Craig Rail capped his 200th Trial File report by adding three runners to his Blackbook, including an unraced squaregaiter from the Jess Tubbs barn.
Not As Promised is bred to pace, but suggested he will be performing well in the trotting ranks after a brilliant trial display at Tabcorp Park Melton.
“He began brilliantly to find the lead and was never out of second gear, winning untouched,” Rail wrote.
He joins Freddy Taiba’s Wheresthestorm and Sonia Mahar’s Aveiro as horses to follow from the trial circuit this week.
Read the full review below and check out the updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
HORSHAM 02/02/23
Trial 1: – GHANASUYA hasn’t raced since a sixth at Terang in November 2021 but he is a capable pacer when he is at his peak. He has joined trainer Tim O’Brien and won the Horsham pre-meeting trial over stable mate TELLMEBOUTIT with the unraced filly MALANI JOH being third across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.4 Last Half: – 57.4 Margins: – 1.5m, 7m
MILDURA 02/02/23 (The trial results for Mildura have not been uploaded onto the harness website and the results given in this report were as broadcast on the day)
Trial 1: – OUR MASTER PLAY settled down three back on the markers, came to the outside with 700m remaining and sprinted quickly down the back straight. He dashed well clear in the run to the finish and scored impressively from ROCKING WROXTON, which was a clear leader for the majority of the trial. PINK SCOOTER came from four back on the markers and filled third spot. She backed up to finish fifth at Swan Hill on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – Not Given Last Half: – Not Given Margins: – 18m, 6m (approx.)
Trial 2: – TRUMP THE ACE settled four back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 500m mark and ran home best to get the prize by a narrow margin. TURNTHETABLES began well and trailed the leader throughout. He came to the outside at the quarter pole and went with TRUMP THE ACE but was nosed out on the line. DAISY BROWN finished third after setting the speed.
Mile Rate: – Not Given Last Half: – Not Given Margins: – Head, Neck (approx.)
Trial 3: – HEADBANGER was able to lead throughout and scored comfortably in the final trial. ULTIMATE TROUBLE trailed the leader and never peeled to the outside at any stage, going to the line with something in reserve. GOODBOY COWBOY was without cover, restrained to be three back on the markers then moved to the outside again with 600m remaining. He battled on fairly well for third.
Mile Rate: – Not Given Last Half: – Not Given Margins: – 3m, ½ head (approx.)
KYABRAM 05/02/23
Trial 1: – CRYSTAL FLAME was able to take out the only trial leading into her performance at Shepparton on Wednesday night, where she finished unplaced. She was able to defeat LET’S GO CRESCO with WINSUM BELLA, an unraced filly by Shadow Play out of the race winning mare Thunder Cookie, being third across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.0 Last Half: – 62.4 Margins: – 4m, head
BENDIGO 06/02/23
Trial 2: – BULLAPARK BENO has had a few gait issues recently but he was able to do everything right to win the trial convincingly. He settled behind the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and sprinted quickly from the 300m mark. ITS DIAMOND CREEK began well and was without cover early before angling in behind the leader. He battled on well for second and is capable of improving on his numerical form at Kilmore on Sunday. ORLANDO ROCK attempted to lead throughout and looked to be travelling well approaching the home turn but broke stride and lost his winning chance.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.3 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 8m, 2m
Trial 3: – EVERYBODYLOVESME was five back on the markers early and ended up being in the one out and one back trail behind KINGS GUARD. He did everything right and worked to the front with 100m remaining to get the prize. KINGS GUARD moved into the death seat from three back on the markers at the 600m and drew to a clear lead at the 150m mark. He had the field covered but broke stride and ended up being second past the post. VIOLETTA GIFT was third after trailing the leader for the majority of the trip.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.6 Last Half: – 61.4 Margins: – 4m, 3m
Trial 4: – GET LUCKY NZ was formerly with Andy Gath and is now being prepared by Michael Laugher. He settled last of the three runners, came to the outside at the 500m mark and finished off well to win clearly. DON’T CARE was backing up from two mammoth performances in a heat and the Final of the Great Southern Star, where he galloped and made up many lengths in both events. He trailed the leader KIMORA SAFFI and was given a very easy time at the end. KIMORE SAFFI galloped away in the Mares Sprint Championship last week. She fired to the lead early in the trial but broke stride under pressure with 150m remaining.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.9 Last Half: – 60.4 Margins: – 12m, 20m
Trial 5: – REMI LOU is a juvenile by Sweet Lou out of the ten times winning mare Rosharni and is due to make her debut at Kilmore on Sunday. She trailed the leader THE WAITING, moved to the outside on the home bend and sprinted home best to record her second trial success. THE WAITING held down second with LOOK TO THE SKY (3 back pegs) being last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – 1m, 150m
Trial 6: – OUTA THE BLUE recently returned from Queensland and has joined trainer Barry Quigley. She was three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 900m mark and drew to the lead with 500m remaining. She dashed home in a slick last half of 56.7 seconds and should go well first up at Kilmore on Sunday. EMRITES should also perform nicely at Kilmore after gaining the one out and one back trail from four back on the markers at the 900m and chasing hard over the latter stages to fill second. IFYOULOVEMELETMEGO came from last of the five runners to finish in third sport and appeared to have plenty left at the finish.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 56.7 Margins: – 4m, 25m
