Craig Rail has given a strong push for Artigas ahead of his first-up run at Maryborough on Monday following a strong trial performance at Stawell earlier this week.
Aaron Dunn’s trotter was added to Rail’s black book, alongside fellow trial stars Zihuatanejo and Keayang Minnesota.
Check out Rail’s Victorian trial report below, as well as his updated list of horses to follow at the bottom of the page.
COBRAM 17/07/25
Trial 1: - FLOPPA was able to win the opening trial by a narrow margin. He finished off in a slick final quarter of 27.7 seconds to get the job done and backed up several days later with a debut fifth at Shepparton. OUR ROKU did perform well at the trials prior to being unplaced at his first three runs back from a break. He finished in second with BETTOR JAX NZ, which performed very well at the trials a week earlier, being the third horse across the line. OUR ROKU is scheduled to compete at Shepparton on Tuesday night and BETTOR JAX NZ is racing at Wagga this afternoon. MADAM MARCHETE finished a long way from the pack and was the last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.4 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - ½ head, 6m
Trial 2: - HES CHARLIES ANGEL was clearly the class runner of the trial being the winner of eleven races and $164,641 in Stakes. He hasn’t started since March but he was able to dominate his rivals to win by fifty metres. DOUBLE NEEDS is a juvenile pacer, which hasn’t started since a third at Bendigo in April. He finished in second and BUOY was last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.9 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - 50m, 3m
STAWELL 21/07/25
Trial 2: - FORTY LOVE is a quality colt, which finished second in the Caduceus Classic earlier in the season and also finished fourth in a heat of the New South Wales Derby. He hasn’t raced since a second at Melton in early June but he recorded slick time in his trial success. EMJAYBEE was over twenty metres away in second position and BARBADOS ROSE finished a distant third. The second placed EMJAYBEE is nominated for Maryborough on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.2 Last Half: - 57.2 Margins: - 20.5m, 33m
Trial 3: - ARTIGAS hasn’t raced since a debut eighth at Terang back in August 2024, where he broke stride and lost his chance. He obviously has ability as he blitzed his rivals in the trial by over thirty metres and recorded a mile rate of 2.0.8 around the Stawell circuit, which is a big run for a Maiden 3yo trotter. Adding to the fast time he recorded was the fact he defeated a nine times winning trotter in ROBBINMEMATES so he should prove hard to beat on his return at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. ROBBINMEMATES hasn’t started since being unplaced in a standing start event at Maryborough in March. He was second across the line and finished well clear of the third placed DREAMTIME LUCKY.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.8 Last Half: - 59.5 Margins: - 33m, 46.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Artigas
MILDURA 21/07/25
Trial 3: - EGBERT hasn’t raced since failing to finish two times in succession back in February. He was stood down to trial at his latest appearance and returned from a break with a trial success. He settled three back on the markers, came to the outside with 500m remaining and was able to get home best. IM ALRIGHT JACK hasn’t raced since a fifth at Globe Derby in December. He was behind the leader for the majority of the journey and probed for a run between the early leader BIG BAD CHAD and EGBERT in the home straight. He worked through fairly well to finish second. BIG BAD CHAD was third across the line after setting the speed and MAJOR TARLZ was last of the quartet for the duration. Both BIG BAD CHAD and MAJOR TARLZ will be competing at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.4 Last Half: - 63.2 Margins: - 3m, 3m
Trial 4: - KIALLA KID hasn’t raced since October but he appeared to be impressive in his trial success. He led throughout and was able to record handy time in defeating NANNA HELEN. NANNA HELEN sat in the trail throughout and had every chance but considering her very low National Rating of 43, it was a handy enough performance and she can be well placed in the near future. NOOSA BOY settled three back on the markers and wanted to over-race badly. He moved up without cover from the bell but he couldn’t sustain the run and ended up being a distant third.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.6 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 9m, 8m
GEELONG 21/07/25
