A quick return could be on the cards for Trial File followers, with the Blackbook having found one who will step out tonight at Ballarat.
Miss Hermes, for trainer Julie Douglas, is a $4 shot with tab.com.au in tonight's Flying Horse Entertainment Venue Pace and will be one to keep an eye on in driver Ewa Justice's hands after an impressive trial at Bendigo on Monday.
Ahead of her first start since crossing from trainer/owner Peter Newton to Douglas' camp, she "produced a good performance at the trials", getting home in 57.5 seconds to win ahead of Sports Announcer.
She was one of three Blackbook inclusions this week, with Shaq The Anvil and District Attorney also catching the eye.
Take in their replays below amid all the highlights from the Victorian trials circuit, with the updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
SHEPPARTON 10/08/23
Trial 1: - ELATED NZ trailed the leader, moved away from the inside on the home turn and finished off best to win comfortably. He hasn’t had much luck in three starts since a runaway victory at his Australian debut and the trial success indicated he was capable of winning a race in the near future. BARNABY settled four back on the markers and finished quickly for an eye-catching second. BUDD SIDEWINDER was third across the line after setting the speed.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.3 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - 10m, 5m
Trial 3: - The smart juvenile trotting filly NORDIC REIGN was able to keep her momentum going when she took on older horses and was able to lead throughout. She held off the challenge of CROOKWELL EYES, which was away from the markers early before gaining the trail behind the leader at the 1800m. PRETTYBOY HARRY settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 500m and had to angle out three horses wide on the home turn. He produced a nice effort to run home well for a close up third.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.4 Last Half: - 61.2 Margins: - Neck, 1m
Trial 4: - JUSTIFY has done a bit wrong in his two starts since 2021 but he does have ability as indicated by his runaway trial success. He showed gate speed to lead and dashed well clear at the finish to win by approximately ten lengths. FLY BYE EDEN settled last of the four runners, came away from the pegs on the home turn and worked into second. She was beaten by a large margin but went to the line under a throttle hold so she had plenty left to give. NO BLING finished in third after being three back on the markers throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.4 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - 30m, 10m
BACCHUS MARSH 12/08/23
Trial 1: - DANCINGONSTARLIGHT was a winner at Maryborough in April then finished unplaced at her next five attempts. She was able to gain some confidence for Cobram on Monday by winning the opening trial on the program from KHANS CREED, which is backing up at Ballarat tonight and appears to be a winning chance. The trotter IMPERIAL WHIZ NZ finished in third position and backed up at Melton on Wednesday night, finishing in fifth position.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.0 Last Half: - 60.5 Margins: - 2m, 3m
Trial 3: - THE NIGHT QUEEN finished unplaced in the Maryborough Oaks at her latest attempt and was able to take out the third trial over MAORI FRANKLIN, which was stood down to trial at his latest attempt. He backed up at Ararat on Thursday night and THE NIGHT QUEEN is racing at Ballarat tonight. ROCKY VALLEY hasn’t raced since galloping away as the popular elect in the Homegrown Classic. He returns to the track at Ballarat this evening and at his best, would be considered as a winning chance.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.4 Last Half: - 64.2 Margins: - 2m, 3m
Trial 4: - The open class trial was won by ALBY TWO CHAINS, which hasn’t raced since a ninth at Melton in June. He is a speedy pacer and was taken up to the Queensland Winter Carnival in 2022 so he might be able to improve on his numerical form this campaign. The former South Australian pacer ROCKY MONALOO finished in second position. He has joined trainer Kylie Sugars and will be competing at Ballarat this evening. The outstanding trotting mare QUEEN ELIDA NZ finished a close up third with the last quarter being a slick 28.8 seconds.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.6 Last Half: - 59.5 Margins: - 1m, 1m
MELTON 14/08/23
Trial 1: - SPIRIT OF PEARL hasn’t raced since April but was able to win the opening trial by pressing forward to find the lead at the 1800m and kicking well clear at the quarter pole. She was starting to get leg weary over the latter stages but held on to score. PERFECT VERDICT is out of the good race mare Dream Verdict and finished in second after settling three back on the markers and moving to the outside with 500m remaining. JUST JAYDO was four back on the markers, went back into the sprint lane and finished off well for third. He is a colt by Sweet Lou out of Alldatglittersisgold, making him a close relation to nine winners, five of which are $100,000+ earners including the outstanding pacers Baby Bling (1.50.5, $854,490) and Bling It On (1.50.2, $1,882,957) so he is worth following.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 57.5 Margins: - 2m, 1.5m
Trial 3: - KWICK SAND hasn’t raced since a fourth at Maryborough in May. He raced consistently during his first preparation having not finished further back than fourth in five starts and he commenced his current campaign off nicely with a dominant trial victory. He led throughout and never appeared to be in any danger of defeat. CITY ROCKSTAR trailed the leader throughout and finished second with FERRIGNO (4 back markers) being third across the line after finishing nicely via the sprint lane.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.6 Last Half: - 57.3 Margins: - 8m, 2.5m
