The Yabby Dam Farms operation has a long and proud history of producing top trotters, and Craig Rail thinks the stable might have another handy one in its ranks.
The Harness Racing Victoria form analyst was impressed by the performance of unraced squaregaiter Enchauffour at the Bendigo trials on Monday and quickly placed him on his list of horses to follow.
“He galloped in the score up and gave away a big start before chasing hard and finishing off strongly for second,” Rail wrote.
“He is by Volstead out the French bred mare Dream Island, which only faced the starter three times, winning two races and ending her racetrack career with a sixth in the New South Wales Oaks.”
Rail also added the Marg Lee-trained Keayang Zahara to his Blackbook from this week’s Victorian trial circuit.
TRIAL REPORT
MARYBOROUGH 16/03/24
Trial 1: - YANKEE GAMBLER hasn’t raced since January 2023 but he was able to lead throughout and win the opening trial. He held off the late challenge of TIL HEAVENS ROCKN NZ, which came from last and finished off well. The quality trotter NEPHEW OF SONOKO finished third after trailing the leader throughout and VILLAGE VOICE (3 back pegs) was last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 2m, 12m
Trial 3: - WICKED MITZI is a filly by the first season sire McWicked out of the American bred mare Mitzi M Hanover, which has produced three winners including the handy mare Mitzi Said (1.54.0). She won the trial for the juvenile pacers after settling four back on the markers, moving away from the inside and hitting the front at the quarter pole. She makes her debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. MOONIE RIVER is a filly by Franco Nelson NZ for trainer Peter Manning and finished second after settling three back on the inside and finding the line strongly. DESTINY KEPT is a filly by Changeover NZ and finished third after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.2 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 6m, 6m
Trial 5: - EL TORNADO showed plenty of potential at the trials a week earlier and was able to lead throughout to win untouched. He makes his debut at Maryborough on Monday and should run a big race. BETTOR MAN trailed the leader and used the sprint lane to finish in second position. MYSTERY FRED is a nicely bred trotter being by Aldebaran Eagle out of the former fast mare Garston Girl (1.57.3, $65,570), the dam of Mangana Joe (2.2.8, $51,144). He settled five back on the markers and finished off well for third ahead of LOW LIE THE FIELDS, which raced without cover throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.13.2 Last Half: - 64.9 Margins: - 2m, 6m
Trial 6: - MONTANA CHEVELLE has won two trials leading up to her first up performance at Ballarat this evening. She led throughout at her latest trial victory recorded handy time but the remainder of the field galloped at some stage of the event so it is hard to gain an accurate guide on her performance. WALLIS trailed the leader and broke stride at the 1300m mark but maintained second position and BLACKRANGE GLORY overcame a slow beginning to come from last and pick up a distant third.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.0 Last Half: - 61.7 Margins: - 70m, 3m
Trial 8: - HESITATE prepared for his performance in the Shakamaker Classic with a comfortable trial victory. The unbeaten colt settled four back on the inside, moved into the lead mid-race and dashed home in brilliant final sectionals to win nicely. MERCHANT STAR hasn’t raced since December but he put in a determined effort after leading out then taking cover in good time. He is resuming from a break at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. I AM RUPERT finished third after being three back on the markers.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.0 Last Half: - 55.8 Margins: - 8m, 50m
KYABRAM 17/03/24
Trial 1: - HIGHVIEW HAMMER is a former New South Wales pacer, which finished unplaced at his Victorian debut. He was able to win the trial by a good margin over LITTLE RAIN CLOUD, which has been performing nicely at the trials. LOOK AWAY is a filly by Betterthancheddar out of Pretty Interest, the dam of the two handy winners in Interest Me (1.58.1, $29,190) and Upright (1.54.0, $32,894) for trainer Darryl Hill. She finished in third position ahead of SPOT THE DEVIL. The winner HIGHVIEW HAMMER has had a busy week with a trial win followed by his effort at Echuca on Thursday night and will be lining up at Ouyen on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.5 Last Half: - 60.8 Margins: - 10m, 10m
Trial 3: - ALL GOOD finished unplaced at his first start for trainer Jeremy Quinlan but was able to win his trial by a large margin over CROCODILE BLOOD. The trotters MAJESTIC MONARCH and YANKEE LOVER finished third and fourth respectively. The winner ALL GOOD will be competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.10.2 Last Half: - 60.3 Margins: - 20m, 5m
GEELONG 18/03/24
Trial 1: - ROCKNROLL WALLA performed extremely well at the trials a week earlier and appeared to be very sharp at his Geelong trial success. He settled three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 700m and finished off in slick final sectionals to get the prize. ELUSIVE attempted to lead throughout and finished in second with ROBLEN RANGER (behind leader) being last of the three runners to complete the course.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.1 Last Half: - 56.3 Margins: - 1.5m, 20m
