Harness Racing form guru Craig Rail noticed several standout performers at the recent trials.
Shepparton saw the return of former boom pacer Captain Ravishing, now in the care of Lisa Lewis. He won his trial and now sets his sights on his heat of the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship at Albion Park on Saturday night.
At Bacchus Marsh, Vivid Dream returned from a spell with a trial victory in a slick mile rate of 1:57.1.
At Bendigo, Boystrous began unbelievably fast and skipped 20 metres clear before the first turn. He continued to run swiftly, building on his lead throughout, and won by a huge margin.
SHEPPARTON 25/06/26
Trial 1: – The former boom pacer CAPTAIN RAVISHING has returned from Western Australia and raced to a very easy victory after he trailed the leader in the early stages and worked to the front with 800m remaining. He has joined trainer Lisa Lewis and got off to a good start to his new campaign. He takes his place in a heat of the Inter Dominion Pacing Championships at Albion Park on Saturday night. FOLLOWTHEACE was three back on the inside and moved through to trail the leader at the half mile marker. He was able to finish in second. SERG BLANCO NZ settled last in the early stages and finished off fairly well for third position. SHARP INTEREST began quickly to find the lead, hung out at the 800m and dropped out to last then couldn’t recover at the end. He is taking his place at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.5
Trial 2: – STOLEN ONE settled three back on the markers, moved into the death seat in the last lap and was able to outstay his rivals to win the trial. He is competing at Echuca on Tuesday night. SHEZA HEAVEN settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail then hung in at the quarter pole, losing momentum. She rallied in the straight and worked home well for second. MY BECA settled last of the five runners and was doing her best work at the finish to be in third. MAGIC BULLSEYE finished in fourth after setting the speed and being run down at the end. He was very unlucky at his debut performance mid-week and appears to have some ability.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.3
Trial 3: – LISTEN TO THE HAND trailed the leader and accelerated nicely via the sprint lane to get the prize. WAYSAM was without cover early, progressed forward to find the front and was run down over the latter stages. HOLD ON FOREVER settled four back on the markers and worked into third position. ONE OUTTA THREE finished off strongly out wide on the track for an eye-catching fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.8
Trial 4: – CRACKERJACK NZ is a very talented trotter and produced an impressive display to defeat the pacers with ease. He settled three back on the inside and moved into the death seat with 300m remaining, sprinting home well in the run to the finish. It was a great final hit-out for his performance in the Great Square at Albion Park on Saturday night, where unfortunately he drew poorly. GOTTA HAV ME NZ began quickly to find the lead, set up a handy tempo and was run down over the latter stages. He is competing at Wagga this afternoon. NORMS LADY settled four back on the markers, moved away from the inside on the turn and worked into third. CORNISHTOWN KID trailed the leader and was last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.2
Trial 5: – FULLY RECKLESS NZ settled last of the five runners, angled out three horses wide at the 500m and sprinted sharply for a game win. SABALENKA trailed the leader, moved away from the inside at the 700m and hit the front at the 300m mark. She battled on well but couldn’t withstand the challenge of FULLY RECKLESS NZ in the run to the finish. MY ROCKING HORSE settled four back on the inside and worked into third ahead of FLYING JACKIE (3 back markers). The second placed SABALENKA is competing at Launceston on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.3
Trial 6: – PARINI settled three back on the markers, waited for the sprint lane and finished off solidly to win the trial. SIARGO ISLAND trailed the leader early, moved around to find the lead at the 900m and was run down at the end. HANCOCKS HERO settled last of the six runners and was able to work home quite nicely into third position. He followed with an unplaced effort at Shepparton on Tuesday night, where he was left stranded without cover throughout. ALDARON settled four back on the markers, moved to the death seat at the 800m and finished in fourth. WATCHHIMDANCE led early then took cover at the 900m and was the fifth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: Unavailable
Trial 7: – OUR SWEET JEANNIE settled last of the seven runners, moved forward to be in sixth at the mile marker and angled out four horses wide on the home turn. She produced a big finish to grab victory on the line. IM BIG BUSINESS settled five back on the markers, moved away from the inside at the 600m mark and was three horses wide on the home turn. He battled on gamely for a close second and followed with a fourth placed effort at Kilmore on Thursday night. BAY OF FIRES settled three back on the markers, moved into the lead at the bell and was run down over the latter stages.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.4
Trial 8: – LITTLE MISS MORGAN settled five back on the markers, made a move at the bell, worked into a distant second then chased hard in the back straight. She sustained the run over the final stages and produced a very impressive display. She would have certainly been listed as a “blackbooker” on that performance but she has already stepped out to win at the races with another fantastic display at Bendigo on Wednesday night. ALIZA MEL began quickly to lead and was able to build up a clear margin mid-race. She was run down in the home straight but was able to beat the remainder of the field by a large margin so it was still a tidy effort. ALDEBARAN MYSTIQUE settled five back on the markers and was able to work into a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.3
