Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail has spotted three standouts from the recent Maryborough, Bendigo and Melton trials.
Rail identified Maxbeca, Do It and Netra as horses to follow after good performances for respective trainers Ben Pell, Tayla Fellows and Netra.
See his full trial review below:
COBRAM 09/10/25
Trial 2: – AUSSIE JAY MAC NZ settled four back on the markers, moved off the pegs at the 800m and hit the front with 600m remaining. He sustained the run and was able to win by a large margin. He finished off nicely when resuming at Shepparton on Tuesday and he is backing up in a heat of the South Australian Derby on Saturday. UPRIGHT led out then took cover at the 1700m and came to the outside with 500m remaining. He tried hard for second and beat the remainder of the field by fifty metres. MYLA GIRL settled three back on the markers and finished a distant third ahead of the juvenile trotter PASTOR DUNBAR.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.3 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – 15m, 50m
BACCHUS MARSH 11/10/25
Trial 1: – ROCKNROLLA WALLA was unplaced at Metropolitan level when having his first run since February. He should be getting fitter and won the opening trial in a close finish. The recent Melton winner GOODTIME LIBBY finished in second with SMOKEN ACE NZ being a breath away in third position. SMOKEN ACE NZ hasn’t started since a game second at Melton in June.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.2 Last Half: – 57.3 Margins: – Head, Head
Trial 3: – LADY VICI unfortunately made an error at the start and ruined her chances of completing nine straight victories at her latest Melton appearance. She was able to bounce back with a trial victory over the former Breeders Crown hero PROHIBITED GRACE with COCONUT MICKEY being eight metres away in third position. DESIGNER VICI was last of the four runners across the line. PROHIBITED GRACE is backing up in tomorrow night’s Victoria Trotters Oaks.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.8 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 2m, 8m
Trial 4: – SWAYWITHSIERRA ran a reasonable race for fourth at her debut performance at Melton. The nicely bred filly was able to win her trial by a comfortable margin over COLD STORAGE with WEONA OUR RIGHTS being in third position. The leading trio finished well clear of DANNARIE with HEAVENLY GEM being the first of the new season juveniles to make an appearance for next season being the last horse across the line. HEAVENLY GEM is by Rock N Roll Heaven out of Prairie Pearl, the unraced dam of the handy performer Carramar Solomona (1.55.0, $60,020). SWAYWITHSIERRA backed up at Bendigo on Wednesday night and finished eighth behind Rocknroll Wish.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.3 Last Half: – 61.2 Margins: – 2m, 4m
Trial 6: – TIPPLE TIME is undefeated in two starts to date with her latest victory being in the Graeme Lang Classic at Bendigo. She kept the momentum rolling with a trial victory over the Courtney Slater trained 3yo trotter BILLY BAGGINS, which is making his debut at Geelong this evening. DANCE WITH ROXY finished a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.9.8 Last Half: – 62.0 Margins: – Head, 12m
Trial 8: – GOODTIME MACH is a nicely bred pacer, which boasts six career victories to date. He has been freshened since a disappointing eighth at Maryborough in early September and was able to finish off in handy final sectionals to win the trial comfortably. BLACK TUXEDO finished second across the line with TRIROCKIN, which hasn’t started since April, being the third horse to complete the course.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.8 Last Half: – 58.8 Margins: – 3m, 12m
Trial 9: – CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY is a handy trotter when she is able to put it altogether and won the final trial by a large margin. She won a race at Echuca in April and hasn’t started since a fifth at Maryborough in June. SHAQ THE ANVIL finished in second position with UNKNOWN SON, which hasn’t started since January 2022, being the third horse across the line. The two juvenile trotters for trainer Tyrone Abela JAYS ALL THAT and FRANCO AMERICANO finished fourth and fifth respectively. SHAQ THE ANVIL competed at Bendigo on Wednesday night and finished off nicely for fourth behind Buslin Brody.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.7 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 10m, 8m
CRANBOURNE 12/10/25
Trial 1: – SOLS ME NAME raced without cover in the early stages, angled onto the markers to be behind the leader at the 1100m and came away from the markers on the home turn. He finished off best to claim victory and appeared to have plenty left in reserve. LE BETTY came out quickly to find the lead and battled on well for second position. She is backing up at Swan Hill this afternoon. CAPTAIN TIDS trailed the leader in the early stages, ended up being three back on the markers and finished a distant third. The trotter BLANCO CANYON was last of the four runners for the duration and will be competing at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – 2m, 46m
MARYBOROUGH 13/10/25
Trial 1: – ELLE PERFECTO was resuming from a spell when third in the Tatlow Stakes and kept the momentum rolling with a win in the opening trial. RAPTA was runner up at his latest performance and was runner up again in his trial performance. ZOOLU has been a multiple winner already this season and broke stride at her latest unplaced attempt. She finished in third position and DOWNUNDER BARKERS was fourth after commencing from the handicap of 20m.
Mile Rate: – 2.8.8 Last Half: – 61.2 Margins: – 2m, 6m
Trial 2: – THEMIDNIGHTEXPRESS is a rising two years old pacer for trainer Damien Burns and he did well to defeat the older pacers. He is by Ride High and is the first foal out of Ourlittle Princess, an unraced daughter of the fast mare Princess Dilinger (1.58.2, $65,263). HELLAVA DEAL is an unraced filly by American Ideal for trainer Aaron Dunn. She was beaten by a nose margin and VINCENT ORILEY finished six metres away in third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.8 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – Nose, 6m
Trial 4: – MAXBECA hasn’t raced since being unplaced back in June. He recorded very fast time in his runaway success and he has a low National Rating of 46 so he is worth following. AMERICAN SQUARED finished a distant second ahead of EYESALITTLE, which is an unraced filly by Downbytheseaside out of the classy mare Little Lyn (1.56.8, $84,390), the dam of Little Louie (1.53.0, $152,417) and Jazzy Melea (1.53.9, $41,546).
