General Dodge doubled down on his outstanding trial form with another eye-catcher and was among a handful to impress on the Victorian trials circuit this week.
The General is among 18 to have been added to the Blackbook, scroll to the bottom of the page to see them.
Here's this week's report:
TERANG 11/01/20
Trial 1: - SHOWEM SHIFTY has struggled a little at the races recently and was stood down after galloping in the latter stages at Charlton last outing. He bounced back into some form with a runaway trial victory over the nicely bred qualifier SEABIRD (Bettors Delight – Pelicanrama 1.53.4, $725,271). WEEROOK BUDDY (Shadyshark Hanover – Tartan Dynasty) finished in third position with SURFSUP TIGERPIE (Somebeachsomewhere – Blucolla Tigerpie 1.53.8, $212,507) being fourth ahead of the juvenile pacer SPRINGFIELD AFFAIR (Shadow Play – Flamingo Rose 2.1.6, $31,250).
Mile Rate: - 2.3.3 Final half: - 61.8 Margins: - 40m, ½ Head
Trial 2: - Only two trotters contested trial two with DIAMOND WES, which was stood down to trial after getting things wrong at his first three attempts since April, beating BOLD HUSSY by a large margin.
Mile Rate: - 2.10.2 Final Half: - 66.4 Margin: - 30m
Trial 3: - JAEDEN missed out after enduring a wide trip at Terang last outing but his form since resuming has been sound overall. He dashed home in a slick final half to win the trial by a large margin over the Matthew Craven trained qualifying filly HELGART (Art Major – Heavenly Bread) with GOODTIME BOBBY running in last of the three runners.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.3 Final Half: - 56.7 Margins: - 35m, 1m
MOOROOPNA 12/01/20
Trial 1: - The Brent Thompson trained mare TIME TO REACT, which has only had three starts to date and hasn’t raced since September 2018, won the opening trial on the program from BONNY TAYLAH (All Speed Hanover – Bonny Spur) with the last start Echuca victor DALLAS FRANCO finishing in third position. The two qualifiers ARRAPS (Rock N Roll Heaven – Soho Joplin) and MISSMETRO (Metropolitan – Immortal Miss) finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Mile Rate: - Not Given Final Half: - Not Given Margins: - Neck, 8m
Trial 2: - LEGENDS LAST is a former New South Wales pacer, which is now with trainer Bruce Rose and he took out the second trial from JUST A PHILTRA with the trotter ILLAWONG RED finishing in third position. The lightly raced trotter SPIDER DUNBAR came in last of the four runners.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.6 Final Half: - 61.0 Margins: - 4m, 12m
Trial 3: - The classy pacer FRANKS VERY MUCH was clearly the best performed horse competing in the final trial and he was able to get the prize from the unraced gelding ARGY BARGY (Artistic Fella – Global Village 1.58.5, $51,019) with SHEEZABAY (Alta Christiano – Pacific Made) finishing in third position. SAMMARI saw the field safely home and came in last of the four.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.7 Final Half: - 59.0 Margins: - 5m, 1m
MILDURA 12/01/20
Trial 1: - ZIVA settled five back on the inside but continued to gain a great passage through via inside runs in the back straight on the final occasion. She ran to the line strongly and got up to grab victory on the line. SHE SAID YES began quickly but was left without cover in the early stages. She gained enough room to trail the leader in the back straight on the first occasion and went down narrowly. RHYFLECTIVE showed his usual gate speed to find the lead and set up a slow tempo. He wasn’t beaten by far but he was gunned down in the latter stages. TWO JACS (BG’s Folly – Sanction Abreezin) settled four back on the markers and raced roughly before galloping with 1400m remaining. He ended up being five back on the markers after that but ran into a distant fourth. RAINBEACHGIRL settled three back on the markers before moving into the death seat at the 600m mark. She tired into fifth and CALL ME DOTTIE (Four Starzzz Shark – Whos Whispering 1.56.8, $12,063) galloped at the start and was tailed off throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.6 Final Half: - 61.3 Margins: - Head, 3m
