Harness Racing form guru Craig Rail has compiled his weekly in-depth report from the state’s trials circuit.
SHEPPARTON
Trial 1: – MISTER THREEOFIVE raced without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead then took cover shortly afterwards. He came to the outside on the home turn and was able to get home best in a slick final quarter of 28.1 seconds to get the prize. He is competing at Wagga this evening. JACKS ULTIMATE FURY NZ was three wide early, progressed forward to find the lead at the 1800m and was run down on the line but he did go to the post under a hard hold. CRACKERJACK NZ began quickly to lead, took cover and ended up being three back on the markers. He did extremely well to hold onto the back of the two Metropolitan class pacers in the home straight and finished a creditable third. CLASSIC FAIR broke stride on the first turn and was tailed off for the remainder of the trial. He backed up at Echuca on Wednesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.0 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – Head, 10.25m
Trial 2: – SETTLE THE BILL began quickly to find the lead and pulled hard throughout the early and middle stages. She hung out badly to the middle of the track at the 1100m but she was a long way clear of her rivals and she maintained that large lead for the remainder of the journey to score by fifty metres. THE WRECKING BALL settled three back on the markers, waited for the sprint lane and worked into a distant second. FARSTAR settled five back on the markers, moved through to be three back at the 1300m and finished a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.4 Last Half: – 61.3 Margins: – 50m, 30m
Trial 3: – HUNTER VALLEY RED settled four back on the inside, moved up without cover at the 500m mark and produced a big finish to win by a large margin. MY ROCKING HORSE finished in second after attempting to lead all of the way and will be competing in a heat of the Southern Cross series at Globe Derby tomorrow night. ABOUT TIME DAISY settled three back on the markers, moved away from the inside on the home turn and finished in third. MISS MEGA was last of the four runners to greet the judge after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.2 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: – 30m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: Hunter Valley Red
Trial 4: – NEW YORKER was four back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 700m and sustained a good run to claim victory. ALOT LIKE LOUIE was slow out and settled a clear last of the five runners. He got to fourth at the quarter pole then came to the outside on the home turn, finishing off nicely for a game second. FIANO began quickly to find the lead, set up a reasonable tempo and finished a distant third. KUALIGHT finished fourth after trailing the leader throughout and CONSTANTINA was the last horse to complete the course after being three back on the inside and leaving the markers at the 500m. She made her local debut at Echuca on Wednesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 10m, 4m
Trial 5: – MAURLEN GRACE settled five back on the markers, gained a one out and one back trail at the 700m and commenced her winning move on the home turn. She defeated BAY OF FIRES, which settled last of the seven runners, moved up without cover at the 1200m, raced fiercely and battled on really well. BENNIE AND THE JETS NZ began quickly to find the markers at the start, got shuffled to three back on the inside mid-race and made ground late for a handy third. He is backing up at Melton tomorrow night. PARINI led out then took cover at the 1800m and used the sprint lane to finish a close up fourth. TA KALCHE pushed forward to find the lead and was run down over the final stages, finishing in fifth position. MAURLEN GRACE competed at Echuca on Wednesday night and is backing up again at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.1 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 3m, 3m
Trial 6: – LIL SPARROW settled three back on the markers, trailed the leader at the 1700m and returned to being three back on the markers at the 1400m. She came to the outside on the home turn and finished off nicely to snare victory on the line. MY MATE FLICKA was four back on the markers, made a move to find the lead at the 1400m and was run down on the line. SWEET SUCCESS led out then took cover before breaking stride at the 1800m and settling last of the four runners. He finished a distant third with LARACHA being the last one home after breaking stride from behind the leader at the quarter pole.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.1 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: – Head, 25.25m