Trial 2: - ALRIGHTY broke stride at the start and was placed outside of the draw at his latest racetrack appearance. He was able to get back into the draw for his effort at Melton on Saturday night with a trial third at Melton followed by his victory at Geelong. He was clearly the class runner of the field and led throughout to win untouched, which will give him plenty of confidence leading into his effort tomorrow evening. KISS AT MIDNIGHT finished in second after trailing the leader throughout and EQUAL AND OPPOSITE (3 back markers) was the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 15m,15m
Trial 3: - LAYDEN hasn’t produced his best form in two starts back from a break but he indicated he is on the way up with a brilliant finishing burst to win the third event. He settled three back on the markers, came to the outside on the home turn and recorded a sizzling final quarter of 27.4 seconds to win running away. A repeat performance will see him go close to winning the last race at Melton tomorrow night. THINKFAST RUNFAST trailed the leader early before circling around to find the lead at the 1400m. He held down second with HEAVENLY BRIGADE NZ finishing in third after leading out then taking cover. HEAVENLY BRIGADE NZ will be competing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.2 Last Half: - 56.6 Margins: - 8m, 5m
Trial 4: - MISS YO NZ hasn’t been at her best behaviour in two race track appearances since coming from New Zealand but she has been performing nicely at the trials. She began quickly to lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and dashed well clear at the end in a handy mile rate of 1.59.3. FLOATING MOUNTAIN settled three back on the inside, came away from the markers on the home turn and was able to work past ZIPPING VOLSTEAD (trailed leader) to finish in second. KOTA BHARU was last throughout after galloping away.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.3 Last Half: - 59.7 Margins: - 20m, 1m
Trial 6: - JUST A JOURNEY is an unraced filly by Skyvalley, which was placed in two Melton trial efforts prior to her all of the way victory in trial six. HEAVENLY GLOW finished in second after settling three back on the inside and moving away from the markers on the home turn. HEAVENLY GLOW will be making her debut in the Australian Gold Melbourne Graduate Classic at Melton this evening. TAURAS finished last of the three runners after trailing the leader and using the sprint lane.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.1 Last Half: - 62.4 Margins: - 3m, Head
Trial 7: - ROCK POSTER hasn’t raced since dropping out and being stood down to trial at Charlton in February. She has obviously benefited from her long break as she was quite impressive in the final trial. She was three back on the markers, moved through to trail the leader with 500m and sprinted sharply over the latter stages to win clearly. She is backing up at Cranbourne on Sunday night and must be considered as a winning chance. ELLEEGANT LANE progressed forward to find the lead shortly after the start and held down second with DON KATTERZ being in third after leading out then taking cover. DON KATTERZ is racing at Cranbourne on Sunday night. WHO CAN PELLY CAN began quickly and was going to find the lead but broke stride 50m after the start then was tailed off for the remainder of the journey.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.6 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 15m, 15m
BENDIGO 21/07/25
Trial 1: - ZIHUATANEJO is an unraced gelding by Bettor’s Delight out of the classy mare Six Elements (1.54.0, $131,575). He led throughout to win the opening trial comfortably and seemingly had plenty in reserve. ANTHONYS ANGEL finished in second after trailing the leader and using the sprint lane. ASHANTE CADMAN was three back on the markers and moved to the outside with 400m remaining. He finished third with LEXI RITA being the last one home after being without cover early and restraining to be four back on the inside.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.8 Last Half: - 59.5 Margins: - 3m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - Zihuatanejo
Trial 3: - TOPSIES BLING took out the open class trial. She was four back on the markers, moved to the outside at the half mile marker and sustained a long run to win clearly. The trotter ILLAWONG STARDUST trailed the leader early and moved forward to lead at the bell. She finished in second with MIGHTY FLYING ART NZ coming from last of the five runners to work into third position. COCKTAIL BAR led out then took cover and finished in fourth but it wasn’t a bad performance considering she is an unraced Maiden and was taking on the winners of multiple races. The second placed ILLAWONG STARDUST will be competing at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.2 Last Half: - 59.2 Margins: - 12m, head
