Harness racing form analyst Craig Rail identified a handful of notable performers from the recent trials.
Calzaghe was dominant at Melton as he gears up for his first race start at Bendigo next Wednesday.
Ideal Bandit led from start to finish for a comfortable win at Cobram.
Zenario caught the eye flashing home into second at Maryborough, while Fourth Response was similarly impressive charging into the placings at Bendigo.
COBRAM 12/06/25
Trial 3: - IDEAL BANDIT is an unraced pacer by American Ideal for trainer Shane Sanderson. He settled four back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 1200m and found the lead at the bell. He went to the line untouched and won nicely. HEZAFLASHONE trailed the leader early and ended up being three back on the markers from the bell. He came to the outside with 600m remaining and chased hard for second. DEMON REACTOR led out then took cover and finished third ahead of CRAFTY OLD FOX (3 back markers, 4 back markers at bell). DEMON REACTOR is scheduled to compete at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.9 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - 2m, 50m
BLACKBOOKER: - Ideal Bandit
BACCHUS MARSH 14/06/25
Trial 2: - The fast class trial only had two runners competing with ALBY TWO CHAINS being a runaway winner. He has been unplaced in all three starts at Metropolitan level since returning from Tasmania and will travel across to South Australia on Saturday to compete at Globe Derby, where he has drawn on the pole position. GIVE DAVE A WAVE finished second at Echuca during his last performance and was a distant second in the trial but the time was very quick. He is nominated for Melton on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.5 Last Half: - 58.0 Margin: - 15m
Trial 5: - LADY VICI hasn’t raced since completing five wins in succession back in April 2024. She has had several trial campaigns since her latest performance and returned for this preparation with a comfortable victory. JAKARTA was a winner at Ballarat in May and finished in second position. He was well clear of the third placed NUCLEAR ATTITUDE with TE AMO being last of the four runners across the line. NUCLEAR ATTITUDE finished unplaced behind Major Max at Kilmore on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.5 Last Half: - 59.2 Margins: - 5m, 8m
MARYBOROUGH 15/06/25
Trial 1: - ULTIMATE VINNIE is a proven FFA performer and was clearly the class runner of the trial. He backed up his Maryborough trial victory a week earlier with another comfortable display. He settled last of the four runners, moved to the death seat at the 700m and hit the front before the home turn. The 3yo pacer ZENARIO produced a very good performance to fill second position after trailing the leader, coming to the outside at the 300m mark and angling out three horses wide from the home turn. He hasn’t raced since winning the Southern Cross Final back in November but it appears he has come back in outstanding form. GERRALE settled three back on the markers, moved through to trail the leader at the 300m mark and ended up being a distant third. He is resuming from a spell at Melton on Friday night. The early leader CLARA ROCKS was last of the four runners to complete the course.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.7 Last Half: - 56.6 Margins: - 2m, 12m
BLACKBOOKER: - Zenario
Trial 2: - MET WITH A SHRUG continued her good trial form with a narrow but decisive victory. She trailed behind the leader SONS GOTABITE, broke stride with 300m remaining and lost approximately five lengths before getting going again and finishing off boldly to win the prize. SONS GOTABITE had his chance in second position after setting the speed but he is yet to face the starter and hadn’t been to the trials since January so he should have benefited from the run.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.6 Last Half: - 61.3 Margin: - Neck
Trial 5: - IAMAWINGATE began quickly to lead, took cover in the back straight on the final occasion and moved to the outside with 500m remaining. He was too quick in the run to the judge and scored by a comfortable margin. That win will give him confidence leading up to his effort at Shepparton on Tuesday night. TALKBABYTALK trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 1100m to find the lead with a half mile remaining and was run down at the end. He followed with a fifth behind Rollwitharty at Kilmore on Thursday night. JANIEBQUICK settled three back on the markers and was last for the duration.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.3 Last Half: - 59.1 Margins: - 3m, 12m
CRANBOURNE 15/06/25
Trial 1: - ITSAWOMANSWORLD is an unraced juvenile pacer for trainer Samantha Gangell and was able to defeat older and more experienced horses. The daughter of Ultimate Sniper NZ, raced roughly at the start, trailed the leader and used the sprint to get up and win on the line. DUKES CHOICE began quickly to find the lead, set up a slow tempo and was run down on the line but he wasn’t extended at any stage. OH NO NEVER AGAIN was out of position at the start by approximately 15m, settled three back on the markers before attempting to make a move at the 300m. He backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night and finished unplaced behind Rakarompa NZ.
