Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail noticed some standout runners at recent trials.
Karbine settled back in the field and sprinted home impressively to finish second at Bendigo.
At the same track, former New Zealand runner Ted was hard held to the line and looks one to follow.
At Melton, Watts Up The Hill reeled off a fast last quarter.
TRIAL REPORT
COBRAM 31/07/25
Trial 1: – BUBBY TO BASE galloped at her latest performance in New South Wales but did everything right in the trial by leading throughout and scoring by a large margin. She is competing at Wagga this afternoon. HEZASWEETIE NZ sat in the trail throughout and couldn’t go with the winner in the final 300m.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.3 Last Half: – 56.5 Margin: – 12m
Trial 2: – ARCHIE MOTH settled three back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 600m and finished off well in a slick final half of 57.4 seconds. He is a maiden from eleven starts and hasn’t started since December but he showed enough ability in the trial to suggest he can break through for a win in the near future. He is competing at Cranbourne on Sunday night. RONNIE THE HAMMER finished in second after setting the speed and KEAYANG SANTIAGO was the last one home after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.3 Last Half: – 57.4 Margins: – Neck, 25m
MARYBOROUGH 03/08/25
Trial 1: – JAZSPUR was the class runner of the trial and was able to score after trailing the leader throughout. She is a tough mare and the trial victory should have given her confidence leading into her next race track appearance. WISH UPONA DREAM finished in second after setting the speed and TICTOK was last for the duration after galloping at the start.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 59.3 Margins: – Neck, 50m
Trial 2: – RYTA began well and ended up trailing the leader around the first corner. She came to the outside turning for home and finished off best to score over BLACKRANGE GLORY. BLACKRANGE GLORY did very well after setting up a genuine speed against the pacers and being beaten by a narrow margin. THELONGROADOFHOPE was three then four back on the markers and was a distant third at the end.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.4 Last Half: – 59.3 Margins: – Head, 25m
Trial 4: – MECARNO settled four back on the markers, worked through to trail the leader with 500m remaining and angled wide on the home turn. He finished off very quickly and grabbed victory on the line. APRIL SUN trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers at the 1300m and moved into the death seat at the 500m mark. He battled well for a close second. CENTURION DREAM ended up finishing in third after setting the speed.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – Head, 12m
KYABRAM 03/08/25
Trial 1: – OUR BELLA LUCIA was a winner early in the season but she had been unplaced at her eight attempts leading up to the trial. She would have been able to gain some confidence with a comfortable victory and backed up with a fourth placed effort at Ballarat on Thursday night. She will be in for a busy week as she is travelling across to South Australia for a race at Globe Derby on Monday afternoon. HEAVENS LOVE STORY is an unraced filly for trainer Casey Leijen and finished in second position with JAKEE BOY finishing in third position. JAKEE BOY will also be travelling across to South Australia on Monday afternoon to race at Globe Derby Park.
