Harness Racing form guru Craig Rail noticed several standout performers at the recent trials.
KILMORE 02/07/26
Trial 1: – KENNYS SON has been racing in great form from the mobile start having been placed at his last eight attempts. He switched to the standing start for his trial performance and was successful over his stable mate PROHIBITED BID NZ in a field of just two runners. He is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. PROHIBITED BID NZ hasn’t raced since a reasonable South Australian campaign in January and has returned to trainer Brent Lilley. He is also backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday.
Mile Rate: – 2.9.6 Last Half: – 63.8
Trial 2: – CRACKERSATMIDNIGHT did a lot wrong at the Bendigo trials on the Monday night but backed up four days later with a victory at the Kilmore trials. He defeated DONTTELLNANNA, which is an unraced filly by Always B Miki out of Minaj (2.0.1) for trainer Paul Weidenbach. Minaj has produced the exciting juvenile Boystrous, which won on debut and recorded slick time at the Bendigo trials last week. ARRIVAL TIME is by American Ideal out of the handy race mare Arivee (1.59.3, $83,953), which has produced seven winners including Eye Like Candy (1.55.8, $48,542) and Riveered (1.53.4, $82,904). He was last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.4 Last Half: – 62.0
Trial 3: – KYVALLEY REEVA has broken stride in each of her three runs to date but she did recover to finish in third at Kilmore on June 04. She won the trial over ALWAYS SKYE HIGH, which has been racing in great form with several recent race track victories to her credit. JUST ME AND YOU broke stride in the home straight at his latest race track appearance and was stood down to trial. He was last of the three runners to complete the course. Both KYVALLEY REEVA and ALWAYS SKYE HIGH made errors in their effort mid-week but JUST ME AND YOU was able to score at Kilmore on Wednesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.3 Last Half: – 61.9
Trial 4: – CAPITAL AVENUE is an unraced mare by Captain Crunch for trainer Rebecca Bartley. She was able to take out the final trial from ALDARON, which was backing up quickly from his Shepparton trial fourth seven days earlier. VINNIES HOPE was the third horse across the line and finished ahead of JET TO HEAVEN and the former Sunraysia pacer UNETHICAL was last of the five runners across the line. The winner CAPITAL AVENUE and the third placed VINNIES HOPE are both racing at Shepparton on Tuesday night while JET TO HEAVEN is competing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.4 Last Half: – 61.2
KYABRAM 05/07/26
Trial 1: – PLEASURE TO HAVE is an unraced juvenile by Elite Stride out of Shez Well Mannered and is the first foal. The second dam Sheza Comment has produced six winners including the handy performers Lord Lohki (1.56.3, $92,275), Millys Magic (2.1.2, $143,694) and Sheza Pleasure (1.56.3, $149,078). He was the winner of the trial over OUR DUPLICATE, which is an unraced son of Vincent and the nine times winning trotter MONTANA MUSCLE finished in third. EYESEETHEDIVA, an unraced filly by Art Major was last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.14.6 Last Half: – Unavailable
MARYBOROUGH 05/07/26
Trial 1: SAVON DE ROCHE was without cover early before restraining to be four back on the markers. She angled out three horses wide on the home turn and was able to get home best to record a strong victory. She is competing at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. RACKEMUP TIGERPIE began quickly to find the lead, kicked clear on the home turn and was run down in the final 50m. He is resuming from a long spell at Melton this evening. EXOTIC CHESTER finished in third after trailing the leader and using the sprint lane. He is also competing at Melton tonight. MAHEO was three back on the inside and moved into the death seat at the 400m mark. He was the last one across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.1 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – 1m, 5m (approximately)
Trial 3: – THE SPARKLER began quickly to find the lead, backed off the tempo mid-race and was able to win softly with something to spare. STARTIN TO REIGN finished in second position after trailing the leader and coming to the outside at the 600m mark. She is a juvenile filly by King of Swing NZ out of Tirunesh NZ (2.2.1), which has produced two winners in Imperial Snapper (1.57.3, $47,492) and Shesterkin (1.58.7). VAPAR FRANKIE settled three back on the markers, broke stride and lost 20m at the 500m then couldn’t recover. He was last of the three runners across the line. He is by Rock N Roll Heaven out of Vapar Grin (1.54.3, $65,315) and is the second foal.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.8 Last Half: – 62.2 Margins: – 5m, 30m
