Back-to-back wins at the trials leaves Harness Racing Victoria form analyst Craig Rail liking the chances of Coniston at Mildura this morning.
Rail was pleased by the most recent Bendigo hit-out and feels the John Tormey-trained pacer will be “extremely hard to beat” when he races in the Sunraysia at 11.38am.
“He trailed the leader, came to the outside approaching the final corner, wanted to hang out a little on the home turn and finished off fast to win easily,” Rail wrote.
Coniston was joined as a new Blackbook entry by Resurrects, Velvetnlace and High Above.
TRIAL REPORT
BACCHUS MARSH 22/06/24
Trial 2: – MISTER HUNTER continues his good trial form on the way to his return to racing and was able to win his trial comfortably in reasonable time. He is returning from his long spell at Cranbourne on Sunday. COMPETE also backed up from the Bacchus Marsh trials two weeks earlier and finished in second position with the handy performer CAPTAIN MAASTRICHT, which hasn’t started since October, finishing in third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.8 Last Half: – 58.0 Margins: – 4m, 4m
Trial 3: – HEY GIGI is an unraced mare for trainer Craig Demmler, which is scheduled to make her debut at Ballarat this evening. She is by Shadow Play out of Drewsam, which won two races from limited opportunities and was able to win her trial by a comfortable margin. ELLI JOH hasn’t raced since August and finished in second with LAZENBY being in third position. LAZENBY will be competing in the same race as HEY GIGI at Ballarat this evening and ELLI JOH is racing at Terang on Monday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.7 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 4m, 8m
Trial 4: – ALL THAT REMAINS has remained undefeated in three starts for trainer Tyrone Abela and kept the momentum rolling by beating a handy field of trotters in the fourth event. He will be competing at Cranbourne on Sunday afternoon. OUR SAFARI SUN finished in second position and the two recent race winners ROCKY VALLEY and MORE WANTED finished third and fourth respectively. ROCKY VALLEY is scheduled to compete at Melton tomorrow night and MORE WANTED is engaged at Cranbourne on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – 2.9.1 Last Half: – 60.1 Margins: – 6m, 4m
Trial 6: – THESTATESMAN is a handy pacer, which hasn’t started since a second at Geelong in February. He dashed home in handy final sectionals to defeat ROCKNROLL GRONK with KHANS CREED being in third. KHANS CREED stepped out at Yarra Valley on Monday and sustained a long run from the 700m mark to win impressively so the form out of this trial appears to be strong. PRIORITISE was last of the four runners to cross the line. The winner THESTATESMAN returns from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night and ROCKNROLL GRONK will be competing at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.7 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 3m, 2m
COBRAM 23/06/24
Trial 1: – CHART TOPPER settled three back on the markers and came to the outside at the 600m mark. He hit the lead on the home turn and was able to hold off the late challenge of SANCHEZ without being fully extended. SANCHEZ performed very well in second. He settled last of the four runners and sprinted nicely from out three horses wide at the quarter pole. The early leader I LIKE WHAT I SEE finished third with the unraced juvenile filly SOAP AND BUBBLES (trailed leader) being last of the four runners across the line but wasn’t beaten by far. CHART TOPPER and SANCHEZ are both racing at Wagga this afternoon and I LIKE WHAT I SEE has drawn favourably at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.0 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – Nose, 6m
TERANG 23/06/24
Trial 1: – KEAYANG GUCCI has immense potential but her manners have let her down recently. She went back to the trials at Terang and produced another dominant performance, winning by a comfortable margin and under a vice like grip. She was last early, five back on the markers at the 1300m and made her move when leaving the back straight on the final occasion. She has gained a start at Melton tomorrow night and has the ability to run a big race if she delivers a fool proof display. JUDIELLE trailed the leader and used the sprint lane. She was doing her best work late for second and THE FIERY SUNSET was five back on the markers early then tried to follow forward behind KEAYANG GUCCI from the 500m mark. JUDIELLE will return from a spell at Terang on Monday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.2 Last Half: – 61.6 Margins: – 8m, 2m
Trial 2: – RESURRECTS hasn’t raced since December but produced a very good trial performance and considering his low National Rating of 48, he might be worth following. He settled three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 600m mark and was strong to the finish. KEAYANG SHADOWBOX settled four back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail behind the winner and finished off well for second. ONLINE MODEL began quickly to find the lead and battled on fairly well for third spot. All of the first three place getters will be competing at Terang on Monday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.0 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 2m, 3m
BLACKBOOKER: – Resurrects
MARYBOROUGH 23/06/24
Trial 1: – SUNDONS COURAGE took on the pacers and was able to win in style. He began quickly to lead, took cover at the 1700m and made a swift move from the 600m mark. He dashed home in slick final sectionals and won with ease. He has returned to his best form recently and is competing at Melton on Saturday night. EMJAYBEE settled four back on the inside, moved off the markers on the home turn and finished off well for second. VAPAR BRENDA was three back on the inside, trailed the leader from the 500m mark and was third across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.5 Last Half: – 57.5 Margins: – 10m, 6m
Trial 2: – AETOS DYNAMIS settled three back on the inside, moved away from the markers at the 500m mark and finished off stoutly to win with ease. ALFIE ALWAYS began quickly to find the lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and battled on fairly well for second. He backed up at Melton on Thursday night and ran a reasonable race for fifth. SEBASTIANS SECRET finished in third position after being three back on the markers throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.2 Last Half: – 60.6 Margins: – 4m, 8m
Trial 5: – COURAGES LAW emulated his father Sundon’s Courage by recording a runaway trial victory. He led throughout and recorded a handy final half of 59 seconds to win by a large margin. He is racing at Melton tomorrow night, where he is taking on a strong field but it is a great achievement to have father and son competing on the same program. JUST ABIT DUSTY finished in second after trailing the leader throughout and BET BET HOTSHOT was last of the three runners for the duration, making an error mid-race.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.0 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – 20m, 150m
