Craig Rail has spied two horses from the one Shepparton trial that he thinks are worth following in the coming weeks and months.
Steve Turnbull-trained Life In Pink won the hit-out on Tuesday ahead of third-placed Macs A Dude from the Laura Crossland stable, and Rail placed both in his Blackbook this week.
Also making the file was the lowly-rated Lester, from the Lindsay Rogers barn, and Huey Trevor, who has recently joined Ross Graham’s team.
Rail’s recap of last week’s trial circuit is below, with his updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
SHEPPARTON 29/09/22
Trial 1: - SWEET MILA JEAN NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which was placed at her first two attempts across the Tasman before joining trainer Colin Godden. She led out then took cover behind the trotter SHEZA PLEASURE at the 1700m before sprinting home best to win. She backed up with a victory at her Australian debut on Thursday night. SHEZA PLEASURE battled on strongly for second and DABYMINGA finished third after racing on the outside of the leader throughout. DABYMINGA backed up at Shepparton on Thursday night with a solid second so the form out of the opening trial is strong.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 57.6 Margins: - 1m, 2m
Trial 2: - LETSROCKLETSROLL took out the open class trial after he pushed forward to find the lead at 1700m and took cover shortly afterwards. He sprinted quickly to defeat WESTERN SONADOR, which led out, took cover then circled around to find the lead again. REPELLING settled five back on the inside and ran home strongly late through the middle for third with ALLSHOOKUP coming from last of the eight runners to pick up fourth. The first two pacers across the line will be competing on the Victoria Cup program at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.3 Last Half: - 56.5 Margins: - 3m, 1m
MARYBOROUGH 02/10/22
Trial 1: - COMMON COURTESY was able to lead throughout and scored over FINAL PEACE in the open class event. It was her second trial win recently and she resumes from a break at Ballarat this evening. FINAL PEACE settled last of the four runners, continued to use inside runs and finished off well for second in preparation for her effort at Warragul on Monday with DREAM ASSET being third after trailing the leader throughout. DREAM ASSET followed with a fourth at Maryborough on Thursday afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.4 Last Half: - 56.5 Margins: - 4m, ½ head
Trial 4: - LESTER trailed the leader, moved into the death seat at the 300m and sprinted quickly in the final quarter to win nicely. He has a very low National Rating of 30 so he is eligible for suitable races in the near future. ISABELLA PRINCESS came from three back on the markers to finish second and HOWS THE SERENITY came from four back on the inside to be in third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.5 Last Half: - 59.5 Margins: - 6m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - Lester
CRANBOURNE 02/10/22
Trial 2: - HARRYS A ROCKSTAR began quickly to find the lead, set up a reasonable tempo and was able to hold off his rivals to score in the trial for the juvenile pacers. MY UNCLE STAN settled three back on the markers, used the sprint lane and finished off solidly for a close second. He is backing up at Warragul on Monday afternoon. HAVEYOUMETTED finished a close up third after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.4 Last Half: - 59.2 Margins: - ½ head, 1.5m
BENDIGO 03/10/22
Trial 3: - TEETREETOMMY recorded a narrow victory but scored decisively. He settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the bell and got up to win on the line without being fully extended. JAY BEE FLEX finished second after setting the speed and the outstanding juvenile trotter THE LOCOMOTIVE was third after settling last of the five runners and coming out three horses wide from the 300m. JAY BEE FLEX is backing up at Bendigo on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.4 Last Half: - 59.4 Margins: - Head, 1m
Trial 5: - It was a slow trial with the winner DONA AMALIA leading throughout in a mile rate of 2.13.1 but the second placed FRANKYTHEFRENCHMAN produced a very good effort. He broke stride at the start and was tailed off early but chased hard to tack on and was getting home better than any of his rivals at the end.
Mile Rate: - 2.13.1 Last Half: - 64.6 Margins: - Short ½ head, Neck
Trial 7: - SAHARA TIGER won the trial for the open class pacers after he led out, took a trail and stormed through via the sprint lane to win nicely. He is competing at Ballarat this evening. BOY FROM BONDI finished second after pushing forward for find the lead at the 1400m and LEIGHA MILLER moved into the death seat at the bell to finish in third.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Last Half: - 57.2 Margins: - 4m, 4m
Trial 8: - THAT LUVIN FEELIN settled last of the seven runners, found the one out and one back trail at the bell and finished off well to win by a narrow margin. HUEY TREVOR put in an eye-catching effort to finish second after settling in fifth position and moving into the running lane (1-2) at the bell. He hit the line strongly and considering he has a low National Rating of 45, he might be able to pick up a race at short notice.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.7 Last Half: - 60.4 Margins: - Head, Head
BLACKBOOKER: - Huey Trevor
TABCORP PARK, MELTON
Trial 1: - ROGUE GENTLEMAN recently joined trainer Chris Lang and produced an impressive performance to win the opening trial. He was five back on the markers, without cover from the 600m and was forced out three horses wide from the quarter pole before pouncing upon the lead and winning untouched. He will make his debut for the new stable at Warragul on Monday. The juvenile trotter MIPERSONALJET produced a good performance to finish second and is a winning chance at Bendigo on Tuesday night. He led out then took a trail and worked home well via the sprint lane.