Race 5: – BANIA began quickly to lead, took cover at the 1100m and used the sprint lane. He was able to drive through along the passing lane with good acceleration to win nicely. He is a juvenile by Soho Lanikai out of Shaka Moment (1.57.2, $25,739) and is the first foal. MAGELLAN began well and appeared to be the likely leader but hung out on the first turn and ended up sitting in the trail. He wanted to over-race in the middle stages and circled around to find the lead at the 1100m. He battled on reasonably well for second with MOODY MOCCA being in third position after settling four back on the markers and coming to the outside at the 600m mark. Both MAGELLAN and MOODY MOCCA are competing at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.3 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – 6m, 8m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 07/07/26
Trial 2: – WOTDIDUSAAAY began quickly and was able to find the lead shortly after the start. He took cover at the 1700m and remained in the trail before charging to the front at the 600m. He sustained the run to win nicely. GOODTIME LIBBY settled last of the six runners and picked up good ground in the final quarter to finish in second. GIVE DAVE A WAVE settled four back on the markers, came out three horses wide at the 500m mark and worked into third position. He is racing at Melton tomorrow night. HITTHEROADJACK NZ settled five back on the markers and finished in fourth ahead of MISS ADDI (3 back markers) and the early leader MIKIS PLEASURE was the last horse across the line. Both HITTHEROADJACK NZ and MIKIS PLEASURE are competing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.2 Last Half: – 58.2 Margins: – 5.5m, nose
Trial 4: – SKY FLAIR began sharply and was able to lead early. She took cover at the 1600m then sprinted sharply from the 300m mark and was able to win comfortably in the run to the judge. CALL ME JACK settled last of the four runners, moved away from the markers on the home turn and finished off soundly for second. FRITSCH settled three back on the markers and finished in third ahead of AHUNDREDPLUS, which trailed the leader early before moving to the front at the 1600m.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.2 Last Half: – 59.4 Margins: – 6.75m, 7.5m
Trial 5: – SMOKEN ACE NZ began quickly and was able to find the lead shortly after the start. He ran along at a solid tempo and finished off in a sizzling final quarter of 26.8 seconds to get the prize. He is travelling up to Sydney to compete in the Vic Frost FFA at Menangle on Saturday night. GHOST OF TIME led out, took cover and waited until the final 50m to commence his run. He flashed home late and was only beaten by a head margin so it was an eye-catching trial performance. TWISTING BY NZ settled last of the four runners, came to the outside at the 300m and worked past IMA TERMINATOR (3 back markers).
Mile Rate: – 1.56.3 Last Half: – 54.9 Margins: – Head, 13.5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Ghost of Time
Trial 6: – BLAZIN BY gained a one out and one back trail, came to the outside on the home turn and finished off best to get the prize. GIVE FRED A CLAP began sharply and found the lead shortly after the start. He battled on okay but couldn’t repel the challenge of BLAZIN BY in the home straight. He is competing at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. KITZBUHEL DELIGHT pushed forward at the start to race without cover and kept on kicking over the concluding stages to finish in third. CYCLONE JENNI settled sixth on the outside (1-2) and was doing her best work at the end to fill fourth spot. GOODTIME MACH dropped out to be last of the eight runners and was finishing off fast for a handy fifth.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 57.0 Margins: – 2.5m, 1.75m
BLACKBOOKER: – Goodtime Mach
Trial 7: – VIVID DREAM NZ began very quickly to find the lead, ran along at an even tempo and finished off in a slick final quarter of 28.2 seconds to win untouched. That performance backed up his very handy trial effort a week earlier so he has returned from a break in good form. SMOKEN HEAVEN settled four back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 500m and worked into second place. DIAMOND CHIPP came from last of the six runners to pick up third so sectionally his run was very good. LET’S DANCE GIRL settled five back on the markers, came out three horses wide from the 300m and finished in fourth spot.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.2 Last Half: – 58.0 Margins: – 12.25m, 2.5m
