Bendigo served up a Trial File Blackbook double-banger with a pair of eye catching runs in the opening hit-out at Lords Raceway that swelled the ranks.
Despite being beaten to the line by Third Eye in the trial, Preferred Love and Val Thorens were both added to the select 27 who make up the Blackbook.
Preferred Love is a well-bred half-sister to Norquay and impressed for Anton Golino in finishing second "untouched", while stablemate Val Thorens also produced an eye-catcher.
Another well-bred Yabby Dam Farms type, being out of Courchevel, he also hit the line hard to place himself on the radar.
They were joined by Country Rockstar, The Answer and Bulletproof Sniper as standouts of this week's Victorian trials circuit.
Notably, Bulletproof Sniper gets to frank that trials form at Shepparton on Tuesday when Scott Ewen's colt debuts in the VHRC/Benstud 3YO Maiden Pace.
Here is this week's report and key replays.
SHEPPARTON 20/07/23
Trial 1: - FYNN FROST NZ pushed forward to find the lead before taking cover at the 1600m. He came to the outside with 400m remaining and was able to get up on the line. He is awkwardly drawn for his performance at Ballarat tomorrow evening. CAPTAIN HAMMERHEAD settled down last, moved around the field to find the lead in the back straight on the first occasion and was run down at the finish but he appeared to have far more in reserve than the winner on the line. MISTER CHEESE led early and was racing fiercely before eventually being able to restrain for cover. He finished in third with CHEVRON FLIES NZ being last of the four runners for the majority of the trip. MISTER CHEESE is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday but is racing against a very strong field.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.1 Last Mile: - 56.5 Margins: - Head, 20m
Trial 2: - COUNTRY ROCKSTAR produced a very impressive performance and is worth following. He raced without cover early, restrained to be fourth on the pegs at the 1700m and made his winning move from the 700m, dominating his rivals at the end in handy time. RINGORELLA settled fifth on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 700m and rolled into second place. ROAM was out of position at the start and settled a clear last in the early stages. She came out four horses wide from the 300m and did a good job to run into third spot. RINGORELLA is resuming from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday but has drawn poorly.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.9 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 18m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Country Rockstar
Trial 6: - KINGS GUARD continues to perform well. He has won three out of his last four starts at the races and was an impressive winner of the final trial. He did enjoy the perfect trip behind the leader VATICAN HILL NZ but he stormed past in the straight and was under a throttle hold on the line. VATICAN HILL NZ finished well clear of FIRENGRACE, which was last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.0 Last Half: - 57.6 Margins: - 6m, 20m
BACCHUS MARSH 22/07/23
Trial 3: - OUR SAFARI SUN has performed admirably since converting into the trotting gait and prepared for his first up run since August when he won his trial at Bacchus Marsh by a comfortable margin. He returned from a spell at Kilmore on Thursday night but struck bother on the home turn. The Alison Alford prepared duo GRUMPEE and CEEAY MONKEY FACE finished second and third respectively with the latter making her debut at Melton this evening. They were nicely clear of MAORI FRANKLIN, which was stood down to trial after galloping at Yarra Valley on July 13 and backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night, where he galloped with 700m remaining.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.4 Last Half: - 62.7 Margins: - 4m, 2m
Trial 5: - SEE YOU THERE recorded handy time in his performance leading up to his first up run at Yarra Valley on Wednesday. He won the trial by ten metres and performed very nicely at his first up effort, where he ran into second behind the smart mare Rakero Rebel. WHY NOT DREAM finished in second position leading up to his resumption at Melton this evening. RADICAL MAJOR hasn’t raced since May 2022 and was a distant third across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.1 Last Half: - 59.0 Margins: - 10m, 25m
TERANG 23/07/23
Trial 1: - KEAYANG CHUCKY was extremely impressive in winning the opening event. He settled last of the five runners, came to the outside with 600m remaining and charged past his rivals to win by twenty-five metres under a vice like grip. He backed up at Horsham on Thursday afternoon and scored by an even bigger margin. FOUROUTOFFIVE finished second at trailing the leader and coming to the outside on the home turn. He was outclassed by the winner but he is yet to make his debut and KEAYANG CHUCKY won a heat of the Breeders Crown last season and was able to graduate into the final of the Super Series so it was a handy performance. KEAYANG SADIE was third after settling four back on the markers and will compete against FOUROUTOFFIVE again tonight at Melton. IMPERIAL MONARCH NZ appeared to be travelling well but broke stride with 300m remaining and lost his chance.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.7 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 25m, 8m
