Quick returns are afoot for Trial File followers with a huge week of Blackbookers ready to build on their preparation form.
New Blackbook addition Im Field Major, who's joined Tim McGuigan's camp, impressed at his Bacchus Marsh trial and will immediately look to turn that into stakes returns with an Australian debut at Melton next Wednesday.
Before then fellow Blackbookers will be prominent in two states, with Corravally Star, Dessie Gee and Ideal Escape all set to race at Melton tonight, new Blackbook addition Phoenix Red to step out at Menangle tomorrow night and Follow The Ace, Marianna Bromac and Nakula all set to run at Maryborough on Monday.
Here are this week's highlights from the Victorian trials circuit, including key replays and Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
SHEPPARTON 07/12/23
Trial 1: - SOPHIES SCOOTER performed extremely well at her Shepparton trial victory and backed up at Melton on Wednesday with a fast finishing second in a heat of the Home Grown Classic. In the trial, she settled down four back on the markers, angled wide on the home turn and finished off fast to claim victory. THIS PUNTER ROCKS showed plenty of promise in two trials at Shepparton during the week and is worth following. He trailed the leader early, was shuffled back on the markers mid-race and angled out very wide on the home turn before finishing off strongly. Considering SOPHIES SCOOTER performed soundly in feature grade at Melton, THIS PUNTER ROCKS is warrants consideration when he makes his debut. LETS DIG IT (1-2, 1-1 bell) was third in the trial and ALIZA HILL was fourth after working hard early and finding the back of the leader at the 1200m.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.7 Last Half: - 62.0 Margins: - Neck, Neck
Trial 2: - MIDNIGHT AVENGER is now being prepared by Mark Gledhill and prepared for her effort at Charlton this afternoon with an easy victory over BALMORAL KISS after leading throughout. She hasn’t started since a seventh at Geelong in May.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.5 Last Half: - 61.0 Margin: - 30m
Trial 3: - KINGS GUARD settled in a rearward position (1-3) and sprinted quickly out four horses wide from the 300m to beat the pacers easily. He is a very smart trotter when he is able to put it altogether and appeared to be very sharp in his trial success. FOUR STAR SAINT finished in second place after racing without cover throughout and OUR CHRISTIANO (1-2) made a move from the 300m mark to pick up third. OUR CHRISTIANO backed up at Shepparton on Thursday night but finished unplaced in the race won by Epic Orion.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.2 Last Half: - 60.4 Margins: - 15m, 5m
BACCHUS MARSH 09/12/23
Trial 3: - FREMARKSTILLY has been racing well and kept the momentum rolling with a trial victory. She won by a comfortable margin and should have gained plenty of confidence leading up to her performance at Melton this evening. INMYDREAMS finished in second position and was nicely clear of KAPAI NZ. KAPAI NZ is backing up at Terang on Sunday night and appears to be a chance despite an awkward draw.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.3 Last Half: - 60.3 Margins: - 6m, 4m
Trial 5: - IM FIELD MAJOR NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which has joined trainer Tim McGuigan. He had three starts at Addington over the Winter months and hasn’t raced since but he recorded handy time and scored by a good margin so he is worth following. LIVELY RASCAL is an unraced gelding by Village Jolt out of the former handy mare Lively Princess (1.57.0, $31,860). He finished second ahead of LITTLE ART.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.9 Last Half: - 59.1 Margins: - 12m, 6m
BLACKBOOKER: - Im Field Major NZ
MARYBOROUGH 10/12/23
Trial 2: - SAHARA TIGER prepared for his effort at Melton this evening with a victory in fast time. He settled five back on the markers before unleashing a powerful finishing burst to take out the trial nicely. VANQUISHED NZ finished in second and he boasts very interesting form. He won a race in New Zealand prior to heading to Western Australia, where he won another 11 races. He has recently joined trainer Shane Sanderson and did well in his trial after settling four back on the markers, particularly considering he hasn’t started since July 2017! RUMBLE STRIDE NZ pushed forward to find the lead at the 1600m and finished in third. He backed up with a very impressive victory at Melton on Wednesday night so the form out of this trial appears to be sound. AMORE ROCK led out then took cover and finished in fourth. He had his chance but it was a very good field and he might run a handy race first up at Geelong on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.9 Last Half: - 56.8 Margins: - 8m, 10m
