She's only won one race, but Craig Rail thinks that Julie Brimacombe-trained Elli Joh will be hard to beat at Bendigo on Tuesday night.
The daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven impressed at the Geelong trials on Monday, with Rail reporting the mare "ran an eye-catching fourth after coming out four horses wide on the home turn and finishing strongly".
She joins Bravo Stride and Aldebaran Freda as Blackbook entries, with the updated file located at the bottom of this week's trial report.
TRIAL REPORT
SHEPPARTON 14/07/22
Trial 1: - HI MANAMEISJEFF NZ began fast to find the lead, enjoyed a good run mid-race and dashed home in a sizzling final half of 55.9 seconds to win easily. MAJOR DELICO ran a game second after settling three back on the inside and moving away from the markers at the 300m. CASTLE RETREAT trailed the leader and used the sprint lane to finish in third position. CASTLE RETREAT was unplaced at Shepparton on Thursday night after racing without cover throughout. MAJOR DELICO has a very poor draw for his first up performance at Kilmore on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.2 Last Half: - 55.9 Margins: - 5m, Neck
Trial 2: - BRAVO STRIDE is a gelding by Captaintreacherous out of the American mare Precocious Stride, which has produced a winner in Precious Stride. He began quickly to lead and ran away from his rivals to win by a large margin so he obviously has ability. MUSIC MOTH finished second after racing three back on the markers and OTIS RISING ran an eye-catching third. He settled four back on the markers, pulled hard and used the sprint lane, finishing off strongly without being pushed.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Last Half: - 57.7 Margins: - 20m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Bravo Stride
Trial 4: - VIOLETTA GIFT began quickly and progressed forward to find the lead at the 1900m. She held off the late challenge of MISS FRANCENE, which ran a great race for a juvenile trotter taking on older horses. She was three back on the markers and motored to the line over the concluding stages.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.0 Last Half: - 61.5 Margins: - Head, 2m
Trial 5: - PARISIAN ARTISTE was very good in defeating the pacers and it was an outstanding hit-out for his first up run in a heat of the Winter Trotters Championship at Kilmore tomorrow night. He won the Super Series Final in December and he appears to be right at his peak. ABETTAWAYTODOIT trailed the leader and used the sprint lane to finish a close second with HIGHCLERE being in third after settling three back on the inside and moving into the death seat at the 500m. HIGHCLERE followed with an unplaced effort at Shepparton on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.6 Last Half: - 58.5 Margins: - 1m, 1m
ARARAT 16/07/22
Trial 1: - MAJESTIC PRIDE is a smart mare when she does everything right and was able to take out the opening trial in handy time. She was able to win by a comfortable margin over DOWN UNDER EARL with MAJESTIC ACHIEVER NZ finishing a distant third. MAJESTIC PRIDE will be very hard to beat if she can produce a fool proof display at Bendigo on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.1 Last Half: - 63.0 Margins: - 8m, 30m
Trial 4: - PRINCE OF ROCK was able to defeat his stable mate WOOSH in the final trial. The Danny O’Brien trained pair are due to make their debut at Geelong tonight in the 2yo trotting event.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.8 Last Half: - 64.4 Margins: - Head, 3m
MILDURA 17/07/22
Trial 2: - SOMEDEAL SAFARI was stood down to trial after finishing a distant ninth at Mildura at his latest attempt. He began quickly and was a clear leader in the early stages before rolling along at a genuine tempo and scoring by a large margin. He is racing at Mildura this evening and has claims if he does everything right.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.6 Last Half: - 60.6 Margins: - 10m, 30m
Trial 3: - HERESHECOMESSASSY prepared for her assignment at Mildura this evening with an effortless victory against easier opposition. She strolled to the front in the early stages and scored untouched from MICTON MOUSE, which trailed the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.8 Last Half: - 60.4 Margins: - 10m, 30m
KYABRAM 17/07/22
There were two trials on the program at Kyabram with the opening trial being taken out by the Susan Hunter prepared LETHAL LOVER, which hasn’t started since December. She defeated the qualifier LIFE IN PINK by five metres in a mile rate of 2.5.5. The second trial was won by the former New South Wales trained pacer MOREARTSTHANCLASS in a slow mile rate of 2.7.9. MOREARTSTHANCLASS will make her Victorian debut at Mildura this evening.
