Craig Rail thinks Ollies The Boss will prove “very hard to beat” when he returns from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Rail added the Andy Gath-trained pacer to his black book after a top trial effort at Melton on Tuesday.
The Harness Racing Victoria form guru also included Johnny Tang, Hammer and The Steel Dragon as horses to follow from the state’s trial circuit.
TRIAL REPORT
SHEPPARTON 24/07/25
Trial 1: – OUR ROKU settled down last of the five runners and made his winning move from the half mile marker. He hit the lead turning for home then held off the late challenge of JOHNNY TANG to get the prize. He is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. JOHNNY TANG put in an eye-catching performance. He was without cover early, angled in behind the leader then extricated to the outside with 150m remaining. He finished off very quickly and went down by a metre on the line. AFTER THE CHASE attempted to lead throughout and finished third ahead of SHES MAGICAL, which ended up being three back on the markers. SHES MAGICAL is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.4 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 1m, 8m
BLACKBOOKER: – Johnny Tang
Trial 3: – WORTH WAITING began well and was able to angle in behind the leader from the 1800m. She enjoyed a nice trip, came to the outside with 300m remaining and finished off best to win clearly. It was a good effort leading up to his performance against strong opposition at Melton on Saturday night. RED KERMIT was three back on the markers for the majority of the journey before coming to the outside on the home turn. He was no match for WORTH WAITING but he beat the remainder of the field by a reasonable margin. BUMPER SERVICE attempted to lead throughout and finished in third. She backed up at Bendigo on Wednesday night and made ground from last to pick up fourth placing.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – 6m, 10m
Trial 4: – HAMMER trailed the leader and hit the front with 400m remaining. He appeared to be strong at the finish and scored clearly. AFTERNOON BREEZE followed behind her stable mate HAMMER throughout and chased hard over the final stages. Both of the Russell Jack prepared trotters are by the French Stallion Classic Connection FRA and they dominated their rivals. AFTERNOON BREEZE backed up with a big victory at Kilmore on Thursday night so HAMMER will prove hard to beat when he steps out onto the track for the first time. MUNNY THE MUNSTER settled four back on the markers and finished in a distant third ahead of MAJESTIC SKY, which was going to lead early but broke stride 100m after the start.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.5 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – 6m, 25m
BLACKBOOKER: – Hammer
Trial 5: – MAGIC MIKI was an impressive winner over I AM ON THERUN. He trailed the leader early but was shuffled to four back on the markers mid-race before moving into the running lane (1-2) with a half mile remaining. He came to the outside at the quarter pole and produced a big finishing burst to win nicely. I AM ON THERUN raced without cover early, pushed forward to lead then took cover at the 1500m. He dashed to the front at the 600m mark but couldn’t repel the challenge of MAGIC MIKI over the latter stages. IM HANK was five back on the markers but refused to settle and was pulling very hard. He moved up without cover at the 1300m and battled on well for third. He is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. TARAJI settled seventh on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the bell and battled on okay for fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.7 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – 4m, 7m
Trial 6: – HES CHARLIES ANGEL showed very good gate speed and dashed to the front shortly after the start. He raced very fiercely however and established a big lead whilst being well away from the markers. The field closed in on him in the back straight on the final occasion but he was able to kick on strongly and record an impressive victory. He is resuming from a break at Wagga this afternoon. VIOLET STANFORD trailed the tearaway leader, came to the outside on the home turn and tried hard in fast time. She is resuming at Melton tomorrow night and takes on the classy trotters Jilliby Ballerini and Keayang Stuka. ALWAYSBEALADY settled five back on the markers and made ground late for third. She is competing at Melton tomorrow night. JIMMY BREEZE NZ came from last of the six runners and worked into a respectable fourth. He is also backing up at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.1 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: – 2m, 15m
BACCHUS MARSH 26/07/25
Trial 2: – The open class trial was taken out by BIG BOY MAL. He broke stride at the start at his previous race track performance at Stawell but he recorded fast time at his trial success, defeating the handy 3yo pacer SCHERGER THAT. RAKAROMPA NZ has been racing in good form and was able to continue the trend with a third placed effort against horses of higher National Rating. She is racing at Melton this evening. RISE ABOVE ALL finished a distant fourth with ALIENS EXIST being last of the five runners to the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.4 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – Nose, 5m
Trial 4: – EARS THE BOSS hasn’t raced since April but he was able to record handy time in scoring over FOLLOW THE ECLIPSE. Considering he has a National Rating of 48, it was a very encouraging performance. FOLLOW THE ECLIPSE finished nicely clear of the third placed JUSJOHN, which is an unraced son of Bling It On for trainer Andrew Rawlings. BRONSKI ROYAL finished a distant fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.3 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – 4m, 6m
Trial 5: – APRIL SUN hasn’t raced since a victory at Bendigo in March. He was able to score by a narrow margin over FLOATING MOUNTAIN, which continues to race in a consistent manner. FLOATING MOUNTAIN is perfectly drawn at Melton this evening. JUNGLE SPIDER finished a distant third ahead of TINEY. JUNGLE SPIDER backed up with a seventh placed effort at Bendigo on Wednesday night and TINEY is competing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.0 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – ½ head, 8m
CRANBOURNE 27/07/25
Trial 1: – OZZIE SUNSHINE raced without cover in the early stages, progressed forward to find the lead at the 1100m and dominated his rivals. He was clearly the class runner of the field considering he has a National Rating of 60. SOVEREIGN SILK began quickly to lead, took cover at the bell and finished forty metres behind OZZIE SUNSHINE at the end. ITSAWOMANSWORLD broke stride on the first turn and finished tailed off.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.9 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 40m, 68m
MARYBOROUGH 28/07/25