Trial 9: – HITCH TO HIS STAR began well from the standing start and trailed the leader. He moved to the outside at the quarter pole and finished off best to win the trial. He is backing up at Melton tomorrow night. INTRUSION stepped away best to find the lead and kicked on well over the concluding stages to be beaten by a narrow margin. He is travelling to Tasmania to compete at Launceston on Sunday night. NIGHT SKY settled last of the four runners and came to the outside on the home turn. He ran into a distant third behind the two pacers. TUMULT settled three back on the inside and was last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.6
BACCHUS MARSH 27/06/26
Trial 1: – WAZZANT ME is a juvenile colt by Raging Bull out of the handy race mare No Tar NZ (1.57.6, $45,441) and was able to win the opening triall on the day. MISTER DUGFORD is a stable mate of the winner and managed to run into second position. He is be making his debut at Geelong this evening. MAJESTIC PHILLY NZ was the third horse across the line and the Darren Pace trained duo STORM NIEN and SUMMER NIEN were the last pair to greet the judge. STORM NIEN is by The Storm Inside out of Jasmine Sheffield (1.54.9, $72,667). SUMMER NIEN is by Stay Hungry out of Fong Nien (1.57.6, $28,396).
Mile Rate: – 2.3.6 Last Half: – 62.1
Trial 2: – VIVID DREAM NZ hasn’t raced since a seventh at Cranbourne back in February. He was able to win his trial in a slick mile rate of 1.57.1 so he has returned from a spell in the peak of form. SAVANNAH BREEZE filled second position for trainer Michael Breen. He has been very lightly raced recently with his only run since September being an eighth at Melton in January. He is resuming at Cranbourne on Sunday night. GIVE FRED A CLAP was stood down to trial at Melton in January. He has had two trials recently and failed to finish at Melton prior to his third on Saturday afternoon. BLAZIN BY finished in fourth ahead of AMERICAN MICHI and MIKIS PLEASURE.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.1 Last Half: – 57.5
BLACKBOOKER: – Vivid Dream NZ
Trial 3: – UNCLAD showed a lot of ability during his juvenile season and has performed promisingly in several recent trial displays. He was able to defeat MAJESTIC YANKEE, which was having his third trial since his latest race track performance back in January. OUR TINKA BELLE made it three trial placed efforts from four attempts recently when she finished in third ahead of LOVE YA SON.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.3 Last Half: – 60.0
Trial 4: – GOODTIME FLETCH is a former Queensland pacer, which has had three trial performances. The latest effort at Bacchus Marsh was his best as he defeated A ROCKN NIGHTMARE in reasonable time. A ROCKN NIGHTMARE finished second at his only race track appearance prior to the trial then backed up at Bendigo on Wednesday night. DANNARIE finished in third position and was ahead of RIDE HIGH CAPTAIN with STARLIGHT HEAVEN and LYNNES SPECIAL being fifth and sixth respectively.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.9 Last Half: – 59.0
CRANBOURNE 28/06/26
Trial 1: – CITY ROCKSTAR hasn’t raced since a third at Wedderburn in January and has joined trainer Steven Vasilou since her latest performance. She began very quickly and charged to the lead shortly after the start. She dominated the trial thereafter and was able to win by a comfortable margin. She is backing up at Cranbourne on Sunday night. MISS ADDI settled three back on the markers, came to the outside at the 500m and chased hard for a handy second. ITSAWOMANSWORLD trailed the leader and finished in third position with MIKI THE HUSTLER being last of the quartet throughout.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.0 Last Half: – 56.5
Trial 2: – SOVEREIGN TIGER worked to the front shortly after the start and raced keenly throughout the middle stages. He was able to hold on over the final 100m to win the trial. THAT’S MY CARDIGAN sat in the trail throughout and tried hard in the straight to be beaten by less than a length. Both horses will be competing at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 58.5
MARYBOROUGH 29/06/26
Trial 1: – The former outstanding juvenile trotter PLYMOUTH CHUBB is now a 7yo and hasn’t raced since July 2025 but it is great to see him back at the track. He was able to salute the judge at his comeback trial and defeated HEZNOTTHE MESSIAH, which hasn’t raced since March when unplaced in a Maiden pace. DARETODANCE has returned to trainer Gerrard Jamieson after she was sent up to Queensland from a Victorian debut victory at Ballarat. She finished in third place ahead of HOME AND DRY NZ, BARBADOS ROSE and SILVER DOMINO.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 59.6
Trial 2: – BUCKLES FOR BERRY broke at the start and galloped wildly at his latest race track performance in early June. He took out the final trial ahead of MYRNIONG SKYE, which has now been runner up in two recent trial performances. LYNX STRIDE finished in third ahead of ASONGOFTHEHEART, which was having his first trial effort. The winner BUCKLES FOR BERRY backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night and finished fifth behind Jessicas Story.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.9 Last Half: – 61.6
BENDIGO 29/06/26
Trial 1: – BOYSTROUS began unbelievably fast and was able to skip 20 metres in front before the first turn! He continued running swiftly and was building on his lead throughout. He won by a huge margin and it was a breathtaking performance to be the best trial of the week. MY MAJOR finished in second position after he settled three back on the markers, moved away from the pegs at the 800m and worked home fairly well. ADVANCE ATEGO was a distant second for most of the trip before being overtaken in the back straight on the final occasion and ended up being the third horse across the line. VINNI BAY was four back the markers for the duration and CRACKERSATMIDNIGHT was retired out of the trial after galloping wildly shortly after the start.
