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Damien Burn’s juvenile, Maxo Mighty, put in an impressive performance in his first on-track display at Maryborough.
“Maxo Mighty is the first new season juvenile to step out at the trials and for a horse still listed as being a yearling, he put in a tremendous performance. He led throughout and drew clear at the end, recording a last quarter of 27.4 seconds!,” Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail said.
Rail also added My Darling Dancer, Mister Blindside, I am Wilma and Iron Woman to the file this week.
TRIAL REPORT 286
SHEPPARTON 10/10/24
Trial 1: – DANGEROUS is a very smart pacer and appeared to be ideally placed in the trial. He settled last on the markers and moved up without cover at the 1400m but wanted to race very fiercely throughout the middle stages. He hit the front at the 500m mark and sustained the run to win nicely. It would have given him some confidence for his effort at Menangle on Saturday. ART ON FIRE settled five back on the markers, was inconvenienced at the 400m mark and picked up good ground late for a game second. He backed up at Shepparton on Tuesday night and finished in eighth position. INVITATION ONLY progressed forward to find the lead in the early stages and battled on well for a close up third. He will be backing up at Wagga this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 6m, head (approximately)
Trial 2: – SEBASTIANS BOY raced without cover in the early stages, restrained to be last of the four runners on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 700m and produced a powerful finish in the home straight. It was a good effort leading up to his performance at Melton tomorrow night. EPIC ORION finished in second after attempting to lead all of the way and backed up with a third placed effort at Shepparton on Tuesday night. PARISIAN BANDIT trailed the leader throughout and ended up in third position. He will resume from a break at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: 6m, 8m (approximately)
MARYBOROUGH 12/10/24
Trial 1: – The smart juvenile pacer HESITATE continued his very good trial form when he pushed forward to find the lead with 1700m remaining and dashed away in the straight to win convincingly. ASMILEANDAWINX led out then took cover and tried hard for second. ROYAL SAXON finished third after settling last of the four runners and coming to the outside with 300m remaining. THELONGROADNOWHERE (3 back markers) was last of the four runners to cross the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – Unavailable
Trial 4: – ANGEL OF ANGER began quickly to find the lead, ran along at a reasonable tempo and was able to hold off her rivals to win the trial. She is backing up at Melton this evening. MY DARLING DANCER has a low National Rating of 42 and did very well to finish in second. She settled four back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 700m and went down by a narrow margin. She can be well placed to win a race in the near future. LOULOU BOY trailed the leader, waited for the sprint lane held his own in straight to finish in third. He makes his debut at Maryborough on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.8 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – Head, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: – My Darling Dancer
Trial 5: – MIDNIGHT MUSIC trailed the leader for the majority of the trip, obtained an inside run at the 500m to hit the lead and fought on well to hold on in a close finish. INTO THE HARKNESS settled four back on the markers, waited for the sprint lane and ran home well. REIGN EM IN began quickly to lead, ran along at a strong tempo and shifted away from the markers at the 500m. He kept on kicking in the run to the finish and missed out by a narrow margin. He backed up with his effort at Ballarat on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.2 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – Head, Head
Trial 6: – MAXO MIGHTY is the first new season juvenile to step out at the trials and for a horse still listed as being a yearling, he put in a tremendous performance. He led throughout and drew clear at the end, recording a last quarter of 27.4 seconds! He is by Warrawee Needy out of the strong mare Princess Dilinger (1.58.2, $65,263) making him related to five winners including the classy performers Top The Ace (1.52.9, $173,059), Youaremy Sunshine (1.53.8, $166,610) and Solesseo Matuca (1.54.3, $325,428) so he appears to have a very promising future. SEGUI LE STELLA trailed the leader and finished second with VIVENDO EL SUENO being last of the three runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.8 Last Half: – 58.0 Margins: – 10m, 50m
