A stunning final quarter from Ladies In Red amid a class Melton field and some smart performances from former Kiwis were among the highlights on Victoria's trial circuit.
Victoria's reigning three-year-old filly of the year capped a faultless front-running performance with a 26.9 final quarter to win the fourth Melton trial ahead of stablemates Beyond Delight, Joanna and Maajida in a key pre-cursor to a northern campaign. Scroll down for the replay.
Also impressive this week were Erupt Stride, who set a "sizzling" 55.4-second last half at Shepparton, and El Resamo, who impressed at Maryborough.
They were among three Blackbook additions. Scroll to the bottom for the updated Blackbook.
SHEPPARTON 23/06/22
Trial 1: - ERUPT STRIDE NZ is a smart juvenile pacer, which hasn’t raced since winning a Consolation of the Bathurst Gold Crown in March. He was very impressive in leading all of the way and was able to dash home in a sizzling final half of 55.4 seconds. CASH BOOST trailed the leader and finished second with STYLISH IN BLACK being in third after settling three back on the markers. CASH BOOST performed well enough in the trial to be considered as a strong winning chance when resuming at Shepparton on Tuesday. Apart from the winner, ROARFORROSCOE produced the run of the trial as he settled down last of the six runners, came out three horses wide at the 400m and ran home strongly in sizzling final fractions.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Last Half: - 55.4 Margins: - 12m, 8m
BLACKBOOKER: - Erupt Stride NZ
Trial 2: - CAPTAIN HAMMERHEAD settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m and finished off best to down CHIRRIPO, which settled one position ahead of him before moving into the breeze at the 500m and hitting the front at the 300m. CHIRRIPO copped plenty of pressure when leading and finished a handy third when on debut at Kilmore on Thursday night. SCHEMING ran an eye-catching third after running home strongly from six back on the markers.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Last Half: - 58.4 Margins: - Neck, 8m
Trial 5: - SIRLETIC produced an extremely impressive performance to win the open class trial. He settled last of the five runners, came to the extreme outside on the home turn and stormed home over the top of his rivals in a slick final half of 56.1 seconds. He should prove very hard to beat against the claiming class at Shepparton tomorrow night. LINE UP NZ trailed the leader and moved to the lead at the 1500m. He kicked on strongly to be beaten by a narrow margin. CHEYELLA settled three back on the markers and finished third with the Inter Dominion Pacing champion BONCEL BENJAMIN being fourth after leading out before taking cover.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.2 Last Half: - 56.1 Margins: - Head, 8m
Trial 7: - FULLOFMISCHIEF began quickly to find the lead, rolled along at a genuine tempo and held off his rivals to score. He is competing against a strong field in the opening event at Shepparton tomorrow night. NEW YORKER trailed the leader and used the sprint lane to finish second with the former New Zealander SERG BLANCO being third after settling three back on the markers and coming to the outside at the 500m.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.5 Last Half: - 56.4 Margins: - 2m, Neck
BACCHUS MARSH 25/06/22
Trial 3: - THE HUNTRESS hasn’t raced since winning during the Mildura Cup Carnival in April. She started off her campaign beautifully with a win at a Bacchus Marsh trial followed by another trial win at Melton on Monday. She won her trial at Bacchus Marsh over the qualifier CAPTAIN BLOOD and ROAD TO REIGN finished in third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.3 Last Half: - 61.1 Margins: - 4m, 10m
Trial 4: - Trainer Jess Tubbs trained the Trifecta in the open class trial with the fast mare MOMENTSLIKETHESE defeating LA CAPTAIN and the former New Zealander GILLIGANS ISLAND NZ was in third position. The last quarter was run in a slick 27.8 seconds so each of the three runners performed nicely.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.6 Last Half: - 58.1 Margins: - 2.5m, 10m
Trial 6: - OUR TEMPO was able to take out the sixth event by a narrow margin over A PERFECT DANCE. OUR TEMPO is a value hope at Cranbourne on Sunday and A PERFECT DANCE backed up to finish second at Kilmore on Thursday night. They drew well clear of their rivals with ZOES RAINBOW finishing a distant third.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Last Half: - 59.8 Margins: - Nose, 15m
Trial 7: - AISHABEACH is a lightly raced gelding with ability. He hasn’t raced since February 2020 but he indicated that he is set for a prosperous campaign with a victory over FIVE STAR SHARK and POCKET VEECEE NZ. AISHABEACH is perfectly drawn for his return to racing at Cranbourne on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.2 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - Head, 15m
MARYBOROUGH 26/06/22
Trial 3: - JOSHUA RICHARD settled fifth on the inside, moved up without cover at the 900m and sustained the run to win the trial nicely from TELEMACHUS, which led out, took cover and used the sprint lane. GOT EQUITY prepared for his effort at Charlton on Monday with a third placed effort. He was without cover early and pushed forward to find the lead at the 1700m.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Last Half: - 57.5 Margins: - 1m, 1m
Trial 6: - EL RESAMO began quickly to find the lead, rolled along at a genuine tempo and won with ease. He dashed home in a slick final half of 59.1 seconds and looks to have a very promising future. He unfortunately galloped away and lost a lot of ground at his debut effort on Wednesday night but it shouldn’t be long before he breaks through for his maiden success. ZESTA LA GO GO finished in second position after settling down three back on the markers before galloping and losing 25m at the 1600m.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.9 Last Half: - 59.1 Margins: - 8m, 3m
BLACKBOOKER: - El Resamo
ECHUCA 26/06/22
Trial 1: - TINO TERE MAORI scored an impressive win in the opening trial. He settled three back on the markers, took off out three horses wide at the 900m, dashed to the lead at the bell and sustained the run to win by 25m. He hasn’t started since December but his campaign commenced on a bright note and he should prove very hard to beat in the final race at Shepparton on Tuesday.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.6 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - 25m, head
BLACKBOOKER: - Tino Tere Maori
TABCORP PARK, MELTON
Trial 1: - TORO STRIDE NZ raced roughly at his Australian debut and missed a place but he has shown plenty of promise at the trials. He settled down three back on the markers, gained a one out and one back trail at the 400m and finished fast to pick up the tearaway leader HAUTACAM to win the opening trial on the program.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.1 Last Half: - 60.37 Margins: - 1.5m, 23.5m
Trial 4: - LADIES IN RED continued her extremely impressive form at the trials with a big victory after leading throughout. She ran along at a genuine tempo and appeared to have something in reserve despite posting an incredible mile rate of 1.52.8, with a last quarter of 26.92 seconds. JOANNA finished second after trailing the leader throughout with BEYOND DELIGHT being in third after being three back on the markers and moving to the outside at the 500m mark. MAAJIDA finished last of the four runners but was far from disgraced considering she finished less than ten metres from the winner in super time.
