Three Trial File Blackbookers will step out at Tabcorp Park Melton Saturday night, hoping to work their way into Breeders Crown finals.
Cool Night, First Dance and Perfect In Pink have all caught the eye on the trials circuit in the past few months, form they will be hoping to frank in the approaching Group 1.
Andy Gath’s Cool Night will start from inside the back row in the IRT Australia 2YO colts and geldings class, hoping to draw on the “very good acceleration” he showed in an eye-catching Melton trial.
First Dance drew gate 11 in her Alabar 2YO fillies semi-final for Jess Tubbs and is similarly lofty odds after running seventh in her heat, but “led throughout and was well clear of her rivals” in a key lead-in trial.
And then there’s Perfect In Pink, who joined the Blackbookers after an impressive Geelong trial in September and she’ll be among Emma Stewart’s fancied chanes in her Alabar 2YO fillies semi-final on Saturday.
Four more joined the Blackbook this week, scroll down for the comments, their replays and all the highlights from this week’s Victorian circuit.
SHEPPARTON 03/11/22
Trial 1: – FYNN FROST NZ was in the one out and one back trail, sat in the death seat from the 1700m, took cover at the 600m and came out three horses wide at the 300m. He finished off fast to get up and win on the line. SERG BLANCO NZ settled three back on the inside, moved away from the pegs at the 600m and battled on well for second. He is competing at Shepparton this evening and is capable of figuring in the finish. DIAMOND ECLIPSE led out then took cover at the 1800m and used the sprint lane to fill third spot. He is likely to be driven in a forward manner at Shepparton this evening. NOMORELYING pushed forward to find the lead and finished fourth ahead of ABHISHEK (4 back markers).
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – 56.4 Margins: – Head, 8m
Trial 2: – QUIET STORM began fast to lead, took cover at the 1700m behind BARRY THOMAS and quickly pounced at the 300m mark. He drew clear at the end and scored by a large margin. He backed up at Ballarat on Wednesday night and finished quickly from last to pick up third so it shouldn’t be long before he breaks through for a win. EBONY SANDS came from three back on the inside to finish second with ALL SO SASSY making ground from fifth to run into third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.5 Last Half: – 58.2 Margins: – 18m, 5m
Trial 3: – VICTORTHEINFLICTOR settled three back on the inside and used the sprint lane. He finished off quickly to score and appears to be one of the leading chances at Shepparton this evening. VAN GOGH settled in the running lane (1-2), came out three horses wide at the 1400m and moved into the death seat at the 1200m. He battled on strongly for second with AGGIE MAY NZ being in third position after trailing the leader and using the sprint lane.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.4 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – 2m, neck
Trial 4: – MARENGO BAY raced in the death seat early, pushed forward to find the lead at the 1800m and ran along at a genuine tempo. He was clearly the class runner of the trial but was impressive going to the line. He appears to be a strong winning chance at Shepparton this evening. SHESAWISH was having her final hit out leading up to her debut performance in a heat of the Breeders Crown at Maryborough on Thursday. She led out then took a trail and chased hard for a game second. Once she gets out of the Breeders Crown grade, she should be able to win races. The Redwood Classic winner COGNATI finished a distant third after being three back on the markers and being untouched going to the line. COGNATI won her heat of the Breeders Crown on Thursday with SHESAWISH being in third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.4 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – 8m, 30m
MILDURA 03/11/22
Trial 3: – TELL A TALL STORY settled three back on the inside, moved through to trail the leader on the home turn and burst through the centre late to win the trial nicely. He backed up at Mildura on Tuesday and was an unlucky fifth so it won’t surprise to see him winning a race in the near future. He has drawn nicely at Mildura on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.6 Last Half: – 62.1 Margins: – 1.5m, 1m
Trial 4: – MARTHA LAVINIA has struck peak form with a win at Swan Hill followed by a trial victory over RONZEL SONNY. She settled three back on the inside, moved off the markers at the bell and dashed clear over the concluding stages to win by twenty metres. She backed up at Mildura on Tuesday and finished fast to score again and she is competing at Mildura again this week.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.2 Last Half: – 58.9 Margins: – 20m, 1m
BENDIGO 07/11/22