Trial 2: - HES A MODERN BOY showed good gate speed to lead and was able to hold on to win the trial by half of a length on the line. SYSTAMATIC was caught wide early before moving into the death seat and tried very hard for second. KRISTINS WISH settled three back on the markers before moving into the one out and one back trail and coming out three horses wide on the home turn. She finished off reasonably well for third. Both KING RAFA (behind leader) and CELEBRITA (4 back markers) went to the line jogging with no clear and should have finished much closer. SHADOW TERROR settled sixth on the markers before moving away from the inside (1-2) but he was under pressure from the 400m mark and dropped off the bunch. RUBY REACTOR (Auckland Reactor – Larilla Lace 2.3.2, $13,585) settled five back on the markers and was yielding ground with 500m remaining.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.4 Final Half: - 61.5 Margins: - 1.5m, 2m
Trial 3: - RENAISSANCE ART was one out and one back early, moved into the death seat and eventually found the lead when he dominated the third trial. He raced clear on the home corner and scored by a good margin. BABY LUV was in the death seat early before moving into the lead and taking cover behind RENAISSANCE ART. She tried hard but the winner was too good for her in the straight. SWEARENGEN settled last of the four runners and was able to work past NEVAEVABEND, which led early and was shuffled back on the markers shortly after the start.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Final Half: - 60.3 Margins: - 12m, 6m
Trial 4: - AUGUSTUS JACK showed his usual gate speed to push forward and find the front. He set up an honest tempo and proved to be superior in the run to the judge. GERONIMO DAN began well to match AUGUSTUS JACK momentarily before taking a trail. For a fleeting second on the home turn, he appeared to be a winning chance before AUGUSTUS JACK kicked away. VELOX EQUUS was three back on the markers before moving into the death seat with 900m remaining. He finished third and DIAMONDS FOR A LADY was last throughout and dropped off the bunch with a lap remaining.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.2 Final Half: - 61.5 Margins: - 3m, 9m
MARYBOROUGH 12/01/20
Trial 1: - IM SIR BLAKE began brilliantly to lead but wanted to over-race badly throughout the middle stages and established a big lead. He was getting tired in the final 100m but he was a long way clear of his rivals and won nicely. WATCH LIST was in second position for the entire journey and didn’t really chase I’M SIR BLAKE when he was going hard. He ended up finishing second and was well clear of SIXTY, which was four back on the inside and couldn’t work into the race. BYALLA BOY was three back on the markers and got tired of chasing. He beat home SUMARIAN ARTIST, which was last of the five runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.9 Final Half: - 59.2 Margins: - 15m, 20m
Trial 2: - SAVANNAH JAY JAY trailed the leader DEALERS KNOCK and came to the outside with 800m remaining. He did have DEALERS KNOCK covered on the home turn but forged to the front when that trotter galloped and he held on to win the trial with something in reserve. MY SKYPOCKET settled three back on the outside and followed SAVANNAH JAY JAY everywhere he went. He came to the outside and chased hard in the straight but just failed to snare victory. DEALERS KNOCK recovered after galloping on the turn to be beaten 16m in very strong grade and finished third. FORGOT TO REMEMBER was tailed off after showing terrific gate speed early but galloping on the first corner.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.3 Final Half: - 58.0 Margins: - 1m, 15m
Trial 3: - SOHO TSUNAMI (Somebeachsomewhere – Valencay 1.57.6, $29,261) settled four back on the inside before moving into the death seat with 1200m remaining. He brushed past the leaders in the latter stages and won easily at the end. CORNELIA settled down last of the six runners and came to the outside turning for home. She was the widest runner into the straight but came home with a big finish for an eye-catching second. MISS MORAINE settled four back on the inside before moving into the one out and one back trail behind SOHO TSUNAMI. She was under pressure from the quarter pole and battled into third. BE A GOOD SCOUT showed good gate speed to lead but was run down in the latter stages and finished fourth. RENA MAJORE (Art Major – Sheena Rena) trailed the leader throughout and finished fifth with BROOKLET ROSE finishing at the rear of the field after being without cover early then angling onto the markers to be three back.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.0 Final Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 8m, 4m
