David Murphy has recently added five-year-old Nakula to his stable and the former Queensland-based mare looks a handy addition if her performance at the trials is anything to go by.
Harness Racing Victoria form analyst Craig Rail was impressed by the hit-out at Maryborough on Sunday and is looking forward to her debut for the Dunnstown trainer at Bendigo tonight in race four.
See Rail's updated Blackbook below this week's Victorian trial review.
TRIAL REPORT
SHEPPARTON 30/11/23
Trial 1: - FELLINI continued her impressive trial form with a runaway success in the opening event. She was without cover early, pressed forward to find the lead and ran away at the end to win by approximately ten lengths. HELLO SWEETHEART began quickly to lead, took cover and ended up being three back on the markers before coming to the outside on the home turn. She got up for second on the line in front of HYDEEHO NZ, which showed good gate speed and ended up being behind the leader. HELLO SWEETHEART is backing up at Gunbower on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 58.4 Margins: - 30m, head
BLACKBOOKER: - Fellini
Trial 3: - IM EASY ON THE EYE is an unraced filly by Sunshine Beach, which appears to have a promising future. She began quickly and was three horses wide early before progressing forward to find the lead with 1700m remaining. She was untroubled in the run to the finish to score easily from UPRIGHT, which led out then took cover. HEAVENSVILLE came from six back on the markers and finished off quickly to fill third spot in front of PABLOS ART (4 back markers). UPRIGHT is racing at Albury on Tuesday night and HEAVENSVILLE is competing at Bendigo this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Last Half: - 59.7 Margins: - 8m, 3m
Trial 4: - DESSIE GEE hasn’t raced since a fourth at Swan Hill back in October 2022. He appeared to be somewhere near his peak form at the trials however considering he settled last of the five runners, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m and finished off fast in slick final sectionals to beat a strong field. NIGHT SCHOOL was four back on the markers before making a run from the 500m mark and finished in second. MONGIANA raced without cover in the early stages, pushed forward to find the lead and was run down late, ending in third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.9 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - 5m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: - Dessie Gee
Trial 5: - STREETS OF MADRID is an unraced gelding by Major In Art, which raced a little keenly and has a bit to learn but showed enough ability to win the trial. He led out then took cover at the 1700m and drove through along the sprint lane in the latter stages. He is making his debut at Gunbower on Sunday. MONSIEUR MEILLAND was five back on the markers early, moved away from the inside at the bell and went down fighting, finishing a narrow second. He is competing at Bendigo tonight and his trial form is sound. BINN WATCHING was three back on the inside and filled third spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.3 Last Half: - 59.0 Margins: - Head, 15m
MARYBOROUGH 03/12/23
Trial 1: - MAGOMEDOV backed up his good trial performance a week earlier when he finished off well to score in the opening event. He settled three back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 300m and produced a good finishing burst. The eye-catching performance of the trial came from the former Queensland pacer NAKULA NZ, which is now being prepared by David Murphy. She settled four back on the inside and finished off fast without being fully extended so she could be worth following. She is awkwardly drawn at Bendigo this evening but she has ability. TOPSIES BLING finished third after setting the speed and hung in under pressure over the final 100m. SETTEBELLO trailed the leader and finished fourth but he wasn’t far away and he was taking on a good field. He backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night and finished second after being held up for a run at a vital stage.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Last Half: - 57.1 Margins: - 2m, 1m
BLACKBOOKER: - Nakula NZ
Trial 2: - CORK was able to lead throughout and defeated AETOS DYNAMIS, which settled three back on the markers and continued to follow inside runs throughout. CORK is competing at Geelong Tuesday night and AETOS DYNAMIS is competing at Bendigo this evening. LITTLE YANKEE came from last of the four runners and was doing his best work at the end. He was unplaced at Ballarat on Thursday night. WIN FLYNN trailed the leader, came to the outside with 500m remaining but broke stride when joining the leader on the home turn thus being the last horse to complete the course. He is backing up at Geelong on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.4 Last half: - 59.8 Margins: - 2m, 4m
