Harness Racing form guru Craig Rail identified several horses to follow from the recent trials, with three runners catching his eye at Bendigo.
Cool Story was too good in his trial, while Freight Shaker impressed with his finishing burst.
Bossalini also performed nicely and will make her debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
MARYBOROUGH 21/06/26
Trial 1: – TRUSCOTTS ELEGANCE settled three back on the markers, moved to the death seat at the 600m and was forced out three horses wide on the home turn. She was able to get home best and win clearly over LEZAMA, which was slow to begin and came from fourth on the markers via the sprint lane to pick up second. LEZAMA is backing up at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. TIGER TEE trailed the leader, moved away from the inside at the 300m and battled on fairly well for third. He is also competing at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. The early leader WHOSHOTTHEPIEMAN was the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.0 Last Half: – 61.1 Margins: – 4m, 2m
Trial 3: – CEEJAY ON BROADWAY raced without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead and was able to win comfortably. PIQUE led out then took cover and held his ground in the straight to finish second. AFRICAN GALA was three back on the markers for the majority of the trial, came to the outside at the 300m and battled on fairly well for third. LOVE YA SON was third early but broke stride at the 1400m and lost approximately 40m. He chased hard and finished in fourth position. He is a juvenile trotter by Majestic Son out of Aldebaranfavourite (2.5.4, $38,062), which has produced four winners including Aldebaran Ten (2.1.8, $58,586) and On Fast Forward (2.0.3, $89,736).
Mile Rate: – 2.5.0 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – 3m, 5m
Trial 5: – ASPEN BELLE settled four back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 700m and sustained a long run to get the prize. She is making her debut at Cranbourne on Sunday night. BETTOR MAN led out then took cover and came away from the inside on the home turn. He held his ground over the latter stages and finished in second. MET WITH A SHRUG settled fifth on the markers, came to the outside at the 500m, trailed BETTOR MAN into the straight and remained on the back of that trotter in the run to the judge. He is backing up at Melton this evening. He was third across the line with LOVE DANCIN being the fourth horse home after working to the front shortly after the start.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.6 Last Half: – 60.1 Margins: – 4m, 2m
Trial 6: – BLUE MIKI settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside on the home turn and sprinted sharply in the run to the judge. He won nicely and went to the line untouched. It was only a field of three runners but he did give a very impressive display. He backed up with a fourth placed effort at Ballarat on Thursday night. MAHEO finished second after attempting to lead throughout and THELONGROADOFHOPE (trailed leader) was the last runner across the line. THELONGROADOFHOPE backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night and was able to finish off best to get the prize at long odds.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.1 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – 6m, 6m
Trial 7: – BEAU TRUSCOTT trailed the leader, came to the outside with 300m remaining and finished off best to win by a narrow margin. LIFE ON THE HILL began quickly to find the lead shortly after the start. He set up a reasonable tempo and was run down in the last few strides. LYNX STRIDE settled three back on the markers and finished a distant third with TESSES DELIGHT being the last horse across the line after breaking stride with 800m remaining.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.3 Last Half: – 60.5 Margins: – Head, 12m
HORSHAM 22/06/26
Trial 1: – COCO MILLER is a juvenile pacer for trainer Michael Bellman. She is by American Ideal out of the speedy performer Leigha Miller (1.56.0, $80,235) and is the first foal out of the mare. The second dam Misty Miller was a very good race track performer (1.58.1, $144,711) and has produced two winners including Isolation (1.53.9, $152,850). COCO MILLER won the trial in reasonable time and beat home HALF AS TOUGH, which is an unraced 3yo pacer by Rock N Roll Heaven. VINCENT O’RILEY and WICKED TORQUE finished third and fourth respectively.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 58.7 Margins: – Unavailable
Trial 2: – VANCE LANE hasn’t raced since a ninth at Maryborough in October. He was unplaced in the Tatlow Stakes at his previous attempt. He was the winner of his trial by a comfortable margin. HILLTOP HUSTLER is an unraced gelding by For A Reason out of Shezaseven for trainer Tracey Collins. He finished in second position with the trotter ALLAWART BOB being last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.8 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 3.5m, 5.5m
GEELONG 22/06/26
Trial 1: – ULTIMATE JOY hasn’t raced since being unplaced in a strong race at Melton in April. He won his trial in slick time over CARUSO STAR, which hasn’t started since March but is the winner of ten races in his career to date. CARUSO STAR is scheduled to race at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.5 Last Half: – 57.4 Margin: – 8m
Trial 3: – JUSTABITSTORMI is a juvenile pacer for trainer Ashley Warton, which won his trial by a large margin. He is by Modern Art out of Justlikeroyalty (1.56.3, $38,190) and is the first foal out of the mare. GOOD TIME ORO was having his fifth trial performance and was the second horse across the line. HOSO MAGIC finished only four metres in arrears of GOODTIME ORO at the finish but was last of the three runners across the line. He is by Soho Tribeca out of Nuclear Nikky (1.59.0, $12,260) and is the first foal of the mare.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.1 Last Half: – 62.4 Margins: – 35m, 4m
Trial 4: – NO REPENTANCE is a nicely bred filly that was backing up from her trial third at Melton a week earlier with a trial success over FREMARKSMARVEL. There was only a head separating the pair but they were well clear of the others at the finish. RINGMERONNIE is an unraced 3yo filly by Majestic Son for trainer Ron Comben. She finished a distant third with MAJESTIC YANKEE being last of the quartet across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.7 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – Head, 50m
BENDIGO 22/06/26