Trial 2: - HEZA SON OF AGUN was very well placed in the trial considering he is a proven open class performer and he went on to produce an expected victory. He settled fifth on the pegs, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 1100m and quickly dashed to the front with 500m remaining. He finished off in a slick final half of 56.7 seconds to win easily. NOTNEGOTIABLE ran an honest race for second after settling four back on the markers before making a mid-race move and getting in behind the leader at the 800m. TREACHEROUS REIGN finished in third after setting the speed.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.2 Last Half: - 56.7 Margins: - 25m, 10m
Trial 3: - OORAH continued his impressive trial form with a runaway victory. He burst to the lead shortly after the start, ran along at a genuine tempo and established a big lead in the early stages. He maintained his big margin throughout and scored with ease. ROCKIN CHARMER finished second after leading out, taking cover and ending up being three back on the markers. He resumes from a spell at Melton this evening. QUICK DECISION was four back on the inside throughout and filled third spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.4 Last Half: - 60.3 Margins: - 50m, 3m
MARYBOROUGH 23/07/23
Trial 1: - PETRACCA hasn’t raced since winning the Tatlow Stakes in October. He competed in two Group 1 events last season, which yielded an unlucky third in the Bathurst Gold Crown and a close up fourth in the Nutrien Colts & Geldings Final so he is a quality colt. He led throughout and was never extended at any stage so he appears to have a prosperous campaign ahead. The field of three runners remained in the same order throughout with TALK TIME being in the trail and finishing second ahead of CHEDALAYO.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.4 Last Half: - 55.0 Margins: - 6m, 6m
Trial 3: - The Shakamaker Classic winner BAY OF BISCAY settled five back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 1600m and powered to the lead with 1200m remaining. He was able to dash well clear of his rivals in the run to the finish and should continue his good form this preparation. SLICE OF CHEDDAR settled six back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and finished off nicely for second. BROADWAYS GIRL was three then four back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 600m and finished a distant third with WELEASE WOGER (three back markers) being in fourth spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.3 Last Half: - 56.6 Margins: - 20m, 10m
Trial 6: - COURAGES LAW is a quality juvenile trotter that is still learning. He did everything right in the trial and won untouched after trailing the leader and coming to the outside at the 800m. He backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night and unfortunately galloped away but he ran an enormous race after that to be placed. ALL THAT REMAINS is an unraced filly for trainer Damian Burns by Centurion ATM. She is a sister to Moonwalka (1.58.4, $25,691) and finished second after settling three back on the inside. STATELY SALOME was third across the line after settling last of the four runners. ALL THAT REMAINS and STATELY SALOME will be competing against each other at Maryborough on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.4 Last Half: - 61.2 Margins: - 5m, 8m
BENDIGO 24/07/23
Trial 1: - THIRD EYE won a heat of the Homegrown Classic before finishing unplaced in the Final and has been freshened since. He settled last of the five runners, moved to the outside with a half mile remaining and sustained a strong run to win impressively. PREFERRED LOVE is by the French stallion Love You out of the American bred mare Access To Success, which raced four times in her home country and has produced three winners with those being Norquay (1.56.9), Itsallandover (2.0.4) and Mipersonaljet (2.1.4). She trailed the leader, used the sprint lane and went to the line untouched in second. VAL THORENS also produced a good performance in finishing third. She is by Volstead out of the New Zealand bred mare Courcheval, which performed extremely well on the race track having earned in excess of $100,000 in Stakes. She is the first foal and looks to have a promising future after finishing fast from three back on the markers.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.0 Last Half: - 64.3 Margins: - 2m, 8m
BLACKBOOKERS: - Preferred Love + Val Thorens
Trial 3: - SISTA EVARISTA led out then took a trail at the 1800m before coming to the outside on the home turn. She accelerated brilliantly in the straight and raced clear in the run to the finish. She has been racing in good form and is a last start winner at Maryborough in June so she should continue her good form. MYSTIC CHIP began quickly to find the lead at the 1800m and battled on fairly well for second with BELLMAC BAMBI doing her best work at the end to be third across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.4 Last Half: - 59.8 Margins: - 12m, 8m