Mile Rate: - 1.52.8 Last Half: - 54.53 Margins: - 5m, Neck
Trial 7: - GILLIGANS ISLAND NZ followed his trial third at Bacchus Marsh on Saturday with a victory at the Melton trials. He began very quickly to find the lead, set up a good tempo and held off his rivals to score. ARGGGHHH settled in the running lane (1-2), gained a one out and one back trail at the 1200m and came out three horses wide from the 300m. He chased hard to finish a close second with MIRAKURU being in third position after being left stranded without cover for the final circuit. The Inter Dominion trotting champion MAORI LAW took on a strong field of pacers and finished seventh after racing without cover early before drifting back to seventh on the markers mid-race.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.2 Last Half: - 56.08 Margins: - ½ neck, 1.5m
Trial 8: - RAKERO BLAZE NZ is a former New Zealand trotter, which hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Great Northern Derby at Alexandra Park. She stepped away in second position, came to the outside at the 300m mark and dashed clear of LEFT RIGHT ANDCENTRE in the run to finish. She was driven very aggressively in the early stages of the Great Northern Derby and cruised to victory at the trials so she should prove hard to beat on her Australian debut at Maryborough this afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.4 Last Half: - 59.25 Margin: - 9m
STAWELL 27/06/22
Trial 1: - CATALPA RESCUE finished fourth at his debut in April and was able to win over KEAYANG MOON SHINE in a reasonable mile rate of 2.1.0 (58.9) in the opening trial. The open class performer EMAIN MACHA won the second trial over the maiden pacers ALFNALMA and NARRA VANE by 164m in a mile rate of 2.0.4 (56.5).
BENDIGO 27/06/22
Trial 3: - THE CHOOK and PARISIAN ARTISTE went to the line locked in unison. PARISIAN ARTISTE led and went to the line under a strong hold. THE CHOOK trailed the leader and drew level in the straight. TRAVEL BUG was last of the five runners early and came out three horses wide on the home turn but by the time he peeled to the outside, he was a long way behind the leaders.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.9 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - Dead-heat, 30m
Trial 5: - The smart 3yo pacer INTEREST FREE was able to lead throughout and zipped home in a sizzling final quarter of 27.1 seconds. He scored comfortably over his stable mate OZZIE JOY, which settled three back on the inside and came to the outside with 300m remaining. She finished off boldly in the straight. INTEREST FREE missed out narrowly behind Blitzern when resuming at Kilmore on Thursday night and OZZIE JOY missed a place on the same program.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Last Half: - 57.5 Margins: - 8m, 9m
Trial 7: - ROCKING BUGATTI settled fifth on the pegs, moved into the death seat at the bell and asserted his superiority in the straight to win by a large margin. He dashed home in a slick final half of 56.0 seconds so he is worth following. MAJOR WATSON finished in second position after attempting to lead throughout with FEEL THE REIGN being third after trailing the leader.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.4 Last Half: - 56.00 Margins: - 18m, 1m
Trial 8: - THE ROCKNROLL KING NZ prepared for his first up performance at Shepparton on Saturday night with a victory over SIXTY, where he trailed the leader and dashed along the sprint lane over the final stages. SIXTY settled three back on the inside and moved away from the markers at the 500m mark. VANQUISH STRIDE produced a reasonable performance after settling five back on the inside and moving into the one out and one back trail behind SIXTY. He went to the line without being fully extended and is resuming from a break at Shepparton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Last Half: - 56.8 Margins: - Nose, 2m
Trial 9: - KHAKI NUI NZ trailed the leader, pulled hard and moved up without cover at the 400m. He hit the lead in the straight then held off the late challenge of YORKSHIRE NZ, which finished fast from three back on the markers.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Last Half: - 56.8 Margins: - Head, 5m
BALLARAT 28/06/22
Trials 1 + 2 were dominated by trainer Geoff Webster, which nominated three out of the four horses competing on the program. BROMWICH galloped twice on the same area of the track at the 1100m and the 100m but his rival ALDEBARAN YEURIAL also broke stride several times and failed to complete the course so the opening trial was a virtual walkover. BRIEISBETTER led throughout to win the second trial over BUDDY.