Mile Rate: - 2.10.9 Last Half: - 62.6 Margins: - Nose, 2m
MILDURA 16/06/25
Trial 1: - KEAYANG MOROCCAN hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Ouyen Cup but he was able to tune up for his effort at Mildura this afternoon with a victory over SKYLINE ANGEL in the opening trial. SKYLINE ANGEL finished less than a length from the winner in second and LOUIEVILLE was the third horse across the line. CEMETERY BAY failed to beat a runner to the line leading up to his resumption at Mildura this afternoon but he wasn’t beaten by far.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.8 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 2m, 2m
Trial 2: - SWEET LUCY LOU is an unraced filly by Sweet Lou out of the handy race mare Bella Cullen (2.0.0, $113,861). She was able to win the trial by two metres over NIGHT SAFARI, which is resuming from a spell at Mildura this afternoon. CAULONIA BELLA finished in third position ahead of ANGELS WATCHING, which is also backing up at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.5 Last Half: - 59.7 Margins: - 2m, head
Trial 4: - MAISIELOUISA is returning from South Australia and has recently joined trainer Kate Attard. She was able to build some confidence leading up to her performance at Mildura this afternoon with a trial victory. RAINBOW RAIN finished a close up second with UNBECOMING being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.4 Last Half: - 61.1 Margins: - 1m, 6m
BENDIGO 16/06/25
Trial 1: - AMADA VILLMA is a filly by Vincent out of the race winning mare Spanish Rain NZ (2.1.9, $36,294) and is related to Streets of Madrid (1.58.7). She was able to lead throughout from BJ ROBERTSON NZ, which settled five back on the markers, angled out four wide on the home turn and finished off strongly for second. TRYX VIXEN raced without cover, angled in behind the leader at the 1300m and came to the outside with 300m remaining. She finished in third with MY FATAL CHARM being in fourth after trailing the leader early and ending up being three back on the markers from the 1300m.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.4 Last Half: - 60.5 Margins: - 2m, Nose
Trial 4: - PICKET WIRE began quickly and worked forward to find the lead. She set up a slow tempo and was able to win the sprint up the straight. She is resuming from a spell at Melton tomorrow night. I AM HARRO led out then took cover and tried hard over the latter stages to finish in second. She is resuming at Shepparton on Tuesday night. ITS DIAMOND CREEK settled three back on the markers and finished third with the unraced mare WAIKARE ADRIENNA being last of the four runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.4 Last Half: - 60.5 Margins: - 2m, 4m
Trial 6: - CONISTON raced wide in the early stages and pushed forward to find the lead at the 1600m. He hung out on the home turn but was able to hold off his rivals with the final quarter being a sizzling 27.4 seconds. FOURTH RESPONSE pushed forward to find the lead then took cover behind CONISTON. He came to the outside at the 300m mark and did very well to run the leader down to a head margin. ORSINO BELLE was the early leader but ended up being three back on the markers. She held on for a distant third.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - Head, 24m
BLACKBOOKER: - Fourth Response
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 17/06/25
Trial 2: - CALZAGHE NZ is a New Zealand bred gelding for trainer Adam Kelly. He was able to lead throughout and completely dominated his rivals to score by fifty metres. MASON JOLIE finished second after trailing the leader throughout and ZIHUATANEJO was last of the three runners for the duration but attempted to make ground from the 600m mark.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.7 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - 50m, head
BLACKBOOKER: - Calzaghe NZ
Trial 3: - LADY SALINA settled three back on the markers, came to the outside at the 500m and quickly hit the front at the 300m mark. She sustained the run to win nicely and is backing up at Melton this evening. CARRY ON CORNISH trailed the leader, came to the outside approaching the home turn and held his own in the straight for second. YNOBE DAKOTA settled four back on the markers and worked into third ahead of SPEEDY HEALEY, which settled a clear last early and MADEMOIZELLE was the last one home after setting the speed.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.6 Last Half: - 57.7 Margins: - 8m, 2m
Trial 6: - CALLMETHEBREEZE FRA took on the pacers with aplomb with a convincing all of the way victory in handy time. LOUIE LOU I NZ settled last of the four runners, waited for the sprint lane and powered to the line for an eye-catching second. GIVE DAVE A WAVE trailed the leader and came to the outside in the home straight. He finished in third position with VEE EM GEE MACRAY (3 back markers) finishing fourth after contacting the sulky of GIVE DAVE A WAVE and galloping with 150m remaining.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.2 Last Half: - 56.5 Margins: - 3m, 5m
Trial 8: - CATCH A WAVE backed up his outstanding trial performance a week earlier with a runaway victory. He began brilliantly to lead, backed off the tempo early and finished off in an unbelievable final half of 53.4 seconds! HECTOR NZ sat in the trail and couldn’t keep in touch with his stable mate but he still would have finished off in slippery final sectionals. BETTER ECLIPSE was last of the trio throughout but tried hard to get past HECTOR NZ over the final stages.
Mile Rate: - 1.53.4 Last Half: - 53.4 Margins: - 15m, Neck
Trial 9: - SHOWMETHETANLINES NZ began quickly to find the lead and ran along at a good tempo. He appeared to be under pressure turning for home but he found plenty over the latter stages and was able to win in fast time. GOODTIME CAPTAIN began quickly and was able to get in behind the leader shortly after the start. He came to the outside on the home turn and chased hard in the straight for a game second. The trotter GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW produced a slashing display for third. He settled last of the five runners and motored to the line in a last half of 57.1 seconds.
Mile Rate: - 1.55.7 Last Half: - 57.1 Margins: - 1.5m, 15m