The newest addition to the Emma Stewart camp, Kiss made her presence felt with an impressive trial at Melton on Tuesday afternoon.
"She settled three back on the inside, waited for the sprint lane and showed brilliant acceleration in a sizzling final quarter of 26.54 seconds. She is obviously worth following based on that performance," Harness Racing Victoria's premier form guru, Craig Rail said.
Kiss joined Brighton, Arsenio and Freight Shaker as inclusions into the blackbooker this week.
TRIAL REPORT 275
SHEPPARTON 25/07/24
Trial 1: - VIOLET STANFORD is an outstanding filly and dominated her rivals in the opening trial. She trailed the leader, came to the outside with 300m remaining and scored untouched. She backed up at Maryborough on Thursday and kept her undefeated record intact by winning the Oaks. SONNUMBERONE has had a few gait issues recently but he did show some ability in his trial performance after settling four back on the inside and making good ground in the latter stages for second. NORDIC REIGN came from last of the five runners and worked home well for third spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.4 Last Half: - 61.0 Margins: - 2m, Neck
Trial 2: - CHEROKEE JAC settled four back on the inside, circled around to trail the leader mid-race and found the lead with a half mile remaining. He kept on rolling in the last circuit and was able to win clearly from JIMMY BREEZE NZ, which settled down in sixth, found the one out and one back trail and angled wide on the home turn. JILLIBY ILLUSION settled in seventh, came out very wide on the home turn and finished off well for third.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Last Half: - 62.0 Margins: - 15m, 2m
Trial 3: - IDEAL MOTH settled last of the four runners, waited for the sprint lane and finished off fast to win the trial over ASTRAL STRIDE, which led out then took a trail and came to the outside at the quarter pole. EXCLUSIVE HUSTLER was without cover early, progressed forward to find the lead at the 1300m and battled on fairly well for third spot. He made his debut at Kilmore on Thursday night and finished third behind The Villain.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 2m, Neck
BACCHUS MARSH 28/07/24
Trial 2: - ALBY TWO CHAINS has been lightly raced recently but he is a smart horse when he is able to put it altogether. He recorded reasonable time in defeating the Dianne Giles trained SASSYOLA with HITTHEROADJACK NZ being very close up in third position. SASSYOLA is backing up at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.2 Last Half: -57.2 Margins: - Head, Head
Trial 4: - COBARGO WARLOCK has recently joined trainer Paul Parsons and was able to win his trial convincingly on his way to his first up performance at Melton this evening. He defeated CEE CEE NORMAN, which is also backing up at Melton tonight, with MIKI SHEFFIELD being six metres away in third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.7 Last Half: - 60.5 Margins: - 8m, 6m
Trial 5: - DEUCE COUPE NZ has had a few chances recently but he possesses a powerful finishing burst and his win at Bacchus Marsh was his second trial success recently. He recorded a slick final half to defeat the in-form pacer KHANS CREED by a handy margin with BUBBY TO BASE being a further eight metres away in third spot. Both the winner DEUCE COUPE NZ and the second placed KHANS CREED are competing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - 8m, 8m
MARYBOROUGH 28/07/24
Trial 1: - CAN FEEL THE FURY NZ and ANGELSHAVETIME NZ are both former New South Wales trained pacers, which have recently joined trainer Kate Hargreaves. CAN FEEL THE FURY NZ led throughout to win the trial but ANGELSHAVETIME NZ did chase hard from the trail and there wasn’t much between them in the run to the finish. THE STEEEL DRAGON came from last of the four runners to fill third spot with BLISSFULL PENNY (3 back markers) being the last one home. CAN FEEL THE FURY NZ is making his Victorian debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.2 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - Neck, 20m
Trial 2: - PERFIDIOUS SUE has returned to some form at the trials over the past few weeks and was able to win the second event softly. She trailed the leader MONTANA CHEVELLE, came to the outside at the 500m mark and was able to assert her superiority in the run to the judge. MONTANA CHEVELLE battled on well for second and SEBASTIANS SECRET came from last of the four runners to finish in third spot. SEBASTIANS SECRET is backing up at Cranbourne on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Last Half: - 59.6 Margins: - 2m, 2m
ECHUCA 28/07/24
Trial 1: - CHEROKEE JAC made it two trial wins in the space of three days after he led throughout and dominated his rivals. He is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. ROCKSTAR LEO settled three back on the markers and worked home well for second with SPOT THE DEVIL coming from last of the four runners to be third across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.0 Last Half: - 60.5 Margins: - 10m, 2m
