Harness racing form guru Craig Rail identified several standout performers at the recent trials.

Jilliby Illusion caught Rail’s eye with a comfortable trial victory at Shepparton.

He also noted Crocodile Socks’ impressive performance when he raced past the talented Frugal Fare late.

Look Like Diamonds flashed home at her Melton trial and is one to follow.

SHEPPARTON 08/05/25

Trial 1: JILLIBY ILLUSION began quickly to lead, took cover at the 1300m and dashed along the sprint lane to win comfortably. It was a good performance leading up to her effort at Shepparton on Tuesday night. UNCLE TREV settled last of the seven runners, moved into the death seat at the 900m and gained cover in the back straight. He came out three horses wide on the home turn and ran a good race for second. FAR LEFT FLETCH began quickly to lead, took cover, ended up being three back on the markers at the 1300m and moved off the pegs with 300m remaining. He tried hard for third with LEGAL EAGLE being fourth after circling around from fourth on the markers to find the lead at the 1300m mark.

Mile Rate: - 2.5.4                           Last Half: - 57.7                        Margins: - 4m, Neck

BLACKBOOKER: - Jilliby Illusion

Trial 3: - ATUA MAGIC NZ began well and progressed forward to find the lead 200m after start. He travelled nicely in the run and was safely able to hold his rivals at bay. He backed up with a good victory at Shepparton on Tuesday night. WAYSAM led out then took cover and came to the outside at the 300m. He tried hard in the straight but couldn’t peg back ATUA MAGIC NZ. He competed in a heat of the Australian Gold series at Bendigo on Wednesday night but unfortunately galloped at the start. TOUCH OF REALITY was three back on the markers, moved through to trail the leader at the 300m and used the sprint lane. He held his own in the straight and finished in third.

Mile Rate: - 2.4.0                           Last Half: - 59.4                        Margins: - 4m, 2m

Trial 4: - CANTFINDABETTORMAN NZ settled last of the three runners before making a move at the 1100m mark. He quickly found the lead at the 900m and was able to remain in front down the straight to win narrowly albeit seemingly with something in hand. SERG BLANCO NZ led out then took cover and used the sprint lane. He finished off well in a slick quarter to go down narrowly. Both horses will be competing at Melton on Saturday night. WESTERN SONADOR trailed the leader early before ending up being three back on the markers and was the last horse across the line but wasn’t beaten by far.

Mile Rate: 2.1.7                              Last Half: - 56.8                        Margins: - Head, 8m

Trial 6: - CROCODILE SOCKS began quickly to find the lead then took cover behind FRUGAL FARE at the 1700m mark. He moved to the outside on the home turn and finished off quickly to snare victory on the line. FRUGAL FARE has been in very good form and is building up a good strike rate. He led for the majority of the journey and was beaten on the line. ON THE HUNT settled last of the five runners, gave the leaders a big start and made good ground in the last quarter to be the third horse across the line. ON THE HUNT is resuming from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night.

Mile: - 2.2.0                                     Last Half: - 57.4                        Margins: - ½ head, 20m

BLACKBOOKER: - Crocodile Socks

Trial 8: - MONAGHAN BOY delivered a very impressive display and looks to have a promising future. He began quickly to find the front, established a clear lead at the 1100m and sustained the run to win by a very big margin. LOCHINVAR CHARM settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 800m and worked into second spot. WIRILY MAURZ settled five back on the markers and worked into third position. She will be racing at Shepparton on Tuesday night.  

Mile Rate: - 2.2.8                           Last Half: - 58.3                        Margins: - 30m, 3m

Trial 9: - LOCKSLEY CAVALIER raced without cover early, progressed forward to find the lead at the 1700m, pulled hard and completely dominated his rivals, racing away for a big win. DHONI TROUBLE NZ led out then took cover and battled away over the latter stages. He is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. MAJESTIC MONARCH raced without cover for the majority of the trip so she endured a tough run in good time. FAITH FULL was three then four back on the markers and was making ground from the 600m mark but broke stride on the home turn. She backed up with a third placed effort at Bendigo on Wednesday night.  

