Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail was impressed by the Emma Stewart-prepared juvenile Cardigan Dan at the trials this week.
Discernment put in an eye-catching performance flashing home at Maryborough.
Catalpa Rescue and My Ultimate Barney caught the eye of Rail.
TRIAL REPORT 305
SHEPPARTON 20/02/25
Trial 2: – MY ULTIMATE SKEETA showed good gate speed to lead, took cover and sprinted fast via the sprint lane to snare victory on the line. He will be backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. GOTTA HAV ME NZ ended up being three back on the markers and wanted to race fiercely throughout the early stages. She moved off the inside with 400m remaining and finished off well to be beaten by a narrow margin. She is backing up at Wagga this afternoon. RONNIE THE HAMMER was four back on the markers early, moved around the field from the 1500m mark to find the lead shortly afterwards and was run down late to finish in a narrow third. He is contesting the opening heat of the New South Wales Derby at Menangle on Saturday night. CLASSY OPERATOR NZ settled last of the five runners and ran home well late for fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.8 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – Neck, Head
Trial 3: – USYK is a handy juvenile pacer, which won on debut at Wagga. He trailed the leader and used the sprint lane, accelerating nicely to win with ease. He backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night and finished third after being held up for a run at a vital stage. ROWDY CHRISTIAN was in the one out and one back trail early before being left without cover. He battled on nicely for second with VIEW THE ART being third across the line after being in the one out and one back trail for the majority of the trip. LILLY LOTUS settled three back on the markers and finished in fourth ahead of SANCHEZ, which was shuffled back on the markers and finished off swiftly.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.5 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 3m, 4m
Trial 4: – DANGEROUS began quickly and was able to find the lead. He set up a moderate tempo before sprinting home quickly in a slick final half of 55.2 seconds to get the prize. He is aiming to qualify for the Miracle Mile and will contest the second heat of the Cordina Chicken Farms Sprint at Menangle on Saturday night. CATALPA RESCUE produced a very good performance to fill second position. He trailed behind DANGEROUS but only came to the outside with 100m remaining and finished off very quickly to go down by just a metre. CURLY JAMES settled three back on the inside and came to the outside at the quarter pole. He finished third and SPIRIT OF ARION was last of the four runners for the duration. CURLY JAMES will also be searching for a Miracle Mile berth on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.0 Last Half: – 55.2 Margins: – 1m, 15m
BLACKBOOKER: – Catalpa Rescue
Trial 5: – IM BIG BUSINESS raced without cover in the early stages, progressed forward to find the lead at the 1300m and was able to hold off his rivals to score. GO EASY ON ME settled three back on the markers and finished off strongly for a close up second with DELIZIOSO being in third after leading out then taking cover.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.0 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – 1m, 6m
MARYBOROUGH 22/02/25
Trial 1: – MERCENARY began quickly from the standing start and was able to bounce to the front. He took cover behind ASMILEANDAWINX with 1800m remaining before commencing his winning run from the quarter pole. He finished off in slick final sectionals and did a good job to beat the pacers. He is returning from a spell in the Ararat Trotters Cup tonight. ASMILEANDAWINX battled on well for a narrow second and will be racing at Melton on Saturday night. WICHITA DANCE was last of the three runners for the duration and is backing up tonight at Ararat.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.2 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – Head, 8m
Trial 3: – OLIVER DAN trailed the leader early before circling around to find the lead around the first corner. He ran along at a genuine tempo and recorded slick time in holding off his three stable mates. He is the second emergency in both heats of the Cordina Chicken Farms Sprint at Menangle on Saturday night. MACH DAN came from three back on the markers and made good ground in a last half of 54.6 seconds so his effort was sound. ACT NOW followed behind MACH DAN and also finished off in good final fractions to pick up third. BEYOND DELIGHT led out then took cover and was last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.55.6 Last Half: – 54.6 Margins: – 1m, 1m
Trial 4: – STORMS COLLIDE began very quickly to find the lead and was able to back off the tempo mid-race. He finished off in sizzling final fractions (55.7, 27.0) to get the prize and will be backing up in the third heat of the New South Wales Derby on Saturday night. THE HIGHLIGHT REEL settled last of the five runners and commenced his run half way down the back straight on the final occasion. Sectionally his run was excellent considering he was able to finish less than a length from the winner and he should be competitive in the opening heat of the New South Wales Derby. GO MIKI trailed the leader throughout and finished in third ahead of FAIR PLAY (4 back markers) and TIC TACT (3 back markers). GO MIKI is also chasing the New South Wales Derby on Saturday night and TIC TACT returns from a break in the Boort Cup on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.6 Last Half: – 55.7 Margins: – 2m, 2m
Trial 6: – ZORBA DAN began very quickly to find the lead and rolled along at a genuine tempo. He was able to hold off his rivals in the run to the finish to win well. The runner up DISCERNMENT put in an eye-catching performance. He was three back on the markers, moved off the pegs on the home turn and finished off fast. The two juvenile pacers were able to defeat the 3yo’s by a good margin with HEZ NOTTHE MESSIAH (4 back markers) and HOLD ON FOREVER (trailed leader) being third and fourth respectively.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.8 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – Head, 15m
BLACKBOOKER: – Discernment
BACCHUS MARSH 22/02/25
Trial 1: – SHADOW CELT prepared for his effort in the Boort Cup on Sunday with an easy win over the trotters from the standing start. He commenced from the handicap of 40m and won by fifty metres, running home his last quarter in 28.3 seconds in the process. JUNGLE SPIDER finished in second and finished well ahead of the unraced mare MOONLIGHT KATE. JUNGLE SPIDER will be competing at Ararat this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.0 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 50m, 80m