Trial 2: - CRAZY ON THE BEACH began quickly to find the lead and was able to win very easily after running along at a reasonable tempo throughout. LITTLE RAIN CLOUD broke stride momentarily at the start and settled a clear last of the four runners. The field was strung out and she made a quick move from the 1400m to circle around and trail the leader. She chased hard and beat the other two runners MADGE EGAN (trailed leader, 3 back pegs) and KAMARAN (3 back pegs, 4 back pegs) by a large margin.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.5 Last Half: - 60.6 Margins: - 15m, 50m
BENDIGO 29/07/24
Trial 3: - ARSENIO is an Emma Stewart trained gelding by Stay Hungry out of the good race mare Bella Shine (1.55.5, $53,890). He settled five back on the inside, moved off the pegs at the 600m mark and was three horses wide from the 300m, finishing off fast to win impressively. DIVINE TILLY finished in second position after trailing the leader and coming to the outside with 300m remaining. It was a dead heat for third between ASSIGNED, which settled three back on the markers and OCEANFRONT. OCEANFRONT finished off fast from the tail of the field and produced a very nice effort considering the final quarter was run in a slick 27.7 seconds.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Last Half: - 58.1 Margins: - 8m, 1m
BLACKBOOKER: - Arsenio
Trial 5: - TECHY CREED began quickly to find the lead and ran along at a genuine tempo. He was very strong in running to the line and won by a clear margin. I AM THE STORM trailed behind his stable mate throughout and raced greenly but was able to hold on to second spot. MY MACHETE finished in third position after being three back on the markers throughout.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.9 Last Half: - 56.7 Margins: - 10m, 2m
Trial 7: - FREE TO PLAY began quickly and pressed forward to find the lead shortly after the start. He ran along at an even tempo and was able to cling on and get the prize. PRIORITISE put in a tidy performance to finish in second place. He settled last of the seven runners, moved off the inside with 800m remaining and sprinted quickly in the back straight, sustaining the run to go down by a narrow margin. CROCODILE BLOOD began quickly to lead, took cover and waited for the sprint lane. He finished off nicely to be a very close third. MY BABYGIRL (3 back markers) was the fourth horse across the line. Both CROCODILE BLOOD and MY BABYGIRL appear to be strong winning chances in the same race at Mildura this afternoon and might be able to run the Quinella.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.8 Last Half: - 60.1 Margins: - Neck, Nose
Trial 9: - BANDIT EYES parked without cover early but wanted to race very fiercely and was allowed to stride forward in the back straight on the first occasion. He seemed to settle better once he found the front and he was able to fend off his rivals in the run to the judge to get the prize. He is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. TOUGH SHAZ settled five back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the half mile marker and finished off well out wide on the track to finish a narrow second. PERCUSSION was four back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 800m mark and finished in third spot. SURFSUP finished a close up fourth after leading out then taking cover.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 58.5 Margins: - 2m, Head
Trial 10: - BRIGHTON is an unraced juvenile pacer by Downbytheseaside for trainer Emma Stewart and created a good impression. She led throughout and was able to score comfortably in handy time. HEZAFLASHONE sat in the trail throughout but he chased really hard for second and beat the remainder of the field by a large margin so he showed some potential. HANNAHS MY DELIGHT came from four back on the markers to pick up a distant third.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Last Half: - 57.1 Margins: - 6m, 40m
BLACKBOOKER: - Brighton
Trial 13: - HIGH ABOVE showed his class in the final trial by leading throughout. He recorded fast time and went to the line under a vice like grip so he appeared to be very sharp. ZAHRA LOU trailed the leader throughout and finished in second with COMPETE being third across the line after being three back on the markers for the duration. MAJOR FIRE NZ was last of the four runners throughout but it was hard to make ground with the winner recording a sizzling last quarter of 27.1 seconds.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.4 Last Half: - 55.9 Margins: - 5m, 2m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 30/07/24
Trial 2: - LET HER ROLL trailed the leader, came to the outside with 150m remaining and finished off fast to win the trial in slick time. WATERFRONT NZ set up a genuine tempo in the leading role and went down fighting to run a brave second. MACHANE SAID settled five back on the markers and worked into a distant third with SOMEJOYFUL NZ finishing fast from a rearward position to fill fourth spot.