Trial 7: – FRESH PRINCE trailed the leader and raced very fiercely in the early stages of the event. He circled around to find the lead at the 900m and was able to sustain the run in the final circuit to win the event. CHEEZ led out then took a trail behind the eventual winner and used the sprint lane in the home straight. He got close at the end but couldn’t peg back the margin. BACK DATED began quickly but was left stranded in the early stages. He restrained and went looking for a position close to the markers but remained one away from the inside. He battled on fairly well for third spot and is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. LOOK AWAY settled three back on the markers and finished in fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.7 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – Neck, 10m
Trial 8: – LATHER WITH FIRE began quickly to find the lead and was able to back off the tempo mid-race. She held on over the latter stages and gained the prize. She is backing up at Mildura this afternoon. COASTAL ELEGANCE settled four back on the markers, raced fiercely and moved up without cover at the 1400m. He battled on well in the straight. ALL GUSSIED UP settled six back on the markers, was held up for a run at a vital stage and went to the line under a hard hold so it was a handy performance. RISE AGAIN was without cover early, restrained to be fifth on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail in the back straight then angled in behind the leader at the quarter pole. He wasn’t beaten by far at the end and is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.8 Last Half: – 60.1 Margins: – 1m, 5m
MARYBOROUGH 30/10/26
Trial 1: – ZENARIO finished second in a heat of the Australian Drivers Championship at Globe Derby at his latest race track appearance. He was able to win over his stable mate PESCI in a slick mile rate of 1.56.6 and ran his last quarter in 27.1 seconds so it was an impressive performance. PESCI also competed in a heat of the Australian Drivers Championship at his latest performance and beat the remainder of the field by a comfortable margin. Both horses are competing in the St Arnaud Cup on Sunday. IM THE REASON finished a distant third and THIRD EYE was the last horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.6 Last Half: – 53.4? Margins: – 6m, 20m
Trial 3: – STORMS has had one start for a third at Terang back in March. He has had three trials recently and has won them all! He dashed home in a slick final quarter of 27.4 seconds to win the prize. He is competing in the first race at St Arnaud on Sunday afternoon and appears to be a good chance. MY ULTIMATE RUDI is a former Queensland pacer, which has won thirteen races and boasts a career best mile rate of 1.56.5. He finished in second position and was well clear of the third placed CELESTIAL STARLET. CELESTIAL STARLET is an unraced filly by Poster Boy, which won at her first trial attempt. Both MY ULTIMATE RUDI and CELESTIAL STARLET are competing at Mildura this afternoon and are good chances in their respective races. THELONGROADOFHOPE was stood down to trial at her latest Maryborough tenth and was a distant fourth at her attempt to re-qualify. She is racing at Ararat on Monday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.8 Last Half: – 56.8 Margins: – 5m, 14m
BLACKBOOKER: – Storms
BACCHUS MARSH 31/10/26
Trial 1: – NICE ONE CENTURION hasn’t raced since an eighth at Ballarat in February but he should be building on his fitness after two recent trial performances. He won the opening trial comfortably in a reasonable mile rate of 2.2.5. JUST PEDRO was a winner at Ballarat in September then was unplaced at his next four attempts. He was second past the post and finished well ahead of the third placed KHANS CREEED. OUR PINUP GIRL finished in a distant fourth. JUST PEDRO and KHANS CREED are both racing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 58.1 Margins: – 4m, 8m
Trial 2: – REBEL BY THE SEA hasn’t raced since a distant eleventh at Melton in April. He does tend to trial well at Bacchus Marsh and he was able to post handy time at his victory over LINE UP JACQUIE, which hasn’t raced since June but did well during her last preparation with victories at Shepparton and Ararat. The leading duo were able to get well clear of the remainder of the field headed by SUNRISE RUBY.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.9 Last Half: – 58.7 Margins: – ½ head, 30m
