Harness Racing Victoria form analyst Craig Rail has earmarked the Donna Castles-prepared Eagle Major in his file this week after an impressive performance at the Shepparton trials.
“Eagle Major did well to finish a close second in the trial after he set up a reasonable speed in the front running role and he has a low National Rating of 46 so he might be able to pick up a race in the near future,” Rail said.
Rail also added Followtheace and Claire Favourite to his file after eye-catching performances at the Shepparton trials on October 31.
TRIAL REPORT 289
SHEPPARTON 31/10/24
Trial 1: – FOLLOWTHEACE hasn’t raced since a Kilmore victory in July but he recorded fast time at his trial success and defeated VANQUISH STRIDE, which has a National Rating, which is 44 points higher so he is obviously ready for a good campaign. He settled four back on the inside and moved into the one out and one back trail on the home turn. VANQUISH STRIDE was five back on the markers, got held up for a run at a vital stage and finished off well. He is backing up at Melton tomorrow night. FRANCO NOVELIST NZ backed up from his excellent trial run a week earlier and finished in third position after settling seven back on the markers in the early stages and running home well. He is backing up at Ararat on Monday afternoon and is worth following.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.3 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – Head, Neck
BLACKBOOKER: – Followtheace
Trial 3: – CROCODILE SOCKS prepared for his effort in a heat of the Breeders Crown at Melton tonight with a narrow trial victory in reasonable time. He settled seventh on the markers and was able to get home best to win on the line. NOMORELYING did well to finish in second position after settling sixth on the inside in the early stages. IT’S A SWEET LIFE NZ ran a handy third after settling in fourth, dashing to the lead at the quarter pole and being run down in the final 100m. IT’S A SWEET LIFE hasn’t raced since contesting a Breeders Crown event in November 2021. CLARE FAVOURITE NZ is an unraced New Zealand bred mare for trainer Rebecca Bartley and ran an eye-catching fourth after settling fifth on the pegs, being shuffled back in the field on the home turn and finding the line very strongly.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – Neck, 1m
BLACKBOOKER: – Clare Favourite
Trial 4: – JILLIBY ILLUSION finished off in a slick final half to win her trial after trailing the leader and coming to the outside on the home turn. She backed up at Yarra Valley on Thursday afternoon and finished second in fast time so she is nearing a win. EAGLE MAJOR did well to finish a close second in the trial after he set up a reasonable speed in the front running role and he has a low National Rating of 46 so he might be able to pick up a race in the near future. He is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. SUMMER SCHOOL finished in a distant third after being three back on the markers throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.8 Last Half: 57.3 Margins: – Neck, 12m
BLACKBOOKER: – Eagle Major
Trial 6: – DHONI TROUBLE NZ recently returned from Queensland and was an impressive winner of the final trial. He was without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead at the mile marker then took a trail behind REY BAILANDO coming up to the bell. He finished off very quickly via the sprint lane and scored impressively. He backed up at Maryborough on Wednesday and got the job done. The trial ended up being a good form reference as the second placed REY BAILANDO won a heat of the Breeders Crown at Bendigo on Wednesday night and the third placed VIOLET STANFORD was a very strongly fancied favourite to win her heat of the series but wasn’t able to go around due to a lighting issue, which abandoned the remainder of the meeting. REY BAILANDO settled four back on the markers and circled around the field to find the front mid-race in the trial. VIOLET STANFORD was shuffled back to fifth, switched into the sprint lane in the home straight and found the line well without being pushed.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.0 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 8m, 10m
MARYBOROUGH 03/11/24
Trial 1: – HESITATE won the Tatlow Stakes at his latest attempt and he kept the momentum rolling by winning his trial at Maryborough. He settled down last of the four runners, was still at the tail of the field on the home turn and produced a big finishing burst. He is backing up in a heat of the Breeders Crown at Melton this evening. ANGUS INDIANA prepared for his effort in the St Arnaud Cup on Sunday with a second placed effort after working to the front around the first turn. MAJOR ANNIE NZ led out then took cover and finished in third and METRO MEMORY (3 back markers) was last of the four runners across the line.
