Harness Racing form guru Craig Rail noticed several standout performers at the recent trials.
At Cranbourne, former New Zealand pacer Arden Seascape is one to follow after a sharp victory.
At Geelong, Fantasy Flight sustained a strong run to win clearly.
CRANBOURNE 19/07/26
Trial 1: – ARDEN SEASCAPE NZ settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside on the home turn and finished off fast for a good victory. He is a former New Zealand pacer, which is now prepared by Dean Braun and has ability so he might be worth following. CHARLIE SEBASTIAN is an unraced 4yo by Sportswriter, which finished in second after trailing the leader and coming to the outside at the 300m mark. CARAPAZ found the lead and raced keenly during the middle stages. He peaked late and finished a distant third with PEE BEE (5 back markers) being the fourth horse home.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.4 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 3m, 25m (approximately)
BLACKBOOKER: – ARDEN SEASCAPE NZ
KYABRAM 19/07/26
Trial 1: – ALDEBARAN MARCUS endured a tough run at his first attempt for trainer Carmel Belot and finished in seventh. He backed up with a trial success at Kyabram over TUMULT, which has had two trials since coming from New South Wales. MONTANA MUSCLE was the class runner of the trial being a nine times winner and she finished in third position. EDEN MARIA is an unraced filly for trainer Mick McMahon and she finished in fourth ahead of OVER HERE and TAKEN BY WINE was the last runner across the line.
Mile Rate: 2.6.9 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – Unavailable
MARYBOROUGH 19/07/26 (The Maryborough trials were conducted in thick fog and the visibility was low)
Trial 2: – PLAINS IN HEAVEN began sharply and was able to find the lead shortly after the start. He was still in front once the field came back into view and was able to hold off his rivals in the run to the judge. MAXBECA was three back on the markers, moved through to trail the leader mid-race and battled on well for second. ROMAN SCRITTORE trailed the leader early, moved away from the inside at some stage in the first lap and battled on fairly well for third. ARTIST settled last of the four runners, moved into the one out and one back trail at the bell and finished last of the four runners.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 2m, 10m (approximately)
Trial 3: – TARAS GRACE is an unraced filly by Tiger Tara out of Grace Anatomy, the unraced dam of seven winners including the four $100,000+ earners in Sutter Man (1.56.7), La Safron (1.56.8), Our Amazing Grace (1.57.4) and Gracie Cullen (1.55.6). She was able to lead throughout and held on to win over the latter stages. PHILS BOY did well after settling last of the four runners in the early stages to run into second position. TEECEE NARELLE trailed the leader and finished in a distant third. VALLA CHEVAL (3 back markers) was last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – Unavailable Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – Head, 15m (approximately)
Trial 4: – HALLEBESOFINE continued her good trial form with a handy victory. She trailed the leader in the early stages and extended nicely late to claim victory by approximately a length. I DREAM OF MILLIE began well enough from a wide draw to find the lead and was run down late but beat the others by a convincing margin. She is backing up at Melton on Saturday night. PIPALICIOUS was in fourth position shortly after the start and worked into third spot at the end. She is competing at Melton this evening. EMILY MEAGAN settled three back on the markers and was the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 3m, 8m (approximately)
GEELONG 20/07/26
Trial 1: – ATA RANGI began quickly and was able to lead shortly after the start. He backed off the speed mid-race and was able to sprint home in a sizzling final quarter of 27.1 seconds to win the opening event. DEMON BLUE NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which commenced his Australian career in Queensland then went to New South Wales. He is now with trainer Carson Millar and did well to pick up ground in the fast final quarter to be beaten by a narrow margin. He was three back on the markers, moved through to trail the leader at the 500m and used the sprint lane. GOODTIME LIBBY trailed the leader, came to the outside approaching the quarter pole and was last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 56.1 Margins: – Head, 5m (approximately)
Trial 3: – FANTASY FLIGHT delivered an impressive display after settling last of the four runners and sprinting quickly from the 700m to hit the front at the 500m. He sustained the run and was able to win clearly. BAYSTYLE trailed the leader and was held up for a run at a vital stage before using the sprint lane. She finished off nicely for second and is competing at Melton this evening. The early leader ZAV DAN was headed before leaving the backstraight and finished in third with LET’S DANCE GIRL (3 back markers) being last of the four runners to complete the course.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.4 Last Half: – 56.9 Margins: – 5m, 12m (approximately)
BLACKBOOKER: – Fantasy Flight
Trial 4 – RINGER WELLS raced without cover early, dropped in behind the leader and waited for the sprint lane. He finished off best to win by a comfortable margin and is backing up at Melton tomorrow night. DISTANT SUN trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and moved up without cover at the 600m. He finished in second with the early leader SHES SKY HIGH being last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.7 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – 4m, 6m (approximately)
Trial 5: – GOODTIME MACH began quickly to find the lead shortly after the start and rolled along at a genuine tempo. He skipped well clear at the quarter pole and sustained his power at the end to win by a large margin. ROBLEN DEMON began quickly and ended up being behind the leader. He couldn’t go with GOODTIME MACH at the end but he was able to beat the others by a reasonable margin. CANYADANCE settled last of the four runners and was able to run into third over the latter stages ahead of DELTA STARZ (3 back markers).