Mile Rate: – 1.54.4 Last half: – 57.7
BLACKBOOKER: – Boystrous
Trial 2: – SAMBEZIA began well and trailed the leader for the majority of the trial. He came to the outside at the 300m mark and was able to work home best to gain the prize. BENJI HALL settled three back on the markers and worked through the middle in the latter stages to fill second. He is backing up at Echuca on Tuesday night. STEADY PLAYER began quickly and found the front. He backed off the tempo mid-race and was run down over the final stages. ITS DIAMOND CREEK was racing fiercely when four back on the markers and moved into the death seat at the 1700m. He started to feel the pinch with 500m remaining. MAXYS MUSCLES was a distant last throughout after breaking stride shortly after the start.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.7 Last Half: – 59.9
Trial 3: – Only two horses contested the third event with MAJOR FRIEND being successful after trailing the leader and making his run from the quarter pole. YOU’VE BEEN SERVED was having her first trial and finished about a length from the winner after setting up a slow speed.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.4 Last Half: – 60.2
Trial 4: – It was a very interesting trial considering the field of three boasts 62 race starts between them and all of them galloped at some stage of the event! WICKED MITZI galloped in the score up and was tailed off throughout leaving only two remaining chances. MIKIS PLEASURE led, pulled hard and was racing roughly throughout before eventually rolling into a gallop at the 600m. STAROFTHESHOW was left in front at that point and had a good lead turning for home but he was getting slower in the home straight then broke stride under pressure with 100m remaining, allowing MIKIS PLEASURE to come back and win!
Mile Rate: – 2.4.5 Last Half: – 66.3
MELTON 30/06/26
Trial 1: – CATCH A WAVE commenced his campaign seemingly the same as every time he starts a new preparation and that is with a slashing trial performance. It was just a field of two horses but he was able to zip home in a sizzling final quarter of 26.6 seconds from behind the leader. SMOKEN ACE NZ attempted to lead throughout but couldn’t repel the finishing burst of the multiple Group 1 winner.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.7 Last Half: – 56.4 Margin: – 8.5m
Trial 2: – The unbeaten juvenile gelding VERBICI staged another trial victory albeit by a narrow margin. He is undefeated from three starts at the race track and won the Nutrien Classic at Wagga recently. He will be competing in the Nutrien Equine 2yo Trotters Final at Menangle on Saturday night. RINGMERONNIE is an unraced 3yo filly by Majestic Son for trainer Ron Comben and finished a close second. TEQUILA SEVEN was having her second trial and her first attempt for new trainer Jayne Davies after previously being with Mark Hayes. She was third past the post and finished ahead of NO REPENTANCE and TIMMY WHIZ.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.2 Last Half: – 61.2 Margins: – Nose, 8m
Trial 3: – ALRIGHTY is a classy trotter for trainer Andy Gath and was able to defeat the pacers. He hasn’t raced since contesting a heat of the Great Southern Star in February but he recorded handy time in his trial success. ALTIUS hasn’t raced since a sixth at Melton in January and finished in second with KHANS CREED being in third position. DAISY STARZZZ finished a distant fourth and the unraced pacer TYPHOON for trainer Tyrone Abela was the last horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.1 Last Half: – 58.1 Margins: – 2.25m, 8m
Trial 4: – The multiple Group 1 winning mare GATESYS GEM hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Bulli Cup at Menangle but she was able to scorch around the track to win her trial easily. ALDEBARAN SUSANNE chased gamely for second at her return to trainer Alison Alford after a brief Sydney campaign. HEZA GUN finished ten metres away in third position and PERFIDIOUS SUE, which has joined trainer Andy Gath since her last run in September, was the last horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.8 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 4m, 10m
