A last-start debut winner from 2020 looks ready to roll once again after more than two years away from the races.
Craig Rail was impressed with the Shepparton trial of Franco Norway, who scored victory on his home track for new trainers Stephen O’Donoghue and Rebecca Bartley.
The son of Art Major won career start one at Menangle back in October 2020, but has not raced since that first-up performance for former conditioner Tim Butt.
Rail placed Franco Norway in his Blackbook this week alongside fellow Shepparton trial winner Curly James, former Kiwi Hey Goyougoodthing and last-start Group 1 runner-up Dangerous.
To view Rail’s updated Blackbook, scroll to the bottom of this week’s trial report.
SHEPPARTON 29/12/22
Trial 1: - CURLY JAMES began very quickly to lead shortly after the start. He ran along at a very genuine tempo and never looked like being beaten at any stage. He recorded a slick mile rate of 1.56.5 so he is worth following. SERG BLANCO NZ trailed the leader throughout and held down second. Both CURLY JAMES and SERG BLANCO NZ will be competing in the Cobram Cup on Sunday. NATIONAL NEWS NZ was three back on the markers and remained behind SERG BLANCO NZ all of the way before racing roughly with 100m remaining and losing a bit of ground. BIG BAD OSSIE finished off nicely from four back on the markers to finish fourth.
Mile Rate: - 1.56.5 Last Half: - 55.9 Margins: - 8m, 10m
BLACKBOOKER: - Curly James
Trial 2: - MY SWEET SABRINA is a former New South Wales trained pacer, which has joined trainer Craig Turnbull. She settled four back on the markers and moved to the outside with 700m remaining. She sustained a long run to overhaul the early leader OCCIANO with ABERDENE finishing off nicely from fifth to pick up third. MY SWEET SABRINA is racing at Cobram on Monday but has come up with a very awkward draw.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 59.6 Margins: - Neck, 8m
Trial 5: - FRANCO NORWAY NZ hasn’t raced since a debut victory at Menangle in October 2020 but he was impressive in taking out the final event. He settled fifth on the pegs, came away from the inside at the 700m and was out three horses wide from the 400m before finishing off best to win untouched. HAVE NO CHOICE finished second after trailing the leader and coming to the outside at the 500m with JUSTCALLMEANGUS (3 back pegs) being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: - Not Given Last Half: - Not Given Margins: - Not Given
BLACKBOOKER: - Franco Norway NZ
BACCHUS MARSH 24/12/22
Trial 2: - IMPERIAL WHIZ NZ took out the open class trotting trial and scored by a good margin. He hasn’t raced since finishing eighth at Maryborough in October. The Breeders Crown Graduate Trot winner VICTREE HILL finished in second with SILENT REVERIE being a distant third. SILENT REVERIE backed up with an unplaced effort at Maryborough on Thursday.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.5 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - 10m, 20m
Trial 4: - HEY GOYOUGOODTHING NZ is a former New Zealander, which finished unplaced in two Victorian starts in October/November. He is now being prepared by trainer Jess Tubbs and was able to record handy time in his trial victory over OOH AH LISTAH with MORVAH finishing third. MORVAH backed up at Geelong on Wednesday night and shot along the passing lane to finish second, which could be a good form pointer for HEY GOYOUGOODTHING NZ over the next few weeks. OOH AH LISTAH is racing at Ballarat tonight and is a chance but Follow The Eclipse will be hard to beat. HEY GOYOUGOODTHING NZ should go well at Yarra Valley on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.8 Last Half: - 59.4 Margins: - 2m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: - Hey Goyougoodthing NZ
MARYBOROUGH 31/12/22
Trial 1: - ROCK N ROLL DOO NZ produced a stunning performance leading up to the Bendigo Cup tomorrow night. He worked forward to find the lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and recorded a blistering mile rate of 1.53.5, seemingly with plenty in reserve. The only knock on the trial was the fact he wanted to hang off the track with 500m remaining but he produced a marvelous performance. SHES MY BABY did very well to come from last of the four runners and pick up second, particularly considering she has a National Rating of 73. The open class trotter SUNDONS COURAGE settled three back on the markers and finished third with RACKEMUP TIGERPIE (behind leader) being the last one across the line. SUNDONS COURAGE will be competing in the Maori Mile at Bendigo tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 1.53.5 Last Half: - 55.0 Margins: - 20m, 2m
