Jess Tubbs-trained filly First Dance could be set for a “prosperous” campaign ahead according to HRV form analyst Craig Rail, who was thrilled with her performance at the trials this week.
The three-year-old is set for her first start since November last year at Warragul on Sunday and Rail gives her a great chance.
“She is perfectly drawn and will take a lot of beating,” Rail wrote.
First Dance was one of six new entries into the Rail Blackbook, which can be found at the bottom of the page and below this week’s Victorian trial report.
TRIAL REPORT
MARYBOROUGH 02/04/23
Trial 1: - RELENTLESS ME began brilliantly to find the lead and rolled along at a genuine tempo. She never appeared to be in any danger of defeat and recorded fast time so she should give a forward showing in the Blossom Lady at Melton tomorrow night. WELL SAID HARPS settled three back on the markers, came to the outside on the turn and finished well for second. VICTORY GEORGE finished third after trailing the leader throughout but strikes a suitable field at Stawell on Friday and must be considered as a winning chance.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.1 Last Half: - Not Given Margins: - 3m, 18m (approx.)
Trial 5: - CHEDALAYO was very impressive in winning the fifth event. She trailed the leader IT’S A FUGAZI, came to the outside on the home turn and sprinted sharply to win in reasonable time and by a comfortable margin. IT’S A FUGAZI set up a genuine tempo in the lead and finished second with LOAN SAILOR being a distant third after being four back on the inside and trying to start a run from the 900m. CHEDALAYO is resuming from a break at Maryborough on Monday and must be considered as a winning chance.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Last Half: - 58.4 Margins: - 12m, 30m
BLACKBOOKER: - Chedalayo
Trial 6: - MAJESTIC PRIDE broke stride shortly after the start and lost approximately ten metres, settled down three back on the markers and moved to the outside at the quarter pole. She switched back to the inside of the leader ROCKNFURY in the home straight and finished off swiftly to win nicely. ROCKNFURY finished a narrow second and WISH UPONA DREAM was third after trailing the leader throughout. MAJESTIC PRIDE will be racing at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.3 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - Head, 8m
KYABRAM 02/04/23
Trial 2: - PARISIAN BANDIT hasn’t raced since a tenth at Shepparton in July. He was able take out the trial against the pacers with CHEROKEE JAC finishing in second and SHES GOING PLACES being in third. SHES GOING PLACES resumed from a break at Shepparton on Wednesday and finished in eighth position.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.5 Last Half: - 62.1 Margins: - Nose, 3m
MILDURA 03/04/23
Trial 1: - DALLAS MIKI began quickly to find the lead, ran along at an even tempo and was able to kick on strongly to win by a large margin. He should be competitive at Mildura on Tuesday night. PUOPOLO trailed the leader and moved to the outside with 600m remaining. He tried hard for second with LE SPARTACUS (3 back pegs) being a distant third.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.7 Last Half: - 59.8 Margins: - 15m, 3m
Trial 2: - STYLISH GEM has joined trainer Frank Cavallaro and scored impressively. She trailed the leader, came to the outside on the home turn and finished off quickly to score easily. She is competing at Mildura on Tuesday and performed well enough in the trial to warrant respect but she is meeting a handy field. CEMETERY BAY set up a handy tempo and battled on okay for second with CAULONIA TERROR being last of the three runners for the majority of the journey.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.9 Last Half: - 58.2 Margins: - 8m, 1m
MELTON 03/04/23
Trial 3: - LONESTAR WARRIOR trailed the leader, came to the outside with 300m remaining and was able to take out the juvenile trial. The Chris Svanosio trained colt by is former New Zealand champion and freshman sire Lazarus. SPIRIT OF PEARL settled three back on the inside, angled wide turning for home and finished off well for second with the early leader DIAMOND DOLLY being third across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.1 Last Half: - 60.68 Margins: - Neck, 10.5m
Trial 5: - ARGGGHHH settled three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 600m and was strong at the finish. SEBS CHOICE settled last of the five runners, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He finished off solidly for second with YANKEE GOLD NZ coming from four back on the markers to run into third. YANKEE GOLD NZ went to the line hard on the back of SEBS CHOICE without being pushed out at any stage.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.5 Last Half: - 57.18 Margins: - 2m, 4.5m
Trial 7: - BETTER BROTHER showed very good gate speed to find the lead shortly after the start. He ran along at a reasonable tempo and had a good kick left at the finish to win nicely. He strikes a suitable assignment at Maryborough on Monday and is worth following. THE PERFECT SWEET settled five back on the inside and worked home well into second with the unraced New Zealand bred pacer TWISTING BYE NZ coming from seventh to pick up third spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Last Half: - 57.54 Margins: - 9m, 2.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Better Brother