BENDIGO 17/07/22
Trial 3: - The handy 3yo trotter ARCEE PHOENIX settled down last of the six runners, moved into the running lane at the 900m and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He produced a strong finishing burst to get the prize over the former pacer WIPE THE CANVAS, which attempted to lead throughout. ARCEE PHOENIX meets a very strong field at Kilmore tomorrow night but he is perfectly drawn.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.8 Last Half: - 61.8 Margins: - 2m, 2m
Trial 4: - It was only a field of two runners and RULES DON’T APPLY galloped with 600m remaining but the winner ANYWHERE HUGO extended nicely at the end and he had a good hit-out for his return to racing in a heat of the Winter Championship at Kilmore tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.4 Last Half: - 59.8 Margin: - 70m
Trial 6: - HARRYHOO settled 4 back on the inside and finished off best to win the prize over the juvenile pacer LUDACROUS, which settled in third position before moving forward to find the lead at the 1500m. SAINT WIN went to the line with something in reserve in third position after leading out then taking cover at the 1500m. He finished a close up fifth at Shepparton on Thursday night after being left stranded without cover throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.8 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - 2m, 4m
GEELONG 18/07/22
Trial 1: - OFORTUNA progressed forward to find the lead at the 1800m and ran along at a reasonable tempo. She was able to hold off the challenge of MAJESTIC CHICK NZ to gain the prize. MAJESTIC CHICK NZ settled three back on the inside before using the sprint lane and charging through late. It was an eye-catching performance and a good form reference to her chances in a heat of the Winter Championship at Kilmore tomorrow night. ROYAL CHARLOTTE finished in third position after leading out then taking a trail.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.4 Last Half: - 59.2 Margins: - 2m, 6m
Trial 3: - COURMAYEUR scored an impressive trial win after leading throughout and dashing home in slick final sectionals (58.3, 28.4). She defeated KEAYANG CHUCKY, which continued his good trial form after settling down in fourth position and coming out three horses wide at the quarter pole. The juvenile trotter GLAMOUR STRIDE met two very smart 3yo’s and moved up without cover from last at the bell to finish a game third. She makes her debut at Geelong this evening and should prove very hard to beat.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.8 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 10m, 12m
Trial 4: - JACKS COMMAND indicated he might show improvement at Geelong this evening with an all of the way victory over DUFFY HOLLOW, which finished determinedly after moving into the death seat from sixth at the 1300m. LE BELLE BIJOUX finished third after following behind DUFFY HOLLOW throughout and ELLI JOH ran an eye-catching fourth after coming out four horses wide on the home turn and finishing strongly. ELLI JOH appears to be a good chance at Bendigo on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.2 Last Half: - 58.2 Margins: - Head, 8m
BLACKBOOKER: - Elli Joh
Trial 9: - SHAUNIE USA continued his impressive run at the trials with another easy victory. He worked to the front from the standing start and went to the line with plenty in reserve to defeat MORE WANTED, which was in the trail throughout and KEAYANG XENA finished third.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.0 Last Half: - 59.0 Margins: - 15m, 1m
SHEPPARTON 19/07/22
Trial 1: - WESTERN SONADOR gained a one out and one back trail early before being left without cover and eventually progressed forward to find the lead at the 1400m. He was in total control during the last lap and won easily by ten metres. It was a good start to his campaign and he defeated stable mate BETTOR ROBYN, which led out then took cover with SOFALA doing his best work from four back on the markers to finish in third position.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.7 Last Half: - 56.7 Margins: - 10m, 2m
Trial 2: - The juvenile trotter MISS FRANCENE showed enough ability to suggest she is a chance at Geelong this evening with a good win over MYNAMESGRAHAM. She settled four back on the markers and made her winning move from the 400m.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.8 Last Half: - 60.1 Margins: - 2m, 15m
Trial 4: - UNIT FORTY ONE prepared for his debut performance at Bendigo on Tuesday night with a victory over BET SHEZA LADY. He trailed the leader before moving into the lead with 1800m remaining and scored untouched. MY ULTIMATE RUSTY is also making his debut on Tuesday night and finished in third after settling three back on the inside.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Last Half: - 59.0 Margins: - Head, 10m
KILMORE 20/07/22
Trial 4: - The Breeders Crown champion ALDEBARAN ZEUS hasn’t raced since finishing second in the Super Series Final in December. He worked to the front on the first turn and jogged to the line to win by a comfortable margin. FIELDS OF KYVALLEY trailed the leader throughout and finished second with KYVALLEY SHAUNIE (3 back the markers), being the third horse past the post.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.2 Last Half: - 59.1 Margins: - 8m, 8m
Trial 6: - USED TO BE MAID won three races in succession at the end of her last campaign and started off promisingly with a big win in the final trial. She settled six back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m and charged home last to win by a large margin. The juvenile filly ALDEBARAN FREDA trailed the leader and came to the outside with 500m remaining. She did a very good job to finish second and beat the remainder of the field comfortably so she appears to be very promising.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.6 Last Half: - 62.9 Margins: - 6m, 15m
BLACKBOOKER: - Aldebaran Freda