Mile Rate: - 2.11.4 Last Half: - 60.4 Margins: - 7m, Short ½ head
Trial 2: - ITS BACK IN THE DAY NZ hasn’t raced since failing to finish in the Redcliffe Cup back in June. He started off the handicap of 40m, settled last of the three runners and moved into the death seat at the 700m. He powered to the lead past his two trotting rivals and jogged to victory. CHUCHULAINN NZ finished second after setting the speed and MEGEVE was the last one to cross the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.8 Last Half: - 57.80 Margins: - 5m, 3.5m
Trial 4: - ALDEBARAN MILEY settled down last of the five runners, moved into the one out and one back trail and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He finished off strongly to win untouched from MAORI FRANKLIN, which settled three back on the inside, moved into the death at the 500m and boxed on well. MAORI FRANKLIN is backing up at Bendigo on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.3 Last Half: - 61.91 Margins: - 5m, 1.5m
Trial 7: - MAKE WAY NZ was without cover early, restrained to fourth on the markers then made a move from the 1500m to dash to the lead. He was able to finish off in a slick final 400m of 26.94 seconds and kicked on strongly to gain the prize. SEBS CHOICE commenced off the second line and settled last of the five runners. He raced keenly and moved into the death seat at the 700m mark. He battled on well for second with LA CAPTAIN being in third after leading out then taking cover. CHEROKEE JOE didn’t have much luck as he had no clear run over the concluding stages. SEBS CHOICE makes his return at Melton tomorrow evening.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Last Half: - 56.40 Margins: - 2.5m, ½ head
Trial 10: - ALBY TWO CHAINS settled three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 1500m and ran to the lead shortly afterwards. He raced keenly and established a big winning margin at the end, going to the line under a vice like grip. He is competing against a strong field at Metropolitan level at Melton tomorrow night but he should give a forward showing. NORMS LADY prepared for her first up effort at Bendigo on Tuesday with a second placed effort, after settling three back on the markers and moving to the outside at the 400m. MOMENTSLIKETHESE settled last of the four runners and picked up late ground to finish in third position.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.0 Last Half: - 59.53 Margins: - 31m, Head
SHEPPARTON 04/10/22
Trial 2: - SERG BLANCO NZ hasn’t raced since a second in the Winter Championship in July but he was very impressive in defeating REPELLING at his trial performance. He settled four back on the markers and moved into the death seat at the 400m, running away at the finish. REPELLING trailed the leader before moving into the lead with 1400m remaining. He performed nicely in both of his Shepparton trials during the week and looks to be set for a handy campaign. THEROCKGOD was five back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 400m and was doing his best work at the end to finish in third position. NIGHT SCHOOL finished solidly after settling in seventh position and ended up being fourth past the post.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.3 Last Half: - 56.9 Margins: - 4m, 2m
Trial 4: - LIFE IN PINK performed extremely well at both of her trials for the week and was able to lead throughout in handy time. She has a low National Rating of 49 so she might be worth following. BIG BAD OSSIE was four back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 700m and battled on strongly for a close second. MACS A DUDE is an unraced gelding for trainer Laura Crossland and showed plenty of promise. He settled five back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail then made ground out wide late for an eye-catching third.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.9 Last Half: - 57.9 Margins: - Head, Neck
BLACKBOOKERS: - Life In Pink + Macs A Dude
STAWELL 05/10/22
Trial 1: - ROCKINTHECITY hasn’t raced since July and was able to take out the opening trial from the unraced juvenile CURYO GENTLEMAN with JILLIBY JIVE finishing in third position. ROCKINTHECITY has joined trainer Matthew Horsnell after formerly being with Darren Cole.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.5 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - 2m, Neck
Trial 2: - MY MIKIMOTO is an unraced mare for trainer Kelly Stuart Mitchell. She won a trial at Terang a week earlier and is out of the handy mare Wattabout A Smile (1.57.8, $64,678), making her a close relation to Rocknroll Opal so she obviously has some potential. She comfortably defeated VIVID with DANCEFORME being in third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.4 Last Half: - 59.9 Margins: - 4m, 1.5m
