It was a champagne day at the Melton trials on Tuesday with three eye-catching performances, including another exciting prospect for owners Emilio and Mary Rosati.
Champagne Stride earned a place in the Trial File Blackbook with an impressive trial, in which the two-year-old filly “finished fast to win easily”, 14 metres ahead of Amazing Stride.
By Art Major, the filly is only the second successful foal out of Lenola Stride, being a little half-sister to Enchanted Stride, a winner of $219,100 including two Group 3s – the Tasmanian Oaks and Tailamade Lombo.
She was one of three runners at Melton who were short-listed, scroll down for their trial replays with the updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
Trial 1: – OHHEMMJAY CRESCO (Sunshine Beach – Illawong Fabulous 2.0.7, $33,790) began very fast to lead clearly and enjoyed a nice trip throughout. He dashed away over the concluding stages to win by a large margin. STILLSOUNDSLIKEALIE (Rock N Roll Heaven – Always Lacking 1.56.4, $23,515) settled last of the five runners and by the time he came to the outside on the home turn, the leader had an unassailable lead. He hit the line strongly to grab second and was never fully extended. NIVEKALON EAGLE was three back on the inside, moved away from the markers at the 300m and tried hard for a distant third. He resumed from a spell at Bendigo on Thursday night and finished in sixth position. I HOPE ICAN was four back on the markers throughout and beat home ROYAL RONDEL, which trailed the leader and yielded ground at the end.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.4 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – 25m, 2m
Trial 2: – Only two horses contested the standing start trial for the trotters with NICKYS SON bouncing to the front and leading throughout. MONTANA MUSCLE stepped away safely and moved to the outside on the home turn but couldn’t peg back the leader in what was more like trackwork than an official trial. MONTANA MUSCLE backed up at Melton on Wednesday and finished unplaced after breaking stride.
Mile Rate: – 2.17.3 Last Half: – 63.4 Margin: – 2m
Trial 3: – VIEW THE ART (Art Major – Badlandsdreamkacha 1.58.8, $32,541) took out the trial for juvenile pacers. He showed extremely good gate speed to lead from the outside of the front line, set up a slow tempo and had a good kick left at the end. REALITY OF LIFE (Sportswriter – Reality Check 2.0.1, $22,460) trailed the leader and came to the outside on the home turn to finish in second spot. AMBIGUOUS (Sportswriter – Show Me Amber 1.58.7, $64,151) showed a bit of promise despite finishing third. He settled down at the rear of the field, came away from the inside at the 500m, sprinted quickly but galloped just as he was about to join the leader with 300m remaining. He lost ground and momentum, ended up being out four horses wide on the home turn and ran home well despite hanging in under pressure in the run to the finish. KIALLA KID (Sunshine Beach – Vickymurphy 2.6.2, $18,108) settled in third and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He was the last horse to cross the line but he wasn’t beaten by a big margin.
Mile Rate: – 2.12.8 Last Half: – 62.6 Margins: – 2m, 1m
Trial 4: – LOCKSLEY LOVER was four back on the inside before moving into the death seat with 1100m remaining. He occasionally trotted roughly but it didn’t stop him from powering away from his rivals at the finish as he cruised to a 30m victory. IMA DESTROYER led out then took a trail mid-race. She battled into a distant second with THIS BOYS OURS being a further 40m away in third position after racing greenly in the run. He trailed the leader, pulled hard, moved to the front at the 1300m, hung out badly on the turn into the front straight and broke stride at the 400m so he is still learning at this stage of his career. ABBIE was three back on the markers, broke stride at the 1200m and galloped again on the home turn hence was last to complete the course.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.3 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 30m, 40m
Trial 5: – FLAME LADY began quickly to lead, set up a very slow tempo and had a good kick left in the run to the finish. BIGGERTHANBEST trailed the leader, came away from the markers at the 600m and was level with FLAME LADY turning for home but hung out under pressure and peaked on his run over the latter stages to finish second. PAS DE COURU was three back on the markers throughout and struggled to keep in touch over the concluding stages.
