A half-brother to the superstar pacer Ride High has shot his way straight into Craig Rail’s Blackbook after a trial hit-out at Ballarat on Tuesday.
High Above, a son of Captaintreacherous out of All The Magic, “raced very greenly” but “was able to win easily” at Bray Raceway and looks one to follow when he is eventually sent to the races by trainer Clayton Tonkin.
He was joined in Rail’s Blackbook by fellow new addition Kyvalley Michael, who is an unraced trotter prepared by Brent Lilley.
See Rail’s updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page, below this week’s Victorian trials review.
TRIAL REPORT
MARYBOROUGH 16/04/23
Trial 1: - SATCHMO STRIKES NZ hasn’t raced since a win in December but he was able to take out the open class trial from REGARDLESS with LETS MAKE TRACKS being third across the line. SATCHMO STRIKES NZ was three back on the markers, moved through to trail the leader at the 600m and angled to the outside with 200m remaining. REGARDLESS set the speed and LETS MAKE TRACKS sat in the trail for the majority of the journey.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.5 Last Half: - Not given Margins: - Not Given
Trial 4: - MAC SHADOW was stood down to trial after galloping at Warragul last outing. He was able to re-qualify by winning the trial comfortably after he settled five back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 900m and hit the front with 300m remaining. It was a convincing win and he backed up at Melton on Thursday night, where he performed soundly and finished in second. WICHITA DANCE came from last to finish second with SASSCILIAN (4 back markers) doing his best work at the end to finish in third spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 10m, head
Trial 7: - SCAR has always shown promise and appeared to be back to his best form with a convincing trial victory. He trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 400m and finished off best to win easily. PRINCE OF ROCK attempted to lead throughout and finished in second spot. MUSCLE MISS finished third after being three back on the markers throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.5 Last Half: - 60.3 Margins: - 6m, 10m
Trial 8: - COURAGES LAW was impressive in winning on debut then galloped at his next attempt. He bounced back in winning his trial but he galloped again when fourth at Melton on Thursday night. HENRYS HORSE is a close relation to the smart trotter Ser Patrick and did a good job to finish in second position. HESTUFFENOUGH finished in third with ATEGO ROBBO being in fourth. COURAGES LAW trailed the leader MAJESTIC AVENUE throughout, hit the lead on the home turn and won with plenty in reserve. HENRYS HORSE did a good job to finish well from four back on the markers and finished in second.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.8 Last Half: - 62.0 Margins: - 6m, 8m
CRANBOURNE 16/04/23
Trial 1: - MY UNCLE STAN broke stride in a trouble marred Homegrown Classic Final at his latest attempt. He was able to bounce back to his peak form with a win over SIR CHOW NZ, where he settled three back on the inside, trailed the leader before the home turn and used the sprint lane. SIR CHOW NZ battled on well for second after setting the speed and TIGER JONES finished in a distant third after trailing the leader for the majority of the journey.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.0 Last Half: - 57.2 Margins: - 2.5m, 22.5m
BENDIGO 17/04/23
Trial 4: - LUDACROUS continued his excellent trial form by leading throughout and recording a runaway victory over CHATEAU DELIGHT, an unraced colt, which is prepared by Julie Douglas. ROCKY OUTLOOK (3 back pegs) was going to run into second but finished in third position after galloping in the final 50m of the event.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.2 Last Half: - 55.9 Margins: - 35m, 2m
Trial 9: - TWISTED BLISS hasn’t raced since unplaced in a heat of the Super Series in December but she was able to record a good win in the final trial. COURAGEOUS SAINT prepared for his tilt at the Mildura FFA tomorrow night with a second placed performance and WATTLEBANK FLYER, which is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night, was last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.4 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 1m, 17m
ARARAT 17/04/23
Trial 1: - AROCKNROLL JET was stood down to trial at his latest performance and took on two trotters in his effort to re-qualify. He won in slow time with LOOKAT SPUNKY TROT finishing in second with SOMEBECKYLIKEYOU being a distant last of the three runners.
Mile Rate: - 2.14.0 Last Half: - Not given Margins: - 5m, 200m
KILMORE 18/04/23
Trial 1: - The opening trial was for the juvenile trotters with the nicely bred colt KYVALLEY MICHAEL NZ being the victor over MANDA KYVALLEY with KYVALLEY MAVEN and KYVALLEY MUGSY being third and fourth respectively. KYVALLEY MICHAEL NZ was able to shoot to the lead in the early stages and completely dominated, running away at the end to score untouched. The field were in the same order throughout from start to finish.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.1 Last Half: - 62.3 Margins: - 15m, 6m
BLACKBOOKER: - Kyvalley Michael
Trial 4: - HUGO MAGUIRE NZ hasn’t raced since a second in the Breeders Crown Silver event back in November. He is a smart horse and was able to defeat AMERICAN WEREWOLF, which appears to be a strong winning chance at Shepparton on Tuesday. The handy mare NIKI NAH NAH finished in third position. AMERICAN WEREWOLF set up the tempo, kicked clear on the home turn but peaked in the final 50m. HUGO MAGUIRE NZ sat in the trail before coming to the outside on the home turn. He looked to be battling upon straightening but really knuckled down in the final 50m.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.0 Last Half: - 57.3 Margins: - ½ head, 6m
Trial 6: - PRINCESS CHILLA was able to take out the final trial after progressing forward to lead from the death seat at the 1400m and scoring with something in hand. RIVEERA finished in second position after leading out then taking cover at the bell. RIVEERA will make his debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. ALLFORSHOW was third across the line after ending up being three back on the markers with ROCKAWAY BEACH (4 back pegs, made late ground) being in fourth and both horses with be competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.8 Last Half: - 59.9 Margins: - 4m, 6m
BALLARAT 18/04/23
Trial 1: - QUEEN TREACHERIE NZ hasn’t raced since recording three straight victories in December and January. She led and recorded a runaway victory over LOCHINVAR LORENZO, which sat in the trail with NAI HARN BAY being in third position. NAI HARN BAY settled last of the four runners and made ground in the back straight before peaking late.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 56.46 Margins: - 15m, 15m
Trial 2: - HIGH ABOVE is a beautifully bred colt that is related to five winners including the outstanding pacers Ride High (1.49.0) and Rocknroll Magic (1.54.5). He raced very greenly and has a lot to learn, but was able to win easily from TELEMACHUS, which set the speed and EL CAMINO (3 back markers) was third across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.8 Last Half: - 58.94 Margins: - 10m, 1m
BLACKBOOKER: - High Above
Trial 3: - BEACH MEMORIES hasn’t raced since November but has appeared to be sharp at the trials. She led and was able to score over VON ART NZ, which trailed the leader with PETILLANTE being last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.4 Last Half: - 56.52 Margins: - 1m, 1m
Trial 4: - The Redwood Classic winner COGNATI has had several trials leading up to her first up performance. She trailed the leader and was able to win from her stable mates DICHOTOMY (led) with TUNBRIDGE (3 back pegs) being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.5 Last Half: - 57.69 Margins: - 1m, 30m
