Last start winner Joelita may have more good times ahead with the impressive Roll With Joe mare a standout on the trials circuit this week.
Racing for Marg Lee, the five-year-old won her last start in January at Hamilton when she scored by a half-head, her eighth win from 18 races.
With the exception of a debut win at Globe Derby in 2021, all of her starts were in that campaign and she earned the lengthy break that followed.
Her return to the race track looks as though it could be prosperous after she stepped out in a trial at Geelong on April 24, when she settled last of six runners and flew home to finish behind Smoken Ace.
That run saw her one of three additions to the Trial File blackbook. Here are this week's highlights from the Victorian trials circuit.
SHEPPARTON 18/04/24
Trial 1: - BETTORS HOPE settled three back on the markers and produced a big finish along the sprint lane to win in fast time and beat a handy field in the process. It was a very good hit-out leading up to his performance at Melton tomorrow night, where he must be considered as a winning chance. CHYNCHILLA NZ was without cover early and progressed forward to adopt the front running role. He set up a genuine tempo and was only run down over the latter stages. MONGIANA led out then took cover at the 1700m before angling away from the pegs on the home turn. He battled on well for third and was nicely clear of the fourth placed SOPHIES SCOOTER (4 back markers) with DIAMOND ECLIPSE being fifth past the post after moving up without cover from the bell. DIAMOND ECLIPSE will be competing over the 1200m at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.8 Last Half: - 57.0 Margins: - 2m, 1m
Trial 2: - LA CAVALLETTA settled three back on the inside, waited for the sprint lane and finished off nicely to get up and win the trial over MISCHIEFS SISTER, which set the speed. LITTLE RAIN CLOUD led out then took cover and came to the outside with 300m remaining. She finished third with MAGNETIC STORM coming from last of the five runners to pick up fourth. LA CAVALLETTA backed up at Geelong on Thursday night and was able to get up over a handy field.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 59.7 Margins: - Neck, 5m
Trial 3: - ILLAWONG STARDUST had a good hit-out leading up to tonight’s Bendigo Trotters Cup. She began quickly and worked to the front then was able to hold her rivals safely at bay. HEY KARLA hasn’t raced since May 2021! She met a strong trial field and delivered a very tidy performance to run second so she is worth following. She was four back on the inside, moved up without cover at the 500m, sprinted quickly to join the leader on the home turn then broke stride with 50m remaining. IKIGAI began quickly to lead then took cover and battled on fairly well for third. He is backing up at Bendigo this evening. WORTH WAITING was five back on the markers and was doing her best work at the end without being pushed. She was fourth past the post and will also be competing at Bendigo this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.4 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - 5m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Hey Karla
Trial 5: - AMIGOS remains undefeated at the races and will be trying to keep that record intact at Bendigo this evening. He was asked to step away from behind the tapes at the trials and was the only horse of the three runners competing that was able to trot off the mark so he was untroubled in leading throughout. SEBASTIANS BOY was second throughout and his stable mate IMA DESTROYER filled third spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.10.7 Last Half: - 59.5 Margins: - 8m, 6m
MARYBOROUGH 20/04/24
Trial 1: - YORKSHIRE NZ was able to win the open class trial after settling three back on the markers and starting his winning run from the 300m mark. TOPSIES BLING trailed the leader and used the sprint lane to drive into second with the early leader SUNDONS COURAGE finishing in third. SUNDONS COURAGE was the only trotter competing in the trial and will back up this evening in the Bendigo Trotters Cup.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.2 Last Half: - 57.0 Margins: - 5m, 3m
Trial 3: - HARLEY BLUE settled last of the three runners and came to the outside with 400m remaining. She continued to make ground on the leader OUTA THE BLUE and eventually hit the lead with 50m remaining to score drawing away at the end. She backed up with a fourth at Geelong on Thursday night and is nominated for the Yarra Valley meeting on Monday. OUTA THE BLUE finished second after setting a moderate speed and OUR PRECIOUS GEM was third after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.5 Last Half: - 59.6 Margins: - 2m, 40m
Trial 5: - DOUBLE PRIDE won the trial for the juvenile trotters after galloping away and losing approximately 50m at the start. The time was slow but after losing valuable ground then making a determined bid to hit the lead at the 600m mark, he produced a tidy display. QUICK COMET trailed the leader and moved away from the pegs on the home turn. He finished second with the early leader PURPLE SUN being the last horse to cross the line. Both DOUBLE PRIDE and PURPLE SUN are making their debut at Bendigo this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.13.8 Last Half: - 64.0 Margins: - 3m, 20m
BENDIGO 22/04/24
Trial 2: - IVANA BYTHESEASIDE began very quickly to find the lead and ran along at a reasonable tempo. She remained strong at the finish and won the trial nicely. CLYMENUS NZ settled four back on the markers and produced a strong finish to snare second place. HIDALGO trailed the leader, moved away from the inside on the home turn and battled on fairly well for third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.6 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - 3m, 2m
Trial 5: - ROCKIN SAINT hasn’t raced since October but he appeared to be very sharp in his trial victory. He trailed the leader, circled around to find the lead at the 1200m, took cover at the 900m then left the markers again at the quarter pole. He dashed away in the run to the finish to win clearly. DRIPPING SPRINGS was three back on the markers before circling around to find the lead at the 900m mark. He battled away for second with LOYOLA SPIAGGIA running into a distant third from four back on the inside.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.0 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - 16m, 9m
Trial 7: - OZZIE CORKA broke stride as the $1-65 popular elect at his debut but his trial form is strong. He was able to lead throughout and win the last trial without being extended at any stage. OZZIE GEM trailed the leader early and ended up being three back on the markers at the 1200m mark. He made ground over the latter stages and ran a nice second. Both OZZIE CORKA and OZZIE GEM are competing at Melton tomorrow night. MANINKY MOONSHINE settled four back on the markers and ran into a distant third at the end.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 3m, 9m
MILDURA 22/04/24 (The official results of the Mildura trials have not been uploaded onto the Harness website. The results listed in this report are unofficial and are as broadcast on the night).
