The Melton trials on Monday might just prove a goldmine for Craig Rail, with the Harness Racing Victoria form student adding a staggering seven horses to his Blackbook from the meeting.
Rail was impressed by the performances of Apollostorm, Sweet Dixie, Zeron, Fox Dan, Denny, Classic Mission and Look Like Diamonds, and swiftly added them all to his list of runners to follow.
His updated Blackbook can be found at the bottom of this week’s trial report.
TRIAL REPORT
BACCHUS MARSH 24/02/24
Trial 1: - CORK has recently joined trainer Kim Proctor after previously being with John Murphy and will make his debut for the new stable at Boort on Sunday. He was able to win the standing start trial for the trotters over OUR SAFARI SUN, which is returning from a spell at Ararat this evening, with THE SARGENT coming in a distant third.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.5 Last Half: - 60.8 Margins: - 5m, 60m
Trial 2: - RILEYS PEGASUS is an unraced entire by Pegasus Spur out of Goodgirltruscott. The second dam Truscott Photo has produced four winners including the top trotter Sundon’s Courage (1.56.2, $472,605) and RILEYS PEGASUS showed some promise with a runaway victory over the classy filly NO TELLING HEATHER so he might be worth following. HES THEMIGHTYSPIN finished in third with CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY being a large distance away in fourth. Both HES THEMIGHTYSPIN and CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY will be competing at Melton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.1 Last Half: - 60.7 Margins: - 12m, 8m
Trial 3: - RUESLAN prepared for his performance at Melton on Saturday night with a victory in reasonable time. MISTER MACEDON would have benefited with his second placed effort against handy opposition in the trial but backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night and finished in fifth behind Rock Phone. The speedy pacer TALLULAH LEE finished in third position and VILLAGE VOICE was last of the four runners to cross the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.2 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - 3m, 3m
Trial 6: - TRINITYS DELIGHT was stood down to trial after her first up run since December, where she broke stride. She was able to quickly bounce back with a comfortable victory over BREATHE EASY, which is competing at Melton on Tuesday night. SPRING BLUE finished a distant third ahead of BRAEBEACH NZ and DANCE AFFAIR.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Last Half: - 59.5 Margins: - 6m, 8m
Trial 7: - PRINCESS ARNA raced fiercely throughout the middle stages during her last attempt at Bendigo and was stood down to trial after dropping out over the concluding stages. Her form prior was solid and she was able to win her trial at Bacchus Marsh to re-qualify. She is backing up at Ararat this evening. IM JOLLYGOOD finished in second after a victory at a Bendigo trial five days earlier. He has drawn on the pole position in the final event at Ararat this evening and should run a good race. BETTING ON COURAGE was third past the post with CLASSIC LINE being in fourth.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.5 Last Half: - 60.2 Margins: - 2.5m, 4m
MARYBOROUGH 25/02/24
Trial 1: - DONE WELL is racing consistently for trainer Aaron Dunn but without breaking through for a win this preparation. She was able to build up some confidence with an effortless victory after trailing the leader and accelerating nicely via the sprint lane. She backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night and ran a brave third in good time. MICTON MOUSE finished in second position after setting the speed and IM THE WILD ONE, an unraced mare by Rock N Roll Heaven, came from last of the five runners to pick up third spot. MICTON MOUSE came to grief at his latest attempt and will return to the race track at Melton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.0 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 6m, 8m
Trial 3: - FORTY LOVE won the trial for the juvenile pacers after settling three back on the inside and moving up without cover from the 500m mark. He is by Downbytheseaside out of the race winning mare Shadow Scooter (1.58.7, $13,120) and is the second foal. The first foal is the handy performer You Beauty (1.56.7, $27,915). ARTIST trailed the leader and waited until late to make a run, making some ground at the end. He is by He’s Watching out of the unraced Artsplace mare Pastels, which has produced four winners including Loco Diablo, which has won four of her five starts to date. ASTRAL STRIDE attempted to lead throughout and was run down in the latter stages. She is by Captaintreacherous out of the American bred mare Lunar Stride, which was a winner of four races in her home Country. ASTRAL STRIDE is her first foal.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - 2m, 2m
Trial 5: - SWEETNIKKILOU is a nicely bred filly for trainer Aaron Dunn being by Sweet Lou out of the classy mare Nikkibadwagon (1.53.2, $167,020). She is the first foal out of the mare and the second dam Miss Potential has produced six winners. SWEETNIKKILOU trailed the leader in a very slow tempo and was able to win the dash up the straight after using the passing lane. She backed up with a debut victory against a strong field at Ballarat on Thursday night. SUNSET STRIDE finished second after setting the speed with ZAFFAR coming from last of the four runners to pick up third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.0 Last Half: - 60.2 Margins: - Head, 10m
ECHUCA 25/02/24
Trial 2: - WHERES WOOD WOOD settled four back on the markers and moved up without cover from the 700m mark. He was able to grind out a victory over DALLAS NIKOLAY, which began quickly and attempted to lead throughout. EPIC ORION has recently returned to trainer Colin Godden. He missed the start by approximately 30m, tacked onto the group with 1300m remaining and was doing his best work late to finish in third spot. Each of the three runners are heading in vastly different directions over the weekend with WHERES WOOD WOOD heading to Cobram on Monday, DALLAS NIKOLAY to Boort on Sunday and EPIC ORION will be racing at Wagga this afternoon!