Trial 3: - CHEDALAYO was able to burn to the lead in the early stages and never appeared to be in any danger of defeat. She finished off in a slick final half of 57.7 seconds and scored comfortably by five metres, which was a good form pointer for her effort at Mount Gambier this evening. JAMES IN CHARGE produced a very good effort for second. He settled four back on the markers, raced very fiercely and steamed along the sprint lane at the end, beating the remainder of the field by a comfortable margin. MAC SHADOW was midfield in the running lane and got up for third before finishing unplaced at Ballarat on Thursday night. BEACH HEAVEN came out wide from last and picked up late ground for fourth. It was a nice effort and she backed up with an all of the way victory at Ballarat on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.1 Last Half: - 57.7 Margins: - 5m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: - James In Charge
Trial 4: - DARBY OGILL NZ was able to pick up some confidence with a win over SIR NIPPA. He settled four back on the markers, waited for the sprint lane and was able to drive through late and get the prize. SIR NIPPA was run down late after setting up a slow tempo in the lead. ARKLOW produced a nice effort for third. She was last of the eighth runners in a slowly run trial and powered along the sprint lane in the fastest part of the trial. She backs up at Geelong on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.2 Last Half: - 59.8 Margins: - 6m, 6m
Trial 6: - BLUE MIKI began quickly and progressed forward to find the lead shortly after the start. He was able to hold off his rivals to win by a narrow margin. DANCIN WITH LUSH led out then took the trail behind the eventual winner. She raced roughly approaching the home turn but balanced up nicely and appeared to have something in reserve at the finish. MAISIELOUISA was three back on the markers and came to the outside approaching the home turn. She picked up ground in the run to the finish and wasn’t beaten by far. Both DANCIN WITH LUSH and MAISIELOUISA backed up with unplaced efforts at Ballarat on Thursday night
Mile Rate: - 2.1.2 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - 1m, 1m
Trials 7 + 8 were small fields and the winners ARZALI and TICKTOK both dominated from the front. ARZALI recorded a mile rate of 2.8.9 (61.5) and is competing at Bendigo tonight. TICTOK ran 2.6.5 (59.2) from the standing start and followed with an unplaced effort at Ballarat on Thursday night.
KYABRAM 03/12/23
Trial 2: - The smart trotting mare BITTA IRISH LUCK galloped away at her latest race track attempt at Melton and took on easier opposition at the trials. She scored easily over the juvenile trotter CRESCO CASHFLOW, which unfortunately galloped away at her debut and last her chance at Maryborough on Thursday. KAMARAN was third ahead of his stable mate MONTANA MUSCLE. MONTANA MUSCLE backed up with a second at Maryborough on Thursday and the winner BITTA IRISH LUCK will be competing in the Gunbower Trotters Cup on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.1 Last Half: - 59.8 Margins: - 30m, 20m
BENDIGO 04/12/23 (The results for the Bendigo trials have not been uploaded onto the official harness website. The results in this report are unofficial and are as broadcast on the trial video replays).
Trial 4: - FRANKYTHEFRENCHMAN pushed forward to race without cover in the early stages and eventually found the lead. He led comfortably on the home turn from THAT’S YOUR OPINION, which trailed and came to the outside. THAT’S YOUR OPINION couldn’t make an impression on FRANKYTHEFRENCHMAN in the straight and FRANKYTHEFRENCHMAN was able to win clearly. He has been running some good races recently and is getting ready for a win. BILLYSOPHIA is backing up at Bendigo this evening in the Graeme Lang trotting mile and was last of the five runners to complete the course after being three back on the markers throughout.
Mile Rate: - Unavailable Last Half: - Unavailable Margins: - 6m, 50m (approximately)
Trial 5: - HILLSIDE continues to show some talent at the trials and won nicely over STICK WITH ME. She settled four back on the markers and commenced her winning run with a decent sprint from the 500m mark. She is backing up at Gunbower on Sunday but is drawn very awkwardly. STICK WITH ME tried to go with HILLSIDE from behind the leader and finished second with SHEZA CHOCOLATIER (3 back on the markers) being third across the line.