Trial 4: - ABOVE AVERAGE led out before taking a trail and raced fiercely in the middle stages so he did a good job to kick through via the sprint lane and pick up the prize. GOLLAHGOLD had the cover behind ABOVE AVERAGE in the early stages before circling around to find the lead at the 1800m mark. He tried to kick on in the straight but ABOVE AVERAGE had too much momentum at the end. TELL NOBODY settled three back on the markers prior to moving into the death seat with 700m remaining. He finished third in front of JULES PEACH (4 back markers, 1-1), which was last of the four runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.9 Final Half: - 60.6 Margins: - 4m, 4m
Trial 5: - WILSHIRE BOULEVARD (Somebeachsomewhere – Where’s Hollywood) settled six back on the markers before moving up without cover at the bell. She hit the front with 500m remaining and held on well at the finish. MAJALINER (Art Major – Triliner 1.56.2, $280,196) settled four back on the markers before moving into the one out and one back trail behind WILSHIRE BOULEVARD. She then came out three horses wide from the 700m mark and finished off well, despite racing greenly in the latter stages. STAR PUPIL was a large distance back in third position after being three back on the markers and doing his best work late. MORRINSONS DREAM (Blissfull Hall – Sanreos 1.591, $33,792) settled down last and was doing his best work at the end to finish in fourth position. ACES JETT showed good gate speed to lead before taking cover and finished fifth ahead of CAMNAT (Heston Blue Chip – Catapult 1.53.4, $50,782) and BOAK (Village Jolt – Moriva 2.1.7, $15,738), which settled five back on the markers and broke stride at the 700m, saw the field safely home.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.9 Final Half: - 57.4 Margins: - Head, 15m
Trial 6: - CHARLIE WALKER was a big winner of the trial. He broke stride at the start and was tailed off in the early stages before tacking on at the 1500m mark. He copped a check with 600m remaining but was able to recover and got the prize. ANGELS BREATH settled four back on the markers and gained an inside run in the latter stages. She drove through into second position and was never extended at any stage. UNITED (Union Guy – Lite Energy 1.59.7, $95,713) was checked at the start and angled in to be four back on the markers before moving up without cover from the 1100m mark and dashing to a clear lead on the turn but he tired late and was collared near the line. He did race greenly at various stages of the trial. NIGHT WHISPERER (Quaker Jet – Parisian Dancer) settled three back on the inside and finished fourth ahead of the early leader ALONG CAME A SPIDER (Yankee Spider – Tachometer). LITTLEBETTYARMBRO trailed the leader but broke stride at the 600m mark and COULD IT BE ME (Shadow Play – Phoebes Grin) was tailed off throughout after galloping away.
Mile Rate: - 2.11.1 Final Half: - 63.3 Margins: - Head, 1m
Trial 7: - DANCINGALLALONE was slow early and was without cover from quite a way behind the leader before pressing forward to run to the lead mid-race. He was able to get away from his rivals in the back straight and never looked like being beaten. ARISTOCRAT CHESTER had various positions in the run and was without over momentarily several times but he was able to find the back of DANCINGALLALONE in the final circuit and battled on fairly for second. TIPTOP EURASIAN trailed the leader early before angling into the one out and one back trail and battled on fairly well for third. BACARDI CHIC (Bacardi Lindy – Mysteriousillusion) settled four back on the markers and appeared to be struggling at the half mile marker. She finished a distant fourth ahead of JORDANS MATE, which settled three back on the markers and yielded ground from the 600m mark. WELL DESERVED paced at the start and refused to trot and was tailed off throughout. SHERIFF BROWN led by 20m from the stand early, took cover behind DANCINGALLALONE and was struggling a long way from home, eventually being retired from the trial.