Mile Rate: – 2.12.3 Last Half: – 61.4 Margins: – 8m, 3m
MILDURA 04/08/25
Trial 1: – POWERSOFPERSUASION has started since a fourth at Mildura in March. He won five races at the end of his last preparation and he recorded a slick final half of 57.5 seconds to win his trial. KIALLA KID continued his reasonable trial form with a close second.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.4 Last Half: – 57.5 Margin: – ½ head
Trial 4: – MY ULTIMATE JIMMY NZ was a very impressive winner at his latest Mildura attempt and he kept the momentum rolling with a runaway victory. It was a good hit-out for his performance this afternoon. EVA EXPRESS is an unraced gelding by Betting Line for trainer Boris Devcic. She finished in second position ahead of BIG BAD CHAD with YOU ARE MY SOUL being fourth. BIG BAD CHAD and YOU ARE MY SOUL are both backing up at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.3 Last Half: – 61.3 Margins: – 30m, 10m
Trial 5: – EGBERT hasn’t raced since failing to finish twice in succession back in February but will return to racing at Mildura this afternoon. He was able to take out the last trial by a comfortable margin over IM ALRIGHT JACK with STONEBRIDGE STAR finishing in third position. STONEBRIDGE STAR will also be competing at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.1 Last Half: – 60.7 Margins: – 3m, head
BENDIGO 04/08/25
Trial 1: – ITS DIAMOND CREEK has joined trained Alex Ashwood since his latest performance. He showed good gate speed to lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and was a clear leader in the back straight on the final occasion. He was always in control of the trial and won nicely. KARBINE settled six back on the markers, moved away from the inside at the quarter pole and picked up many lengths in the straight to run a game second. He appears to be a strong winning chance at Shepparton on Tuesday night. FRANKYTHEFRENCHMAN settled three back on the markers and finished in third position. He is also competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. ZIPTIE finished fourth after trailing the leader throughout and MAC AND ZAC finished off well from five back on the markers to finish in fifth. ZIPTIE is scheduled to compete at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.3 Last Half: – 61.2 Margins: – 5m, 9m
BLACKBOOKER: – Karbine
Trial 3: – GEMMY LOU was without cover early, restrained to be three back on the markers at the 1100m and wanted to race fiercely throughout. She angled to the outside on the home turn and finished off fast to win nicely. She makes her debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. USUAL SUSPECT finished in second after trailing the leader and coming to the outside with 300m remaining. THE TRAWLER settled last of the four runners and worked home into third position. THE NINJA attempted to lead throughout and set up a genuine tempo after racing keenly and peaking at the end. He is resuming from a break at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.3 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 3m, 6m
Trial 4: – PRO HIBITION settled five back on the markers and moved up without cover at the bell. He was able to kick on well at the end to get the prize. WALKIN UNDERSTARZ broke stride at the start, chased hard and tacked on with 1400m remaining. He settled six back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the bell and did very well to be beaten by a narrow margin. ATTRACTED was three back on the markers, pulled hard and finished in third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.8.2 Last Half: – 60.8 Margins: – Head, 5m
Trial 6: – CENTOFELLIE settled five back on the markers and moved into the running lane (1-2) at the 600m mark. She finished off quickly and was able to get up to win on the line. She is resuming from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night. JETTER SON settled three back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 600m and hit the front at the 300m. He battled on well in the straight and was beaten by a narrow margin. He is backing up at Mildura this afternoon. TED NZ settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and never peeled to the outside at any stage. He looked to have something left at the finish and his form in New Zealand was strong so he is worth following.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.1 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 1m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: – Ted NZ
MELTON 05/08/25
Trial 1: – CYCLONE JENNI settled five back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 600m and chased hard to win well. TAPPY began quickly and worked to the front shortly after the start. He ran along at a reasonable tempo and was run down right on the line. FROSTY DROP led out then took cover and finished in third position.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.3 Last Half: – 56.5 Margins: – Head, 11.5m
Trial 3: – WATTS UP THE HILL has joined the Chris Lang & Sonia Mahar combination since his latest performance and he recorded an impressive victory. He trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 500m and sprinted home in a slick final quarter of 27.8 seconds. TRACY THE JET also produced a tidy performance. She settled last of the four runners and finished off boldly to pick up second position. IMPERIAL COMMAND NZ finished in third after attempting to lead throughout. He is competing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.7 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – 4.25m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Watts Up The Hill
Race 5: – GOODTIME LIBBY began fast to find the lead, backed off the tempo mid-race and had a good enough kick left at the finish to win the prize. POSTERIZED trailed the leader throughout and finished in second. CRAYONS TO PERFUME settled three back on the markers, was held up for a run at a vital stage and finished off swiftly for an eye-catching third. LAYDEN settled four back on the markers, moved off the pegs at the 400m and loomed on the turn before peaking in the straight. He was last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.0 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 2.25m, neck
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