Mile Rate: - 2.3.6                           Last Half: - 61.5                        Margins: - 30m, 20m

KILMORE 08/05/25

Trial 1: - RUGGARDS GEE TEE is a gelding by Always B Miki out Cracker Three, so he stems back to the maternal family that produced the champion pacer Christian Cullen. He was able to win the opening trial by a large margin over MAJOR EASTWOOD, which is a gelding by Sweet Lou for trainer Kylie Sugars and LITTLE SASSY BOY, a stablemate of the winner, was the third horse across the line.

Mile Rate: - 2.2.2                           Last Half: - 60.8                        Margins: - 20m, 8m

Trial 5: - JOHNS BOY NZ commenced his Australian career very well with three wins and a second in the Mount Gambier Cup at his first four attempts. He has been unplaced at his past two attempts but was able to gain some confidence with a trial victory. He backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night and was able to return to winning form. KYVALLEY MICHAEL NZ was racing at a high level at the end of his last campaign with a second in the Need for Speed Prince Final, a ninth in the Victoria Derby and an eighth in the Breeders Crown Final. He finished second at his comeback trial and CARLA PIXIE NZ was last of the three runners across the line. CARLA PIXIE is resuming at Cranbourne on Sunday.  

Mile Rate: - 2.9.2                           Last Half: - 59.4                        Margins: - 2m, head

Trial 8: - KYVALLEY JETSTREAM NZ is a nicely bred trotter, which hasn’t raced since winning his maiden back in January but he is resuming tonight at Geelong. He won the last trial by a comfortable margin over KYVALLEY JOYRIDE NZ, which hasn’t started since December with KYVALLEY JOKER being a further thirty metres away in third position.

Mile Rate: - 2.5.5                           Last Half: - 60.8                        Margins: - 15m, 30m

BACCHUS MARSH 10/05/25

Trial 1: - YANKEE RAIN is a race winning filly by Yankee Rockstar for trainer Tim McGuigan. She was taking on mostly juvenile pacers in the opening trial but she recorded handy time and scored by a comfortable margin. She is returning from a break at Geelong this evening. THE PRIVATE DEAL is a filly by Sweet Lou out of Courageous Katee (1.57.8, $86,450) and is the first foal. She finished in second position with BRIGHTLY BLAZE being a further two lengths away in third position.

Mile Rate: - 2.2.6                           Last Half: - 58.8                        Margins: - 15m, 6m

Trial 2: - IMA TERMINATOR was able to win at Kilmore two starts ago and recorded fast time in his trial success, where he scored by a comfortable margin. He is backing up at Geelong this evening. WATCH IT HAPPEN has been racing at Metropolitan level and finished in second position with CARRAMAR OLAM, which hasn’t been to the races since January, being last of the three runners to the line.

Mile Rate: - 1.59.9                         Last Half: - 57.9                        Margins: - 5m,5m

Trial 4: - MAXO MIGHTY remains undefeated in two starts and kept the momentum rolling with a comfortable trial victory over older and more experienced horses. MADEMOIZELLE finished in second and she was well clear of CAPTAINS DREAM, which hasn’t started since February. MADEMOIZELLE is resuming from a spell at Geelong this evening.  

Mile Rate: - 2.4.5                           Last Half: - 58.6                        Margins: - 8m, 25m

Trial 5: - FIRE MARSHALL was unplaced in the Nutrien Classic at his latest attempt. He performed extremely well in the trial considering he recorded a mile rate of 1.58.2 and a last half of 57.0, which is a very good run at Bacchus Marsh. KHANS CREED wasn’t beaten by far in second position but performed below expectations at Bendigo on Wednesday night. RAKAROMPA NZ hasn’t started since winning at Maryborough in December and was the third horse across the line.

Mile Rate: - 1.58.2                         Last Half: - 57.0                        Margins: - 2m, 3m

Trial 6: - ROCKY VALLEY has been placed at his past two attempts and kept the momentum rolling with a runaway trial victory in handy time. He is working back to his best form and is competing at Geelong this evening. He defeated DISTANT SUN, which hasn’t started since winning the South Australian Trotting Derby back in December with SILENT REVERIE being the third horse across the line. SILENT REVERIE backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night and finished unplaced behind Ringer Wells.