Trial 2: – ARTIST is a 3yo pacer and was taking on mostly juveniles. He was a proven winner last season and recorded handy time in his trial victory, where he scored by a comfortable margin. OHSO HANDSOME is a gelding by Soho Tribeca and was able to finish in second ahead of the New Zealand bred colt VIVID DREAM NZ, which is by Downbytheseaside.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 58.7 Margins: – 6m, 3m
Trial 3: – APRIL SUN has been racing in good form and was able to build some confidence leading up to his effort at Ararat tonight by winning the third trial by a comfortable margin. The classic winning filly PROHIBITED GRACE was able to finish in second position with OUR SAFARI SUN finishing a distant third. Both PROHIBITED GRACE and OUR SAFARI SUN backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night with PROHIBITED GRACE finishing in a narrow second and OUR SAFARI SUN failing to finish after being severely checked.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.2 Last Half: – 60.6 Margins: – 3m, 20m
Trial 4: – HITTHEROADJACK NZ recorded a sizzling mile rate of 1.56.9 to beat his rivals comfortably. He has been racing consistently without breaking through for a win but a repeat of his trial performance might see him being victorious in the near future. IM FIELD MAJOR NZ finished in second with SEE YOU THERE and SEA SILK being third and fourth respectively.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.9 Last Half: – 55.8 Margins: – 15m, 3m
CRANBOURNE 23/02/25
Trial 1: – DENIS WILLIAM has been very sparingly raced in recent times with his latest performance being in June. He is a very smart horse when at his peak form considering he has won twelve races and boasts a career best mile rate of 1.52.1. He was able to score over CRUNCHIE DIVA, which is a filly by Captain Crunch for trainers Gary and Debbie Quinlan. LIKE A GAZELLE is also a filly by Captain Crunch and was able to fill third position over the Jayne Davies trained pair HARLEY LANE and BELLA LOUISE.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.2 Last Half: – 58.9 Margins: – Neck, 4.5m
TERANG 25/02/25
Trial 1: – BLAKE BOLACK has been freshened since a disappointing twelfth in the Hamilton Cup. He was racing in outstanding form prior including a victory in a sizzling mile rate of 1.53.9 and his trial victory in handy time would suggest he is back on track. SHEZA DAYDREAMA finished in second position ahead of KEAYANG GALLIANO, which disappointed first up but continued her sound trial form. KEAYANG GALLIANO will be competing at Ararat this evening.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.5 Last Half: – 57.5 Margins: – 3m, 3m
BALLARAT 25/02/25
Trial 1: – MY ULTIMATE BARNEY is a very smart former New South Wales trained pacer, which has recently joined trainer Andy Gath. He was a very impressive trial winner after being four back on the markers for the majority of the trial and sprinting quickly from the 300m mark. LET HER ROLL raced without cover early, angled in behind the leader and came to the outside with 500m remaining. She did well to finish in a narrow second with METEOR MOTH (3 back markers) being in third. The early leader SMOKEN ACE NZ finished fourth in what was a quality trial to commence proceedings.
Mile Rate: – 1.55.9 Last Half: – 56.1 Margins: – 1m, 5m
BLACKBOOKERS: – My Ultimate Barney
Trial 2: – KNIGHT FURY DAN is a juvenile for trainer Emma Stewart, which showed a good turn of speed. He settled three back on the markers, came out three horses wide on the home turn and finished off quickly to get the prize. MOUNT BARKER BOY trailed the leader, hit the front on the home turn and was run down late by his stable mate. SECRET SERVICE AGENT NZ settled four back on the markers and did well to finish off nicely for third.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.7 Last Half: – 56.9 Margins: – 1m, 8m
Trial 4: – CATCH A WAVE began quickly and was able to find the lead. He ran along at a rapid rate and scored very impressively. He is a previous Miracle Mile winner and is looking for another berth in the big race when he contests the Cordina Chicken Farm Sprint on Saturday night. BEST DEAL did extremely well to come from last of the three runners and pick up ground in a slick final quarter of 27.4 seconds to finish in a clear second. SWEET BELLA trailed the leader throughout and was last of the trio across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.53.5 Last Half: – 55.3 Margins: – 6m, 8m
Trial 5: – CATHERINE is a speedy filly and was able to produce a nice performance to win trial five, seemingly with plenty in reserve. She led out then took cover and commenced her winning move with 300m remaining. THE ART OF SUCCESS was three back on the markers early, circled around the field to find the lead with a mile remaining and was run down late. DANCEBYTHESEASIDE settled five back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 700m and battled on reasonably well for a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.7 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – 2m, 15m
Trial 7: – LUV THE NITELIFE continued her solid trial form with a victory over SOHO MARGARITA. She settled three back on the inside, moved around to find the lead at the 1500m and scored by a comfortable margin. SOHO MARGARITA led out then took cover behind the eventual winner. She went to the line untouched and produced a handy performance. KYORETSU is an unraced gelding by Betting Line, which is prepared by Andy Gath. He finished a large distant from the winner but did the best of the rest after coming from last and picking up third.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.8 Last Half: – 57.3 Margins: – 5m, 30m
Trial 9: – CARDIGAN DAN is a colt by Downbytheseaside for trainer Emma Stewart and looked impressive in taking out the trial for juvenile pacers. He trailed the leader, came to the outside at the quarter pole and appeared to be very strong in the run to the finish. FICTION FILE finished in second after settling three back on the markers and chasing hard in the run to the judge. LOCHINVAR TIGER raced without cover early, restrained to be four back on the markers and ran into a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.6 Last Half: – 57.3 Margins: – 6m, 15m
Last Half: – 60.4 Margins: – ½ head, 29m
BLACKBOOKER: – Cardigan Dan