Trial 2: – The classy trotter RULES DON’T APPLY put in another tidy display at the trials with a win against the pacers. He settled in the running lane early (1-2), made a move with a mile remaining and worked to the front at the 1400m. He wasn’t fully extended going to the line and held on to score. He is taking on a tough field including Aldebaran Zeus and Majestuoso in the R C Freestone Trotters FFA at Melton tomorrow night. WHATA OPTIMIST did well after racing on the outside of the leader for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.5 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – 1m, 4m
Trial 3: – MAJOR ANNIE NZ has always shown a lot of potential and hasn’t raced since recording successive victories back in May. She completely dominated from the front and scored over INGERMARLA, which raced in the trail throughout. MAJOR ANNIE NZ will resume at Charlton on Monday and should be competitive but she is awkwardly drawn on the inside of the second line.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.1 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 20m, 30m
Trial 6: – APPEARFROMNOWHERE hasn’t started since galloping away at Maryborough in June. She trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers at the 1400m, moved into the death seat at the 600m and quickly hit the front at the quarter pole, drawing away to win easily. KIMORA SAFFI dropped back to last and was still at the tail of the field as the runners turned for home. She came out very wide on the track and finished strongly for an eye-catching second. She backed up at Maryborough on Thursday and was left without cover for the first lap when a game third in a heat of the Breeders Crown. WAIKARE MAXWELL performed nicely in the trial and could be worth following. He settled down five back on the markers and was finishing off nicely alongside of KIMORA SAFFI in the run to the post.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.6 Last Half: – 60.3 Margins: – 12m, 2m
Trial 7: – The Alex Ashwood prepared duo STEVIE GEE and IZARRA provided the Quinella with STEVIE GEE being successful after settling three back on the markers and angling out four horses wide on the home turn. IZARRA replicated her very good trial performance a week earlier after she missed the start again and picked up many lengths. Both horses backed up in a heat of the Breeders Crown at Maryborough on Friday but finished unplaced.
Mile Rate: – 2.9.7 Last Half: – 60.4 Margins: – 2m, 4m
TABCORP PARK, MELTON 08/11/22
Trial 1: – BELLEZA is a very talented filly but she is still learning and has made mistakes in most of her efforts to date. She began quickly to lead, broke stride shortly afterwards and lost approximately 20m then worked to the lead again at the 1400m. She went on to win easily and without being pushed so she is worth following. BASILICA trailed the leader, moved around to find the lead then took cover behind BELLEZA. He finished a distant second but beat the remainder of the field headed by NORTHOLT by a good margin.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.4 Last Half: – 60.29 Margins: – 9.5m, 10m
BLACKBOOKER: – Belleza
Trial 2: – SPICEY MAJOR was without cover early before finding the lead at the 1800m mark. He dashed home in a slick final half of 56.9 seconds to win easily. WATCH IT HAPPEN settled four back on the markers and moved into the one out and one back trail at the 400m. He worked into second with the yearling pacer TOMAHAWK BART running another mighty trial to finish in third. He started off the second line, settled in fifth position and moved into the death seat at the 700m.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.2 Last Half: – 56.90 Margins: – 26.5m, head
Trial 3: – ROHAAN began quickly and found the lead shortly after the start. He wanted to pull hard mid-race but he had a good kick left at the finish and scored by a good margin. REGENCY is a former New South Wales trained trotter, which has been a winner in Victoria previously. He trailed the leader, broke stride at the 300m and recovered to finish second. He was chasing a smart horse and he has a low National Rating of 47 so he is worth following. ONE OVER DA SON NZ raced without cover early, found the markers in third at the 1600m then came to the outside again approaching the home turn. He boxed on reasonably well for third and beat the remainder of the field by over 60m.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.3 Last Half: – 60.12 Margins: – 13m, 3.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Regency
Trial 4: – TIZZY LIZZIE produced a strong finish to win a trial at Shepparton five days earlier and was just as impressive at her Melton trial victory. She settled sixth on the markers, moved into the running lane at the 700m (1-2), came out three horses wide at the 300m and sprinted quickly over the final stages. ALWAYS BE HAPPY settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 700m and boxed on well for second with THE IRON DUKE being third after making an early error then moving around the field to find the lead mid-race.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 57.19 Margins: – 3m, 6.5m