Trial 3: – UNKNOWN SON is a trial specialist considering his last start was back in November and his previous attempt was back in January 2022! He has had 18 trials since his second last race track attempt, six of them being recent. He won his trial by approximately a length over TRIPOD NZ, which produced his best run of the season at a Shepparton second prior to his effort at Kilmore on Thursday night. DANCE WITH ROXY finished in third and SHAQ THE ANVIL was a distant last of the quartet.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.1 Last Half: – 59.9 Margins: – 3m, 30m
Trial 5: – EVERY CENT COUNTS is a handy juvenile filly, which hadn’t started since a fourth in the Australian Gold Final back in June. She finished fourth at a Melton trial in early October and was given a couple of weeks before her next trial attempt leading up to her first up effort at Echuca on Wednesday night. She was able to win easily over HAROLD BE THY NAME, was which was stood down to trial at his latest effort back in March and has had two trials since. SAND STORM was making his public appearance and filled third spot. He is a gelding by The Storm Inside for trainer Sergio Lenardi.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.6 Last Half: – Not available Margins: – 10m, 6m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 02/11/26
Trial 1: – TELEMACHUS has been racing well having been placed in three of his past four starts. He dashed home in a slick final quarter of 27.6 seconds to win the opening trial from the standing start. He has drawn perfectly in the St Arnaud Cup on Sunday afternoon. ISOLATION has also been racing in top form and continued the momentum with a close second. WOTDIDUSAAAY was last of the three runners across the line but he wasn’t beaten by a large margin. He is backing up at Ararat on Monday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.4 Last Half: – 56.8 Margins – 1.5m, Long Neck
Trial 2: – SINCEILEFTYOU is a nicely bred juvenile gelding, which has had two trials recently for a third at Terang and backed it up with his victory on Monday afternoon. The time was slow but he was able to win by a comfortable margin over ALDEBARAN MIGUEL, which has joined trainer Chris Svanosio since his latest unplaced run at Charlton, where he galloped away. WITH A LITTLE HELP finished in third and the leading trio were well ahead of the last placed HIGHLINE MAGIC. The winner SINCEILEFTYOU will be making his debut at Ararat on Monday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.9.6 Last Half: – 61.6 Margins: 5.75m, 1.25m
Trial 3: – SHESABITSALTY is a filly by Rock N Roll World for trainer Jess Tubbs, which was having her first trial. She scored over COCO CRUNCH, which finished seventh at his latest race track performance at Melton. AMERICAN GRANGE, which has had five trials recently, was the third horse across the line. He is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. TOSWEETTOTAME, which galloped on debut, was the last horse across the line but he wasn’t beaten by far. He is competing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.5 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 2.75m, 2.25m
Trial 4: – ALWAYS B VICKI NZ remained undefeated in two trial attempts with a comprehensive victory over LITTLE WING and finishing off in a slick final quarter of 28.0 seconds in the process. LITTLE WING was having her third trial and put in her best performance to date with a second placing. KLIKBAIT is a juvenile gelding by Poster Boy for trainer Karen Kendall and was a distant third. He beat home NOTTALOTTALOTTIE, OHSO HANDSOME and ANGELS DAUGHTER.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.8 Last Half: – 59.4 Margins: – 9m, 22m
BLACKBOOKER: – Always B Vicki NZ
Trial 5: – FOUROUTOFFIVE was stood down to trial after his latest fifth at Melton. He is the elder brother of the earlier trial victor Since I Left You and was able to make it a double for the family. KYVALLEY JUDGE has had several trials since his latest race track performance back in June. He finished in second on his way to his effort at Melton on Saturday night with MAJOR MANBAR being in third position. MAJOR MANBAR is yet to face the starter this season with his latest effort being a sixth back in November 2025 but he returns from a break at St Arnaud on Sunday afternoon. ULTIMATE GRANGE was last of the four horses across the line and will be backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.6 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 2.5m, Long Neck
Trial 6: – I DON’T LIKE IT was having her third trial performance and was able to post her first win. She is by Southwind Frank out of the French mare Fiesta Du Fer, which has produced the handy performer Princess Du Fer (1.57.5, $36,817). RYMES was the second horse across the line and finished ahead of GLOBAL ELITE, which commenced from the pole position. MONARCHS LEGACY was a distant last of the four runners.
Mile Rate: – 2.10.2 Last Half: – 64.2 Margins: – 6.75m, 1.5m