Trial 1: - GIGI I GOT THIS began very fast to find the lead and kicked well clear at the quarter pole. She sustained the run to win by a large margin. She will have to return to the trials as she backed up at Mildura on Wednesday night, pulled hard and failed to finish thus being stood down. HAWAIIANBEACH settled three back on the markers and came to the outside with 300m remaining. He finished off reasonably well for second with STEAL SOME TIME coming from last of the four runners to pick up third spot. CUTTY SARK was last of the four runners to greet the judge after racing fiercely behind the leader. HAWAIIANBEACH backed up on Wednesday night and finished a close second behind My Line Of Fire.
Mile Rate: - Not Given Last Half: - Not Given Margins: - 20m, head (approximately)
Trial 3: - CAPTAINS GOLD settled four back on the markers and last of the seven runners. He appeared to be travelling extremely well approaching the home turn but was held up for a run at a vital stage. He angled to the outside upon straightening for home and produced a big finish out wide on the track to claim the prize. DEVIL OF A SMILE settled three back on the markers and came to the outside with 300m remaining. He was hitting the line nicely but not as well as the winner. The early leader ROCKING WROXTON finished a close up third with PRIORITY BETTING (trailed leader) being in fourth.
Mile Rate: - Not Given Last Half: - Not Given Margins: - Head, Head (approximately)
BLACKBOOKER: - Captains Gold
GEELONG 22/04/24 (The official results of the Geelong trials have not been uploaded on the Harness website. The results listed in this report are unofficial and are as broadcast on the night).
Trial 1: - The open class trial produced a very strong field and the Andy Gath prepared pacer TERRY NZ came out victorious. He settled four back on the inside, pushed through to trail the leader at the 400m and finished off solidly via the sprint lane. JUSTALITTLESIP NZ attempted to lead throughout and finished a close second. OUTLAW MAN NZ settled three back on the inside, came out three horses wide on the home turn and finished off well for a close up third. SON OF MAC NZ trailed the leader and came to the outside at the 600m mark. He finished fourth and SUPREME DOMINATOR NZ was last of the five runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - Not Given Last Half: - Not Given Margins: - 1m, head (approximately)
Trial 3: - JILLIBY ILLUMINATE settled seventh on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the bell and came out three horses wide from the quarter pole. It took her a little while to hit top gear but she finished off with the best momentum and recorded an impressive victory. She is competing in a heat of the New South Wales Oaks at Menangle tomorrow night but is terribly drawn on the outside of the front line. OUR SADIE KAY produced a very good effort to finish second. She was six back on the markers and moved into the death seat at the bell before fighting hard in the run to the finish. MISTIE REIGN finished in third after pushing forward to find the lead early then taking cover at the 1400m. He is backing up at Yarra Valley on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: - Not Given Last Half: - Not Given Margins: - Nose, Head (approximately)
Trial 4: - HARRY STAMPER NZ began quickly to find the lead and set up a slow tempo. He was able to hold on and win by a narrow margin but he wasn’t fully extended at the finish. ALDEBARAN VERA settled three back on the inside and moved up without cover at the 300m mark. She battled on very strongly and missed out by a narrow margin. HANOVER DA MOON NZ was a close up third after trailing the leader and using the sprint lane.
Mile Rate: - Not Given Last Half: - Not Given Margins: - Head, 1m (approximately)
Trial 8: - SMOKEN ACE NZ settled five back on the inside, moved into the running lane (1-2) at the 700m and came out four horses wide on the home turn. He finished off solidly and was able to get up and score on the line. JOELITA settled last of the six runners, moved into the running lane (1-3) at the 700m and angled wide at the 100m mark before flying home at the finish. She delivered an eye-catching performance to finish in second position. JILLIBY SELWOOD began quickly to race without cover, pressured the leader hard and eventually had to take hold and find the position behind the speed. He moved off the markers at the 500m mark and battled on strongly into third position. HES OLLY NZ finished in fourth after attempting to lead throughout and copping plenty of pressure in the early and middle stages of the event. He is backing up at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - Not Given Last Half: - Not Given Margins: - Neck, ½ Head (approximately)
BLACKBOOKER: - Joelita