Mile Rate: – 1.58.9 Last Half: – 58.1 Margins: – 20m, 18m (approximately)
MILDURA 20/07/26
Trial 1: – CARLISLE CRUISER was clearly the class runner of the trial and was able to get the job done. He progressed forward to find the lead and was untroubled at the end. CAULONIA BELLA sat in the trail throughout and finished in second position with the trotter ATEGO ROBBO being tailed off throughout after galloping at the start.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.7 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 3m, distanced (approximately)
Trial 2: – ULTIMATE ADVICE won the final trial of just two runners. She led comfortably, raced very greenly throughout and wanted to hang out at various stages of the event but was never in any danger of defeat. MUSSEL WHITE was slow to move and was never hard on the back of ULTIMATE ADVICE throughout. She finished about five lengths behind.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.8 Last Half: Unavailable Margin: – 15m
STAWELL 20/07/26
Trial 1: – KING KASEY hasn’t raced since a tenth at Melton in May but he is a smart horse when racing at his peak with four victories to his credit. He was the class runner of the trial and was able to win in fast time. MAGGIEJAYNE is a former New South Wales pacer, which has joined trainer Aaron Dunn. She finished ahead of her stable mate SHORE BET, which is a juvenile colt by Downbytheseaside out of One Golden Day NZ (1.58.0, $62,500) that has produced Noworriesmozz (2.0.5) and One Golden Deal (1.54.7).
Mile Rate: – 1.57.6 Last Half: – 58.2 Margins: – Unavailable
KILMORE 21/07/26
Trial 1: – ROSE ALL DAY hasn’t raced since breaking stride and losing her chance at Maryborough in May. She was able to win the trial from SNOWIN, an Andy Gath trained juvenile filly by Bold Eagle out of Aldebaran Shakira, whose first foal Aldebaran Sue (2.0.0) has shown a lot of promise. DELTA GEE is an unraced mare by Creatine for trainer Kari Males and finished in third position. DUNDEA and UNCLE BILL NZ finished in fourth and fifth respectively.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.1 Last Half: – 63.3 Margins: – Unavailable
Trial 2: – GATSBY won a trial at Shepparton, struck trouble when on debut at Kilmore then followed with another trial victory. He was able to defeat COBARGO WARLOCK, which hasn’t started since a distant twelfth at Maryborough back in December 2024. DONTTELLNANNA has had three trials recently and finished in third position ahead of ARRIVAL TIME. ARRIVAL TIME will be making her debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.3 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 3m, Head
Trial 4: – ZEALYN was placed twice in succession prior to breaking at the start and losing his chance at his latest attempt. He was able to secure a trial victory over BETTER THAN DAICOS, which has only had the one start at Albury back in May. ZEALYN is racing at Swan Hill this afternoon and will be making his local debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. JET TO HEAVEN has been unplaced in both of his starts since resuming. He was able to finish a close up third with NEED ME SOME SUGAR being last of the quartet across the line. JET TO HEAVEN is backing up at Swan Hill this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.8 Last Half: – 60.4 Margins: – Head, 5.25m
Trial 5: – OX KNOX hasn’t raced since a fifth at Bendigo in May. He commenced his new campaign with a trial victory over PASS THE SALT, which hasn’t started since a sixth in the Homegrown Classic at the end of last season. KYVALLEY MISTY dropped out at her latest race track appearance but performed better in her trial third and she finished well clear of LADY LIL and KYVALLEY RIDER NZ.
Mile Rate: – 2.8.1 Last Half: – 61.6 Margins: – Head, 5.25m