Trial 8: - OFORTUNA began fast to find the lead and was able to hold off her rivals to win the open class trotting event. HARRY STAMPER NZ produced a very good effort to finish second. He settled last of the six runners, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 400m and came out three horses wide on the home turn before sprinting sharply in the run to the finish. ALDEBARAN KEEPA NZ settled five back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the quarter pole and ran a good race for third.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.2 Last Half: - 59.19 Margins: - ½ neck, 1.5m
Trial 9: - ANOTHER NIEN settled down last of the eight runners, moved into the running lane (1-3) and sprinted home sharply to win nicely. LOUIE LOU I NZ settled six back on the markers, followed ANOTHER NIEN into the race and was getting home just as well in the run to the finish. Both horses performed extremely well and are worth following. PARADISE VALLEY settled three back on the inside, pulled hard and moved up without cover at the bell. He finished third with the early leader HURRIKANE FRANCO being fourth past the post.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.2 Last Half: - 56.92 Margins: - 4m, 12m
BLACKBOOKER: - Another Nien & Louie Lou I NZ
Trial 10: - FIRST DANCE NZ began very fast to find the lead and completely dominated her rivals. She ran away from CARMY DAN, which sat in the trail, to win by twenty metres. She hasn’t raced since being unplaced in a Breeders Crown Silver event in November but appears to have a prosperous campaign ahead. She is perfectly drawn and will take a lot of beating at Warragul on Sunday. CARMY DAN finished second and ESMARELDAR did well to come from last of the seven runners to pick up third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.4 Last Half: - 57.53 Margins: - 20m, Head
BLACKBOOKER: - First Dance NZ
Trial 13: - The Redwood Classic winner COGNATI hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Super Series Final in December. She trailed the leader, came to the outside with 250m remaining and finished off in a solid last quarter of 28.65 seconds to win the trial over CHINSKI, which began quickly from the standing start and attempted to lead throughout. GEE CEE CALDER was three back on the inside, moved to into the death seat at the 300m and held on well for third.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.6 Last Half: - 59.14 Margins: - 2.5m, 3.5m
Trial 14: - BETTER ECLIPSE and TRIPLE EIGHT NZ gained some standing start experience with BETTER ECLIPSE leading and TRIPLE EIGHT NZ sitting in the trail. It was a dash home for the final 200m and BETTER ECLIPSE prevailed with the last quarter being run in 27.29 seconds.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.3 Last Half: - 56.44 Margins: - Neck
BENDIGO 03/04/23
Trial 2: - MAGOMEDOV is a juvenile pacer by Betting Line, which produced a handy performance to win softly. He led out, took cover at the 1200m and came to the outside with 400m remaining. He finished off best to defeat MACHS LAST NZ, which worked to the front at the 1200m, took cover at the 500m and battled on okay over the final stages. PRINCESS ARNA trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and was doing her best work late. She finished third ahead of BETTORSWEETVICTORY, which made a quick move from last to swoop to the front at the 500m before peaking late.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.4 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - 6m, head
Trial 5: - SERG BLANCO NZ began very quickly to find the lead and completely dominated his rivals to score by a large margin. LETS MAKE TRACKS trailed the leader and finished second with FORGOT THE WALLET being last of the runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.4 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - 20m, 14m
Trial 6: - EDWARDE GRANGE trailed the leader, hit the front at the 300m mark and rushed away to win untouched. He is backing up in the Homegrown Classic at Melton on Saturday night. FRENWOOD MIRACLE settled fifth on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 600m and worked into second. ALL ITTOOK settled six back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and battled on fairly well for third.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.3 Last Half: - 59.4 Margins: - 8m, 5m
BALLARAT 04/04/23
Trial 2: - YAHOO NZ is an unraced New Zealand bred pacer, which is prepared by Michael Stanley. He trailed the leader, moved to the outside at the 800m and hit the lead at the quarter pole then drew right away in the run to the finish to win very impressively. LOLITA NZ settled three back on the inside, came to the outside with 300m remaining and worked into a distant second with the early leader MISS DAPHNE being last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.7 Last Half: - 56.8 Margins: - 30m, 1m
BLACKBOOKER: - Yahoo NZ
