Late flashing runs caught the eye on the trials circuit these past few weeks and could give punters some good Christmas stocking stuffers in coming weeks.
Rebecca Bartley and Stephen O'Donoghue's Jacksboy, Blake and Ted Caruana's District Attorney and Andy Gath's Exalted swelled the Trial File Blackbook to 22.
The latter is an unraced trotting two-year-old filly from the late Martin Hartnett's outstanding broodmare Lunar Landing, who gave us Spidergirl ($317,657), Illawong Armstrong ($231,452) and Illawong Stardust ($146,765).
She is owned by Alabar, which co-leases her with key Gath backer Norm Jenkin, who'll be hopeful of adding more trophies besides those earned by the likes of Tornado Valley, Majestouso and McLovin.
Exalted has been nominated to make her debut in a two-year-old trot at Melton on December 22. Befoe she steps out watch her replay and get Craig Rail's take below.
SHEPPARTON 08/12/22
Trial 1: - RACING TIME prepared for his tilt at the Super Series with a victory over a handy field in the opening trial. He trailed the leader, used the sprint lane and drove through to score. He was resuming since winning the Canola Cup at Eugowra in early October when fifth behind Catch A Wave at Kilmore on Thursday night. CURLY JAMES showed good gate speed to lead and set up a reasonable tempo. He was only run down in the last few strides. JACKSBOY hasn’t started since June but indicated that he was ready to win a race after settling down in fourth and moving up without cover from the 600m. The last half was run in 56.9 seconds and he had the lowest National Rating of any runner in the field so it was a handy performance.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Last Half: - 56.9 Margins: - Neck, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: - Jacksboy
KILMORE 08/12/22
Race 1: - MITZI SAID hasn’t raced since being stood down to trial back in June 2021. She has won two trials recently and scored in the opening trial by nearly ten lengths after trailing the leader early and being left in front with 900m remaining. She took on top opposition in a heat of the Super Series first up and ran a great race for fourth so she is a big chance of winning a race against her own class in the near future. ALWAYS THE SHOWMAN settled three back on the markers behind MITZI SAID and finished a distant second. He beat the remainder of the field by a large margin but battled in his heat of the Super Series subsequently.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.4 Last Half: - 56.7 Margins: - 29m, 62m
Trial 3: - LADY LANI prepared for her effort at Cranbourne tomorrow night with a victory over SWEET MIRACLE. She led out, took a trail behind SWEET MIRACLE at the 1500m and dashed along the sprint lane. She finished a tiring ninth when resuming and is meeting a very tough field tomorrow night but she did show in her trial victory that she is on the way up.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Last Half: - 59.4 Margins: - 1.5m, 24.5m
BACCHUS MARSH 10/12/22
Trial 1: - THE BIG END OFTOWN hasn’t produced his best form for some time but he would have built some confidence with a victory in fast time over CALEDONIAN TERRA. He didn’t back up the victory however with an unplaced effort at Geelong after he unsuccessfully tried to hold the lead early.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.7 Last Half: - 59.6 Margins: - 3m, 2m
Trial 2: - WONKY prepared for his debut performance at Melton this evening with a win over CLAUDYS SECRET. He is a gelding by Lawman that is being prepared by Kaylene Ward and he has drawn favourably for his first up run.