BLACKBOOKER: – Maxo Mighty
BACCHUS MARSH 12/10/24
Trial 2: – CANT EATOVERS hasn’t raced since a fourth at Yarra Valley in October 2023. He was able to win his trial from ZU HOFFEN, which is a former New South Wales trained pacer that has recently joined trail Bruce Donaldson and made his local debut at Ballarat on Thursday night. He finished second just in front of MIKIS JOE with MIKIS JOE backing up at Melton this evening from a trailing draw.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.0 Last Half: – 61.0 Margins: – 3m, Head
Trial 3: – SHOTINTHEDARK hasn’t raced since a second at Ballarat in May but he recorded a handy time in his comfortable trial victory so he might be in for a prosperous campaign. BLAZIN BY is an unraced gelding by Betting Line out of Dreams In Heaven. The second dam Dream Verdict NZ was a very handy performer having won nine races. He finished second and was well clear of the third placed HELLO PINTO with GOODTIME CORTEZ being the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.0 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – 3m, 15m
Trial 4: – JUST AS WELL NZ took out the open class trial by a narrow margin. He defeated the recent race winning performer WOTDIDUSAAAY by a narrow margin with OOH AH LISTAH being the third horse across the line. JUST AS WELL NZ is competing at Melton on Saturday night, WOTDIDUSAAY is competing at Cranbourne on Sunday and is at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.8 Last Half: – 57.0 Margins: – Head, 2m
Trial 6: – MY KGARI raced fiercely at her first run since June and dropped out at the finish. She was stood down to trial and quickly bounced back with a runaway trial victory in handy time. She is perfectly drawn at Maryborough on Sunday and should give a forward showing. BUBBY TO BASE finished in second position ahead of COOPER CLEAVER with FULL MOON being a distance away in fourth position.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 10m, 8m
Trail 8: – It was a small field of just three runners for the open class event with trainer Tayla Nicholson providing the Quinella. SEBS CHOICE hasn’t raced since June 2023 and has been lightly raced since winning the Redcliffe Cup in 2022. He finished off in a sizzling final half of 55.9 seconds to win the trial over ALBY TWO CHAINS, which is race fit and was placed at Geelong at his latest race track appearance. MAGIC MIKE NZ was last of the three runners to cross the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.9 Last Half: – 55.9 Margins: – 3m, 10m
ARARAT 13/10/24
Trial 1: – BARBADOS ROSE is an unraced mare for trainer Chris Blake. She is by Betterthancheddar out of Wineglass Bay, which has produced the race winning gelding Teniamo (1.57.5, $59,983). She won the trial in slow time over INDIGO DANCER with her stable mate STRAIGHT UP being a large distance away in third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.9 Last Half: – 60.4 Margins: – Neck, 20m
BENDIGO 14/10/24
Trial 1: – TICTOK began very quickly from the standing start and it didn’t take long for her to spear to the front. She ran along at a genuine tempo and was able to draw away at the end to win the trial by a large margin. BILLY ZIPPIN settled last of the four runners, moved up without cover at the bell then switched in to trail the leader at the half mile marker. He was safely held by TICTOK but he did beat the remainder of the field by a good margin. He is competing in a heat of the Victoria Derby at Maryborough on Sunday afternoon. AETHON settled three back on the markers and was the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.3 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – 30m, 30m
Trial 2: – ROYAL EDARD settled three back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 700m and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He finished off best to get up on the line and it would have given him some confidence for his first up performance at Cranbourne on Sunday. THE DUX finished in second after trying to lead throughout with ACE DUIGAN (trailed leader) being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.0 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: – ½ Head, 5m