Mile Rate: - 2.3.9 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - Head, Head
Trial 4: - TINO TERE MAORI settled four back on the markers, pulled hard and came away from the inside with 500m remaining. He produced a good finish to win the trial nicely and that will top him off nicely for his effort at Boort on Sunday. CASTING SHADOW began quickly to lead, took cover then waited for the sprint lane. He finished off well and was beaten by a narrow margin. He will be competing at Cobram on Monday afternoon. MAHINDI NZ was headed off at the start, circled around to find the lead with a mile remaining and was run down on the line. He will also be competing at Cobram on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.9 Last half: - 59.3 Margins: - ½ head, head
CRANBOURNE 25/02/24
Trial 1: - MISTIE REIGN was able to record very quick time and defeated the smart pacer ROSANNA REBEL. ROSANNA REBEL hasn’t started since finishing unplaced in the Victoria Derby but will make his return at Melton tomorrow evening.
Mile Rate: - 1.56.3 Last Half: - 55.9 Margin: - 3m
Trial 2: - SUNDAYS SHADOW has won a race previously and was able to defeat his unraced younger half brother in STRZELECKIS SUN. IM ROWDY was last of the three runners to cross the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.6 Last Half: - 61.5 Margins: - 6m, 3.5m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 26/02/24
Trial 1: - ESCAPE THE PACE NZ continued his strong trial form for trainer Brent Lilley with an all of the way victory in the standing start trial. He went to the line with plenty in reserve and recorded a last quarter of 28.73 seconds. He makes his Victorian debut at Melton tomorrow night. IMPERIAL MONARCH NZ finished in second after trailing the leader throughout and the 3yo trotter MEGA SPUR was a little scratchy to begin but didn’t lose much ground and was last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.1 Last Half: - 58.59 Margins: - 6m, 16.5m
Trial 2: - APOLLOSTORM is a juvenile pacer for trainer Clayton Tonkin and was able to beat the older horses with ease. He was three back on the inside, moved through to trail the leader at the 500m mark and finished off best to win untouched. He is by Art Major out of the unraced mare Snug Harbor, which has produced four winners including Three of the Best (1.50.2, $268,759) and Redbank Addi (1.51.4, $222,414). This is the same maternal family as Courage Under Fire so he is bred to be a good horse and he appears to have a very promising future. SWEET DIXIE produced a good trial performance for trainer Chris Svanosio. The unraced filly settled down five back on the markers and finished off well in slick final sectionals. ALLORNOTHINGLEVI finished third after setting the speed and this trial may end up being a good form reference. Both SWEET DIXIE and ALLORNOTHINGLEVI will be competing in the opening event at Melton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.2 Last Half: - 56.73 Margins: - 4m, 6m
BLACKBOOKERS: - Apollostorm + Sweet Dixie
Trial 4: - ZERON showed terrific gate speed to lead clearly and ran along at a genuine tempo. He recorded fast time and was always in control of the trial. He is by Village Jolt out of Lavish Art (1.56.9, $33,630), which has produced four winners including the top New South Wales performers Shoobee Doo (1.49.4, $440,104) and Katchar Shoobee (1.52.1, $158,888) and he appears to have a good future. He has come up with the pole position at Cobram on Monday. The second placed horse FOX DAN also looked very good in running second. He trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers at the 1200m mark and finished off fast. He is by Art Major out of Jodila (1.57.5, $73,333), which has produced three winners including Yianni (1.51.7, $153,390) and Ideal Dan (1.51.6, $184,841). WAZZA was without cover early before angling in behind the leader at the 1200m. He finished in third ahead of GALAXY LASS (3 then 4 back markers).
