Craig Rail has described Rockinwithattitude’s hit-out at Melton this week as a “stunning Redwood Classic trial” and has placed the David Miles-trained youngster in his Blackbook ahead of Sunday’s Group 1 showdown.

The talented filly warmed up for the feature classic at Maryborough with victory over The Locomotive, who she will clash with again in the $50,000 standing start event this weekend.

After galloping early, Rockinwithattitude moved up without cover at the bell and produced a big performance to get the prize.

She joins That Other Thing, Champagne Delight and Romantic Nina as Rail’s Blackbook additions for this week. The updated file can be found below the trial review at the bottom of the page.

TRIAL REPORT

BACCHUS MARSH 22/10/22

Trial 1: - The reigning Inter Dominion champion BONCEL BENJAMIN has recently joined trainer Tim McGuigan and will make his debut for the stable at Melton tomorrow night. He was able to win the open class trial of two horses with ITS BACK IN THE DAY NZ finishing a metre behind.

Mile Rate: - 2.5.4             Last Half: - 58.5                Margin: - 1m

Trial 3: - AMOLDO hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Homegrown Classic in April. He was able to take out the third trial with GENERAL LINCOLN being second. GENERAL LINCOLN backed up to finish in third position at Melton on Wednesday night. ARE YOU WITH ME finished third in the trial and also backed up with a third placed effort at Bendigo on Tuesday night so the form out of the trial is quite strong.

Mile Rate: - 2.5.9             Last Half: - 60.3                Margins: - 8m, 2m

Trial 6: - SLEEPEE hasn’t raced since December and was in great form against the open class last season. She was able to defeat the maiden performer CAPTAIN GRAYWOOD by a large margin.

Mile Rate: - 2.7.3             Last Half: - 60.9                Margin: - 70m

Trial 7: - TREMBITA was able to narrowly win the final trial over STRAPPING RED. Both horses backed up during the week and finished second in their respective races so they are close to a win in events of similar class.

Mile Rate: - 2.9.6             Last Half: - 61.1                Margins: - Nose, 3m

 

TABCORP PARK, MELTON 24/10/22

Trial 1: - ROCKINWITHATTITUDE began quickly from the standing start to find the lead but broke stride at the 1400m and lost ten metres. She moved up without cover at the bell and produced a big performance to get the prize in a stunning Redwood Classic trial. THE LOCOMOTIVE also stepped away quickly and trailed the leader in the early stages before being left in front when ROCKINWITHATTITUDE galloped. He fought on strongly in the straight and finished a close second. It will be another entertaining clash between the pair in the Redwood Classic at Maryborough on Sunday. The pair raced well clear of the others headed by MOREFLINGTHANBLING.  

Mile Rate: - 2.7.0             Last Half: - 57.15              Margins: - ½ neck, 16m

BLACKBOOKER: - Rockinwithattitude

Trial 2: - ONE APOLLO NZ is a former New Zealand trotter, which finished unplaced in five starts in New South Wales. He has recently joined trainer Brent Lilley and has been performing nicely at the trials. He was without cover early and worked to the front when the early leader EASY PICKINGS NZ spotted some ducks waddling across the track and broke stride on the first turn. He led for the remainder of the trip and scored from ALLURING TYRON NZ, which finished quickly via the sprint lane from three back on the markers. GOOD HEART trailed the leader, moved to the outside on the home turn and battled on reasonably well for third. ALDEBARAN HUEY broke stride at the start and was checked at the 500m mark so he his performance was sound. ONE APOLLO NZ will make his Victorian debut at Yarra Valley on Tuesday and looks to be a good chance. ALLURING TYRON NZ will be racing in the John Slack Memorial on Redwood Day, where she commences from the handicap of 30m but she is a very quick beginner.

Mile Rate: - 2.5.8             Last Half: - 59.44              Margins: - 2.5m, 3m

Trial 4: - RIGHT OF REPLY was able to lead throughout for trainer Ken Tippet. He was well placed in the trial having taken on the 2 + 3yo trotters but he was untroubled in scoring. THAT OTHER THING put in an eye-catching performance to finish second. He settled three back on the markers, was held up for a run at a vital stage and finished fast via the sprint lane. He is a big chance of winning the opening event on Redwood Day based on that performance. BULLION GIRL finished third after trailing the leader throughout. BULLION GIRL is perfectly drawn in race two on the same day.