Last Mile: – 2.2.9 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – Unavailable
Trial 2: – POPPY POPSTAR prepared for her effort at St Arnaud on Sunday with a convincing trial victory. She burrowed through to hold the lead around the first turn and never appeared to be in any danger of defeat. THIRD EYE finished in second position after trailing the leader and ALLWATFUNJINGLES was a distant third after being checked by the galloping LADY BE LUCKY with a mile remaining.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.1 Last Half: – 60.8 Margins: – 15m, 20m
Trial 4: – ALL THAT REMAINS has been racing against the best of her age group and is racing better than her form reads. She trailed the leader, came to the outside with 300m remaining and sprinted home too well in the run to the judge. She was able to defeat SEBASTIANS SECRET, which attempted to lead throughout and backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night but finished tenth after galloping away. MISSUCCI NZ prepared for her first up effort in the St Arnaud Cup on Sunday with a third placed effort after settling down last of the three runners around the first corner.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.0 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – 12m, 15m
KYABRAM 03/11/24
Trial 1: – HOORAH PHILTRA broke stride in the score up and was placed omitted from the draw at his latest attempt. He has been racing very consistently and was able to win his trial at Kyabram over LUNADIVA, which is an unraced juvenile by Vincent out of Neishars Jet (2.1.9, $12,861) for trainer Graham Lyon. WHITE STAR TOMMY was third across the line and EEBEEBEE was the fourth horse home.
Mile Rate: – 2.10.7 Last Half: – 64.00 Margins – Neck, 3m
MILDURA 04/11/24
Trial 1: – TOUGH AINT ENOUGH showed plenty of promise during his first campaign of racing and should build on a good campaign. He is a maiden from two starts but it shouldn’t be long before he breaks through for a win. He settled four back on the markers, was third from the 700m and finished off stylishly. FLOJOS BEST continued her good trial form leading up to her debut at Mildura this afternoon. She finished in second after trailing the leader and being left in front with just under a lap remaining. SUPER SUSPECT followed FLOJOS BEST throughout and finished third with RUBBLEONTHEDOUBLE being in fourth after setting the speed and running off the track when turning into the back straight on the final occasion.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.3 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 2m, 6m
Trial 3: – LET ME ROCK hasn’t raced since a third at Broken Hill in March 2022. He blitzed his rivals in the third trial after leading throughout and he might be ready to run a big race first up. ROCKING WROXTON finished in second after settling three back on the markers and is backing up from a good draw at Mildura this afternoon. OUTA CONTROL (4 back markers) finished third and MEMPHIS BLASTER NZ, which is making his Australian debut this afternoon, was fourth past the post after trailing the leader, looming as a winning chance and breaking stride with 300m remaining.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.7 Last Half: – 59.3 Margins: – 24m, 20m
TERANG 05/11/24
Trial 2: – JILLIBY ZUCCHINI hasn’t raced for over a year but she was able to win her trial by a large margin after leading throughout and she posted a quick final quarter of 28.8 seconds so she might have a prosperous campaign. DIAMONDS AND ROSES finished in second after settling four back on the markers with JOANIES A PEARLER (trailed leader) being a close up third. IMPERIAL MONARCH NZ prepared for his effort at Melton tomorrow night with a fourth against the pacers after he settled six back on the markers and picked up some ground in the latter stages.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.4 Last Half: – 58.0 Margins: – 20m, ½ head
Trial 3: – DHAULAGIRI NZ and RUBINS PLIGHT staged a match race in their lead up to the St Arnaud Pacing Cup on Sunday. DHAULAGIRI NZ has only had the one start for trainer Matthew Horsnell since being claimed and he was able to win his trial after taking the trail and coming to the outside with 700m remaining. RUBINS PLIGHT has recently returned to trainer Matthew Craven after having a Western Australian campaign and finished twelve metres away after setting a reasonable tempo.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 56.1 Margin: – 12m