Trial 1: – SER PATRICK hasn’t raced since April but he recorded a handy victory in fast time. He has a nice trailing draw for his return to racing at Melton tomorrow night. RIDETHELIGHTNING hasn’t raced since April as well but he did a very good job for a trotter with a National Rating of 50 to finish in second position. PERFIDIOUS SUE finished in third position ahead of her stable mate MET WITH A SHRUG.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.8 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 12.5m, 4.5m
Trial 2: – THE STEEL DRAGON hasn’t raced since finishing unplaced in the Graduate at Melton back in October. He showed a lot of potential during his first preparation of racing and he recorded handy time at his trial success so he might be in for a good preparation. RANGER RICK NZ continued his good run of form to finish a narrow second. He will have a busy week considering he is competing at Melton tomorrow night and is also scheduled to race at Terang on Monday night. OUR ULTIMATE WILMA finished over twenty metres away in third position with STEEL RULER being last of the four runners throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.7 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – Short head, 21m
BLACKBOOKER: – The Steel Dragon
BENDIGO 28/07/25
Trial 2: – THE DARK THUNDER began quickly and was able to find the lead shortly after the start. He set up a slow tempo and never appeared to be in any danger of defeat. PRO HIBITION settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside with 400m remaining and finished off nicely for second. THELMABELLA trailed the leader throughout and finished in third with the juvenile trotter ATEGO ANGEL being last of the four runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.9.3 Last Half: – 62.3 Margins: – 7m, 4m
Trial 3: – GEMMY LOU trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers at the 1700m and commenced her winning run at the 600m mark. She is an unraced filly by Sweet Lou and appears to have some ability. She finished off in a slick quarter of 28.6 seconds and defeated older horses in the process. MYRTLE MAY raced without cover early but was racing fiercely and pushed forward to find the lead. She battled on well at the end and finished a long way clear of the third placed MAC JAMES, which led out then took cover.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.2 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 2m, 30m
Trial 5: – MAJOR MANBAR began quickly from the outside of the front line and stormed across to find the lead. He was clearly the class runner of the trial and dashed well clear at the end to win with plenty in reserve. ATOMIC GLORY finished in second after trailing the leader throughout. He is favourably drawn at Shepparton on Tuesday night. OUTA THE BLUE was three back on the markers for the duration and made a lunge at ATOMIC GLORY on the line but just failed to pick up second. IMPEACHED settled five back on the markers, pulled hard and came to the outside at the 500m. He finished off fairly well at the end and was fourth across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.3 Last Half: – 58.7 Margins: – 9m, Nose
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 29/07/25
Trial 2: – TAPPY began quickly to lead, took cover and came to the outside with 600m remaining. He sustained a strong run and proved too strong in the run to the finish. ROCKNROLL WISH NZ settled three back on the markers and ran home well through the middle to finish in second. He is making his debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. FROSTY DROP finished in third after progressing forward to find the lead shortly after the start.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.6 Last Half: – 58.9 Margins: – 3.75m, head
Trial 3: – I AM WILMA settled four back on the markers, was spotting the leaders a big start and chased hard from the 700m mark. She got home best and was able to record a narrow but decisive victory. NO TELLING HEATHER led out then took cover and moved to the outside on the home turn. She finished a close second with BLACKRANGE GLORY running a strong race for third after racing fiercely in the early stages and finding the lead at the 1300m. EMMWALLEN was last of the five runners for most of the trip and finished off nicely for a close up fourth.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.9 Last Half: – 59.3 Margins: – Neck, 3m
Trial 4: – ROCKNROLL HAMMER NZ began quickly to find the lead and dominated his rivals. He recorded a sensational final half of 55.0 seconds with a last quarter of 26.9 seconds so he is obviously close to his peak form. THINKFAST RUNFAST trailed the leader throughout and finished second ahead of STEEL THE MOMENT, which was last of the three for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 1.55.1 Last Half: – 55.0 Margins: – 11.5m, 9m
Trial 5: – COMMODUS dropped back to last of the four runners early, came to the outside at the quarter pole and produced a strong finish to claim the prize. TIMMY TURTLE NZ trailed the leader, moved off the markers ahead of COMMODUS and loomed up to win but found COMMODUS to be too quick at the end. MECARNO settled three back on the inside, was last on the home turn and finished off strongly for an eye-catching third. GEE CEE CALDER finished last of the four runners after setting the speed and is backing up at Melton on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.9 Last Half: – 58.1 Margins: – 2.5m, 1m
Trial 8: – OLLIES THE BOSS began quickly to find the lead, took cover at the 1300m and pulled very hard in the run. He came to the outside on the home turn and produced a big finale to win by a large margin. He finished off in a sizzling final quarter of 27.4 seconds and was very impressive so he will prove very hard to beat at Shepparton on Tuesday night. DIVINE TILLY began fast and worked to the front at the 1300m mark. She couldn’t go with the winner in the final 200m but was able to hold down second. MONTANA PRIDE gained a one out and one back trail early, ended up being without cover from the 1100m and boxed on well in the run to the finish. MISS ADDI settled three back on the markers, was held up for a run at a vital stage and finished off solidly for fourth.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.0 Last Half: – 57.2 Margins: – 14m, 2m
BLACKBOOKERS: – Ollies The Boss
Trial 10: – ALWAYS ON SAFARI began quickly to lead, ran along at a reasonable tempo and was able to hold off his rivals in the run to the finish. SECRET SERVICE AGENT NZ settled fourth on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He finished off quickly for second with ELLEEGANT LANE being third across the line after trailing the leader throughout. POSTERIZED settled three back on the inside, moved off the pegs at the 600m and battled on fairly well for fourth. G B BRAVE NZ settled last of the six runners and was doing his best work late for fifth.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.3 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – Head, 3.5m