Trial 4: - MCARDOM prepared for his effort at Charlton this afternoon with a victory over ERNIELOVENBOY. He was three back on the markers and waited until the 300m mark before finishing off best to claim the prize. ERNIELOVENBOY attempted to lead throughout and copped some pressure in the back straight on the final occasion. SUMMERHILL left the back of the leader to apply the pressure from the 700m and wasn’t too far away in third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.0 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 4m, 3m
MELTON 11/12/23
Trial 2: - LETSGETROWDY began quickly to find the lead and dashed home in slick final sectionals to win the trial comfortably. ATA RANGI settled three back on the markers and moved to the outside with 300m remaining. He worked into second with ICE QUEEN being in third position after trailing the leader for the majority of the journey. Trainer David Miles prepared two rising two years olds in the trial, which were LEIAH JOLIE and NORMANS GIRL. LEIAH JOLIE is by Art Major out of Dee Jay Jolie (1.55.3, $36,925). She has produced the two winners Jang Pel (1.58.2) and Izzy Jolie (1.55.9). NORMANS GIRL is by Bling It On out of Miss Nickels (1.56.6, $73,292), which has produced one winner in Mister Bluechip (1.55.0). They were fourth and fifth respectively in the trial throughout the duration.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.1 Last Half: - 57.40 Margins: - 11.5m, 3.5m
Trial 5: - HOT TO TROT NZ broke stride at the start at Melton on Saturday night and went back to the trials. He did everything right and was able to lead throughout to win the event from MAJESTICAL BELLE, which settled last of the five runners before sprinting quickly down the back straight and sustaining the run over the final stages. BALTICA NZ showed good gate speed and ended up being behind the leader. She was third across the line and finished just ahead of TIPSY TURVY (3 back pegs). MAJESTICAL BELLE is backing up tonight at Melton and is taking on a strong field.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.4 Last Half: - 58.41 Margins: - 3m, 8.5m
Trial 6: - WHERES SEGGY began quickly to find the front at the 1800m mark and was able to dominate the trial thereafter. He finished off in slick final sectionals to defeat FYNN FROST NZ, which settled four back on the markers and moved up without cover from the 500m. ARGGGHHH settled last of the seven runners, ran up through the middle on the home turn and switched to the inner in the home straight. He worked home nicely for third and will be backing up at Melton this evening. JAMES IN CHARGE settled in fifth position and was wide in the final 300m. He did well for fourth, particularly considering his National Rating is 57 and the first three pacers across the line have much higher ratings (81,78,87).
Mile Rate: - 1.59.8 Last Half: - 56.15 Margins: - 8m, Neck
Race 7: - ALABAMA DELTA is scheduled to make her debut at Geelong on Tuesday night in the Joe Abela Memorial Classic. She trailed the leader, came to the outside and hit the lead with 300m remaining. Once in front, she appeared to race greenly and switch off but she was able to get the job done, winning by a narrow margin. She is still learning and should continue to improve with experience. HEZA GUN was three back on the markers and sprinted quickly along the passing lane with MAJESTIC MOMENT coming from four back on the markers to pick up third placing.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.8 Last Half: - 62.17 Margins: - ½ head, 10m
HORSHAM 11/12/23
Trial 1: - DAISY BOUCHEA was stood down to trial after galloping at her latest attempt and was able to re-qualify with a winning trial performance over ALDEBARAN ANTON. After the trial success, she is backing up at Charlton this afternoon while ALDEBARAN ANTON will be competing at Terang on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.6 Last Half: - 61.2 Margins: - 10m, 4m
BENDIGO 11/12/23 (The results for the Bendigo trials have not been uploaded onto the harness website so the results listed in this report are unofficial and are as broadcast on the night).