Mile Rate: - 2.11.3 Final Half: - 61.8 Margins: - 6m, 8m
BENDIGO 12/01/20
Trial 1: - BARHOON trailed the leader WILL PATRICK and came to the outside with 500m remaining. She showed a good turn of speed to hit the lead on the turn and won by a comfortable margin at the finish. ALDEBARAN PHOEBE produced a nice trial second. She settled three back on the markers but was trotting home strongly at the end. SULTAN SASS (Majestic Son – Heart of Glass) was slowly into stride and missed the start by approximately 30m. She was last on the markers and came with a big finish for an eye-catching third. The early leader WILL PATRICK (Fling It – Conchs Critter 2.3.1, $90,846) dropped out to be last of the four runners.
Mile Rate: - 2.16.7 Final Half: - 59.7 Margins: - 6m,3m
Trial 2: - ITS EBONYNIVORY settled six back on the markers and moved up without cover from the 1200m mark. She moved alongside the leader TRITTTRITTBANGBANG and forged clear in the straight to win well. TRITTTRITTBANGBANG tried to lead throughout and held down second in front of PURSUITOFHAPPYNESS (Western Terror – Landscapeartist 1.58.0, $32,575), which angled onto the back of ITS EBONYNIVORY from five back on the markers for a cart home. WINGING GRIN was in fourth position after settling four back on the markers and moving away from the inside at the bell (1-2). ROCKSLIDE (A Rocknroll Dance – Soky Sue) was able to trail the leader in the early stages but broke stride on the home turn and KIDWITHAGRIN galloped from three back on the markers at the quarter pole.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.0 Final Half: - 56.0 Margins: - 3m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Its Ebonynivory
Trial 3: - DOUBLE DOT showed good gate speed to lead and set up a slow tempo. He held on to defeat TEQUILA BREE (Bacardi Lindy – Maori Sunshine 2.3.2, $45,075), which left a position from four back on the markers to race without cover with 700m remaining. The open class trotter ANDYOU was without cover early before trailing the leader with 1800m remaining. She angled to the outside with 100m to run and finished off boldly. LADY LIL (Im Stately – Ourlittlelil 2.3.7, $32,944) settled three back on the markers before moving into the one out and one back trail. She galloped on the home turn and finished fourth. VINCENT KAI galloped at the start and was tailed off throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.10.1 Final Half: - 61.2 Margins: - 1m, Head
Trial 4: - SANDOVAL trailed the leader ITS BEAUJOLAIS in the early stages but was checked when that horse galloped. He then switched around to find the front and blasted home his final half in 56.3 seconds to win comfortably. MOONSHINE LINDA hasn’t raced since winning the Breeders Crown in August. She followed SANDOVAL throughout and did a good job to hold down second in fast time. ALMAMAY ART settled four back on the markers and ran into a distant third in front of SIMPLY HEAVENLY (Rock N Roll Heaven – Machabiba 1.56.8, $60,525) (3 back markers). ITS BEAUJOLAIS was retired from the trail with a punctured tyre.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.5 Final Half: - 56.3 Margins: - 9m, 50m
Trial 5: - WOTCHAWAITINGFOR showed good gate speed to lead and rolled along at a genuine tempo. He held off the determined late challenge of SHAWAMI LASS, which came from three back on the markers to run home strongly. ITS BEAUJOLAIS, which went around in trial four but had a gear malfunction, settled last of the four runners before moving up without cover with 500m remaining. She finished third ahead of GOBSMACKED, which trailed the leader.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.9 Final Half: - 55.8 Margins: - Head, 2m
MELTON 13/01/20
Trial 1: - SUNNYS LITTLE JESTIC was slow to begin and settled last of the three runners. She moved up without cover with 250m remaining and finished off fast to win impressively. STRESS FACTOR finished second after bouncing to the lead and rolling along at a good tempo. IMPERIAL WHIZ finished last after trailing the leader but he wasn’t far from the winner.
MILE RATE: - 2.2.4 Final Half: - 59.45 Margins: - 1.5m, 4.5m
Trial 2: - GENERAL DODGE has been trialling extremely nicely and showed good acceleration to win the second event. He led early, took a trail and pulled very hard before weaving a passage through and flying home at the finish. JILLIBY BANDIT was last of the six runners early before moving into the death seat with 1400m remaining. He drew to the lead on the home turn and went down fighting. GOODTIME HEAVEN was without cover early, eased onto the markers to be five back and gained the one out and one back trail behind JILLIBY BANDIT. She put in another good trial performance and finished ahead of the early leader ROCK N ROLL CHAPEL, DIAMONDS N CASH (4 back markers) and SMART LITTLE SHARD, which dropped out sharply from three back on the markers in the back straight on the final occasion.