Mile Rate: - 1.58.7 Last Half: - 57.56 Margins: - 12m, 16.5m
BLACKBOOKERS: - Zeron + Fox Dan
Trial 5: - KEAYANG TWEETYBIRD continued her very good form at the trials with a victory over KEAYANG GYPSY. She settled four back on the markers, angled out wide on the track approaching the home turn and produced a big finish to get the prize. KEAYANG GYPSY settled one position ahead of her stable mate, came to the outside at the 500m and loomed up to hit the lead in the straight but couldn’t repel the late challenge. PREFERRED LOVE finished in third position after setting the speed.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.3 Last Half: - 59.33 Margins: - 1.5m, 6m
Trial 6: - THE HIGHLIGHT REEL was another juvenile prepared by Clayton Tonkin, which was very impressive at the trials. He trailed the leader, came to the outside on the home turn and won untouched. He is by the former stable star Poster Boy out of the unraced mare Rockin Diva, which has produced Call Me Diva (1.56.4, $27,316). ITS CONFIDENTIAL finished in second position after setting up a genuine speed. He is also by Poster Boy and is out of the former top mare Speak No Evil (1.50.9, $354,300) so he also has a lot of breeding to suggest he can have a good career. He makes his debut at Cobram Monday. IN AN IDEAL WORLD finished in third position after settling three back on the markers and LET HER ROLL (5 back markers, off fence 600m) was fourth.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.3 Last Half: - 56.83 Margins: - 2m, 22m
Trial 7: - SHES SKY HIGH won the trial for the juvenile trotters after leading out, taking cover and ending up being three back on the markers. She is a daughter of Skyvalley out of the unraced mare Peggyhall as mentioned in last week’s report after her good trial at Geelong. MYHEARTBEATSTRUE was four back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 800m and battled on well for second. She is by Aldebaran Eagle out of Say Your Pres (2.0.4, $45,675) and is the first foal. ROCKINWITHSTYLE trailed the leader early, got shuffled back on the markers mid-race, found the front at the 900m and broke stride when being challenged in the final 50m. He was third past the post and as the name suggests, he is a half brother by Used To Me to the outstanding filly Rockinwithattitude (1.57.9, $333,940).
Mile Rate: - 2.9.1 Last Half: - 61.96 Margins: - 3m, 2m
Trial 8: - THE LOST STORM began quickly to find the lead and looked very sharp in his victory over the former New Zealand pacer DENNY NZ. He recorded a mile rate of 1.56.5 and ran his last quarter in a slick 26.75 seconds, winning with plenty in reserve. DENNY NZ trailed behind the star pacer throughout and chased hard in very fast final sectionals. He is drawn perfectly for his Australian debut performance at Melton tomorrow night and will prove very hard to beat. STARZZZ DESTINY was last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 1.56.5 Last Half: - 55.51 Margins: - 5.5m, 20m
BLACKBOOKER: - Denny NZ
Trial 11: - KINGMAN NZ is a quality 3yo pacer, which made it through to both the Super Series and Breeders Crown Finals last season. He settled five back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail leaving the back straight and came out three horses wide with 350m remaining. He got home best to record a narrow but decisive victory. CLASSIC MISSION NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which was a winner at Winton two starts ago and did well for a close second. He was without cover early, dropped onto the markers to be three back then moved away from the inside again in the back straight on the final occasion. He finished a close second with the early leader LOOK LIKE DIAMONDS being a close third. Both CLASSIC MISSION NZ and LOOK LIKE DIAMONDS appear to be strong winning chances at Melton on Tuesday night. JILLILIBY ILLUMINATE came from six back on the markers to fill fourth position in another trial, which should prove to be a very good form reference.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.6 Last Half: - 56.39 Margins: - Head, Head
BLACKBOOKERS: - Classic Mission NZ & Look Like DIamonds
Trial 12: - ALDEBARAN DINO missed the start in the Australian Grand Prix and lost all chance. He has been impressive at the trials recently and was able to win the last event comfortably. He led out, took cover behind ONE OVER ALL and was too quick in the dash up the straight. COURMAYEUR was last of the three runners throughout but held her own in fast final sectionals.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.0 Last Half: - 58.17 Margins: - 6m, 4.5m
