mile Rate: - Not given Last Half: - Not Given Margins: - 8m, Head (approximately)