Mile Rate: - 1.55.7 Last Half: - 55.22 Margins: - 2.5m, 25.5m
Trial 4: - FREIGHT SHAKER settled last on the markers, came out three horses wide on the home turn and finished off fast to win very impressively. He is making his debut for trainer Chris Svanosio at Shepparton on Tuesday night. MANDA KYVALLEY trailed the leader, came off the inside on the home turn and tried hard for second with the early leader SHES SKY HIGH being last of the three runners to cross the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.8 Last Half: - 60.51 Margins: - 4.5m, 2.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Freight Shaker
Trial 5: - PINNIE began quickly to lead, pulled hard and set up a genuine tempo. She remained strong at the finish and scored comfortably. STOCKMAN PETER began well to trail the leader, chased hard and finished second, well ahead of CALL ME JACK (3 back markers). TRADIE LADY trotted roughly and was last of the four runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.3 Last Half: - 57.80 Margins: - 5.5m, 25.5m
Trial 7: - BALBOA ROCK pushed forward to race without cover, found the front at the 1300m and zipped home in a sizzling final quarter of 26.80 seconds to win comfortably. SHOWSOMEJOY NZ led out then took cover and tried hard for second. SOMETUFFLUV settled in third and finished in that position and MY ULTIMATE HUGO was last of the four runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: - 1.55.4 Last Half: - 55.70 Margins: - 3.5m, 7.5m
Trial 8: - There might have been only two horses in trials eight and nine but both events carried a lost of interest. Victoria’s champion pacer CATCH A WAVE was making his first public appearance since his memorable Western Australian campaign, where he won two Group 1 races in April and he strolled to victory over IDYLLIC. He dashed home in a sensational last quarter of 26.22 seconds, seemingly with something in reserve so he is obviously close to his peak form. IDYLLIC still recorded handy time after setting the pace even though he was beaten by ten metres.
Mile Rate: - 1.55.6 Last Half: - 55.32 Margin: 10m
Trial 9: - ALDEBARAN ZEUS returned to winning form at Melton on July 06 and he kept the momentum rolling with a runaway success in fast time after leading throughout. HAROLD SMITH NZ is a very smart New Zealand trotter that has joined trainer Emma Stewart but he couldn’t go with ALDEBARAN ZEUS over the concluding stages.
Mile Rate: - 1.55.6 Last Half: - 57.11 Margin: 28m
Trial 12: - KISS NZ is a former New Zealand filly that has recently joined trainer Emma Stewart. She had no luck in Tasmania at her Australian debut but showed a lot of potential in her trial victory. She settled three back on the inside, waited for the sprint lane and showed brilliant acceleration in a sizzling final quarter of 26.54 seconds. She is obviously worth following based on that performance. STORMRYDER pushed forward to find the lead and was run down in the last stride. DRAW A DREAM trailed the leader, came to the outside on the home turn and missed out narrowly. SERGEANT LOU was last of the four runners throughout but went to the line with plenty in reserve.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.2 Last Half: - 55.86 Margins: - ½ head, head
BLACKBOOKER: - Kiss NZ
