Keayang Hollywood starred in his first appearance at the races in November and looks set for another good campaign if a recent trial is anything to go by.
Craig Rail was impressed with the effort of the Marg and Paddy-trained pacer, who defeated open class stablemate Jilliby Willow to win a Terang hit-out on Tuesday.
He was one of four new additions to Rail’s black book from this week's trials, joining Impermissible for Lisa Pitt, Blackjack Whacko for Chris Svanosio and Chainsmoke for John Tormey.
TRIAL REPORT
SHEPPARTON 17/04/25
Trial 1: - IMPERMISSIBLE is a speedy filly by Captn Midnight, which was runner up on debut and appears to have a promising future. She showed good gate speed to lead and won the opening trial in handy time without being pushed. ELLIANA trailed the leader and came to the outside on the home turn. She chased hard for second with ALOT LIKE JEANNIE (4 back markers) running into a distant third. ELLIANA is making her debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.8 Last Half: - 57.0 Margins: - 10m, 30m
BLACKBOOKER: - Impermissible
Trial 2: - HODY MOKE is racing well for trainer Rebecca Bartley and was able to score at Shepparton at her latest attempt. She pushed forward to find the front at the 1600m and was untouched going to the line. She is backing up at Melton on Saturday night. ALDEBARAN ZANE finished in second after being four back on the markers and was in the one out and one back trail from the 600m mark. He was narrowly in front of BUMPER SERVICE, which is a first starter by Majestic Son out of the former good mare Sunday Service (2.1.0, $26,430), which settled three back on the markers and made a move with a half mile remaining.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.2 Last Half: - 62.3 Margins: - 3m, Head
Trial 3: - RIDE THE HIGHS is a daughter of Ride High, which finished fourth at her debut. She recorded a slick final half of 57.1 seconds to win her trial by a convincing margin after working to the front shortly after the start. LA SMOOTH finished in second position after trailing the leader and finished ahead of WAYSAM, which settled four back on the inside. The first three horses across the line are all competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. DUSTY PHILTRA is backing up at Melton on Friday night after finishing in fourth position. He settled last of the five runners and picked up some ground over the latter stages.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Last Half: - 57.1 Margins: - 10m, 6m
Trial 5: - SHEZFAIRYSWEET is an unraced filly by Sweet Lou out of Rosharni and was able to win her trial by a large margin after leading throughout and dashing well clear from the 300m. She is making her debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. FLOPPA is an unraced colt by Ultimate Sniper NZ and finished in second position after coming from last of the four runners. MAJOR EASTWOOD was three back on the markers and finished a distant third.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.3 Last Half: - 58.2 Margins: - 30m, 6m
Trial 6: - TRIPLE FOUR NZ was clearly the class horse of the field and won the trial by a comfortable margin after working to the front at the 1600m. RINGORELLA hasn’t raced since March 2024 and finished in second position after settling four back on the markers and moving into the death seat at the 800m. He is backing up at Cobram on Friday afternoon. MONAGHAN BOY settled last of the seven runners, moved to the outside at the 900m mark and picked up ground for third position. MONAGHAN BOY is out of a race winning daughter of the champion mare Lombo La Fe Fe (1.57.1, $654,493) and is closely related to the very smart performer Frugal Fare (1.54.0, $34,410).
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 6m, 10m
STAWELL 18/04/25
Trial 1: - ONE GOLDEN DEAL in an unraced juvenile filly by American Ideal out of One Golden Day (1.58.0, $62,500). She was able to win her qualifying trial over SMASHED IT, which is an unraced entire by Follow The Stars for trainer Justin Lane. MILLY AT THE BEACH was last of the three runners to cross the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.0 Last Half: - 61.25 Margins: - 3m, 4m
MARYBOROUGH 20/04/25
Trial 1: - TEEOFFBECA was able to win the opening trial after showing very good gate speed from barrier three to run to the lead shortly after the start. INSIDER TRADING finished in second after trailing the leader throughout and IM THE WILD ONE was on the outside of the leader throughout so she did a good job to battle into third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 58.4 Margins: - 3m, 3m
Trial 3: - CHAINSMOKE is an unraced colt by Ride High out of Hear No Secret NZ (1.57.7, $96,464), making him related to Soho Thunderstruck (1.55.9, $97,972) and Soho Confidential (1.56.1, $53,631). He impressed in his trial success as he sprinted sharply from behind the leader and drew well clear at the end so he might be worth following. I WANT MARY settled three back on the markers and filled second spot with the early leader PENTAL STORM finishing in a distant third.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.7 Last Half: - 58.2 Margins: - 12m, 20m
BLACKBOOKER: - Chainsmoke
KYABRAM 20/04/25
Trial 2: - LIZZIES SON performed below expectations at his latest Bendigo ninth but he was able to rebuild some confidence for his effort at Cobram on Friday by winning his trial at Kyabram. He defeated the pacers by just over a length. CROCODILE BLOOD hasn’t raced since December and finished in second position ahead of MUSSEL WHITE, which in an unraced entire by Yankee Rockstar for trainer Donna Castles.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.7 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - 4m, 30m
