A miss-step at the start only served to set up Sir Eros for an eye-catching trial run that has landed him in the Blackbook.
Danny O'Brien's trotter has won two of his eight starts but not raced since an eighth at Menangle on May 3.
He produced a notable run in the 12th trial at Bendigo on Monday, when he bounced back from an early break, eviscerated a sizable gap and went on to win.
His replay is below, along with this week's other two Blackbook additions, Fides and New Yorker.
Scroll to the bottom of the page for the update Trial File Blackbook. Here are this week's highlights.
TERANG 27/10/22
Trial 1: - KEAYANG KINGSTON is an unraced 3yo pacer, which trailed the leader and came to the outside with 300m remaining. He kicked on strongly in the middle and scored by a narrow margin. OORAH produced another very good performance to sprint quickly from last and finish in second position. The early leader KEAYANG ARIZONA finished in third spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.8 Last Mile: - 59.6 Margins: - Head, 6m
Trial 3: - JILLIBY TOPGUN is a promising maiden, which has been placed in all of his three starts to date and finished second on Redwood Day after galloping away. He trailed the leader, broke stride at the bell then chased hard to win nicely. BLITZEMCHUBB is an unraced colt for trainer Peter Manning, which led and finished second. As the name suggests, he is closely related to last season’s champion juvenile Plymouth Chubb (1.56.6, $262,170). The dam Pocket Fantasy has produced six winners overall including Edge Hill (1.55.6, $110,161), My Sky Pocket (1.59.4, $132,768), Garston Girl (1.57.3, $65,570), Zephiane (1.57.1, $45,855) and Dublin Chubb (1.59.8, $78,050). The third placed JILLIBY JETPACK (3 back markers, behind leader at bell) and the last placed CLAUDYS SECRET (Made an early error) also boast very good breeding.
Mile Rate: - 2.12.4 Last Half: - 63.4 Margins: - 1m, 8m
Trial 4: - FIDES hasn’t raced since winning at Terang in April 2020. He settled down in last position and sprinted brilliantly to record a last half of 56.2 seconds in scoring by 30m so he is obviously somewhere near his peak form. BETTERTHAN POPSY finished second after trailing the leader and coming to the outside at the 500m with the early leader NOTNEGOTIABLE being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.2 Last Half: - 56.2 Margins: - 30m, 20m
BLACKBOOKER: - Fides
SHEPPARTON 27/10/22
Trial 1: - The Homegrown Classic winner SCHOOL CAPTAIN took on older and more experienced rivals but showed he is still at his peak with another slashing display. He scored by a narrow margin but it was a soft win after trailing the leader and coming to the outside on the home turn. He is competing in a heat of the Breeders Crown at Maryborough on Sunday and should make his presence felt. NEW YORKER hasn’t raced since putting in two nice performances back in August. He settled three back on the inside, used the sprint lane and finished strongly for second. ICONIC MAJOR was third after setting the speed and NOMORELYING finished last of the four runners but was sneaking along the sprint lane and wasn’t beaten by far.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.2 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - Head, Neck
BLACKBOOKER: - New Yorker
Trial 2: - KENLEY prepared for his debut performance at Yarra Valley on Thursday with a convincing win over GUARANTEED SWEETIE. GUARANTEED SWEETIE set the speed with KENLEY trailing but KENLEY was able to produce a powerful finishing burst at the end. He showed that the classy trial performance was no fluke by winning nicely at his debut effort.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.3 Last half: - 58.1 Margins: - 8m, 20m
Trial 4: - The unraced juvenile filly IVANA BYTHESEASIDE is showing some promise at the trials and was able to defeat older horses after dominating from the front. She won easily from MARLEE JO, which moved off the markers from third at the 500m, with BINNO MAJOR being in third after trailing the leader throughout. IVANA BYTHESEASIDE makes her debut at Maryborough on Sunday, where she will take on a top field in a heat of the Breeders Crown.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.9 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 8m, 14m
Trial 5: - MARENGO BAY is a smart trotter that hasn’t started since galloping away at Melton in April. He had a win and two seconds at his first three runs for the season and he is a talented trotter so it was no surprise to see him win his trial comfortably. He scored by twelve metres after settling three back on the inside and moving away from the markers at the 300m. PESCO POLLO finished second after trailing the leader with WILLDOMXAV being the third horse across the line after setting the speed. WILLDOMXAV will compete at Cobram on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Last Half: - 60.6 Margins: - 12m, 10m
MILDURA 27/10/22
Trial 3: - WILSHIRE BOULEVARD began well and progressed forward to find the lead at the 1400m. He ran along at a genuine tempo and recorded a slick mile rate of 1.57.8 on his way to a runaway success. He is favourably drawn at Mildura on Tuesday and is capable of improving on his numerical form. The second placed CEMETERY BAY ran a very good race for second after he settled last of the four runners, gave the leader a big start and chased hard from the 700m. He resumes at Mildura on Tuesday and should go well. TELL A TALL STORY was third after leading out then taking cover. He took on strong opposition in the trial and should be competitive against his own class at his Victorian return on Tuesday.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.8 Last Half: - 57.3 Margins: - 15m, 40m
BACCHUS MARSH 29/10/22
Trial 1: - SEQUENCE finished fourth in the Maori Legend and galloped away in the Tatlow Stakes so he has been racing against strong opposition. He was able to win the opening trial from the nicely bred gelding MCGEE. MCGEE is by Centurion ATM out of Pepperell Magic making him a close relation to four winners including Havana Magic (2.1.5, $83,726) and All Cashed Up (1.58.7, $126,440). The Ken Tippet trained trotter IM BLINDSIDED finished in third spot and will make his debut at Maryborough on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.10.3 Last Half: - 61.8 Margins: - 8m, 1m
Trial 2: - GOODTIME LIBBY hasn’t raced since finishing eighth in the Australian Pacing Gold Final in April. She was placed in a heat of that series at Menangle prior so she is a handy maiden. She recorded reasonable time in defeating CAPTAIN BLOOD, which is an unraced gelding out of Celebrity Lass, which makes him a close relation to three winners, all in sub two minutes including Celebrity Chef (1.58.2, $63,005).