Mile Rate: - 2.11.7 Last Half: - 63.4 Margins: - 6m, 4m
Trial 5: - NIGHT SPIRIT recorded handy time and defeated a reasonable field in the fifth event. He was able to defeat the classy mare COMMON COURTESY, which is a winning hope at Cranbourne this evening, with MORVAH being in third position. NIGHT SPIRIT led and finished fifth at Geelong on Wednesday and MORVAH was very unlucky in his performance on the same program. Both horses will back up at Geelong on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.8 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - Nose, 10m
Trial 6: - BUCKLES is now being prepared by Kelly Stuart-Mitchell and might run an improved race at Melton this evening considering he defeated SILENT REVERIE in his trial victory. The mile rate was slow but SILENT REVERIE is a handy performer.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.7 Last Half: - 62.0 Margins: - 3m, 10m
Trial 7: - MILLWOOD DIOR NZ is a former New Zealand pacer for trainer Craig Demmler. She finished unplaced at her first two Australian starts prior to a spell but she might be ready to fire at the start of this preparation considering she won her trial by fifteen metres in reasonable time. She is returning from a spell at Geelong on Tuesday. REALLY WHISKY finished second just ahead of EARS EFBEEYE with WILLIEBILLIE being fourth across the line. WILLIEBILLIE backed up with a game second on debut at Swan Hill on Wednesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.1 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - 15m, 1m
MARYBOROUGH 11/12/22
Trial 1: - DISTRICT ATTORNEY is performing extremely well at the trials and appears to be set for a prosperous campaign. He settled down fourth on the markers, came away from the inside at the 600m and finished fast to pick up the early leader SOLESSEO MATUCA in slick time. SOLESSEO MATUCA prepared for his shot at the Super Series with a solid front running display but galloped in his heat performance at Kilmore on Thursday. BUNDY PLAYBOY was third in the trial after leading out then taking cover.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.9 Last Half: - Not Given Margins: - Not Given
BLACKBOOKER: - District Attorney
Trial 3: - SATCHMO STRIKES NZ emulated her stable mate District Attorney by producing a dominant display. She was without cover early, pushed forward to lead and ran away from her rivals to win by a big margin. KARMA QUEEN ended up being three back on the markers and made ground via the sprint lane with KATIES WAY (4 back markers, death from 600m) being third across the line.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.0 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - 25m, 1m
Trial 5: - MAJORHOLEINMYPOCKETS began quickly to find the lead and ran along at an even tempo. He fought on well in the straight to win by a narrow margin. VIOLET ROCKS showed some promise at the Maryborough trials prior to making her debut in June. She was unplaced in two attempts then put out for a break. She delivered another handy trial effort after coming from five back on the markers at the 700m mark to almost run down the leader with the third placed pacer CHILLIN being 25 metres away so she can improve this preparation. She is drawn awkwardly on the inside of the second line at Hamilton on Sunday but should be finding the line nicely.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.4 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - ½ head, 25m
TABCORP PARK, MELTON 12/12/22
Trial 1: - Trainer David Miles produced four rising two years old pacers in the first trial with INDI AIR TONIGHT getting the prize. She is by Sweet Lou out of the former handy grey mare Flyin Indi Air and won with something in reserve after trailing the leader throughout. LOOKS LIKE DIAMONDS finished second after setting the speed and ONLY ROCKNROLL, a daughter of the fast mare The Pantheist finish in third position after being three back on the markers throughout.
Last Mile: - 2.5.75 Last Half: - 62.18 Margins: - Head, 43m
Trial 2: - STIR ME UP settled sixth on the markers, moved into the running lane (1-2) and came out three horses wide at the quarter pole. He finished off best to get the prize from the top trotter OLLIVICI NZ, which battled on strongly for second after racing without cover throughout. SHESMYBABY finished off quickly from five back on the markers to finish third in front of the early leader SO SIRIUS NZ. STIR ME UP will contest a strong heat of the Super Series at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.4 Last Half: - 57.60 Margins: - Neck, Neck
Trial 5: - LADY ADELIA began quickly to find the lead and backed off the speed mid-race. She finished off in handy final sectionals and was able to hold on and get the thick end of the prize. RAKERO BLAZE NZ trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 500m mark and missed out by a narrow margin. She is performing well at the trials and must be considered as a winning chance at Geelong on Tuesday night. LA PERRIERE finished third after being three back on the markers before being in the one out and one back trail behind RAKERO BLAZE NZ. LADY ADELIA and LA PERRIERE will contest the same heat of the Super Series at Maryborough on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Last Half: - 59.16 Margins: - ½ Head, 4m