Mile Rate: – 2.9.7 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 8m, 40m
WARRAGUL 05/02/22
Trial 1: – READY TO BLOOM began very quickly to lead and ran along at an even tempo. He dashed away at the end and went to the line under a good hold so it was a good performance. He is a Victorian maiden but it was an encouraging trial and he is competing at Warragul on Monday. MALIBU JACK settled three back on the inside, moved away from the markers at the 1000m, angled in behind the leader at the half mile marker and tried hard over the latter stages. BACCHANALIAN (Julius Caesar – Alkadasa) trailed the leader, broke stride at the bell and lost approximately 15m. He was last for the remainder of the trip.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.1 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 12m, 35m
Trial 2: – GOZO SUNSHINE settled last of the three runners, moved up without cover with 500m remaining and got home best to grab victory right on the line. PRIDDY EASY began very quickly and led clearly in the early stages. He set up a slow tempo and was just run down on the line. He has drawn favourably at Warragul on Monday. MY SUPERANNUATION trailed the leader and used the sprint lane. She finished off well and dead-heated for second with PRIDDY EASY in a thrilling finish to end the day.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.0 Last Half: – 62.0 Margins: – Head, Dead Heat
MILDURA 06/02/22
Trial 1: – ROCKETS MATE began brilliantly to find the lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and scored by a large margin. He has been showing promise at the trials but he unfortunately paced very roughly and eventually broke stride on the home turn when unplaced at Mildura on Wednesday night. ELIZABETHAN ERA settled five back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 800m and ran into a distant second. She backed up to finish third at Mildura on Wednesday night. LITTLE BELIEVER trailed the leader, was under pressure at the 600m, got slightly inconvenienced on the home turn and finished a distant third. BLUE CANNON (Western Terror – Blue Seelster 1.56.2, $54,905) was four back on the inside, moved away from the markers at the 700m, broke stride on the home turn and finished fourth. CURVEBALL settled three back on the inside and was the last horse to complete the course.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 35m, 15m
Trial 2: – HIDDEN FIGURE began quickly to find the lead and never looked to be in any danger. He raced well clear over the concluding stages to defeat MAJOR ZONE, which trailed the leader and had his chance in the straight but held down second. WHERESMILZEE was last of the three runners throughout. HIDDEN FIGURE and MAJOR ZONE both finished unplaced at Mildura on Wednesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.0 Last Half: – 61.0 Margins: – 15m, 10m
Trial 3: – DES TROY began very quickly to find the lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and scored nicely. FORTITUDO was fourth on the markers, got shuffled back one position further mid-race and moved into the death seat at the 900m. He battled on well in the straight to finish in second position and followed with a handy fourth at Mildura on Wednesday night. HILLBILLY TIME trailed the leader and had no clear run at the finish. He was pulling hard going down to the post so he probably should have won but he followed with an unplaced effort at Mildura on Wednesday. ALITTLEBITOFFTAP raced without cover early, switched to three back on the inside, gained a one out and one back trail at the 600m then came out three horses wide on the home turn. He finished in fourth with CAUSING A BIG SCENE being last after racing without cover early then easing back to fourth on the markers.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – 59.9 Margins: – 3m, 2m
Trial 4: – MEXICAN STANDOFF settled three back on the markers, moved away from the inside at the bell and was able to outstay the early leader OHOKA DIESEL NZ to get the prize. OHOKA DIESEL NZ kept on kicking in the straight and went down fighting. HES A FLYIN NZ trailed the leader, hung in and was under pressure at the 800m. He dropped out to finish a distant last and followed with another unplaced effort at Mildura on Wednesday night, where he galloped, dropped out and eventually was retired out of the race. REIGNING STAR galloped at the start and lost all chance.