Trial 4: – ROMANTIC NINA began quickly to trail the leader, ended up being three back on the markers and moved up without cover with 500m remaining. She got home best to defeat ITS DIAMOND CREEK, which settled four back on the markers and moved into the one out and one back trail behind ROMANTIC NINA leaving the back straight. THE CHOOK began quickly and worked to the lead at the 1600m mark. She battled on well in the run to the finish to be third past the post. The winner ROMANTIC NINA is scheduled to compete at Maryborough on Sunday and THE CHOOK is a strong winning chance at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.6 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 4m, Nose
Trial 5: – ABOUTTIME is returning from New South Wales and joins trainer Maryanne Laffan. He was below his best during his Sydney campaign but he was very impressive in his trial success. He led throughout and recorded a sizzling mile rate of 1.55.6, winning by fifty metres. It was a terrific hit-out for his performance in the opening heat of the South Australian Cup at Globe Derby on Saturday night. TASMA FLASH trailed the leader and finished in second and PAPPA LEO NZ was last of the three runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 1.55.6 Last Half: – 58.0 Margins: – 50m, 40m
MELTON 15/10/24
Trial 2: – I AM WILMA began brilliantly to find the lead from the standing start and was able to lead throughout. She finished off in a slick final quarter of 28.64 seconds and appeared to have plenty in reserve so she was quite impressive. She will prove very hard to beat in her performance at Maryborough on Sunday. SASSY GALLEON settled three back on the inside, moved up without cover at the 300m mark and battled on gamely for second. I AM HELLBOUND was third across the line after trailing the leader throughout. He will be competing against a strong field in the Tatlow Stakes at Melton on Saturday night. PROHIBITED GRACE settled down in fifth and finished off well from the quarter pole to be in fourth position.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.8 Last Half: – 59.02 Margins: – 6.5m, Neck
BLACKBOOKER: – I Am Wilma
Trial 4: – LOVEMETO NZ is returning to Australia after only having two starts in New Zealand since his Victoria Derby campaign last season. He won a heat of the Derby last season and he showed that he hasn’t lost any of that talent with an impressive trial victory. He came from last of the four runners, moved into the death seat at the 500m and finished off best. KYVALLEY AMANDA finished in second after attempting to lead throughout. OUR MARVELLA NZ settled three back on the markers and was the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.5 Last Half: – 59.07 Margins: – Neck, 8.5m
Trial 7: – IRON WOMEN is a beautifully bred filly for trainer Andy Gath and created a good impression. She is by Quaker Jet out of the Group 2 winning mare Val Gardena (1.59.9, $122,280), which has produced two winners including the Group 1 winning filly Gardena Ronda (1.57.4, $108,861). She settled five back on the markers in a slowly run trial, came to the outside at the 700m and sprinted quickly in the back straight, sustaining the run to win clearly. KISS AT MIDNIGHT finished in second after trailing the leader early and moving to the lead at the mile marker. TRIXIE led out then took cover and was third across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.8.1 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 10m, 18m
BLACKBOOKER: – Iron Women
Trial 11: – MISTER BLINDSIDE put in a huge performance to win by a massive margin and recorded a super mile rate of 1.56.7. He ran to the front and just kept on running at a genuine tempo, giving nothing else a winning chance. It was a very good performance leading up to his effort in a heat of the Victoria Derby at Maryborough on Sunday. ALDEBARAN CAMPBELL settled three back on the markers and finished in second with ALDEBARAN MARCUS (trailed leader) being third across the line. ALDEBARAN MARCUS will be backing up at Maryborough on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.7 Last Half: – 60.63 Margins: – Unavailable
BLACKBOOKER: – Mister Blindside
HAMILTON 16/10/24
Trial 1: – MEDIA MOGUL is a juvenile gelding by Sportswriter out of Turbo Elly (1.57.1, $21,948), whose first foal is Littleblabbamouth (1.56.8, $44,840). He was able to record a mile rate of 1.57.6 in defeating the yearling colt ZANDA MAN, which obviously produced a terrific performance to finish as close as he did. ZANDA MAN is by Art Major out of Miss Atlanta (1.56.8, $44,356) and is the first foal. The trotter ALDEBARAN DAHLIA was the third horse to cross the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.6 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – 4.5m, 2m
