Craig Rail feels Steve Cleave might be in for some fun with two stablemates after some impressive trial performances early this week.
The Harness Racing Victoria form guru added Cleave-trained runners Devine Tilly and Ultimate Miki to his list of horses to follow after Monday's Bendigo trials.
“Devine Tilly settled five back on the inside, moved into the running lane (1-2) at the 700m and ran home strongly to win impressively,” he noted.
“She returns from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night and appears to be a good chance.”
Ultimate Miki also caught the eye in a later trial on Monday.
“Ultimate Miki was three then four back on the markers and moved to the outside with 700m remaining. He battled on strongly for a close second,” Rail wrote.
TRIAL REPORT
COBRAM 13/02/25
Trial 1: - AUSSIE JAY MAC NZ galloped several times in the run and came to grief at the quarter pole at his latest Shepparton performance. He broke stride at the start and settled three back on the markers before pushing through to trail the leader approaching the home turn. He came to the outside when turning for home and finished off best to win nicely. He has a lot of ability but is still learning. TURBO JAY finished in second after trying to lead throughout and BUBBLESONTHEBEACH was third after trailing the leader and coming to the outside at the quarter pole. TURBO JAY is due to make his debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 2m, 40m
Trial 2: - SISTA EVARISTA was able to beat the pacers after being slow away and settling a clear last early. She made a move with 400m remaining and drew well clear in the run to the finish. SKINNY HORACE finished second after trailing the leader throughout and CHRISTYS LAST was the last one to finish after setting the speed. SKINNY HORACE is scheduled to compete at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Last Mile: - 2.3.4 Last Half: - 61.5 Margins: - 12m, 8m
MARYBOROUGH 16/02/25
Trial 1: - CEEJAY ON BROADWAY won the trial for juvenile trotters. She is by the first season sire Muscle M Up out of the race winning mare Ceejay Success (2.5.5, $45,085) and was able to lead throughout. NORTHERN TRUSCOTT (Sundon’s Courage) finished second after trailing the leader throughout and AFRICAN GALA (Pastor Stephen) was last of the three runners for the duration.
Last Mile: - 2.19.4 Last Half: - Not available Margins: - Not Available
Trial 4: - It was another event for the juvenile trotters with TRUSCOTTS ELEGANCE being the victor. She is by Sundon’s Courage out of the unraced mare Shining Truscott and is the first live foal. She settled last of the four runners, moved into the one out and one back trail and came out three horses wide on the home turn, running home best at the finish. MAXIMUM COURAGE (Sundon’s Courage) finished second after trailing the leader before moving around to find the lead at the 1100m mark. WHATTA SUMMER (What The Hill) led out then took cover and waited for the sprint lane. He battled on fairly well for third.
Mile Rate: - 2.16.1 Last Half: - 65.7 Margins: - 2m, 2m
Trial 6: - BLACK OPAL JACK won the trial for the juvenile pacers after he trailed the leader and used the sprint lane. He is by Bettors Wish out of Garden Gate Tina CA (1.53.2, $146,804), which has produced seven winners including Major Major (1.49.8, $163,687) and Beach Garden (1.52.9, $135,844) so he is bred to be a handy performer. CALIFORNIA COOL finished last of the two runners after setting the speed.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.2 Last Half: - 60.9 Margins: - 5m
KYABRAM 16/02/25
Trial 2: - THEYASKABOUTLENNY is a talented juvenile pacer for trainer Lisa Pitt. The son of Lennytheshark recorded a very handy mile rate of 2.2.2 for the Kyabram circuit and was able to defeat his stable mate SHEZFAIRYSWEET (Sweet Lou) by a large margin.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.2 Last Half: - 59.6 Margins: - 15m
GEELONG 17/02/25
Trial 1: - FICTION FILE is a juvenile filly by Captaintreacherous out of the classy mare Jemstone (1.55.5, $128,765) and is the first foal. She won the opening trial by a comfortable margin over SOLO SAFARI, which is a colt by Lather Up. THE NINJA finished a close up third with ROBLEN DEMON being the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.9 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 3m, 5m
Trial 4: - MISTER AMERICO finished third at his first trial attempt and followed with a victory in reasonable time at Geelong. He is a juvenile pacer by American Ideal out of the fast mare Hughies Sister, whom is a daughter of the outstanding New Zealand mare Alta Serena NZ. JUST INCREDIBLE finished in second position and BRAVE ART, which is a stable mate of the winner, was last of the three runners to cross the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.4 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 8m, 8m
Trial 5: - The classy mare RAKERO REBEL NZ hasn’t raced since November but recorded slick final sectionals to win her trial comfortably. THE IRON DUKE finished in second position with WOTDIDUSAAAY being a close up third. WOTDIDUSAAAY is backing up at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.5 Last Half: - 56.6 Margins: - 8m, ½ head
Trial 7: - ROMAN CHARLIE is an unraced gelding by Betting Line out of Roman Abbey (2.0.3, $14,388). He was able to take out the trial over SINBAD SASSY, which hasn’t raced since a win at Geelong in November. SINBAD SASSY is resuming from a spell at Cranbourne on Sunday night. CATHERINE is out of the top mare Flagbearer and hasn’t raced since May. She finished a close up third just ahead of TELERN LOFTY with TELERN LOFTY resuming from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.9 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - 1m, 2m
Trial 9: - SOHO MAJESTIC is an unraced colt by Bettors Delight out of the top mare Soho Nolita (1.53.0, $238,220), which followed a second at a Melton trial effort with his victory in the final trial at Geelong. He was able to defeat COOPER CLEAVER, which won two races in succession back in February and is resuming at Cranbourne on Sunday. ALANNA MIKI was the third horse across the line and finished ahead of YNOBE DAKOTA and SEE YOU THERE.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.1 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 2m, 3m
BENDIGO 17/02/25