Trial 6: - HES LETHAL showed very good gate speed to lead, backed off the tempo mid-race and finished off in handy final sectionals to win narrowly. OUR LUCIANO settled five back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail on the turn and finished off well for second. He makes his debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. THE ANSWER is an unraced filly by Sweet Lou out of the speedy mare Boadicea’s Fury (1.54.0). She settled four back on the inside and finished fast for an eye-catching third.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.7 Last Half: - 57.6 Margins: - Head, 8m
BLACKBOOKER: - The Answer
Trial 9: - DENNY ROCKS trailed the leader, angled into the one out and one back trail on the home turn and came out even wider in the straight. He finished off best in fast final sectionals to claim victory on the line. He is competing at Maryborough on Monday and is not without a chance. FOUR STAR SAINT attempted to lead throughout and finished a close second with the top mare TAY TAY being in third position after settling three back on the inside and moving into the death seat at the 600m. She battled on fairly well for third with ORBIE finishing off very quickly from last to pick up fourth spot. FOUR STAR SAINT competed at Kilmore on Thursday night and finished in fifth after setting the speed. ORBIE is awkwardly drawn on the inside of the second line at Shepparton on Tuesday night but should be finishing strongly.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.2 Last Half: - 56.3 Margins: - Nose, 3m
MELTON 25/07/23
Trial 4: - CAPTAIN BARNATO hasn’t raced since October but produced a big trial performance to win in a sizzling mile rate of 1.55.9. He was without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead at the 1200m and kicked on strongly in the run to the finish albeit hanging out over the concluding stages. BULLETPROOF SNIPER produced a cracking performance to fill second place. He is an unraced son of Betterthancheddar out Coast Patrol, a daughter of Coastwatch, the dam of the quick pacer Coastal. He was left stranded without cover from the 1200m in very quick time and went down fighting in the run to the finish. He is poorly drawn but is a strong winning chance at Shepparton on Tuesday night. GOODTIME HALO finished in third after settling four back on the inside and moving into the one out and one back trail at the 700m.
Mile Rate: - 1.55.9 Last Half: - 57.80 Margins: - 1.5m, 11.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Bulletproof Sniper
Trial 5: - BELLE NIEGE is an unraced filly, which is a half sister to the Group 1 winning filly Revelstoke. She trailed the leader, moved away from the inside on the home turn and finished off best to score. She finished off in a slick final quarter so she appears to have a promising future. DANDIFY attempted to lead throughout and finished in second with CLAUDYS SECRET being in third after settling four back on the inside. DICHOTOMY was doing her best work at the end from three back on the markers and finished in fourth.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.9 Last Half: - 59.03 Margins: - 1.5m, 4m
Trial 7: - BULLETPROOF BOY prepared for his return to racing at Ballarat tomorrow night with an all of the way victory in a sizzling mile rate of 1.53.0. He should have benefited from that effort and would have gained some confidence so he must be considered a winning chance first up at Ballarat. JUSTALITTLESIP NZ trailed the leader and finished off well to go down by a narrow margin. BETTER ECLIPSE was three back on the markers throughout and came to the outside at the 300m with TRIPLE EIGHT NZ being last of the four runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: - 1.53.0 Last Half: - 54.55 Margins: - Head, ½ head
Trial 8: - MAXNJAX is an unraced gelding by Rock N Roll Heaven out of the race winning mare Ourgirlbillie (1.55.6). He settled four back on the inside and finished powerfully out wide on the track to win impressively. SKY CITY NZ is a New Zealand bred gelding, which settled down last of the five runners and did well for second with CITY ROCKSTAR (3 back markers) finishing off strongly through the middle to gain third position.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.0 Last Half: - 58.09 Margins: - Head, 1.5m
Trial 9: - GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW continued his strong trial form with a narrow but decisive victory. He began quickly, trailed the leader and came away from the inside on the home turn, winning untouched. USED TO BE A MAID attempted to lead throughout and finished in second with SHES RUBY ROO being third after settling three back on the inside.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.0 Last Half: - 57.31 Margins: - 1.5m, 24.5m
Trial 11: - RIO ROCK settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 700m and proved too strong for the brave trotter OLLIVICI NZ, which settled in last position and gained a one out and one back trail behind RIO ROCK. AZOR AHAI NZ settled three back on the inside and finished off well for third with JOSHUA RICHARD NZ (trailed leader) being in fourth. The early leader INTERVIEW FRA set up a good speed and was the last runner to complete the course.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.3 Last Half: - 56.24 Margins: - 1.5m, ½ head