Trial 3: - GOODTIME CRACKER trailed the leader and waited for the home turn before coming to the outside to commence his winning run. He sprinted sharply in the straight and drew well clear in the run to the finish to win by a good margin. NAYOMI came from three back on the markers to finish second ahead of SPECULATOR (4 back markers) with the early leader MIRAMANEE being last of the four runners to finish.
Mile Rate: - Unavailable Last Half: - Unavailable Margins: - 20m, 3m (approximately)
Trial 5: - MAJOR MANBAR trailed the leader in the early stages but was racing fiercely and moved around the early leader BARWEN STORM to find the front running role with 1500m remaining. He dominated the field thereafter and won comfortably. EDWARDE GRANGE settled three back on the markers and finished off well to snare second place and EASTBRO JESSE produced an eye-catching performance to run home strongly from last and pick up third.
Mile Rate: - Unavailable Last Half: - Unavailable Margins: - 6m, 10m (approximately)
SHEPPARTON 12/12/23
Trial 1: - SERG BLANCO NZ has been in fantastic form with victories in the Swan Hill and Yarra Valley Cups recently. He was able to keep the momentum rolling with a last to first trial victory. He commenced his winning run from the 500m mark and was able to record slick final sectionals. NOMORELYING finished in second after trying to lead throughout and REPELLING came from three back on the markers to pick up third place.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.1 Last Half: - 55.7 Margins: - 7m, 20m
Trial 3: - THIS PUNTER ROCKS backed up his strong trial second five days earlier with a stylish display. He settled three back on the inside, came out three horses wide on the home turn and broke stride momentarily before regathering momentum and charging to victory, seemingly with something in reserve. HYDEEHO NZ finished second after trailing the leader and coming to the outside on the home turn. ASONICKISS was third past the post after setting the speed.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.2 Last Half: - 59.0 Margins: - Head, 1m
BLACKBOOKER: - This Punter Rocks
Trial 4: - KICKER ROCK has performed extremely well in several Shepparton trial performances. He won on debut then performed below expectations when seventh at his next attempt but he bounced back at the trials with a runaway success. He was without cover early before applying pressure and finding the top at the 1700m. He then ran away from his rivals to win by 20m. INSIDE LEG settled six back on the markers and finished in second with BARNY BILL coming from four back on the markers at the 600m to be third across the line.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.7 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - 20m, 3m
BALLARAT 12/12/23
Trial 1: - PHOENIX RED was very impressive when winning at his debut then did things wrong at his next four attempts, the latest being in a heat of the Arizona Blue series at Menangle. He did everything right in the trial and defeated the older and more mature trotters comfortably after making a move from three back on the markers at the 500m mark. SCAR finished in second after settling four back on the markers and following forward behind PHOENIX RED. ALWAYS SKYE HIGH was third after setting the speed.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 60.4 Margins: - 6m, 8m
BLACKBOOKER: - Phoenix Red
Trial 2: - SOHO HONEY RIDER led out then took cover behind UNIQUELY IDEAL before gaining an inside run and accelerating beautifully to win by a comfortable margin. Her latest race track appearance yielded a fourth in the Breeders Crown so she is a talented filly and should continue to perform well. UNIQUELY IDEAL was without cover early, broke stride momentarily at the 1700m before working forward to find the lead at the 1400m. She raced very greenly but was able to hold down second at the end with BLUE MIKI being last of the three runners for the majority of the trial.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.8 Last Half: - 57.2 Margins: - 10m, 1m
Trial 3: - YAHOO NZ hasn’t raced since being unplaced at Swan Hill in August but he couldn’t have been more impressive in his victory over KEAYANG YUKON. He pushed forward to find the lead and extended beautifully in the run to the finish to score by a large margin. KEAYANG YUKON settled four back on the markers and made a move with 500m remaining. He finished twenty-five metres behind the winner with MY ATLANTIS coming from last to pick up third place.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.3 Last Half: - 56.4 Margins: - 25m, 8m