Mile Rate: - 2.2.5                           Last Half: - 58.5                        Margins: - 20m, 4m

MARYBOROUGH 11/05/25

Trial 1: - MECARNO trailed the leader, moved to the outside at the 500m mark and finished off fast to win by a large margin. He was a runaway winner at Maryborough at his last race track appearance and he appears to have a promising future. He is the first emergency for the New South Wales Derby on Saturday night. ZESTA LA GO GO settled last of the four runners, waited for the sprint lane and finished off okay for second. CASTLES IN THE SKY was third across the line after setting the speed throughout.

Mile Rate: - 2.2.4                           Last Half: - 58.6                        Margins: - Unavailable

Trial 4: - ISTANBUL is an unraced colt by Majestic Son out of Scorching Along (2.0.9, $46,600) and is the first foal of the mare. He was slow to begin and was a clear last early then ended up being a distant second when the early leader PIQUE galloped on the first turn. He chased hard in the final quarter and did very well to get up and win on the line. FAR AS POSSIBLE led and was run down on the line. PIQUE couldn’t recover after making an early error and was last of the three runners across the line.

Mile Rate: - 2.7.8                           Last Half: - 64.1                        Margins: - Nose, 50m

MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 13/05/25

Trial 1: - I SEA RED is an unraced juvenile for trainer Geoff Webster that is unbeaten in two trial efforts. He is raced by the Ballarat & District Trotting Club Syndicate and appears to have a promising future. He settled three back on the inside, waited for the sprint lane and finished fast to get the prize. SEE YOU THERE attempted to lead throughout and was beaten by a narrow margin. SWEET IRISH LOCH was third across the line after trailing the leader and coming to the outside with 500m remaining.

Mile Rate: - 1.57.8                         Last Half: - 57.4                        Margins: - ½ neck, 6m

Trial 4: - ELUSIVE began brilliantly to find the lead and recorded a sizzling final half of 55.0 seconds. She was very impressive and won by a clear margin. SOHO DARKNSTORMY is a former New South Wales trained pacer, which joins trainer Andy Gath. He trailed the leader throughout and held his ground to finish in second position. LOOK LIKE DIAMONDS settled four back on the markers, used the sprint lane and finished off fast for an eye-catching third. She is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night and should prove hard to beat. STRAPPING RED was three back on the markers throughout and was the fourth horse across the line.

Mile Rate: - 1.58.5                         Last Half: - 55.0                        Margins: - 5.5m, head

BLACKBOOKER: - Look Like Diamonds

Trial 6: - MEGA SPUR trailed the leader and used the sprint lane. She finished off quickly and was able to win by a clear margin. She is backing up at Melton tomorrow night. ALRIGHTY finished in second position after trying to lead throughout and QUAKE PROOF was third after settling three back on the markers. RUBYS DREAM was last of the four runners for to the duration.

Mile Rate: - 2.0.6                           Last Half: - 59.3                        Margins: - 3.5m, 3m

ARARAT 14/05/25

Trial 1: - RUFF NUT broke stride and finished a game second at Swan Hill at his latest attempt. He was able to win the trial comfortably and recorded handy time. Trainer Aaron Dunn produced the Quinella with ONE GOLDEN DEAL finishing in second position, just over three lengths from the winner. ONE GOLDEN DEAL broke stride at her debut performance and has shown some ability at the trials. ROYAL ROCKSTAR is an unraced colt by Yankee Rockstar out of the handy mare Muckinbar Lady (1.57.2, $57,725), which has already produced the good winners Crossroader (1.58.5), Muckinbar Diva (1.55.1) and Swizzlestick (1.55.6). He was the third horse across the line.

Mile Rate: - 2.2.3                           Last Half: - 58.7                        Margins: - 9.5m, 3m

Trial 2: - The locally trained BLACKRANGE GLORY has been in great form having won six of his past ten starts. He kept the momentum rolling with a runaway trial win in handy time. ALDEBARAN BREE was last of the two runners across the line.

Mile Rate: - 2.0.9                           Last Half: - 57.8                        Margin: - 80m