BENDIGO 24/06/24
Trial 1: – SEBASTIANS WAITING settled three back on the markers, waited for the sprint lane and dashed through to win by a narrow margin. VELVETNLACE settled four back on the markers and finished off fast for an eye-catching second. Considering she has a very low National Rating of 35, she is worth following. SAN ANTONIA ROSE showed good gate speed to find the lead and was a clear leader early before being run down late. She has drawn on the pole position at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.9 Last Half: – 61.8 Margins: – Nose, 3m
BLACKBOOKER: – Velvetnlace
Trial 3: – NORMANS GIRL settled four back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 400m and came out three horses wide on the home turn. She finished off best to win from EARS THE BOSS, which trailed the leader and moved up without cover from the quarter pole. He finished second and is backing up at Cranbourne on Sunday night. HES LETHAL ran an eye-catching third after settling last of the five runners, angling onto the back of the winner and went to the line hard held without coming to the outside at any stage.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 3m, 2m
Trial 4: – CONISTON has remained undefeated at the trials and appears to be extremely hard to beat at Mildura this afternoon. He trailed the leader, came to the outside approaching the final corner, wanted to hang out a little on the home turn and finished off fast to win easily. OZZIE CORKA settled five back on the markers, moved up without cover and hit the lead before the home turn then was run down in the latter stages. EVILEYE began quickly to lead, pulled hard and was run down in the latter stages. PERFECT PEACH (3 back markers) was fourth and PERFECT PLAYGIRL (4 back markers) was fifth and both pacers will be taking on CONISTON at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – 3m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: – Coniston
Trial 6: – THE ANSWER trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers at the bell and came to the outside at the 500m mark before holding off a determined challenge from EPIC ERNIE to win in handy time. EPIC ERNIE led early before taking cover behind MANHATTAN SUNSHINE, which settled in fifth before making a move from the 1200m to find the front at the bell. CHEDALAYO was third after being five back on the inside at the bell and MANHATTAN SUNSHINE tired into fourth. MANHATTAN SUNSHINE will be competing at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.8 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – 2m, 30m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 25/06/24
Trial 1: – SWEETNIKKILOU raced without cover in the early stages, eased to be three back on the markers and angled to the outside approaching the home turn. She finished off best to win comfortably and posted handy time. CYCLONE BELLA NZ settled four back on the markers moved up without cover at the quarter pole and battled on strongly for second. HARRO HILL attempted to lead throughout and finished third with VILLAROCK (trailed leader) being fourth after being held up for a run at a vital stage.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.8 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – 4.5m, Short Half Head
Trial 2: – HIGH ABOVE produced a spectacular performance in winning the second event. He led throughout and was completely dominant in winning, dashing home in a sizzling final quarter of 27.11 seconds without being pushed! JAMES IN CHARGE finished second after trailing the leader throughout. ANOTHER NIEN was in trouble at the start and was trying to chase all of the way in brilliant time. He did well to finish as close as he did under the circumstances.
Mile Rate: – 1.55.8 Last Half: – 55.17 Margins: – 27.11
BLACKBOOKER: – High Above
Trial 3: – PETRACCA progressed forward in the early stages to find the lead and was untroubled in scoring. He dashed home in a brilliant final quarter of 26.86 seconds and looked very sharp in the run to the finish. LITTLE LOUIE led out then took cover and chased hard into second. He didn’t lose any ground in the straight so he delivered a good performance. CLASSIC MISSION NZ finished third after being three back on the markers and CAPTAIN BELLASARIO did well to pick up late ground in slick final sectionals. SAHARA BREEZE was last of the five runners throughout but it was a very strong trial.
Mile Rate: – 1.55.1 Last Half: – 55.20 Margins: – 4m, 3m
Trial 5: – APOLLOSTORM settled down last of the eight runners in a slowly run trial and made his move approaching the home turn. He did a fantastic job in slick final sectionals to power down the outside and get the prize. MISS ARI was five back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 700m mark and worked home well in the run to the finish. TENMINUTES finished in third position after settling four back on the markers and moving up without cover at the half mile marker. SANDSTING led out then took cover at the 1300m mark. He was checked by the galloping leader WICKED HANGOVER on the home turn and worked into fourth so he didn’t have the best of luck.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.8 Last Half: – 57.47 Margins: – 4.5m, 8.5m
Trial 6: – SOSO MAJESTIC raced without cover throughout and remained strong at the finish to win the trial nicely. AARDIES PEAK NZ was one out and one back for the majority of the trial, came to the outside on the home turn and tried hard in the straight but broke stride on the line. DESIGNER VICI settled three back on the inside, angled wide on the home turn and finished off solidly into third position. He backed up at Melton on Thursday night and was able to win nicely.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.2 Last Half: – 59.46 Margins: – 3m, head
Trial 8: – KYVALLEY MARIACHI showed very good gate speed to find the lead and rolled along at an even tempo. He was able to grip on and win the trial narrowly from RUBYS DREAM, which sat in the trail and came to the outside on the home turn. MIDNIGHT EAGLE came from six back on the markers and was doing his best work late for third. ALDEBARAN MARCUS finished fourth after being four back on the markers throughout and KYVALLEY MAVEN (5 back markers) finished in fifth. KYVALLEY MAVEN is making his racetrack return at Melton tomorrow night after being unplaced as favourite in the Breeders Crown back in November. He was never asked for an effort in the trial and followed the field around so his effort was inconclusive but at his best, he will be hard to beat at his first up performance. MIDNIGHT EAGLE will also be competing at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.8 Last Half: – 61.12 Margins: – Head, 11m
