The Blackbook is swelling and Trial File followers could enjoy instant returns with several eye-catchers about to race in coming days.
Euroking steps out at Ballarat tonight for David Miles in the Dr Tom Dolan Pace and is given a good chance to add to his two wins from 25 starts after finishing strongly in his Shepparton trial. Watch the replay below.
Trainer Danny O'Brien's maiden Imprincessnatalie, who's by Sweet Lou out of Group 1 winning mare Glenferrie Shuffle ($279,839), was also added to the Blackbook.
She "led throughout and was untouched going to the line" at Maryborough, where she'll return on Monday for her second career start. The filly's only previous hit-out was a debut sixth at Melton, but she "performed well enough in her trial to suggest she can go well".
They were among six additions to the Blackbook this week. Replays below, including a special wrap of Catch A Wave's trial featuring training Andy Gath. As always, scroll to the bottom for the updated Blackbook.
SHEPPARTON 04/08/22
Trial 1: - THE WOLF NZ is a classy mare, who hasn’t raced since December but she did compete at Group 3 level at Menangle during her last preparation, so she obviously has a lot of ability. She was fourth early, pressed forward to find the lead at the 1200m and dominated her rivals in an impressive trial victory, so she is worth following. JEMSONS PET gained a trail early and was left stranded without cover at the 1100m. He battled on well for a distant second with COCORA finishing third. MAC ALMIGHTY NZ settled down last, followed the field around and never peeled to the outside at any stage. He ran fourth but went to the line jogging so he might go well when he steps out for the first time since December.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.9 Last Half: - 59.2 Margins: - 15m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - The Wolf NZ
Trial 3: - WILL HE PIKE began quickly to lead then took cover shortly afterwards. He came to the outside with 300m remaining and proved to be too strong at the end. TINO TERE MAORI (three-back markers) has been performing better at the trials than he has at the races but showed that he can improve the next time he steps out on the track with a handy finishing second. The early leader PERFECT AS I AM finished third and there were two eye-catching performances from EUROKING and KELLYS DELIGHT, who both finished strongly from seventh and eighth respectively. EUROKING appears to be a very good chance in the final event at Ballarat this evening.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.6 Last Half: - 57.1 Margins: - 10m, 10m
BLACKBOOKER: - Euroking
MILDURA 07/08/22
Trial 1: - The former New South Wales trained pacer BUSTER REASON was able to lead all of the way to defeat ONLINE MODEL, who trailed the leader and came to the outside on the home turn. BUSTER REASON was performing nicely in his home state and has recently joined trainer Boris Devcic. FEISTY PHOEBE prepared for her first up performance at Mildura this afternoon with a reasonable third after racing on the outside of the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.1 Last Half: - 60.3 Margins: - 1m, 6m
Trial 4: - WILD MAN completed a winning double for Boris Devcic when he took out the last event. He trailed the leader MICTON MOUSE, came to the outside at the 500m and was just able to get the thick end of the prize. JUSTANEXTRAGRAND gave the leaders a healthy start, came to the outside at the 400m and sprinted very quickly until peaking a little in the final 50m. It was still a good performance to get as close as he did and each of the three place getters will be competing at Mildura this afternoon.
MARYBOROUGH 07/08/22
Trial 1: - RELENTLESS ME began quickly to lead, pulled hard and was eventually able to restrain into a trailing position behind the leader at the 1400m. She came away from the inside at the 500m and fought on strongly for a brave win. She has drawn perfectly at Melton tomorrow night and should run a bold race. SATCHMO STRIKES led out, took a trail and ended up being three back on the markers. He followed RELENTLESS ME into the race from the 500m mark and missed out narrowly. SAHARA TIGER settled down last of the seven runners, came out four horses wide on the home turn and stormed home for an eye-catching third. He returns from a break at Mildura this afternoon and should prove hard to beat.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.2 Last Half: - 56.2 Margins: - 1m, 15m
Trial 2: - SWEET AGENDA prepared for her debut performance at Maryborough with a victory over GODS GIFT, who is also going to have his first start in the same race on Monday. SWEET AGENDA settled four back on the inside and came out three horses wide on the home turn whilst GODS GIFT settled one position ahead of her in the run.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - Head, 15m
Trial 3: - JAMES IN CHARGE continued his excellent trial form with a big victory over INAUGURATE. He settled four back on the inside, moved into the running lane (1-2) and produced a strong finishing burst out four horses wide from the 300m. INAUGURATE is racing at Maryborough on Monday and produced a good enough performance in his trial second to warrant respect. He settled three back on the markers and tried hard in the straight.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - 15m, 2m
Trial 4: - DONT CARE has been very lightly raced since winning the 2020 Vicbred Super Series Final but he looked very sharp in his trial victory over DEALERS KNOCK, who adopted his favourite role as the pacemaker. DONT CARE started his winning run from three back on the markers at the 500m and raced away to score by 20m.