Mile Rate: -2.3.3 Last Half: – 61.2 Margins: – 2.5m, 45m
Trial 5: – LAST ARTIST began quickly to find the lead and ran along at an even tempo. He held off a determined challenge from ROCKNROLL RONNIE to score by a narrow margin. REIGNING STAR galloped at the start for the second time in the morning and failed to complete the course. The winner LAST ARTIST backed up with a creditable fourth at Mildura on Wednesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 58.1 Margin: – Head
MARYBOROUGH 06/06/22
Trial 1: – SPEEDIE EADIE settled three back on the inside, came out three horses wide on the home turn and finished fast to score by a comfortable margin. It was a good performance but he backed up with a seventh placed effort at Bendigo on Thursday night. KARMA QUEEN trailed the leader and moved away from the inside on the home turn. She tried hard in the straight but couldn’t go with SPEEDIE EADIE over the latter stages. REFORMED began quickly to lead, ran along at an even tempo and was run down late but he didn’t run a bad race for a horse with a National Rating of 48.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.4 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – 6m, 6m
Trial 2: – JAXON BEACH was without cover in the early stages, progressed forward to find the lead and produced a good performance to score as a lead up to his strong third Bendigo on Thursday. PESCI led early, took a trail and moved to the outside on the home turn. He made up ground in the straight and finished a close second. BEACH HEAVEN (Sunshine Beach – Champagne Heaven) was three back on the markers for the majority of the journey and I KNEW NOT WHERE (Devilish Smile – Biddys Star 1.58.6, $32,588) was the last horse to cross the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 1m, 5m
Trial 3: – EVERYSECONDCOUNTS trailed the leader, came off the inside on the home turn and sprinted quickly to score by a large margin. It was a good hit-out leading up to his performance at Ararat on Sunday. MUMPAYSTHEBILLS settled three back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 700m, came out three horses wide at the 300m and went back to the inner on the home turn. She finished off nicely for second place and finished second again when she resumed at Bendigo on Thursday. ALLAWART BOB was third across the line after beginning sharply to lead and being run down from the home turn. He is a brilliant beginner but he has a wide draw on a quick front line at Ararat on Sunday. DEALERS KNOCK was without cover early before switching to four back on the pegs. He moved up without cover again at the 900m but started to yield ground from the quarter pole and performed below his best form.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.8 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 15m, head
Trial 4: – Only two horses contested the fourth event with MAJUCKTE getting the better of the early leader THE GIRLS GOTFLAIR to win by a narrow margin. THE GIRLS GOTFLAIR was trotting roughly at the 600m and was pushed out to the line where MAJUCKTE appeared to have something left at the finish. MAJUCKTE was running a good race at Bendigo on Thursday before he broke stride on the home turn.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.8 Last Half: – 62.7 Margin: – Head
Trial 5: – Only two horses contested the standing start trial for the trotters with MYMUMWASTHEBEST (Louey Louey Louey – Princess Narooma) jumping to the front and leading throughout to defeat JIMMY BINTANG. Both horses stepped away slowly but safely from behind the tapes.
Mile Rate: – 2.15.7 Last Half: – 65.3 Margin: – 3m
KYABRAM 06/02/22
Trial 1: – UPRIGHT has been very lightly raced recently having only started once since November 2020 and that was a second at Albury in March 2021. He carries a personal best time of 1.54.0 so he is a smart pacer when at his best form. He defeated the former New South Wales pacer GO GEORGE GO in the opening trial with MILLY PATONE being in third position. BUCKLEDOWN CHRISSY (Alta Christiano – Glory Glory), a daughter of Alta Christiano for trainer Simon Turnbull was the last one across the line. GO GEORGE GO is competing at Kilmore this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.2 Last Half: – 60.2 Margins: – 1m, 4m
Trial 2: – Only two horses contested the last trial with no time and margin details being posted. BLUE OCEAN won the trial for trainer Glenn Bull and subsequently finished eighth at Bendigo on Thursday night. HARD ROAD, which hasn’t raced since October, was also competing in the event.