Mile Rate: – 1.58.2 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 13m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Maxbeca
BENDIGO 13/10/25
Trial 1: – DO IT recorded an impressive victory in the opening trial of the program. He began quickly to lead then took cover at the 1700m mark before making his move when turning into the back straight on the final occasion. He sustained a strong run in slick final sectionals and drew clear at the end to win nicely. MITZI SAID was driven aggressively in the early stages to find the lead. She battled on well for second and finished well clear of the others headed by the trotter A TRUE STORY NZ, which settled five back on the markers. MITZI SAID is competing at Melton on Saturday night and A TRUE STORY NZ is competing in a heat of the South Australian Trotters Cup at Globe Derby.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.8 Last Half: – 55.7 Margins: – 4m, 32m
BLACKBOOKER: – Do It
Trial 3: – IM ALL BUSINESS was driven aggressively in the early stages by driver Daryl Douglas to find the lead from a wide alley. He ran along at a reasonable tempo and remained strong at the finish to win well. He is competing in a heat of the South Australian Derby on Saturday night. SRIRACHA settled four back on the markers, came out three horses wide on the home turn and finished off fast for an eye-catching second. She is competing in a heat of the Golden Nursery Pace Globe Derby on Saturday night. ALCATRAZ MISS trailed the leader and came to the outside at the 300m mark. She finished in third ahead of HEAVENLY NIKKY, which settled three back on the markers. HEAVENLY NIKKY is scheduled to race at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.7 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – 4m, 7m
Trial 7: – IMA TIGGY TIGER settled three back on the markers, came to the outside on the home turn and finished off best win the trial nicely. STYLISTIK finished in second after attempting to lead throughout. WELL WELL was the third horse across the line after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.8 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 3m, 8m
Trial 8: – COL DU GRANON settled four back on the markers, angled wide with 150m remaining and ran home strongly to produce a good victory. ALWAYS SKYE HIGH settled five back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 800m mark and angled in behind the leader for a breather in the back straight on the final occasion. He finished off okay to finish a close second. ZIPTIE began quickly to find the front and was a clear leader in the early stages. He battled on quite well for a close up third.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.3 Last Half: – 62.9 Margins: – Head, 2m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 14/10/25
Trial 1: – CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY trailed the leader and came to the outside with 500m remaining. He finished off well for a handy victory. NOTANOTHA NAUGHTY settled last of the four runners and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He produced a strong finishing burst in a final quarter of 28.8 seconds and delivered a very tidy display to gain second position. QUEEN KIZEN NZ settled three back on the markers, came to the outside approaching the home turn and finished in third. The early leader OLD VILLA BOY was last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.2 Last Half: – 58.2 Margins: – 3.5m, 2m
Trial 2: – RAZOR HORIZON showed very good gate speed to lead, kicked clear on the home turn and sustained the run to win by a large margin. He recorded a slick final half of 56.1 seconds so it was a very impressive display. MISTER AMERICANO settled five back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m and came out four horses wide on the home turn. He did a good job to work home into second position. JUST INCREDIBLE was without cover in the early stages, restrained to be three back on the markers and finished in third position.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.5 Last Half: – 56.1 Margins: – 18.5m, 1m
Trial 3: – RAGING WHITEBAIT NZ was the class runner of the trial and was able to coast to a comfortable victory after finding the lead in the early stages of the event. He is competing in a strong field at Melton on Saturday night. DRESSED IN GOLD NZ was able to run into second position after being three back on the markers throughout. He is backing up at Globe Derby in a heat of the South Australian Pacing Cup on Saturday night. ULTIMATE JOY trailed the leader and finished in third. FUN TO LOVE NZ was last of the four runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.0 Last Half: – 55.0 Margins: – 8.75m, 3.75m
Trial 5: – CHARLIES TACTICS is a nicely bred colt for the Chris Lang and Sonia Mahar training combination. He was able to lead throughout and win his trial over SHONEE, which sat in the trail throughout and never peeled to the outside at any stage. She went to the line hard held and looked to have plenty in reserve. She is competing at Terang on Monday night. TRIXIE settled three back on the markers and was the third horse across the line. She is backing up at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.1 Last Half: – 60.4 Margins: – 4.25m, 9m
Trial 7: – MEDINA failed to finish in an earlier trial but was able to take out the seventh event. He settled last of the seven runners, angled out three horses wide at the quarter pole and produced a strong run to gain the upper hand. He has drawn poorly for the opening heat of the South Australian Derby at Globe Derby on Saturday night. ROCKNMETRO began quickly to race without cover, raced greenly and hung out on the first turn, restrained to be three back on the markers and moved into the death seat again at the 700m. He battled on well for second place. NETRA NZ settled five back on the markers, was held up for a run at a vital stage and charged home at the end for an eye-catching third. The early leader MY ULTIMATE SASSY was the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.8 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 1.25m, 1.75m
BLACKBOOKER: – Netra NZ
Trial 8: – VYTIS settled last of the three runners, moved to the outside at the 500m and finished off fast to win nicely. That win should give her plenty of confidence for her effort at Terang on Monday night. GEE CEE CALDER began brilliantly to find the lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and was run down over the final stages. SKY FLAIR was last of the trio across the line after trailing the leader for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.4 Last Half: – 58.7 Margins: – 1.5m, 38.5m
