Multiple Group 1 winner Harry Stamper appears ready to rock and roll ahead of his upcoming return to the races.
The Joe Pace-trained trotter prepared for his first-up start with an eye-catching second placing at the Melton trials on Tuesday.
“Harry Stamper produced an enormous run to finish second,” wrote HRV form analyst Craig Rail in this week’s trial report.
“He stepped away okay but galloped shortly afterwards and lost approximately 60m. He chased hard, tacked on at the 1200m and was finishing just as well as Hatchback in the straight.”
Harry Stamper was promptly added to Rail’s Blackbook alongside Kate Hargreaves-trained Ludacrous and Triple Vinnies, who is prepared by Geoff Walker.
TRIAL REPORT
SHEPPARTON 06/04/23
Trial 1: – MONGIANA raced without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead and won untouched in the run to the finish. HY LEINVINCBLE settled down last of the four runners, moved into the one out and one back trail and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He finished off solidly for second with REPELLING being third across the line after settling three back on the markers.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.8 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 4m, head
Trial 4: – The open class trotter LOCKSLEY LOVER couldn’t have been more impressive with his runaway success. He was three back on the markers early and was last of the four from the 1200m before coming to the outside at the 400m. He was under a hard hold all of the way and was still racing very fiercely at the end, winning by twenty metres. IMA DESTROYER trailed the leader BAD AS NOW early before easing and allowing PARTY TIME to angle into the trail at the 1200m. He came to the outside on the home turn and finished off well. PARTY TIME did extremely well to finish as close as he did, considering how hard he was pulling in the early stages.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.5 Last Half: – 61.0 Margins: – 20m, 10m
Trial 6: – BART BENTLEY was one out and one back early, moved into the death seat at the 1700m and worked to the front at the 1400m. He appeared strong at the finish and continued his good trial form. He made his debut at Shepparton on Thursday night and ran a good race for third. TIFFS LITTLE SISTER NZ was three horses wide early, pushed forward to find the front and took cover behind BART BENTLEY. She went back to the sprint lane in the straight and tried hard over the concluding stages. IZZ ROSA led out then was shuffled to three back on the markers mid-race. She came to the outside at the 600m and boxed on well in the run to the finish.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.6 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 1m, 5m
BACCHUS MARSH 08/04/23
Trial 1: – ARZALI prepared for his debut effort at Bendigo tonight with a victory in the opening event. He is out of the former handy mare Veruckte Phoenix and was able to defeat WONKY with STAROFTHEWIND being close up in third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.9.7 Last Half: – 62.8 Margins: – 1m, 4m
Trial 3: – MIAMI ROCKS is a lightly raced filly for trainer Sebastian Steenhuis, which hasn’t started since galloping away at Maryborough in January. She was able to win her trial by a large margin over IDEAL SON with MIDNITE DESIRE being another big distance away in third position. MIAMI ROCKS should run a good race first up at Ararat on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.7 Last Half: – 61.2 Margins: – 15m, 25m
Trial 4: – SEBS CHOICE prepared for his first up performance at Melton tomorrow night with a slashing performance. He took on much easier opposition but he won by a large margin and produced a very slick final 800m of 56.1 seconds. COULDN’T RECOMMEND finished in second position and was two lengths ahead of EXCLUSIVE MARIA.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.3 Last Half: – 56.1 Margins: – 50m, 6m
SHEPPARTON 11/04/23
Trial 1: – BEE GEE CEE showed brilliant gate speed to get across to the markers and was a clear leader in the early stages. He was able to sprint home in a slick last half of 56.2 seconds and won nicely. It was a good hit-out for his performance in the Country Clubs Championship Final at Melton tomorrow night. MAX DELIGHT settled down last of the six runners, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He finished quickly for an eye-catching second and makes his return in the inaugural running of the Tiger Tara Free For All at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.2 Last Half: – 56.2 Margins: – 2m, 4m
Trial 5: – LETTUCE TROT began very quickly to find the lead, took cover at the 1300m and moved away from the inside on the home turn. He accelerated nicely in the straight and won well. SPEEDY LOVER was in the one out and one back trail early before pushing around the field to find the front at the 1300m. He fought on well for second and beat the remainder of the field by a large margin. WELL DEFINED NZ finished third after being five back on the markers and moving away from the inside at the 300m.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.5 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 2m, 12m