Mile Rate: – Not Given Last Half: – Not Given Margins: – Not Given
TABCORP PARK, MELTON 07/02/22
Trial 1: – CHAPTER ONE NZ began brilliantly from the handicap of 40m and was able to slide to the front with 1100m remaining. He held off the late challenge from HOLY BASIL NZ to score by a narrow margin. He is racing in a claiming event at Warragul on Monday, where he appears to be one of the leading chances. HOLY BASIL NZ hasn’t raced since December 2019 but he has improved with every trial this preparation and he is a very smart horse when he is at his peak. He moved up without cover from last at the 600m and just failed to peg back the winner. KYVALLEY FINN settled four back on the markers and was the first of the trotters to complete the course. MADENA BAY stepped quickly to lead, took a trail at the 1100m and filled fourth spot. ROGUELADY (Majestic Son – Yankeeiron $13,674) was three back on the inside and was the last one to complete the horse but faced a tough task for an unraced mare considering she was taking on Metropolitan class trotters and pacers.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.0 Last Half: – 57.90 Margins: – ½ head, 29m
Trial 2: – CHAMPAGNE STRIDE (Art Major – Lenola Stride 1.53.7, $13,020) settled last of the three runners, came to the outside at the 300m and finished fast to win easily. It was a top trial performance and she makes her debut in the opening juvenile race of the season at Geelong on Tuesday night, where she is a very good chance. AMAZING STRIDE (Roll With Joe – Crown Counsel) is also competing at Geelong on Tuesday and attempted to lead throughout. She was safely beaten by her stable mate but she did set up a genuine tempo. MIKIPELO (Always B Miki – My Tupelo Honey 1.59.8, $14,052) trailed the leader and was last of the three runners to greet the judge.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.4 Last Half: – 59.66 Margins: – 14m, 7.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Champagne Stride
Trial 3: – CONSTANTINOPLE is a smart trotter and was able to take out the third event. He was sixth on the markers early, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 1200m, trailed the leader in the back straight and moved away from the inside at the 300m to win softly. STRATEGIC STRIDE settled in fifth and got up to third on the home turn before finishing strongly late for second. GEE CEE CALDER began quickly to lead but galloped 100m after the start. He moved up without cover and battled on well for a distant third. ABRACCIAMI was without cover early, led at the 1800m, hung out at the 900m and galloped shortly afterwards. He made up a lot of ground in the final stages to finish in fourth position. CALDERS DAY OUT broke at the start but he wasn’t the only one to make an error in the trial. He missed the start by 50m and finished a distant fifth. BACARDI SPIRIT (Bacardi Lindy – Maybelina 2.1.4, $37,958) settled seventh on the pegs and finished ahead of COTE DE OR, which led out, took a trail and broke stride at the 800m. REJUVENATE was the last one home after breaking stride at the start and being tailed off throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.0 Last Quarter: – 29.61 Margins: – 2m, 14m
BLACKBOOKER: – Constantinople
Trial 4: – THE CID was three then four back on the markers, came to the outside at the quarter pole and accelerated nicely to get the prize. JUST BURNFORU (American Ideal – Red Hot Rita 1.58.7, $32,564) was last to begin, without cover from the 1700m and pushed forward to find the lead with 1400m remaining. She finished second and was well clear of KHANS CREED, which was three back on the markers for the majority of the trial and ended up behind the leader at the 500m. KHANS CREED is resuming at Ararat on Sunday. TINY TEMPER (Rock N Roll Heaven – Kira Jo 1.57.4, $62,335) was last of the five after JUST BURNFORU made her mid-race move to find the lead and finished ahead of the early leader ECLIPSE LINE (Betting Line – Lucky Eclipse 1.59.0, $84,630) (led, behind leader 1400m).