Trial 5: – NORMANDY BELLE has been performing nicely at the trials and dashed home in a slick final half of 57.94 seconds after trailing the leader and coming to the outside at the 600m so she is on the top of her game at present. KISSME QUICK is a lightly raced former New Zealander that has ability and did well to finish second considering her National Rating is twelve points lower than the winner. She led and was giving a great sight before breaking stride with 50m remaining. CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY settled four back on the markers and worked home reasonably well without being pushed. He is racing at Cranbourne on Sunday and is one of the leading chances in that event.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.2 Last Half: – 57.94 Margins: – 7m, 1.5m
Trial 8: – FEMALE ASSASSIN has been performing extremely well at the trials and has a low National Rating of 45 so she is worth following. She raced without cover early, found the front at the 1700m and won untouched. COVERED KYLIE finished second after settling four back on the inside and moving into the one out and one back trail at the 500m mark. MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT came from last to finish third.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.4 Last Half: – 58.41 Margins: – 22m, 4m
Trial 9: – OUR UNCLE JIM prepared for his effort at Cranbourne on Sunday with a victory over IRA POOLE NZ. He settled seventh on the inside, moved away from the markers at the 900m and landed the one out and one back trail in the back straight. He was able to snare victory on the line when IRA POOLE NZ (trailed leader, without cover 600m) travelled awkwardly at the post. The early leader LORD VERDE NZ finished in third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – 55.74 Margins: – Nose, 3m
Trial 10: – NIGHT SPIRIT has recently returned from a stint in Tasmania and looked sharp in winning the 10th trial. He trailed the leader, came to the outside on the home turn and finished off fast to win by a comfortable margin. He has drawn on the pole position at Cranbourne on Sunday so he should prove hard to beat. IM EUGENE was second in the trial after trying to lead throughout and CHOIR QUEEN came from four back on the markers to post a third placing.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.9 Last Half: – 57.14 Margins: – 5m, 9.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Night Spirit
SHEPPARTON 08/11/22
TRIAL 1: – FYNN FROST NZ backed up his trial victory at Shepparton five nights earlier with another win over SERG BLANCO NZ. He settled down last, came out five horses wide on the home turn and produced a big finish. He is heading to Tasmania over the weekend but has drawn awkwardly. SERG BLANCO raced in the one out and one back trail and picked up second over NEW YORKER NZ, which produced another good effort after racing without cover and having something in reserve at the finish.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.1 Last Half: – 56.5 Margins: – Head, Head
Trial 2: – BLACKROCK emulated the feat of Fynn Frost NZ by winning two trials within a week and he was very impressive in his victory over QUIET TOUCH. The unraced colt pushed forward to find the lead early, took a trail with 900 remaining, came to the outside at the 500m and quickly put the issue beyond doubt. QUIET TOUCH also ran a good race as he finished quickly from seventh.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.9 Last Half: – 57.85 Margins: – 20m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Blackrock
Trial 4: – SHAQ settled in sixth position, moved up without cover at the 1100m, found a one out and one back trail shortly afterwards and finished off well at the end. He scored over the trotter MORETON BAY, which angled wide from fourth on the turn and finished strongly. THE HIGH ROLLER NZ was third after moving up without cover at the bell and ROCKNROLL NUGGET (4 back pegs) was doing his best work at the end.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.3 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 3m, 5m
Trial 5: – BIG BAD OSSIE settled four back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 600m and produced a big finish to win easily. He has regularly performed with distinction at the trials and is capable of improving on his record of one win from five starts. GOOD LOOKIN ROOSTER NZ was stood down to trial after galloping a week earlier and he finished off reasonably well after settling three back on the markers early and pulling hard throughout. AFTER THE CHASE trailed the leader early, moved to the lead at the 1400m and battled on fairly well for third.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.6 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – 18m, 12m