MILDURA 20/04/25
Trial 1: - The pre meeting trial at Mildura was won by YOUWANTOBELIEVEIT, which is an unraced mare by Goodtime Sammy out of Youvegotobelieveit (1.56.9, $52,053). Owner and breeder Jason McGinty had good success with the dam in the Sunraysia region and this is her first foal. YOUWANTOBELIEVEIT won by a head over MAJOR TARLZ with ELISSA’S DELIGHT being last of the three horses to cross the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.12.6 Last Half: - 60.4 Margins: - Head, 8.5m
TERANG 22/04/25
Trial 1: - IMPERIAL MONARCH NZ came from the handicap of 20m and was able to win the trial comfortably, dashing home in a slick final quarter of 28.9 seconds. She hasn’t started since November but was racing in good form against strong opposition during her last campaign. FOUROUTOFFIVE hasn’t raced since competing in the Delvin Dancer Classic in November and finished in second with KEAYANG STUKA being last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.9 Last Half: - 59.5 Margins: - 10m, 2m
Trial 4: - The champion filly of last season KEAYANG ZAHARA remains undefeated from fourteen starts and was able to defeat the pacers in very fast time in the fourth event. GUNFORHIRE is a former New South Wales pacer, which hasn’t raced since finishing unplaced on his Victorian debut in January. He finished in second with DOUGS TRIBE, which won two races last season, being the third horse across the line. DOUGS TRIBE is racing at Terang on Monday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Last Half: - 57.2 Margins: - 15m, 5m
Trial 5: - KEAYANG HOLLYWOOD has had one start for a victory in slick time at Melton in November. He is a nicely bred colt with a promising future and was able to win his trial in handy time over the open class mare JILLIBY WILLOW. DOUGS FLAME and SWEET IDEAL finished third and a fourth respectively in a very strong trial to end the program. KEAYANG HOLLYWOOD is returning from a spell at Terang on Monday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.3 Last Half: - 56.2 Margins: - 1m, 6m
BLACKBOOKER: - Keayang Hollywood
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 22/04/25
Trial 2: - IRON WOMEN is a handy filly, which hasn’t raced since a win at Melton in December. She was placed in four of her five starts at her initial campaign of racing and should continue to improve with the benefit of experience. SASSY GALLEON missed the start when she was resuming but her trial form has been strong and she is competing at Melton on Saturday night. She was beaten by a long way but finished in a clear second ahead of ARENA ROCK and CALDERS REVENGE.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.9 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 27m, 10m
Trial 4: - BLACKJACK WHACKO is a Chris Svanosio trained gelding, which is the first foal out of the race winning mare Alta Mach NZ (1.59.3, $29,297). The second dam Alta Vista NZ produced five winners including the outstanding performers Five Star Anvil NZ (1.51.5, $779,733), Let’s Elope (1.55.3, $596,029) and Downunder Stride NZ (1.56.0, $125,242) so he is bred to be a handy horse. He produced an eye-catching performance at the trials two weeks ago and backed it up with a trial success, where he recorded a slick last quarter of 27.9 seconds. ILOVEACALENDERGIRL finished in second position and was well clear of KALKADOON DREAMING and the New Zealand bred filly CRUNCHEN SUE NZ. KALKADOON DREAMING is backing up at Swan Hill on Sunday evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.4 Last Half: - 57.6 Margins: - 7m, 7.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Blackjack Whacko
Trial 5: - OUR MARVELLA NZ won the Breed for Speed Silver event three starts ago and has been freshened since being unplaced in the Sumthingaboutmaori FFA. She was able to win her trial by a comfortable margin over QUAKE PROOF, which has been performing nicely at the trials over the past few weeks. ALRIGHTY hasn’t raced since producing two wins in succession back in December and was the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.0 Last Half: - 60.9 Margins: - 6.5m, 4.5m
Trial 9: - DANCE AFFAIR hasn’t raced since being unplaced in a heat of the Super Series back in August. He has won four of his ten starts to date and was able to win his trial by a narrow margin after dashing home in a slick final quarter of 27.9 seconds. SAIFA NZ finished fourth in the Queensland Derby last season and hasn’t raced since finishing second in a heat of the South Australian Derby in October. He was narrowly beaten in his comeback trial and finished just ahead of JUSTALITTLESIP NZ.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.4 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - Head, 1m
Trial 10: - FOUR LONELY NIGHTS caused a false start at his latest attempt and was placed outside of the draw. He was able to win his trial over LADY SALINA, which is a recent winner at Geelong. Both horses are competing at Melton on Friday night. MILLYS PRINCE was a further ten metres away in third position and is also competing at Melton on Friday night. DA PREZ was last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.6 Last Half: - 59.2 Margins: - 1m, 10m
Trial 11: - TWISTING BY NZ has been freshened since a fifth at Melton on March 01. He was able to win two races in succession at the beginning of the season and he possesses a powerful finishing burst. He finished off in a slick final quarter of 27.7 seconds to win the last trial over MAXNJAX, which continued his good trial form with a second placed effort, and the former South Australian pacer LAMBRO MACH finished in third position. LAMBRO MACH has recently joined trainer Andy Gath.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Last Half: - 57.6 Margins: - 7.5m, 4m