Mile Rate: – 1.59.8 Last Half: – 58.33 Margins: – 8m, 17.5m
Trial 5: – VACATION HILL NZ broke stride in the score up in a heat of the Great Southern Star and is outside of the draw so she was taken to the trials. She began fast but couldn’t head off I AM PEGASUS and eased in behind. She came to the outside at the quarter pole and asserted her superiority to take out the trial. She backed up with an emphatic victory in a heat of the Breed For Speed Gold Series at Bendigo on Thursday night. I AM PEGASUS was in second after setting the pace. She raced roughly when challenged in the home straight but finished ahead of RED WHITE AN BLOOM, which was last for the duration but wasn’t extended at any stage.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.9 Last Half: – 58.03 Margins: – 20m, 33m
Trial 6: – BETTER ECLIPSE settled in sixth position, moved up without cover at the 800m, gained a one out and one back trail shortly afterwards before starting his winning move with 400m remaining. He sprinted sharply over the concluding stages and score decisively. WHERES SEGGY settled five back on the inside, gained a one out and one back trail at the 800m, got shuffled back one position further (1-2) and ran home well in fast final sectionals to snare second. TRUTH AND COURAGE trailed the leader, moved away from the inside on the turn and ran home fairly well through the middle to finish third. He has drawn on the pole position when resuming at Warragul on Monday. SMITHSTARS LEXUS settled three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 600m mark and finished fourth. ROCKNROLL DOO NZ was four back on the inside and went to the line jogging in fifth. MISTER FORTUNIA NZ was pulling hard at the start and fired to the lead but he yielded ground at the end and was the last one to complete the course. The winner BETTER ECLIPSE and the fifth placed ROCKNROLL DOO NZ are both contesting the Paleface Adios Sprint at Menangle tomorrow night in what appears to be an outstanding race.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.9 Last Half: – 56.24 Margins: -10.5m, 2m
Trial 7: – GROOM began fast and was able to fire to the front. He ran along at a genuine tempo and shot away before the home turn before holding on at the finish. He is nicely drawn at Warragul on Monday afternoon. MIA RAGAZZA NZ returns from a spell at Geelong on Tuesday night and is a definite chance based on her trial performance. She settled down last of the six runners, came out three horses wide on the home turn and ran home strongly at the finish. MERRY DANCER was three back on the inside, moved into the breeze with 500m remaining and worked into third position. She has drawn on the pole position at Kilmore this evening. ITZ MISS AUCKLAND NZ was five back on the inside, gained a one out and one back trail at the 500m, went back to the inner and was held up for a run at a vital stage so she didn’t have much luck in finishing fourth. NONE GRATER trailed the leader and finished ahead of MONTY MAJOR, which was four back on the markers for the majority of the journey.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.9 Last Half: – 57.42 Margins: – 2m, 6.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Mia Ragazza NZ
Trial 8: – SOMETHING BETTOR prepared for his comeback appearance at Geelong on Tuesday night with an emphatic victory. He dashed to the lead early, backed off the tempo mid-race and finished off in a scintillating last quarter of 26.74 seconds to get the prize over BREATHE EASY, which also performed very well after he was three back on the inside, one out and one back from the 600m and out three horses wide on the home turn. BREATHE EASY is competing at Melton tomorrow night. The former Tasmanian pacer ART FRENZY will be competing at Kilmore tonight and was able to finish third after settling down last and moving up without cover from the 800m. Considering the final sectionals were slick, it was a good performance. JEMSTONE GLORY trailed the leader throughout and finished fourth leading up to her performance at Kilmore this evening. BALENCIAGO was the last one to finish after being four back on the markers for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.4 Last Half: – 56.24 Margins: – 3.5m, 2m
BENDIGO 07/02/22
Trial 1: – WELL DEFINED NZ was four back on the inside before moving up into the one out and one back trail from the 800m. He came out three horses wide from the 300m and got up to win on the line. DON’T CARE was a brave second. He broke stride at the start and only tacked onto the group with 900m remaining. He gained a nice run through to trail the leader on the home turn before producing a big finish via the passing lane. ENDSIN A PARTY was three back on the inside before moving into the death seat with 800m remaining. He battled on well to finish third in a close finish. WATCH AND ACT trailed the leader early behind circling around to find the lead with a mile remaining. He finished ahead of WATCHINGIDAONTV (Bacardi Lindy – Mowbray Mates 2.6.5, $16,041), which led out then took a trail and broke stride with 400m remaining.