Trial 5: – SON OF MAC NZ has been freshened since an impressive Melton victory in early May. He was able to finish the trial off in a swift final quarter of 27.2 to get the prize. He is backing up at Melton tomorrow night. FERRIGNO hasn’t started since January but he has obviously returned in fine fettle considering he was beaten by a very slender margin. He is scheduled to compete at Cranbourne on Sunday night. ULTIMATE JOY has had numerous trials since her latest race track performance and finished a close up third. JILLIBY TERMINATOR and TOPSIES BLING finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.0 Last Half: – 56.4 Margins: – Head, 3.5m
Trial 6: – MOREEP has ability when she is able to put it altogether but she unfortunately makes errors at this stage of her career. She was stood down to trial after galloping several times in the run at Cranbourne last outing but she was able to defeat a reasonable field in her trial performance. ACOOL INVESTMENT was runner up at her latest Geelong race track performance and kept the momentum rolling with another narrow defeat in the trial. She is competing at Cranbourne on Sunday night. FRITSCH should be building on his fitness after three recent trial displays and was third across the line. The handy sprinter CALL ME JACK was the fourth horse home and ZIPPING VOLSTEAD was the last horse to greet the judge.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.4 Last Half: – 61.4 Margins: – Head, 3.75m
TERANG 01/97/26
Trial 1: – The open class trial consisted of two horses with SWEET IDEAL scorching around the track to come out victorious over GUNFORHIRE. She recorded a super mile rate of 1.54.8 with a last quarter of 27.5 seconds so she was impressive. GUNFORHIRE was fifteen metres away at the finish but sectionally, his run was still sound. Both horses will be competing at Melton on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.54.8 Last Half: – 55.2 Margin: – 15m
Trial 2: – KEAYANG GYPSY hasn’t raced since galloping several times in the run at Mount Gambier in March. She is a quality mare that boasts eight career wins and a personal best mile rate of 1.55.3 so she appeared very well placed in the trial and was able to get the job done. CAITHNESS LADY has struck trouble at her last two race track attempts and finished in second with the unraced colt RAMA SAIGO being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.4 Last Half: – 61.0 Margins: – 2m, 2m
Trial 3: – IDEALWRIGHT is an unraced gelding by American Ideal for trainer Theresa McDowell. He was successful in the trial after a very quick third quarter of 28.3 seconds so he showed some tenacity at the end. IMEASYCOMEEASYGO is by Downbytheseaside out of Mistressofillusion (1.55.7, $71,573) and is related to four winners including Isthisjustfantasy (1.52.0, $147,465) and Browniesatmidnight (1.53.8, $61,463). He is very late foal having been born in January so he should continue to improve as the season continues. He did well to pick up second with CHEDDAR CHEESE being in third position. CHEDDAR CHEESE hasn’t raced since October 2024. KEAYANG MIDNIGHT and KEAYANG PHANTOM finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.1 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – 3m, 1m
Trial 4: – Only two horses contested the trial, both of which are trained by Matthew Craven. HES RUNAWAY BAY has been runner up in two of his past three Maiden starts and was able to come out on top over the former Queensland trotter LAIN NZ. HES RUNAWAY BAY is heading up to Charlton on Monday afternoon looking to break his maiden status.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – 64.0 Margin: – 6m
Trial 5: – TAKE THE MIKI is an immensely talented juvenile pacer and was able to record a slick final quarter of 27.5 seconds to win the trial comfortably. BATTON ROUGE finished ten metres away in second position and KEAYANG SEASIDE was third ahead of THE BLAZINBOOTS.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.4 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 10m, 14m
Trial 6: – MISS MUSCLE finished third at a Gawler trial effort in early June and has since been transferred to trainer Tom Rundle. She is by Muscle Hill out of Missucci NZ (2.0.1, $61,430) and is the first foal out of the mare. She was able to win the trial by a narrow margin. KEAYANG ZIA finished in second with KEAYANG MARCUS being the last horse across the line. KEAYANG MARCUS is by On A Streak out of Keayang Majestic (2.4.7, $19,787), whose first foal Keayang Minnesota (2.2.2) is a proven race winner.
Mile Rate: – 2.9.1 Last Half: – 62.4 Margins: – 1m, 3m