Trial 3: - SEATHESTARS is a colt by Captaintreacherous out of the good race mare Bamako Mali (1.55.6, $259,309) for trainer Geoff Webster. He is closely related to the two winning fillies in Sundiata (1.55.8) and Perpetuity (1.58.1) and was able to lead throughout to win the trial. He raced greenly on the home turn and wanted to hang out but he got the job done and he is likely to keep on improving. THE VILLAIN is a stable mate of SEATHESTARS and came from three back on the inside to finish in second. He is by American Ideal out of the race winning mare Secret Agenda (2.1.4), the dam of two winners including Sweet Agenda (1.54.8). GOODTIME OSCAR trailed the leader, used the sprint lane and finished third ahead of GOODTIME CORTEZ, which was last throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.3 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - ½ Head, 2m
BENDIGO 18/03/24
Trial 1: - The talented mare TWISTED BLISS was able to lead all of the way in the opening trial and finished off in slick closing sectionals. OUR LUCIANO made a crucial error shortly after the start, which cost him the race when resuming at Bendigo. He did everything right in the trial and came from three back on the markers to finish off fast for second with ZIEGFELD doing a good job to pick up third after galloping in the score up and being a clear last in the early stages of the event. ZIEGFELD will be resuming from a long spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 57.1 Margins: - 5m, 6m
Trial 3: - ZERON is still learning but has ability when he is able to put it altogether. He pushed forward to find the lead in the early stages and was able to win the trial with plenty in hand. He is competing in the fifth heat of the Bathurst Gold Crown at Bathurst tonight. OKANUI BEACH is an unraced colt by Downbytheseaside out of Sporty Max. He began quickly to find the markers first, took cover then used the sprint lane to finish second. He makes his debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. SOHO PLAYGIRL came from last of the four runners to pick up third ahead of BOLT OF COBARGO, which is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.8 Last Half: - 60.7 Margins: - 3m, 2m
Trial 4: - PATRICIA RUBY NZ led throughout and comfortably won the trial for the juvenile trotters. She is by Father Patrick out of the former top mare Sunny Ruby NZ, which came across from New Zealand in 2017 and won three races on a brief Australian campaign including the Dullard Cup and the Knight Pistol. PATRICIA RUBY NZ is the second foal out of the dam and appears to have a lot of ability. ENCHAUFFOUR put in an eye-catching performance to finish in second. He galloped in the score up and gave away a big start before chasing hard and finishing off strongly for second. He is by Volstead out the French bred mare Dream Island, which only faced the starter three times, winning two races and ending her race track career with a sixth in the New South Wales Oaks. ATTRACTED finished third after trailing the leader and breaking stride in the final 50m.
Mile Rate: - 2.12.4 Last Half: - 63.9 Margins: - 8m, 14m
BLACKBOOKER: - Enchauffour
Trial 7: - REMMINGTON is an unraced gelding by A Rocknroll Dance out of Zodiac Queen, the dam of two winners including Zodiac Dream (2.0.0, $26,900). He settled down six back on the markers, moved into the running lane (1-2) at the quarter pole and produced a big finish to get the prize. He showed plenty of ability and will be making his debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. BETTER KISS ME settled in sixth before moving up without cover at the 1400m and finding the lead at the 1100m. She raced a little roughly when making the move but looked a lot better when in the leading role and kicked well clear coming out of the back straight before being run down late. IM JIMMY JONES led out, took cover and ended up being three back on the markers before angling wide into the straight and making ground at the end for third.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.7 Last Half: - 59.9 Margins: - 2m, 8m
TERANG 20/03/24
Trial 1: - JILLIBY ADORE settled three back on the inside and raced keenly throughout the middle stages. She angled out three horses wide with 300m remaining and finished off best to win nicely. KEAYANG HONEYJOY finished second after settling the speed. She wanted to hang out a little on the home turn but battled on well in the run to the post. SPIRIT OF PEARL finished third after settling behind the leader and coming to the outside with 500m remaining.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.4 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 1.5m, 2m
Trial 2: - HIS DREAM LIVES ON was caught without cover early before being allowed to slot in behind the leader with 1200m remaining. He used the sprint lane and finished off best to win clearly at the end. The skewbald pacer SHIKOBA finished in second place after setting the speed and BE THE ONE came from three back on the markers to finish in third position. The trotter KEAYANG ZAHARA delivered a nice performance to come from six back on the markers and pick up fourth as she was sprinting quickly at the end in a last quarter of 29.1 seconds. KEAYANG MOSCATO was last of the nine runners early and picked up late ground for fifth.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.4 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 4m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: - Keayang Zahara
Trial 3: - The juvenile pacer CAPTAIN BART was able to lead throughout and win the final trial with ease. He is by Captaintreacherous out of Colada Belle, a half sister to the immortal Blacks A Fake (1.53.7, $4,575,438), whose first seven foals have all won races in sub two minutes with My Ultimate Jacko (1.56.8, $110,053) being the best performer. CAPTAIN BART dashed well clear of NOHAT NOPLAY, which was without cover early before angling onto the leaders back with 1200m remaining. AUSTINE was three back on the markers for the majority of the trial and finished in third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.5 Last Half: - 59.2 Margins: - 19.5m, 37.5m