Mile Rate: – 2.10.3 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – Neck, Head
Trial 2: – ONECROWDEDHOUR trailed the leader early then was three back on the pegs mid-race. He was aided by several horses locking wheels on the home turn but dashed away to win by a comfortable margin. SAINT WIN was fifth on the inside, pulled hard and was one out and one back from the 800m mark. He was wide on the turn and tried hard for second. PLAYNICE (Auckland Reactor – Village Guest) was four back on the inside and moved up without cover at the half mile marker. He broke stride and locked wheels on the home turn so he lost his opportunity to finish closer. He makes his debut at Geelong on Tuesday night. ALSDREAM (Changeover – Murrawee Del 2.0.9, $27,293) raced roughly at the start and was without cover at the 1800m before progressing forward to find the lead at the mile marker. He locked wheels approaching the home turn and lost momentum. AMERICAN TIGER led out, took a trail and also locked wheels on the home turn. He will be looking for a forward position at Kilmore this evening. TREACHEROUS ROCK was last on the markers, broke stride momentarily at the 600m and finished at the tail of the field.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 10m, 30m
Trial 3: – WRITE ABOUT ANGUS NZ settled five back on the markers, moved into the running lane (1-2) and was three horses wide at the 300m. He finished off best to defeat OUR DOREEN DAYS, which settled in the one out and one back trail behind being left without cover at the 1700m mark. OUR DOREEN DAYS backed up at Bendigo on Thursday night but had no luck after being caught wide early and finished in tenth. HESTON CASH settled down last of the seven runners before working into the one out and one back trail. He dropped in behind the leader at the 300m mark, came away from the inside on the home turn and battled on well for third. MISTER NIEN was without cover in the early stages before he pushed forward to find the lead with 1700m remaining. He was headed on the turn but managed to hold onto fourth. IM JOLLYGOOD ended up being three back on the markers but was inconvenienced and lost approximately fifteen metres. He was able to beat home FUMIA REACTOR (4 back markers), which backed up with an unplaced effort at Bendigo on Thursday night with JOHNNYS CASH being the last one home after leading out, taking a trail and being under pressure from the 700m.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.3 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – 3m, 2m
Trial 4: – BULLDOG KHAN (Restrepo – Rosie Khan) dropped back to be last of the quartet in the early stages and came to the outside with 500m remaining. He hit the front on the turn and got away in the straight to win by a comfortable margin. MY ANNAMAE (Bettors Delight – Artistic Dash 2.1.3, $8,588) was without cover early and pushed forward to find the lead at the 1800m mark. She was run down at the end but was just able to hold down second from the juvenile pacer SPORTY PHILTRA (Sportswriter – Phirey Philtra 1.56.3, $27,978), which trailed the leader and came away from the inside on the turn. KARUMA KEV (Guaranteed – Sharnica) settled three back on the markers and was last of the four runners to pass the winning post.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.8 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 7m, Head
Trial 5: – JENNYSFAVOURITE was without cover early before trailing the leader at the 1800m mark. She came to the outside at the 600m and quickly put the issue beyond doubt, drawing away to win softly. She is awkwardly drawn but is a winning hope at Kilmore this evening. WISH UPONA DREAM settled five back on the markers then four back, moved into the one out and one back trail behind JENNYSFAVOURITE and tried hard in the straight. She has been trialling well leading up to her performance at Geelong on Tuesday night. TIBER attempted to lead throughout and finished in third position. DECLAN HENRY was five back on the markers for the majority of the journey and moved through into fourth. KARAS DREAM (Wishing Stone – Tracys Dream 2.5.8, $37,941) was three back on the inside and finished fifth ahead of NEXTA NUNN, which trailed the leader early but broke stride at the 1300m then again at the 700m. STICK WITH ME broke at the start and was tailed off for the entire trial.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.6 Last Half: – 60.9 Margins: – 4m, 8m