Trial 8: – PATSBEACHSTORM settled five back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m then came out three horses wide at the 300m. He has a National Rating of 75 and the remainder of the field had National Ratings of 50 and under so he was entitled to get the prize. OZZIE PUNTA produced an eye-catching run for second. He settled behind the leader OUTBACK SUNSHINE NZ before being held up for a run at a vital stage and running home well out wide late.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.8 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – 5m, 9m
TABCORP PARK, MELTON 06/02/23
Trial 3: – NOT AS PROMISED is a cleverly named gelding by Betting Line out of the top mare All Promises. He is bred to pace but he appears to be a very promising trotter. He began brilliantly to find the lead and was never out of second gear, winning untouched. SHAQ THE ANVIL trailed the leader and tried hard for second and ARABELLA SHOWDOWN was third after settling three back on the inside.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.3 Last half: – 59.12 Margins: – 8m, 3m
BLACKBOOKER: – Not As Promised
Trial 4: – JIVINGWITHSIERRA settled six back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the bell and drew to the lead at the quarter pole. She kicked on strongly when challenged and recorded a good victory. WHERESTHESTORM settled three back on the inside, gave JIVINGWITHSIERRA a big start and chased determinedly. He drew level close to the line but JIVINGWITHSIERRA was able to kick back and score. He is racing in the opening event at Warragul on Monday afternoon and should be hard to beat on that trial performance.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.5 Last Half: – 59.26 Margins: – ½ head, 29.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Wheresthestorm
Trial 5: – CAPTAIN GRAYWOOD was an impressive winner of the fifth event. He began very quickly to lead, established a good margin mid-race and kept on rolling to get the prize. ONE OVER DA SON NZ finished second after settling five back on the markers and chasing hard from the 700m mark. He has drawn favourably in a standing start event at Warragul on Monday afternoon and should go well. ALDEBARAN YEURIAL was third after being four back on the markers and moving to the outside at the 700m. He galloped in the final 50m but was still able to hold down third spot.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.4 Last Half: – 65.67 Margins: – 4m, 23.5m
Trial 7: – ROBBINMEMATES trailed the leader SWISS MISS NZ and came to the outside on the home turn. He finished off best to get the prize from CYCLONE S ADAMS NZ, which came from four back on the markers and closed in late. CYCLONE S ADAMS NZ is backing up at Kilmore on Sunday and performed well enough in the trial to suggest he can improve on his numerical form. SWISS MISS NZ dropped back to third late but wasn’t extended at any stage.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.3 Last Half: – 57.2 Margins: – 5.5m, 2.5m
Trial 8: – GAWN backed up his eye-catching trial effort at Ballarat a week earlier with a dominant display. He trailed the leader, came to the outside with 500m remaining and finished off in slick sectionals to win with something in hand. DEUCE COUPE NZ came from three back on the markers and chased hard for second. He got home in good final fractions and should run a good race at Geelong this evening. HEAVENSVILLE came from last and did the best of the rest to run into a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.8 Last Half: – 56.42 Margins: – 9m, 52.5m
Trial 9: – BETTER ECLIPSE settled last of the three runners but showed brilliant acceleration at the finish to score comfortably. It was a very impressive display with the last quarter being run in 26.77 seconds. TOUGH TILLY trailed the leader PACIFICO DREAM and was just able to snare second on the line. He wasn’t beaten by far but he has subsequently been withdrawn from his assignment at Melton on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.2 Last Half: – 55.25 Margins: – 5m, ½ head
Trial 12: – MAJOR MAL prepared for his effort at Mildura on Tuesday night with a trial victory over a reasonable field. He settled down in the running lane (1-2), ended up being in the one out and one back trail at the 1700m and came out three horses wide from the 500m mark. He scored from AVEIRO, which settled last of the seven runners and hit the line strongly, which was a good form pointer to his effort at Kilmore on Sunday. RUBY WINGATE (3 back markers, angled wide turn) also hit the line nicely and was third across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.5 Last Half: – 57.97 Margins: – 7m, Head
BLACKBOOKER: – Aveiro
Trial 13: – COMPETE won the trial convincingly. The results on the harness website are incorrect with LEVI EDISON being listed as being a dual winner with COMPETE but he finished at the tail of the field. COMPETE was one out and one back early, pushed forward to find the lead with 1600m remaining and bolted away over the final stages to win in fast time. PRINCESS CHILLA led out then took cover and finished second with BETTOR SPORT (5 back then 4 back markers) being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.9 Last Half: – 57.89 Margins: – 30m, 2m
STAWELL 08/02/23
Trial 1: – DON’T DOUBT is an unraced entire by Goodtime Sammy for trainer Jason Ainsworth. He was able to dash home in a last quarter of 28.9 seconds and scored by a large margin so he obviously has ability. BEHOLD finished in second position and was well clear of SONARMI JOH.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.7 Last Half: – 60.5 Margins: – 11m, 17m