Trial 1: – COOL STORY settled six back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 1500m and continued to progress forward. He joined the leader on the home turn and sustained a strong run to win the trial impressively. MISS DOOBEE finished in second after a trailing the leader and using the sprint lane. She is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. REMMINGTON settled last of the seven runners, moved into the running lane at the 800m (1-3) and finished off stylishly for a game third. The early leader POLLY PEACHUM was the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.5 Last Half: – 58.2 Margins: – 4m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Cool Story
Trial 2: – KYVALLEY DIABLO trailed the leader early, found the front when the leader FLEUR DE LYS hung out badly at the 1900m and dominated the trial thereafter. He went to the line untouched to win comfortably. STEADY PLAYER trailed the leader for the majority of the trial and held his ground in the run to the finish. FLEUR DE LYS got it wrong on the first turn but ended up being three back on the markers and battled on fairly well for third. MAXY MUSCLES was last of the four runners throughout the entire trial.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.1 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 4m, 4m
Trial 4: – DON CRUNCH was three then four back on the markers from the 900m mark and angled three horses wide at the quarter pole. He finished off fast and was able to win impressively. ZEALYN led out then took cover with just short of a lap remaining. He came to the outside at the 400m mark and battled on fairly well for second. ASHANTE CADMAN was behind the leader early and ended up being three back on the markers. He worked into third with MEZZANOTTI doing her best work at the end from last of the seven runners to pick up fourth. KORENGAL VALLEY settled down in sixth, moved up without cover with a mile remaining and progressed forward to find the lead at the 900m. He peaked late and was the fifth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.2 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – 13m, 1m
Trial 5: – FREIGHT SHAKER trailed the leader, came to the outside at the quarter pole and sprinted sharply for an impressive victory. EZRA KAI settled three back on the markers, came to the outside on the home turn and chased hard for a gallant second. HEZA GUN settled down last of the four runners and worked into third ahead of the early leader SEBASTIANS BOY.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.9 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 7m, 8m
BLACKBOOKER: Freight Shaker
Trial 6: – BOSSALINI was three back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 400m and angled out three horses wide on the home turn. She finished off fast and won nicely in fast time. She is by Century Farroh CA out of Terror Bull Girl and is the first foal out of the mare. The second dam Educated Lady (1.56.2, $62,430) has produced four winners including Lady Rocknrolla (1.51.8, $347,216) and Sunshine Warrior (1.58.8, $74,895). She is making her debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. MUDDY backed up his good trial a week earlier with a second placed effort after trailing the leader throughout. He is also competing at Shepparton on Tuesday. RAVISHING ROXY attempted to lead throughout and finished in third with ADVANCE ATEGO being last of the four runners throughout.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.0 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – 2m, 9m
BLACKBOOKER: – Bosslaini
Trial 7: – VERBICI settled four back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 900m and was able to win comfortably without being fully extended. SAMBEZIA began quickly to find the lead and was run down over the latter stages. ZESTA LA GO GO finished in third after trailing the leader throughout. BLONDIES BLIS was three back on the markers throughout and finished last of the four runners.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.1 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – 2m, 10m
BALLARAT 23/06/26
Trial 1: – KAHULA settled four back on the markers, came out three horses wide from the 300m mark and sprinted sharply in a last quarter of 28.0 seconds to win easily. ALWAYSTHE PRINCESS began quickly to find the lead and was run down in the final 100m but she beat the remainder of the field by a good margin. MATT DAN settled three back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail in the back straight and finished in third. He is by Poster Boy out of the unraced mare Promise Me Robin, which has produced the classy performer Tin Tin Jo (1.51.5, $178,387). PRETTY POOR trailed the leader, left the pegs at the 800m mark and battled on fairly well for fourth. He is by Always B Miki out of Lady Blanchett, which has produced Pretty Basic (1.59.6) and will be making his debut at Maryborough on Monday. FARADY was the last horse across the line after settling last of the five runners and breaking stride when gaining an inside run at the 500m mark. She is by Bettors Delight out of the American bred mare Farady Hanover USA (1.54.2) and is the first foal.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.3 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 8m, 20m
Trial 2: – FAIRPLAY began quickly to find the lead and dominated his rivals. He dashed home in sizzling final sectionals (54.8, 27.2) and scored by the impressive margin of thirty metres. AMPHIJET trailed the leader and finished in second with CARRAMAR TITMUS being last of the trio for the duration. CARRAMAR TITMUS is resuming from a break at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.3 Last Half: – 54.8 Margins: – 30m, 12m
Trial 3: – SIR JIMMY trailed the leader, came to the outside at the quarter pole and finished off strongly to win well. LET HER ROLL attempted to lead throughout and was run down late, finishing in second. ULTIMATE VINNIE settled last of the three runners, moved into the one out and one back trail approaching the home turn then remained hard on the back of the winner across the line with plenty in reserve. He will be competing at Melton tomorrow evening.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.3 Last Half: – 55.3 Margins: – 3m, head
Trial 4: – SOME MAGIC led throughout to win in a field of two runners. SCHWARZ sat in the trail, came to the outside in the home straight and loomed up to win but couldn’t get past SOME MAGIC, getting beaten by a head margin.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.8 Last Half: – 56.2 Margin: – Head
Trial 5: – ELLE PERFECTO trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 300m mark and was able to get the better of the early leader and stable mate EL TORNADO over the latter stages. EL TORNADO was beaten by a slender margin but the winner appeared to have a lot in reserve at the finish. EL TORNADO is competing at Melton this evening. OLLIES DREAM was slow to begin and remained last of the three runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.6 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – Head, 20m