Mile Rate: - Unavailable Last Half: - Unavailable Margins: - 8m, 6m (approximately)
Trial 6: - POLLY PEACHUM was able to gain some confidence leading into tonight’s performance at Bendigo by leading throughout in the final trial. She safely held CLASSICALLY SMOOTH at bay after that pacer enjoyed the perfect run in the trail throughout. BARWEN STORM finished in third position ahead of ROCKSTAR SAINT and DON’T WASTE TIME in a trial where the field remained in the same order for the duration.
Mile Rate: - Unavailable Last Half: - Unavailable Margins: - 2m, 20m (approximately)
MILDURA 04/12/23 (As was the case for Bendigo, the Mildura trial results have not been uploaded onto the website and the results in this report are unofficial).
Trial 1: - ALL DA RAGE had his final public hit-out prior to heading to the Gunbower Cup on Sunday and was able to lead throughout. He went to the line with plenty in reserve and never appeared to be in any danger of defeat. AVOCA BLUES finished second after trailing the leader throughout and SMYNANNA MICKEY was last for the duration.
Mile Rate: - Unavailable Last Half: Unavailable Margins: - 5m, 10m (approximately)
Trial 2: - LETSGO CAPTAIN is new to the Sunraysia and created a good impression with his trial success. He trailed the leader OUR ULTIMATE BILLY, came to the outside on the home turn and finished fast to win easily. MY ULTIMATE BILLY finished in second after racing keenly in the lead and that pair finished a long way clear over their rivals headed by ELPINE WARRIOR.
Mile Rate: - Unavailable Last Half: - Unavailable Margins: - 7m, Distanced (approximately)
TERANG 05/12/23
Trial 1: - JILLIBY WILLOW fired to the front shortly after the start and set up a moderate tempo early but sizzled home in a last half of 55.6 seconds. He hasn’t started since being unplaced in the Melton Plate in March but he appears to have come back from a break better than ever. FIDES was having his final public hit-out prior to his first up performance at Melton on Saturday night. He settled last of the three runners and hit the line hard with SILENT MAJOR NZ, which is also scheduled to compete at Melton, dropping out to be the last one home.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Last Half: - 55.6 Margins: - 10m, 15m
Trial 3: - MR TEDDY NZ is a former New Zealand pacer that has joined trainer Amy Day. He settled last of the five runners, was inconvenienced at the 1100m but was able to recover and finished off fast to claim the prize. The final sectionals were slow but there was a lot to like about his performance. MODERN CULTURE finished in second after rolling to the front at the 1800m and KEAYANG KEVIN was third after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.6 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - Head, 10m
Trial 4: - JILLIBY MENDOZA finished fifth at Horsham on November 27 but he was able to bounce back into winning form at the trials with a comfortable victory after she led throughout. She finished off in fast final sectionals to defeat KEAYANG LADYBUG with JUST BE YOURSELF being last of the three runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.7 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - 3m, 5m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 05/12/23
Trial 2: - METEOR MOTH is an unraced colt by American Ideal for trainer Emma Stewart. He led early but wanted to hang out on the first turn and ended up in the trail behind ANOTHER PUDDIN. He raced greenly at times but was able to accelerate along the sprint lane to win comfortably. SONGNDANCE MAN settled last of the five runners, moved to the outside at the 600m and sprinted quickly in the back straight. He did well to finish second with ANOTHER PUDDIN being third across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.1 Last Half: - 58.79 Margins: - 3.5m, neck
Trial 4: - HEY GOYOUGOODTHING NZ began very quickly and ran to the lead shortly after the start. He dashed home in slick final sectionals to win by a good margin over SHEVCHENKO, which settled three back on the markers and made ground late. SKIP TO ME LOU began quickly to trail the leader and tried hard for third position. HEY GOYOUGOODTHING NZ is racing against harder opposition at Melton tomorrow night but he was impressive. SKIP TO ME LOU makes his debut at Geelong on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.7 Last Half: - 57.05 Margins: - 11m, 2.5m
Trial 5: - IDEALROCKIDEALROLL hasn’t raced since a Tasmanian campaign at the beginning of the season with his last run being in April. He trailed the leader early, moved away from the inside at the 500m and sprinted very quickly to win by a big margin. POWER UP NZ settled three back on the inside and finished well to get passed the early leader LEAVE YOUR HAT ON.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.7 Last Half: - 57.11 Margins: - 28.5m, 9.5m