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Last Half: - 61.0 Margins: - 3m, 1m
Trial 4: - SEBS CHOICE was able to build some confidence leading up to his performance in the Yarra Valley Cup on Thursday. He raced fiercely after being aggressively driven early in the Yarra Valley Cup so he had excuses. He was able to defeat his stable mate ITS BACK IN THE DAY NZ, which continues to perform well at the trials and returns from a break at Melton on Saturday. DELWYNS SON finished a distant third with RADIUS being last of the four runners across the line. DELWYNS SON is racing at Metropolitan level at Melton Saturday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.4 Last Half: - 55.1 Margins: - 4m, 25m
Trial 8: - MAJESTICAL BELLE won the standing start trial for the trotters. She hasn’t started since May but she is a quality mare that boasts a career best mile rate of 1.56.8. She commenced from the handicap of 30m and defeated SAMMY SHOWDOWN, which started off the same mark. SAMMY SHOWDOWN hasn’t started since finishing third at Menangle back in March 2021. Prior to heading to New South Wales, he finished third in the Super Series Final behind Always Ready and Brandlo Prince with Just Believe being fourth and Nephew of Sonoko fifth so he is a quality horse when he is at his peak. MAJESTICAL BELLE will resume from a break at Melton on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.9 Last Half: - 61.0 Margins: - 4m, 5m
BENDIGO 31/10/22
Trial 2: - LOUIE LOU I put in an eye-catching effort from off the speed a week earlier and continued to build momentum with an all of the way victory in reasonable time. He has ability but is competing against a very strong field in a heat of the Breeders Crown at Maryborough on Sunday. IVANA BYTHESEASIDE backed up from her trial victory at Shepparton four days earlier with a fine second after sitting four back on the markers and finishing strongly late. GOOD DAY finished third after trailing the leader throughout and LIZZIES LEGACY NZ (6 back markers) was doing her best work at the end to run in fourth. LIZZIES LEGACY NZ will resume from a break in strong heat of the Breeders Crown on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.7 Last Half: - 58.4 Margins: - 3m, 2m
Trial 4: - PARADISE VALLEY was very impressive in defeating GUARANTEED SWEETIE and OTIS RISING. She settled down three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 800m mark and sprinted brilliantly at the end to score over GUARANTEED SWEETIE, which set the pace. PARADISE VALLEY is ideally drawn but is taking on strong opposition in a heat of the Breeders Crown on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.1 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 20m, 5m
Trial 6: - RULES DON’T APPLY won a heat of the Great Southern Star earlier in the season then contested the Grand Prix. He hasn’t started since August but was able to defeat the pacers comfortably. He settled three back on the inside, moved to the death seat at the 500m and proved too strong for WHATA OPTIMIST, which attempted to lead throughout. ALL SAINTS BEACH finished third after trailing the leader and will back up against a suitable field at Mildura on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.6 Last Half: - 59.7 Margins: - 10m, 6m
Trial 8: - WARRANTEE settled three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 600m then sprinted quickly to dash to the front at the 400m. He was able to sustain the run to win the trial nicely. BARACK ENOBRAC trailed the leader, came to the outside after WARRANTEE rushed past then chased hard to run a game second. The pair finished well clear of the early leader IAMBECAUSEOFYOU. BARACK ENOBRAC backed up at Yarra Valley on Thursday and ran into a distant second behind the smart New South Wales trained pacer Blazing Banner.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.1 Last Half: - 60.6 Margins: - 2m, 50m
Trial 9: - STEVIE GEE hadn’t raced since finishing second in the Nutrien Trot Final (Group 1) at Menangle in August prior to the trial. He began quickly to find the lead and completely dominated his rivals to win by twenty metres. He backed up at Yarra Valley on Thursday afternoon, broke stride at the start and ran an enormous race against older horses to be fourth past the post. YOUR KIDDING finished second after being in the trail throughout and THAT’S YOUR OPINION was third after being three back on the inside. IZARRA is a filly by the French stallion Used To Me out of the New Zealand bred mare Amarula, which won the South Australian Derby and finished third in the Victoria Derby. She may have run last of the four runners in the trial but she showed a lot of ability. She began fast to lead, broke stride 50m after the start, chased hard to tack on and was making ground on the home turn before galloping again. She is obviously still learning but appears to have a promising future.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.7 Last Half: - 59.9 Margins: - 20m, 20m
Trial 10: - OUR MARVELLA NZ is an unraced New Zealand bred trotter, which is prepared by trainer Brent Lilley. She led throughout to defeat ROMANTIC NINA, which trailed the leader and battled on well in the straight without being fully extended. SHES RUBY ROO settled three back on the markers, came to the outside at the 300m mark and tried hard in the straight to finish third. ROMANTIC NINA makes her debut at Maryborough on Sunday.
Mile Rate: 2.5.0 Last Half: - 61.4 Margins: - 6m, 2m
Trial 12: - SIR EROS produced a stylish display to win the final trial and might be worth following. He broke at the start, lost approximately forty metres, chased hard to tack on then came to the outside with 800m remaining. He sprinted quickly to dash to the front and sustained the run to score by a large margin. POSH KYVALLEY finished second after trailing the early leader TAIMATE SASS NZ.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.5 Last Half: - 62.9 Margins: - 20m, 10m
BLACKBOOKER: - Sir Eros