Trial 5: - TROTTERSMAKEMEGREY has made a number of errors in her career spanning seven starts to date but she has some ability when she can put it altogether. She settled down last of the four runners, came to the outside with 700m remaining and sprinted sharply down the back straight to pounce on the lead. She was able to sustain the run to score by a large margin. It was a good performance leading into her effort at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. SOME DAYS WE DREAM finished in second after trailing the leader and coming to the outside at the 300m mark. THE DRIFTIN COWBOY settled three back on the markers, angled out three horses wide on the home turn and battled on fairly for third.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.7 Last Half: - 60.5 Margins: - 16m, 4m
Trial 6: - THE WISE GUY settled four back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 1200m mark and worked to the front at the bell. He was able to win comfortably and it was a good hit out for his performance at Cranbourne on Sunday night. TOFFEE BELLE finished second after leading out then taking cover and waiting for the sprint lane. WHIRILY MAURZ is now with trainer Michael Barby and produced a promising effort for third. He trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers at the bell and finished off nicely out wide on the track.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.7 Last Half: - 59.4 Margins: - 4m, 2m
Trial 8: - ILLUSTRIOUS NZ was stood down to trial after galloping in the early stages at Bendigo a week earlier. He was able to re-qualify nicely after settling three back on the markers before sustaining a long run from the 700m mark. He won by a large margin over TAP TO PAY, which settled five back on the markers, weaved a passage in the last quarter and finished well via the sprint lane. KIDWITHAGRIN finished in third after trailing the leader I SEE IRIS throughout. I SEE IRIS was headed with 400 remaining and was the fourth horse across the line. The winner ILLUSTRIOUS NZ is backing up at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.1 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 15m, nose
TERANG 22/07/25
Trial 1: - JILLIBYJACKSPARROW hasn’t raced since finishing unplaced in the Kilmore Cup back in September. He appeared to be pretty sharp in his trial success as he trailed the leader BEYOND DELIGHT, came to the outside on the home turn and finished off boldly. DHAULAGIRI NZ settled three back on the markers, angled wide with 150m remaining and hit the line strongly for a game second. BEYOND DELIGHT appeared to have his opportunity after setting up a reasonable tempo in the leading role. ISTHISJUSTFANTASY and ROADMASTER were fourth and fifth throughout in what was a quality trial to open proceedings.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.4 Last Half: - 57.5 Margins: - 2m, 1m
Trial 3: - KEAYANG MINNESOTA has broken stride in all of her four starts to date but she has ability when she is able to put it altogether. She settled four back on the markers, angled out three horses wide on the home turn and finished off fast to win the trial over the unraced pacing filly JILLIBY KYMY LOU, which settled three back on the markers before making a run from the 500m mark. The early leader LOCHINVAR SON finished in a distant third ahead of ITGETSBETTER, which sat in the trail throughout. LOCHINVAR SON and ITGETSBETTER are both scheduled to compete at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.8 Last Half: - 62.4 Margins: - 2m, 10m
BLACKBOOKER: - Keayang Minnesota
Trial 4: - FAIRPLAY hasn’t raced since being unplaced at Melton back in May. He settled four back on the inside, made a quick move from the 500m mark to hit the lead before the home turn then held on over the concluding stages to get the prize. VINEY set the speed and fought back strongly when headed to finish a close second. SCHWARZ was three back on the markers, followed behind FAIRPLAY in the home straight and never peeled to the outside at any stage. The leading trio managed to get away from BANKSOFTHEMURRAY (trailed leader) and MICHAYWEY, which was last throughout.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.9 Last Half: - 59.6 Margins: - 2.5m, 1m
Trial 6: - The three open class trotters JILLIBY BALLERINI, KEAYANG STUKA and ALDEBARAN VERA did battle in the final trial. JILLIBY BALLERINI has won five races in succession and kept the momentum going with another victory. KEAYANG STUKA hasn’t raced since finishing third in the 2024 Inter Dominion Grand Final behind The Locomotive. He finished a close second with ALDEBARAN VERA, which galloped away and was placed omitted from the draw several days earlier at Melton, being last of the three runners across the line. ALDEBARAN VERA is backing up again at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 2.10.2 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - Head, 2m