Trial 4: - GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW began quickly to find the lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and went to the line untouched to win easily. SHAQ THE ANVIL is a smart 3yo trotter, which appears to be hard to beat at Bendigo on Tuesday. He trailed behind GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW and battled on well in the run to the finish. GLAMOUR STRIDE settled three back on the markers and was making ground in slick final sectionals to finish in third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Last Half: - 57.7 Margins: - 5.5m, 2.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Shaq The Anvil
Trial 5: - DISTRICT ATTORNEY produced a big performance to win the trial over CURLY JAMES. He settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 600m and finished off solidly in a slick final quarter of 26.68 seconds. He hasn’t started since a third in the Gold Bullion Final in May but he appears to be close to his peak. CURLY JAMES attempted to lead throughout and finished second with HELLUVA NZ coming from last of the four runners to finish in third.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.7 Last Half: - 55.0 Margins: - 3.5m, head
BLACKBOOKER: - District Attorney
Trial 6: - ARCEE PHOENIX returned from his brave second in the Great Square (Group 1) at Albion Park in Queensland with a big trial victory over stable mate LADY ADELIA. He settled four back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 700m and was too strong in the run to the post. LADY ADELIA trailed the leader and finished nicely via the sprint lane and MUFASA METRO NZ came from last of the five runners to pick up third position. VISIONARY was fourth after trying to lead throughout and HARRY STAMPER NZ (3 back pegs) had no clear run at the finish.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.8 Last Half: - 56.1 Margins: - 1.5m, head
Trial 7: - BETTER BROTHER trailed the leader, moved away from the markers on the home turn and finished off strongly to gain the prize. BOLLINGER NZ settled three back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail behind BETTER BROTHER then remained hard on his back under a strong hold at the finish. His trial form is very good and he should go well at his first up performance at Melton on Saturday night. SEVE NZ began quickly to find the lead, pulled hard and ran along at a genuine tempo. He peaked at the finish but it was a very strong mile rate of 1.57.1 for the 2240m.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.1 Last Half: - 59.0 Margins: - 4.5m, 17m
BENDIGO 14/08/23
Trial 2: - PABLO ROCKS is a gelding by A Rocknroll Dance and created a good impression in scoring over OTIS RISING. He raced roughly at the start, settled three back on the markers, gained a nice through the middle and finished strongly late. OTIS RISING trailed the leader early before moving to the lead with a mile remaining. He battled on quite well for second and BETTER KISS ME did a very good job to finish third after breaking stride at the start and losing thirty metres. OTIS RISING is not without a chance at Swan Hill on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 58.2 Margins: - 4m, 12m
Trial 4: - HEATHBERN BRUCE prepared for his effort at Bendigo on Tuesday night with a strong trial victory. He pushed forward from a wide draw to find the lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and held off his rivals to win nicely. CREDULOUS settled three back on the inside, moved up without cover at the 500m and chased hard for a game second. He is a chance at Cobram on Monday afternoon. KINGSBURYS CHARGE was a distant third after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Last Half: - 57.1 Margins: - 2m, 20m
Trial 5: - POPPYS POPSTAR ran along at a genuine tempo and looked good in the run to the finish when she scored by a large margin. It was an impressive display and she should go well the next time she steps out onto the race track. ITSALLANDOVER was three then four back on the markers and ran into a distant second with SUNNY SPIDER being third after being without cover at various stages in the event.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.9 Last Half: - 57.9 Margins: - 22m, 6m
Trial 7: - MISS HERMES recently joined trainer Julie Douglas and produced a good performance at the trials so she should go well in her race at Ballarat tonight. SPORTS NARRATOR settled five back on the inside, angled out three and four horses wide at the 300m and ran to the line strongly to finish in second. It was a good hit out for his effort at Swan Hill on Sunday night. THE KEW LEGEND finished off solidly from midfield to finish third with CE PE THREE being in fourth after settling three back on the inside. CE PE THREE is returning from a spell at Bendigo on Tuesday night and is drawn nicely from pole position.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.7 Last Half: - 57.5 Margins: - 2m, head
BLACKBOOKER: - Miss Hermes
Trial 8: - OUTA THE BLUE is returning from a break at Bendigo on Tuesday night and performed well enough in her trial to suggest she has claims. She settled five back on the inside, moved away from the inside at the 500m, switched back to the inner approaching the home turn and finished off quickly via the sprint lane. BEAU BRONSKI raced without cover early, progressed forward to find the lead at the 1800m and was run down on the line. CHOOZ REACTOR led out then took cover and came to the outside with 600m remaining. She battled on well for third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.1 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - Half Head, 5m
Trial 9: - MISSED THE TRUTH settled three back on the inside, raced keenly and came out four horses wide on the home turn. He finished very fast and produced an impressive performance to get the prize. IDEAL ESCAPE settled four back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 1100m and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He battled on strongly for second and makes his debut for trainer Julie Douglas at Bendigo on Tuesday night. PAS GUARANTEE was fifth on the markers early, moved into the death seat at the 1100m and battled on well for third.
Mile Rate: - 1.55.8 Last Half: - 57.0 Margins: - 1m, 2m