Mile Rate: - 1.55.6 Final Half: - 54.86 Margins: - 1.5m, 6m
BLACKBOOKER: - General Dodge
Trial 3: - MAGICAL showed brilliant gate speed to lead clearly and dominated the trial thereafter. She won by a large margin and seemingly had plenty in reserve. SCOOTIN AROUND (Bacardi Lindy – Redneck) was a nice performance after settling four back on the inside and sustaining a good run without cover from the 400m mark. ESSEX PLAYER (Andover Hall – Another Player 2.4.0, $62,088) finished in third position after trailing the leader throughout. EN ESPECES LIBRE (Ready Cash – Kincaslough $133,286) came from last and picked up fourth ahead of HOPEFUL BEAUTY (Brilliantissime – Beauty Life), which was three back on the markers but galloped on the home turn. LUTETIA (Quaker Jet – Pepperell Magic) broke at the start then again at the quarter pole and finished a distant last.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.6 Final Half: - 59.99 Margins: - 12.5m, Nose
BLACKBOOKER: - Magical
Trial 4: - THE DUDE settled four back on the inside before moving into the death seat with 1300m remaining. He was able to draw to the lead in the home straight and won easily in the run to the judge. NOVAS DELIGHT showed good early speed to lead and backed off the tempo. She was comfortably defeated by THE DUDE but the final half was fast. LET’S GO LOHI finished third after trailing the leader and ILLAWONG ASTRO (three back markers) followed through into fourth position. STEFSASTAR (Art Major – Nightshade Franco) made up some ground from last of the main group to finish fifth in front of QUEEN OF DIAMONDS, which started a wide move approaching the home turn but was checked and lost all momentum. IDEALISTIC FELLA settled five back on the inside before moving into the one out and one back trail and tired over the latter stages. BELLASTEEL (All Speed Hanover – Universal Alice 2.1.7, $22,326) broke in the score up and was tailed off throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.8 Final Half: - 56.1 Margins: - 7m, ½ Head
Trial 5: - ARMCHAIR DRIVE trailed the leader SHADOW JUSTICE and came to the outside with 300m remaining. The pair staged a good battle down the straight with ARMCHAIR DRIVE just prevailing although with seemingly something in reserve. KEAYANG MAJESTIC finished third after being three back on the markers throughout and PROSTHESIS galloped on the home turn when he started to pick up some ground from last of the four runners.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.0 Final Half: - 58.28 Margins: - ½ Head, 15M
Trial 6: - MUSZTANG settled three back on the markers and moved up without cover from the 700m mark. He sustained a strong run and proved too good at the finish. SHESA POCKETROCKET settled four back on the inside and moved into the one out and one back trail to follow MUSZTANG. She tried hard in the straight to finish second ahead of PROMISE ME HEAVEN, which showed good gate speed to find the lead. SASSYS A TERROR trailed the leader and finished fourth ahead of BETTERTHANFLYHIGH (Betterthancheddar – Mazzas Delight) (6 back markers), EVOS DREAM (Pet Rock – Dashem) (5 back markers) and ALL THAT DANGER (Bells And Whistles – Francisco Diva) was last of the seven runners after racing without cover throughout and hanging in under pressure late.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Final Half: - 58.21 Margins: - 2.5m, Nose
Trial 7: - POWDERKEG has come back from a break in excellent form and was able to trounce his rivals at another trial victory. He showed good gate speed to lead and was untroubled in scoring. SKY EAGLE got in behind the leader and tried hard for second position. IMMAORIJET settled three back on the inside and lost ground on the leading duo but just held down third in front of LA SERENA (Quaker Jet – Donegal Flat), which trailed him throughout. IM READY JET was last of the five throughout the entire trial.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.8 Final Half: - 59.59 Margins: - 6.5m, 12m