Trial 5: - IMPRINCESSNATALIE made her debut in July 2021 and hasn’t been to the races since. She is resuming at Maryborough on Monday and performed well enough in her trial to suggest she can go well. She led throughout and was untouched going to the line. BEACH HEAVEN sat in the trail throughout and finished second. She is also backing up at Maryborough on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.9 Last Half: - 58.4 Margins: - 6m, 6m
BLACKBOOKER: - Imprincessnatalie
KYABRAM 07/08/22
Trial 1: - There was only one trial at Kyabram with the Michael Watt prepared juvenile SPORTY PHILTRA being the victor from the unraced filly LIFE IN PINK with YIPPEE being in third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.11.5 Last Half: - 61.6 Margins: - 4m, 3m
TABCORP PARK, MELTON 08/08/22
Trial 1: - The star 3yo pacer CATCH A WAVE hasn’t started since winning the Gold Bullion at Melton in May. He settled in third position, pulled hard then came out three horses wide on the home turn. He cruised past his rivals and posted an amazing mile rate of 1.54.8 (2240m) so he is obviously close to his peak form. MAJOR MEISTER finished second after trailing the leader IM EBONYNIVORY and WILLIE GO WEST settled last of the four runners before picking up third via the sprint lane. All of the four runners performed very well considering the overall time and the sizzling final sectionals. MAJOR MEISTER is awkwardly drawn for his return at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 1.54.8 Last Half: - 55.36 Margins: - 3m, 4m
Trial 3: - LE BELLE BIJOUX gained a one out and one back trail, came out three horses wide at the 300m and finished off best to score. OVER THE ODDS settled four back on the markers, was the widest runner turning for home and finished off quickly for a nice second. It was a good effort and he didn’t enjoy the best of luck when resuming at Hamilton yesterday. BIGJIMVALENTINE may have finished in sixth position but it was still a good run. He settled last on the markers and was finding the line swiftly under a strong hold.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.1 Last Half: - 57.7 Margins: - 1.5m, 2m
Trial 4: - CRAVACHE DOR produced a sterling performance to win over stable mate IRON LOVE. He was without cover early, restrained to be last of the five runners on the markers and was able to swoop around the field to win by a large margin. IRON LOVE settled in fourth and moved up to hit the lead on the home turn but couldn’t repel the challenge of his stable mate. ILLAWONG LARAJAY loomed up to join the leaders on the home turn but broke stride upon straightening and lost her chance. She has ability but it wasn’t a good end to her preparation for her effort at Ballarat on Friday and she did break stride at the 300m at her last attempt before a spell.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.2 Last Half: - 59.21 Margins: - 11.5m, 18m
Trial 7: - KHANS CREED began quickly to find the lead, took a trail and used the sprint lane to get the victory over SOMETHING ABOUT EILY, who settled three back on the inside and moved up without cover at the 700m. KHANS CREED is racing at Maryborough on Monday and should improve on his numerical form.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Last Half: - 58.40 Margins: - Head, ½ head
Trial 8: - HATCHBACK settled sixth on the inside, moved into the running lane (1-2) and came out four horses wide at the home turn before finishing fast to get the prize. REVELSTOKE settled five back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail and loomed up to win but couldn’t hold off the challenge of HATCHBACK late. CENTRAL OTAGO trailed the leader but was held up badly for a run and went to the line jogging. It was a good effort leading into his first up performance at Maryborough on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.0 Last Half: - 58.52 Margins: - Head, 5m
CRANBOURNE 09/08/22
Trial 1: - SAHARA BREEZE is a beautifully bred juvenile filly, who is worth following. She settled five back on the markers, gained a lucky inside run when the leader ROSANNA REBEL galloped but showed good acceleration at the end. ROSANNA REBEL recovered after her misdemeanor to finish a close second with CAPTAIN BLOOD being a close up third after trailing the leader. ROSANNA REBEL is scheduled to return from a break at Kilmore on Tuesday night. KIKI BEACH is a 3yo pacer and was taking on mostly juveniles but she was just commencing her run when she was severely checked approaching the home turn and she would have gone very close to winning had she received an unimpeded passage.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.8 Last Half: - 60.3 Margins: - ½ Neck, 9.5m
BLACKBOOKERS: - Sahara Breeze & Kiki Beach
Trial 2: - SAHARA SIROCCO was able to sprint up the straight best in the battle of two speedsters. CAPTAIN BELLASARIO set the speed with SAHARA SIROCCO trailing but SAHARA SIROCCO had the superior acceleration via the sprint lane at the end. The final sectionals were fast so both horses performed very well. WATTLEBANK FLYER NZ was last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.1 Last Half: - 56.7 Margins: - ½ Neck, 40m
KILMORE 10/08/22
Trial 1: - ALDEBARAN DINO is a quality trotter, who remains undefeated in two starts to date. He took on the pacers and produced a game performance to win after working to the front shortly after the start. ALWAYS THE SHOWMAN finished second after trailing the leader and FERNWOOD MIRACLE produced a good performance after moving up without cover from the 1200m. ALWAYS A SHOWMAN will make his debut at Kilmore on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.4 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - ½ neck, 4m
Trial 3: - TAY TAY hasn’t raced since winning the Super Series Silver event at Bendigo in December. She exploded to a clear lead in her trial, rolled along at a genuine tempo and never appeared to be in any danger of defeat. She did drift out and was a little weary over the latter stages but it was a very good performance leading up to the start of a new campaign. MAJOR MAL finished second after being in the trail throughout and TALENT AGENT (4 back markers) did find the line nicely late in third position.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.5 Last Half: - 57.5 Margins: - 8.5m, Neck
HAMILTON 11/08/22
Trial 1: - The Breeders Crown and Super Series runner up ALDEBARAN VERA took on the pacers and was able to score by a comfortable margin. She finished off in a slick final half of 58.2 seconds so she is worth following. BARELY A GLIMPSE was able to finish well ahead of the remainder of the field, who was headed by AINTSOBAD.
Mile Rate: - Not given Last Half: - 58.2 Margins: - 3m, 13m
BLACKBOOKER: - Aldebaran Vera