Trial 2: - CATALPA RESCUE is a promising maiden having been placed in three of his past four starts. He trailed the leader SOHO LUMINE, came to the outside approaching the final corner and finished off quickly at the end. He should be able to pick up a victory at short notice. He looks to be a good chance at Cobram on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.1 Last Half: - 55.9 Margins: - 1m, 30m
Trial 4: - DANGEROUS hasn’t started since finishing second in the Nutrien Final at Group 1 level in Sydney back in July. He took on a very suitable field but he did appear to be very sharp in his trial victory so he should have a prosperous campaign. He trailed the leader SHARKBITE ALTO and shot away in the home straight with SHARKBITE ALTO defeating the remainder of the field headed by CRACK THE VAULT (3 back pegs) by a large margin. DANGEROUS will be very hard to beat in the opening event at Cobram on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 10m, 20m
BLACKBOOKER: - Dangerous
BENDIGO 02/01/23
Trial 2: - TALK IS CHEAP is an unraced filly by Guaranteed out of the former handy mare Orta Be Ruthless. She trailed the leader and was successful over AMAZING STRIDE in a field of just two runners but she did finish off in slick final sectionals so she appears to have some ability.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 58.4 Margin: - 4m
Trial 3: - ZAREM was successful in another small field of two runners. He trailed behind IS THAT A BID, came to the outside in the home straight and claimed victory on the line. Both of the open class trotters performed well and went to the line hard held in a trial that was more like trackwork than a competitive affair. ZAREM will be competing in the Cobram Cup on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.8 Last Half: - 58.8 Margin: - Short Head
Trial 6: - FIRE FOX NZ disappointed in the Cranbourne Cup but he was able to bounce back at the trials with an emphatic victory albeit in easier grade. He led throughout and dominated his rivals to win comfortably over CEE CEE IN AMERICA, which settled last of the trio with ROCK PHONE (behind leader) being the last one home. He has drawn on the outside of the second line in the Cobram Cup on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Last Half: - 56.9 Margins: - 20m, 8m
BALLARAT 04/01/23 (The results of the Ballarat trials are yet to be uploaded on the Harness website)
Trial 1: - DOM DAN trailed the leader, moved away from the markers on the home turn and finished off solidly to win nicely. CALYPSO MISTRESS began quickly and was able to slide to the lead shortly after the start. She finished second with MAJOR DRAMA being in third after being left without cover early, easing to four back on the markers and moving into the death seat again over the latter stages.
Trial 2: - ROYAL DIVISION produced a tidy display to take out the second trial. He led out then took cover and ended up being three back on the markers. He wanted to race fiercely but was still able to extend when he gained a run through the middle. FOUR LONELY NIGHTS finished in second position after working hard to lead, taking cover at the 1400m and moving away from the markers on the home turn. LADY OF THE ARTS progressed forward behind FOUR LONELY NIGHTS early, pushed to the front at the 1400m and battled on well for third.
Trial 3: - KEAYANG LIVANA trailed the leader LADY IN THE SKY and came to the outside on the home turn. She sprinted sharply in the straight and was able to score by approximately two lengths.
Trial 4: - KEAYANG KAMIKAZE trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 400m and had to be driven hard in the straight but was able to get the job done. IMPERIAL REASON kicked on strongly to finish in second after setting the speed and JILLIBY SELWOOD came from last of the four runners to gain third spot.
Trial 5: - YIANNI showed good gate speed to lead and was untroubled in scoring. He is meeting a very strong field at Bendigo tomorrow night. KEAYANG JACKIE settled down last of the four runners, came to the outside at the 300m and made ground for second with ZOLIVER being in third after trailing the leader throughout.
Trial 6: - Unfortunately, the last winner of the trials was very impressive and is one for the black book but finding it’s exact name without the official results being posted has proven to be difficult. The broadcast sounded like OOPS A DAISY and it was driven by Kerryn Manning, which gives some guide. After galloping at the 1800m and losing approximately 50m, it was able to tack onto the group before finishing off powerfully via an inside run. The only OOPS A DAISY listed on the website was by Bachelor Star and was born in 1980. MANGANA JOE finished second after trailing the leader RAGNA THOR, which was last of the three runners to complete the course.