Trial 1: - ARCEE PHOENIX stepped away smartly from the standing start to find the lead. He set up a slow tempo and was very comfortable in the run to the finish. LOVEMETO NZ was last of the two runners after sitting in the trail throughout and he didn’t make any ground but the last portion of the trial was the quickest. Both horses will be competing in the Australasian Trotting Championship at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.7 Last Half: - 58.9 Margin: - 4m
Trial 2: - MY FATAL CHARM is an unraced juvenile for trainer Michael Laugher. She is by Betting Line out of Mony Mony (2.2.2, $17,555) and was able to lead throughout to win the trial. CHAINSMOKE settled three back on the inside, moved off the pegs at the 500m mark and chased hard for second. KEEP US POSTED was the third horse across the line after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.7 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 5m, 18m
Trial 3: - The top mare QUEEN ELIDA NZ began quickly to trail the leader, came away from the markers at the 500m and sprinted home in sizzling final sectionals to win the trial. She will take beating in the Breed for Speed Gold Final at Melton tomorrow night. DIEING ART was caught wide in the early stages, restrained to be five back on the markers and made ground from the 600m mark. PARISIAN ARTISTE settled three back on the markers, weaved a passage and finished off well for third. PICKET WIRE attempted to lead throughout and battled on fairly well for fourth position. VIRGINIA CLOWERS NZ was four back on the markers throughout and finished in fifth position. She has recently returned from New Zealand and makes her Victorian return in the Australasian Trotting Championship on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.2 Last Half: - 56.2 Margins: - 1m, 3m
Trial 4: - DIVINE TILLY settled five back on the inside, moved into the running lane (1-2) at the 700m and ran home strongly to win impressively. She returns from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night and appears to be a good chance. SWEET MARION settled four back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail and tried hard for second. SMILENSAYCHEESE led out then took cover at the 1100m and was held up for a run at a vital stage before finishing off well for third. THE BULLET TRAIN trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and moved up without cover at the 700m mark. He battled on fairly well for fourth.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.1 Last Half: - 58.1 Margins: - 4m, 8m
BLACKBOOKER: - Divine Tilly
Trial 5: - COOPER KAI is a juvenile trotter for trainer Joe Attard. He broke at start and lost approximately fifty metres, chased hard and was still able to get up and gain the prize. He is by Elite Stride out of Amaori Spur, making him a relation to the two winners Madge Egan (2.3.3) and Ezra Kai (2.3.1). JOE LOU finished in second after attempting to lead throughout and SILENT VALLEY (trailed leader) was last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.14.7 Last Half: - 65.7 Margins: - Head, 13m
Trial 6: - OZZIE CORKA was without cover early before pushing forward to find the lead at the 1600m. He ran along at a genuine tempo and was able to kick on strongly to get the prize. He is backing up at Wagga this afternoon. ULTIMATE MIKI was three then four back on the markers and moved to the outside with 700m remaining. He battled on strongly for a close second. INTERPRETATION led out then took cover and used the sprint lane for third. OZZIE GEM settled six back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 700m and came out three horses wide on the turn. She battled on reasonably well for fourth and will also be backing up at Wagga this afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.6 Last Half: - 57.6 Margins: - Head, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - Ultimate Miki
Trial 7: - SMART AND MIGHTY NZ began quickly to find the lead, pulled hard in the run and finished off in slick final sectionals to win clearly. RUMPELSTILTSKIN settled three back on the inside, moved to the outside on the home turn and worked into second position. NAI HARN BAY trailed the leader and used the sprint lane. He finished in third with BLUE CANNON being fourth across the line after settling five back on the markers. CLEAR LEFT NZ was four back on the markers and became held up for a run over the concluding stages so he didn’t have the best of luck.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Last Half: - 56.9 Margins: - 8m, 1m
Trial 8: - ZAREM settled four back on the markers, was three back on the markers at the 500m and made his winning move with 300 remaining. He did well to defeat the pacers with ease. ROCKSTAR SAINT led out then took cover and finished in second position. BLAZING SHANNON raced without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead shortly afterwards and broke stride under pressure in the home straight. KIDWITHAGRIN came from last and worked into fourth position.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.2 Last Half: - 59.0 Margins: - 3m, 7m
Trial 11: - PAS GUARANTEE began quickly to find the lead, ran along at a rapid rate and was able to win the trial impressively. JACCKA CONNOR NZ trailed the leader throughout and finished in second position. LE BELLE BIJOUX settled three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 400m and battled on fairly well for third. She is returning from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night. JOHN MCLEAN NZ was last of the four runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.2 Last Half: - 55.6 Margins: - 4m, 2m
STAWELL 19/02/25
Trial 1: - BLACK OPAL JACK backed up his winning performance at the Maryborough trials several days earlier with a victory over the New Zealand bred pacer SHUDABOUGHTABOAT NZ. SHUDABOUGHTABOAT NZ is an unraced gelding by Raging Bull for trainer Denis McIntyre. He finished one metre behind the winner and finished narrowly ahead of THE DEVIL ROLLS ON.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.8 Last Half: - 61.5 Margins: - 1m, Neck
Trial 2: - DOUBLE HELIX hasn’t raced since a seventh at Kilmore in September. He has returned to trainer Phillip Giles after having a stint with Daryl Crone and was able to win the trial by a narrow margin. THE QUEEN OF TALK finished in second position and the leading pair were well ahead of the unraced entire ZAPPA.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.7 Last Half: - 60.4 Margins: - ½ head, 29m
