Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail noticed some standout runners at recent trials.
Particularly unraced and well-bred filly, Our Sweet Jeannie. She was caught without cover early at her Shepparton trial, restrained to last of the five runners then moved up without cover again at the 1300m. She hit the front at the quarter pole and powered away over the latter stages to win impressively so she is worth following. She makes her debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
SHEPPARTON 05/03/26
Trial 1: – GINGER ELLA was the only pacer taking on a field of trotters. She settled last of the six runners, came to the outside at the 600m (1-2) and angled out four horses wide on the home turn. She produced a strong finish to score hard held. That victory should give her plenty of confidence leading up to her performance at Maryborough on Monday. SEBS GAL has galloped in all of her three starts to date but she showed some promise in the trial. She settled three back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m and angled out three horses wide on the home turn. She was run down by the pacer late but she beat the other trotters convincingly. SHINELIKETHESUN settled four back on the markers, waited for the sprint lane and finished on nicely for third. She backed up at the Wangaratta @ Shepparton meeting on Sunday and was able to produce her Maiden success. She is competing again at Shepparton on Tuesday night. RED KILLARNEY (5 back markers) was the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.6 Last Half: – 62.2 Margins: – Head, 12m
Trial 2: – JILLIBY ILLUSION worked forward at the start and was able to get across and find the lead at the 1800m. He kicked well clear on the home turn and was able to hold on in the run to the finish. NORMS LADY settled three back on the markers, was giving the leader a healthy start on the home turn but charged home late to run a game second. She is racing at Wagga this afternoon. WAYSAM settled four back on the markers, followed up behind NORMS LADY but couldn’t match her finishing burst at the end and was a distant third across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.4 Last Half: – 57.0 Margins: – 3m, 15m
Trial 4: – PASTOR DUNBAR began quickly and was able to angle in behind the early leader PAR BIRDIE EAGLE shortly after the start. He was left in front momentarily when PAR BIRDIE EAGLE broke stride at the 1300m but was content to take cover behind GATESYS MATE, which took up the opportunity from three back on the markers to work to the top when the trouble occurred. GATESYS MATE is racing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. PASTOR DUNBAR then waited for the sprint lane and drove through to win nicely. BANOS settled four back on the markers, ended up being three back mid-race and moved off the inside at the 600m. He battled on strongly in the run to the finish for second and maintained his strong trial form. GATESYS MATE ended up finishing in third position ahead of MY JERRY, which was five then four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m mark and angled out three horses wide on the home turn.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.1 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 2m, 5m
Trial 5: – OUR SWEET JEANNIE is an unraced 3yo filly by Sweet Lou out of the top mare Shake It Mama (1.54.7, $257,588), which has already produced three winners including Mamas New Dude (1.55.4, $59,170) and Cool Rocking Daddy (1.55.9, $95,440). She was caught without cover early, restrained to last of the five runners then moved up without cover again at the 1300m. She hit the front at the quarter pole and powered away over the latter stages to win impressively so she is worth following. She makes her debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night. HANCOCKS HERO settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail behind OUR SWEET JEANNIE and finished in a distant second. AFTER THE CHASE was three back on the inside, moved off the pegs at the 300m and finished in third ahead of the early leader MAJOR EASTWOOD. The third placed AFTER THE CHASE is scheduled to compete at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.3 Last Half: – 57.4 Margins: – 10m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: – Our Sweet Jeannie
Trial 6: BIG BAD OSSIE was a very impressive winner of the last trial. He led out then took cover behind his stable mate WESTERN SONADOR at the 1700m mark. He came to the outside at the quarter pole and sprinted sharply to win by a large margin and with seemingly plenty in reserve. It was a good hit-out for his performance at Melton tomorrow night. WESTERN SONADOR battled into second and HOORAH PHILTRA was last of the three runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.1 Last Half: – 56.5 Margins: – 15m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Big Bad Ossie
MARYBOROUGH 08/03/26
Trial 1: – TIARA GAIL settled last of the four runners, moved to the outside at the 300m and was three horses wide on the home turn. She finished off quickly and scored by a large margin. She is competing at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. LOW LIE THE FIELDS settled three back on the markers and worked into a distant second. SUPREME DOLL finished in third after trailing the leader throughout and the early leader THE RED AVENGER was last of the four runners to cross the line. The third placed SUPREME DOLL is competing at Mount Gambier on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.11.2 Last Half: – 60.9 Margins: – 12m, 3m
Trial 2: – CRUNCH RULES won the trial for juvenile pacers after progressing forward to find the lead shortly after the start, being headed at the 500m and coming again in the straight to gain the upper hand. He is by Captaintreacherous out of Transparency Rules and is related to three winners including Canada Bay (1.56.3, $125,931). He is making his debut at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. SIENNA BELLA led out then took cover and dashed to the front at the 500m before peaking late. She is by the former classy Queensland pacer Rollon Bigred out of the unraced mare Life of Chiquita. JUST MILZY was last of the trio for the duration. She is by Bettor’s Wish out of the speedy mare All Starzzz Megan (1.54.3, $71,928) and is related to the race winner Just Jimmy (1.59.6).