Trial 6: - ALDEBARAN BOYD was stood down to trial after galloping on the home turn at Stawell last outing and quickly bounced back with a trial victory. He trailed the leader and moved away from the inside on the home turn before moving clear late to get the prize. That win meant he was able to re-qualify in time to take his place in a heat of the Super Series at Maryborough on Monday. MRIYA DREAM began quickly to find the lead, set up a moderate tempo and was run down late. EXALTED put in an eye-catching performance after settling fifth on the markers and picking up a lot of ground over the final stages. She is yet to make her debut but she has put in several slashing trial efforts throughout the season.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.4 Last Half: - 60.28 Margins: - 3.5m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - Exalted
Trial 7: - VISIONARY has been in outstanding form throughout the season and kept the momentum going with a trial victory. She began quickly to find the lead and was able to cling on over the concluding stages. ARCEE PHOENIX trailed the leader and used the sprint lane before zooming through in a slick last quarter to miss out by a narrow margin. He is a smart horse and is competing in a heat of the Super Series at Maryborough on Monday. SHAUNIE USA settled three back on the markers and moved to the outside with 300m remaining. He closed in late without being fully extended. BULLION HARRY finished fourth and the former New Zealand trotter JAKARTA NZ was last of the five runners throughout in a very strong trial.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.3 Last Half: - 58.59 Margins: - Head, 2m
CRANBOURNE 12/12/22
Trial 1: - BERATINI was driven very aggressively to eventually find the lead at the 1500m and was given a good hit-out. He was aided by the second placed DINNERWITHLARA making an error but he looked to be strong going to the post. DINNERWITHLARA is a close relation to Lunchwitharthur and even though she broke stride and did a few things wrong, she did show a bit of potential. She led and pulled hard early, eventually took cover before breaking stride over at the 700m.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.3 Last Half: - 61.1 Margins: - 70m, 57m
Trial 2: - Trainer Jayne Davies was able to prepare the Quinella with POST GAME trailing behind his stable mate MISTIE REIGN and finishing on too well over the concluding stages. POST GAME hasn’t raced since August but he was placed in all of his five starts during his last preparation.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Last Half: - 59.0 Margins: - 7.5m, 9.5m
BENDIGO 12/12/22
Trial 3: - ZAHVEN BANNER NZ appeared to be well placed considering he has a National Rating of 104 and was taking on horses that have Ratings in the fifties but he still appeared to be very sharp. He settled five back on the inside, moved away from the markers and made a lightning dash around the field to find the lead at the 1700m before running away from his rivals over the latter stages. He competed in the Be Good Johnny Sprint at Albion Park in November. BLUE CANNON settled four back on the pegs and came out three horses wide at the 300m. He ran into second with ACE MONTANA (5 back pegs) doing his best work at the end to fill third spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.4 Last Half: - 58.1 Margins: - 22m, 4m
Trial 5: - EDWARDE GRANGE settled four back on the markers, made a swift move to find the lead at the bell and extended nicely over the concluding stages to win comfortably. The mile rate was very slow but he cruised to victory so he appears to have some ability. ZEDA ROCKS trailed the leader early, got shuffled to four back on the inside then moved up without cover at the 700m. She battled on reasonably well for second.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.8 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - 9m, 4m
TERANG 13/12/22
Trial 1: - KEAYANG LIVANA hasn’t started since a fifth in the Terang Cup in February but she produced a good performance to lead throughout and win the opening trial. She went to the line with plenty in reserve and is obviously somewhere near her peak. The smart pacer SILENT MAJOR NZ and the handy trotter KEAYANG XENA filled the placings with KEAYANG XENA going to the line hard held.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.8 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 5m, 5m
Trial 2: - JILLIBY CHAMBERS was successful in the second event after working to the front at the 1800m. She was able to cruise to victory and will make her debut at Hamilton on Sunday, where she has drawn favourably. HERNIE is a juvenile by Restrepo for trainer Barry Beasley, which did well after racing without cover for the trip and the trotter KEAYANG SAMBUCA came from last to pick up third.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.0 Last Half: - 59.1 Margins: - 2m, 30m