Trial 7: – LUDACROUS dropped back to be last of the five runners in the early stages, moved into the one out and one back trail with 600m remaining and came out three horses wide at the 400m. She sprinted sharply and quickly put the issue beyond doubt, racing away to win by thirty metres. BE DAZZLED trailed the leader, ended up being three back on the inside from the 1600m, was held up for a run at a vital stage and finished off nicely for second. BENATAR led out, took a trail behind JARRAD SAID and worked into third position late.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.0 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 30m, 20m
BLACKBOOKER: – Ludacrous
MELTON 11/04/23
Trial 1: – HATCHBACK stepped away well from the standing start and trailed the leader. He came to the outside at the 300m and finished off well to get the prize. HARRY STAMPER NZ produced an enormous run to finish second. He stepped away okay but galloped shortly afterwards and lost approximately 60m. He chased hard, tacked on at the 1200m and was finishing just as well as HATCHBACK in the straight. The early leader BACARDI SPIRIT was last of the three runners to cross the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.3 Last Half: – 57.93 Margins: – 4m, 26m
BLACKBOOKER: – Harry Stamper NZ
Trial 3: – EUREKA JO was caught out three horses wide early, moved up without cover and found the lead at the 1300m mark. She was able to hold off her rivals in the run to the judge to win with something in hand. She makes her debut at Melton on Monday afternoon in a heat of the Gold Bullion and looks to be a good chance. PRIORITISE began quickly to lead, took cover and came to the outside on the home turn. He picked up ground on EUREKA JO in the straight and went down by a narrow margin. He is also competing in a heat of the Gold Bullion at Melton on Monday. TRIPLE VINNIES produced a very nice effort in third. He was caught wide early, restrained to be four back on the markers and was doing his best work late in fast final sectionals. This trial appears to be a good form reference for future weeks.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 57.96 Margins: – ½ Neck, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: – Triple Vinnies
Trial 5: – WAR DAN BUDDY is still learning but has a lot of ability. He wanted to hang out at the start and was headed off by HOLDEM OR FOLDEM before working around to find the lead at the 1800m mark. He copped some pressure mid-race but was nicely clear as the judge called a halt albeit hanging out again at the finish. He is racing in a heat of the Gold Bullion at Melton on Monday afternoon. HURRIKANE FRANCO gained a nice trail through from the second line to be three back on the markers, made a bid for the lead in the back straight on the first occasion then angled in for a trail. He stuck to his guns in the home straight to finish a clear second. OPTIMAL (five back markers) was finishing off strongly out wide late and claimed third ahead of GAMER (7 back markers) and ROCKAWAY BEACH (6 back markers), which sprinted quickly up to a clear third on the home turn before peaking late.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.6 Last Half: – 56.61 Margins: – 9.5m, 31m
Trial 8: – AMANDINE began fast to find the lead and enjoyed the perfect trip but was still impressive at the end considering she went to the line with plenty in reserve and beat some very handy performers. TRIUMPH STRIDE NZ finished second after trailing the leader but was never allowed to stride at any stage. ELECTROJET was three back on the markers and came to the outside at the quarter pole. She finished third with the outstanding filly ROCKINWITHATTITUDE being last of the four runners throughout but she never peeled to the outside at any stage and went to the line hard held.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.2 Last Half: – 58.90 Margins: – 11.5m, 2m
Trial 10: – YANKEE GOLD NZ settled four back on the inside, moved away from the markers at the 300m and switched back to the inner on the home turn. He finished off quickly to win in good time. ARGGGHHH began fast to lead and raced keenly, setting up a good margin on his rivals early. He fought on strongly for second with the former New Zealander WINEGUM being third after trailing the leader and coming to the outside on the home turn. WINEGUM makes her Australian debut at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.0 Last Half: – 56.71 Margins: – ½ head, ½ neck
Trial 11: – MISTER HUNTER settled five back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the bell and ran home well to win easily. HES OLLY NZ began quickly to lead and battled on well for second with LEAVE YOUR HAT ON being third after being without cover for the final 1400m. MISTER HUNTER appears to be very hard to beat at Cranbourne on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.0 Last Half: – 57.30 Margins: – 7.5m, 2m