Mile Rate: - 2.3.3             Last Half: - 60.08              Margins: - 13.5m, 2m

BLACKBOOKER: - That Other Thing

Trial 5: - WHERESTHESTORM was one out and one back early before being left without cover then progressed forward to find the lead at the bell. He was able to hold off HURRIKANE FRANCO, which produced a very good effort. He led out, took a trail at the 1300m, ended up being three back on the markers and only gained a clear passage with 100m remaining. SHEROCKS SHEROLLS finished third after leading out then taking cover with THE IRON DUKE doing a good job to finish fourth after settling down last of the eight runners in the early stages. VEE EM GEE MACRAY settled five back on the inside and finished fifth but was never fully extended. The first three pace getters will all compete in the opening event at Geelong on Monday but it is a very strong field while VEE EM GEE MACRAY finished fifth on debut at Kilmore on Thursday.  

Mile Rate: - 2.0.7             Last Half: - 59.99              Margins: - Short ½ head, 4.5m

Trial 6: - KYVALLEY CHIEF NZ was able to dominate the open class trotting event. He led throughout and never appeared to be in any danger of defeat. He did drift out to the centre of the track over the concluding stages but he wasn’t fully extended. He is awkwardly drawn against a tough field in the open class event on Redwood Day. SWISS MISS NZ finished second after trailing the leader and QUEEN INVASION was last of the three to cross the line after being without cover before restraining onto the markers at the 1200m.  

Mile Rate: - 1.57.9           Last Half: - 58.31              Margins: - 7m, 6m

Trial 7: - FIRST DANCE NZ was very green at her Geelong trial victory a week earlier but appeared to be more switched on at Melton with an easy victory in handy time. She led throughout and was well clear of her rivals at the finish. She has ability and is worth following but she is meeting a couple of handy types at her debut performance at Geelong on Monday. PARADISE VALLEY settled four back on the markers, gained a one out and one back trail at the 700m and came out three horses wide at the 300m. She finished nicely for second with NANCY KAY being third past the post after settling in fifth position and coming out four horses wide on the home turn.

Mile Rate: - 1.58.34        Last Half: - 57.35              Margins: - 9m, 2.5m

Trial 9: - GIVEITATRY hasn’t raced since finishing fifth in the Vicbred Championship back in August. He won a heat of that series prior and he appeared to be very sharp in his trial victory, where he trailed the leader and accelerated beautifully via the sprint lane. MIRAKURU settled last of the three runners, moved into the death seat at the 600m and battled on well for second with the early leader CELESTIAL TREKKER being last of the three runners across the line.

Mile Rate: - 1.56.94        Last Half: - 56.03              Margins: - 2.5m, 4.5m

 

BALLARAT 25/10/22

Trial 1: - QUEEN TREACHERIE NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which was unplaced in both of her attempts at Alexandra Park. She has recently joined trainer Emma Stewart and led throughout to win her trial over stable mate CHAMPAGNE DELIGHT, which produced an eye-catching effort. She was four back on the markers and powered home at the end in a quick last quarter of 28.5 seconds. CLIFFHANGER trailed the leader early then ended up being three back on the markers and was the third horse to greet the judge. ARKLOW was last of the five runners from the 1300m and finished fourth. She is not without a chance from the pole position at Swan Hill this evening.

Mile Rate: - 2.1.3             Last Half: - 57.4                Margins: - 2m, 4m

BLACKBOOKER: - Champagne Delight

Trial 3: - DON LOU raced twice in Victoria back in October 2021 but most of his starts have been in New South Wales and Queensland. He recently joined trainer Emma Stewart and was able to lead throughout at his comfortable trial victory over the trotter COVER OF DARKNESS, which finished off fast from fourth. FINAL PEACE was three back on the markers behind her stable mate IRON CHARIOT and obtained a late inside run to finish third. IRON CHARIOT was last of the four runners to cross the line but it was a very strong trial and he is a good chance from the pole position at Swan Hill this evening.

Mile Rate: - 2.0.8             Last Half: - 57.2                Margins: - 8m, 1.5m

Trial 5: - EVERYBODYLUVSKENNY was clearly the class runner of the trial and was able to lead throughout. The eye-catching performance came from the unraced juvenile trotter ROMANTIC NINA. She galloped at the start, lost approximately sixty metres, chased hard to tack onto the group and finished twenty metres behind the winner. The mile rate was slow but it was still a very good effort by the half sister to the in-form trotter Countess Chiron, which is looking for a hat trick on Redwood Day.

Mile Rate: - 2.11.7           Last Half: - 62.5                Margins: - 20m, 100m

 BLACKBOOKER: - Romantic Nina