Trial 8: - ROCKINGWITHSIERRA showed terrific gate speed from out wide on the track and flew across the field to find the front. She set up a genuine speed and scored impressively. FINAL PEACE also trialled nicely after showing enough early pace to get in behind the leader and finish second. LET’S GET SHORTY ran home well for an eye-catching third from five back on the markers and DASHA THE GREAT (6 back markers) also made late ground. MEA CULPA settled three back on the inside and finished fifth in front of DIEGOS DIAMOND, which was the first to move away from the markers (4 back) with 600m remaining.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.6 Final Half: - 56.76 Margins: - 5m, 14m
BLACKBOOKER: - Final Peace
Trial 9: - KEAYANG LIVANA scored impressively after settling four back on the inside and moving into the one out and one back trail with 600m remaining. VOUCHERS showed good gate speed to lead, took cover then moved up without cover in the back straight on the final occasion. She hit the lead on the home turn but couldn’t repel the finishing challenge of KEAYANG LIVANA. PRINCE OF LIGHT settled three back on the markers and ran into a distant third but he beat the remainder of the field by a large distance. HES THEMIGHTYSPIN began well to lead but was collared over the latter stages and ended up finishing in fourth position. CHU CHITS settled six back on the markers before moving up without cover from the 1200m mark. She couldn’t extend and ended up finishing fifth in front of BOISSY SAINT LEGER (Repeat Love – Another Starlet), which was five back on the markers throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Final Half: - 58.36 Margins: - 2m, 17.5m
Trial 10: - OUR ROAD TO MECCA settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail and came out three horses wide on the home turn when an easy winner of trial ten. FRANCO was able to push forward and find the lead at the 1700m and kicked back strongly when challenged. GILTY HANOVER led out then took cover and finished third. She loomed up to second just before the line but FRANCO kicked back to worry her out of that position. LUVYOUBABE was fourth after racing three back on the markers and THE KIWI WAY was last throughout.
Mile Rate: - 1.56.8 Final Half: - 57.09 Margins: - 3m, ½ Neck
Race 11: - PRIVATE EYE (He’s Watching – Oh Eye See 1.54.5, $101,705) continued his good form at the trials after settling down fifth and gaining a one out and one back trail in the final circuit before running home to get the prize. He only scored by a narrow margin but seemingly had a bit more to give if required. SWEET LOUISE finished very quickly from the one out and two back position and just missed out. It was an eye-catching performance and she is worth following. HIGHCLERE finished third after trailing the leader throughout with NOTORIOUS JOE (Roll With Joe – Legal Art) in fourth after setting the speed. KEAYANG REMI (Western Terror – Major Day 2.0.6, $27,671) was fifth after sitting three back on the markers throughout and APOLOGIZE settled down last before moving up without cover from the bell and dropping out late.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.0 Final Half: - 57.33 Margins: - Head, 2.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Sweet Louise
Race 12: - TANGOINGWITHSIERRA began quickly to lead and slowed up the tempo mid-race but she produced a dazzling final half of 55.58 seconds to win by a large margin. HARPOCRATES settled behind the leader and finished second with SPEEDY MACH performing nicely in third position after he settled last and moved up without cover from the 1200m mark. ULTIMATE ME settled four back on the markers and finished fourth ahead of FIREINTHEHOLE (3 back markers), ILLAWONG KISMET (5 back markers, 1-1) and the trotter OUR THUNDER BUDDY saw the field safely home from his position of being six back on the inside.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.1 Final Half: - 55.58 Margins: - 20m, 13.5m
Race 13: - DIAMOND GRACE was able to claim victory in the last trial where she gained a nice trail behind the leader throughout. ZOLIVER wasn’t really extended in second position after being without cover early then switching back to be the third one on the markers. ANODOUBT finished third after trying to lead throughout. JUST TOMMY was the same throughout in fourth position and LARAJAY MACRAY came from last to pick up MOLLYWOOD (5 back markers) in the straight.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.1 Final Half: - 59.0 Margins: - Head, 3m
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