Horsham trainer Aaron Dunn is only running a small team at present, but certainly has the quality in his ranks with Group 1-winning star Bondi Lockdown a serious pin-up horse.
And Craig Rail is expecting some good things from stablemate Hot Deal, who looks ready to impress when he returns to racing this campaign.
Rail was excited by the three-year-old’s recent hit-out at Hamilton and made him one of three new Blackbook entries.
Others to be included were Emma Stewart-trained Star Celebrity and Dennis Paton’s unraced trotter Larr Dees Son.
TRIAL REPORT
HAMILTON 17/06/22
Trial 1: - MYWATERLOU is a gelding by Sweet Lou out of Sokin Wet, making him a close relation to Itmademyday (1.56.9, $127,068). He was able to defeat the trotter Tictok, which stepped out onto the track at Charlton three days later and finished an eye-catching second.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.3 Last Half: - 59.6 Margins: - Neck, 2.5m
Trial 2: - HOT DEAL hasn’t started since finishing third in the New South Wales Derby in March. He defeated the open class pacer Emain Macha and considering he has a National Rating of 54, is worth following.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.0 Last Half: - 56.9 Margins: - 3.5m, Neck
BLACKBOOKER: - Hot Deal
MILDURA 19/06/22
Trial 1: - OUR MASTER PLAY is a juvenile colt by Shadow Play out of Mini Bonus making him a close relation to five winners including the recent Mildura winner Sarah Bonus (1.55.5, $18,900). He led throughout for an easy victory in reasonable time over COTTON CANDY MAN so he obviously has ability.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.1 Last Half: - 61.3 Margins: - 20m, 50m
Trial 3: - HESASTAR was hitting the line strongly before galloping on the line at his Mildura debut last week. He settled down last of the three runners and moved up without cover to win easily over LORNE BEACH. He is drawn on the pole position this afternoon and if he maintains his composure at the start, will be very hard to beat.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.3 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - 15m, 35m
COBRAM 19/06/22
Trial 2: - BUNDLE OF NOTES was heavily supported when resuming at Wagga but galloped at the start, settled down last and never appeared to be comfortable thereafter. He was able to back up at the Cobram trials with a victory over DEL PORT, where he led, was overtaken by that runner and found the front again at the 700m when DEL PORT made an error. He might be able to run a handy race at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.8 Last Half: - 59.0 Margins: - Neck, 25m
BENDIGO 19/06/22
Trial 2: - BOXOFCHOCOLATES prepared for her first up performance tonight at Bendigo with a win over TWO SOCK CREEK and SIXTY. She is known as a front runner but has been driven with cover during her trial campaign and left the pegs from four back on the markers in the last lap to claim the prize. TWO SOCK CREEK finished second after setting the speed and he is also making an appearance at Bendigo this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Last Half: - No sectionals due to fog Margins: - 3m, 2m
Trial 5: - KHAKI NUI was clearly the class runner of the trial considering his National Rating of 92 and went on to an expected victory after being four back on the markers then in the one out and one back trail from the bell. WHATA OPTIMIST was a game run in second after racing without cover. The former Queensland pacer was only beaten by a head margin and must be given a chance when making his Victorian debut at Shepparton on Tuesday.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.0 Last Half: - Unavailable Margins: - Head, 1m
Trial 6: - HILLSIDE has shown a lot of ability and is a winning chance at Shepparton on Tuesday night, despite his wide draw. He settled down in last position, moved away from the inside in the backstraight and emerged out of the fog in the lead. It was an explosive display in reasonable time. The second placed trotter LARR DEES SON also put in a tidy performance. He is a juvenile trotter by Bacardi Lindy and is the second foal out of the former handy race mare in Sheza Amason (1.59.5, $56,163). He settled three back on the inside and made ground late.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 60.1 Margins: - 3m, 16m
BLACKBOOKER: - Lar Dees Son
TABCORP PARK, MELTON 20/06/22
Trial 1: - WHOS THE MAN led throughout from the standing start and defeated MONARCH STRIDE, which sat in the trail throughout. Both horses went to the line under a hard hold and should perform well in the next few days. WHOS THE MAN is at Bendigo this evening and might be a very good value hope. MONARCH STRIDE will return from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.7 Last Half: - 59.06 Margins: - 4m, 7m
Trial 6: - STAR CELEBRITY raced without cover throughout but powered away from her rivals under a vice like grip. She has only started twice previously, the latest effort being an unplaced run in a heat of the Home Grown Classic in October so she is worth following. GENERAL LINCOLN showed very good gate speed to lead and held down second with WELLSAIDMYLADY (3 back markers) doing her best work at the end for third. She will make her debut at Cranbourne on Sunday
Mile Rate: - 1.59.8 Last Half: - 58.4 Margins: - 16.5m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Star Celebrity
Trial 7: - The open class trial was won by HONOLUA BAY, which led and finished off in sizzling final sectionals (54.57, 26.59). LADIES IN RED came from last of the four runners, used the sprint lane and finished hard for an eye-catching second. SOHO TRIBECA trailed the leader and never peeled to the outside at any stage. He finished ahead of MAAJIDA, which settled three back on the inside.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.4 Last Half: - 54.57 Margins: - 2.5m, 1.5m
Trial 8: - MYTIME was resuming since October when she led and was comfortably run down ($1-50 favourite) at Ararat. She is a much better horse than that effort suggests and she came from last on the home turn in a slick final quarter of 28.3 seconds to impressively win her trial over the early leader FIVE STAR SHARK. She has a National Rating of 47 so she should be in a very suitable race the next time she steps out onto the track.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.3 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - 2m, 6m
Trial 9: - BEYOND DELIGHT led out then took cover behind his stable mate JOANNA before making his winning move at the 400m. He finished off in slick final sectionals with JOANNA fighting on well for second and MIRAKURU came from four back on the inside to finish in third.
Mile Rate: - 1.56.6 Last Half: - 55.54 Margins: - 2m, 10m
GEELONG 20/06/22
Trial 1: ALDEBARAN TESS is a quality mare but has had a few gait issues recently. She settled down last of the three runners, pulled hard then came to the outside at the 700m mark. She dashed clear over the latter stages and scored under a strong hold so she didn’t have to be placed under any pressure at any point of the trial. She defeated the stable mates MADENA BAY (trailed leader) and MADENA SKY (leader).
Mile Rate: - 2.2.6 Last Half: - 58.30 Margins: - 8m, 6m
Trial 2: - The juvenile trial was taken out by FREMARKSJAYJAY, which settled down last of the four runners, moved to the outside at the 700m and finished off strongly. She is a filly by Downbytheseaside and is the first live foal out of the fast mare Fremarks Ceejay (1.54.9, $48,373). She defeated her stable mates FREMARKS HUGO (trailed leader, sprint lane) and JAWSOFSELWOOD (leader).
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - 8m, 6m
KILMORE 21/06/22
Trial 2: - The classy mare LEER came from five back on the markers at the 500m to win comfortably. She was clearly the class runner of the field on the National Ratings scale but she jogged to victory in a good display. IMA TERMINATOR is an unraced 3yo pacer for trainer Rita Burnett, which gave a good sight in the lead. He is by Somebeachsomewhere out of Amarillen, making him a close relation to eight winners including Villagem (1.52.1, $626,585), Miss Graceland (1.54.0, $244,658) and Nostra Beach (1.53.5, $266,190).
Mile Rate: - 2.9.2 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 4.5m, 1.5m