Mile Rate: – 2.8.9 Last Half: – 62.7 Margins: – 1m, 20m
Trial 3: – DONNYOSKO won the 2yo trotting trial by a good margin after he trailed the leader and came to the outside at the 300m. He has been performing fairly well at the Maryborough trials over the past few weeks. LUCKY AVENUE finished in second after attempting to lead all of the way. DOWNTOWN GIRL was three back on the markers throughout and finished in third while ELEGANT SPIRIT was last of the four runners for the duration. All of the four horses will be competing in the opening 2yo trotting event of the season at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.5 Last Half: – 62.8 Margins: – 10m, 30m
Trial 4: – DELIGHTFUL CHARM continued her good trial form with a victory in handy time. She was able to run to the front shortly after the start and held on in the run to the finish. She is competing at Melton tomorrow night. TALLARAS SHADOW settled three back on the markers, came to the outside at the 500m and finished off well for a narrow second. She is resuming at the Charlton Cup program on Sunday afternoon. NAKULA NZ has been at her worst behaviour on the race track recently but she did everything right in the trial, where she was without cover early and angled in to trail the leader at the 1800m. THEROUX was last of the four runners for the duration then backed up with a close second at Kilmore on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.4 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – Head, 5m
Trial 5: – MERCENARY trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 400m and was able to kick on well to defeat the pacer BLUE MIKI by a narrow margin. He is resuming in the Charlton Trotters Cup on Sunday afternoon. BLUE MIKI attempted to lead throughout, ran along at an even tempo and was claimed right on the line. HAROLD BE THY NAME finished in third after being three back on the markers throughout and will be competing at Geelong this evening. DOWNUNDER BARKERS (4 back markers) and BRUISER ALM (5 back markers) finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.7 Last Half: – 60.2 Margins: – ½ head, 15m
Trial 6: – HEZ NOTTHE MESSIAH was without cover early before progressing forward to find the lead at the 1700m. He ran along at an even tempo and was able to score by a comfortable margin. He is racing at Geelong this evening. BELLA LOMBO settled last of the five runners, moved to the outside at the 400m and finished off well for second. WHENIGROWUP trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and battled on fairly well for third. COOKIE DOUGH worked to the front shortly after the start and was run down over the latter stages to finish in fourth. He followed with a sixth placed effort at Kilmore on Thursday night. OSCAR BRAVO settled four back on the markers and was the last horse across the line. He followed with a sixth placed effort at Kilmore on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.8 Last Half: – 59.4 Margins: – 5m, 3m
Trial 7: – LOVE WHO was able to take out the final trial after leading throughout. METRO SWISH NZ was three back on the markers early, moved off the inside at the 400m mark and worked home quite well for second. He is backing up at Geelong this evening. MUNRO KAI was four back on the markers, angled out three horses wide on the home turn and worked into a distant third. BEAU TRUSCOTT finished in fourth position after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.5 Last Half: – 63.2 Margins: – 10m, 5m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 10/03/26
Trial 1: – ALDEBARAN ACRUX USA has had three starts since July and those efforts were in the Kilmore Cup, in a heat of the Great Southern Star and in the Breed for Speed Gold Event. She appeared to be well placed in the trial and won by a comfortable margin with RAMBO SUFFARELL being the second horse across the line. HILLWINSOME finished fifth at his latest race track appearance at Charlton. He finished a distant third ahead of VERBICI and EL BANDOLERO. The winner ALDEBARAN ACRUX USA was able to get good standing start practice for her effort in tonight’s Evolution Lodge McNamara Memorial Geelong Trotters Cup.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.9 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 4.75m, 7m
Trial 2: – LOUCASSO is an outstanding colt, which produced a memorable performance to win the Breeders Crown at his latest attempt. He continued his good trial form with a victory over CAPTAIN PERFECT, which won the 3yo version of the Breeders Crown at his latest attempt. SON OF MAC NZ performed below expectations when resuming but he should be getting fitter. He battled on well for third in a strong field and is competing at Geelong tomorrow night. FOX DAN and SERGEANT LOU finished fourth and fifth respectively but they were not beaten by far.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.9 Last Half: – 55.2 Margins: – Head, 5m
Trial 3: – NOTANOTHA NAUGHTY hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Breeders Crown in December. He won the Redwood Classic during his juvenile season and his two trials this season have been sound. He defeated HOWDY MATE, which enjoyed a very good juvenile season with victories in the Nutrien Classic and the Tatlow Stakes and second placed efforts in the Super Series and the Breeders Crown. It was a slowly run trial but the final quarter was run in a slick 28.2 seconds. IM HAVINTOTROT finished in third and HEAVENS WISH was a distant last of the quartet after striking trouble.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.6 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 2.25m, 2.5m
Trial 5: – MOUNT BARKER BOY hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Bathurst Gold Crown Consolation in March 2025. He showed promise in limited opportunities last season and won his trial by a large margin. AMELIAS JEWEL is an unraced filly by Bettor’s Delight out of the fast mare Amelia Rose (1.52.3, $143,010) and is the first foal. She finished second and was well ahead of SHIFFRIN with ZEALYN being the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.7 Last Half: – 57.2 Margins: – 12.5m, 5.25m
Trial 7: – CARDIGAN JEM is an unraced juvenile colt for trainer Emma Stewart. He is by Stay Hungry out of Jemstone (1.55.5, $128,765), whose first foal Fiction File (1.57.2) has already been a race winner. He won the trial comfortably over THE FINAL DANCE. CAPTAINMAYO is a 2yo filly by Captaintreacherous, out of Moon Ovr Manhattan (1.57.1, $32,710), a race winning daughter of the top producer Smyrna Duruisseau USA, which has produced three winners herself (Major Manhattan 1.59.4, Manhattan Moon 1.54.5, Paint The Palette 1.59.). She finished third ahead of another unraced juvenile filly TEERDEE, which is by Captaintreacherous out of Perfect Life (1.58.0, $47,588). Perfect Life has produced eight winners including That’s Perfect (1.52.1, $167,078), Perfect Major (1.53.4, $295,691), Rogue Wave (1.52.3, $140,385) and Perfect Class (1.51.7, $396,010) so she is nicely bred.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.2 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – 5.75m, 1m
Trial 8: – DYNAMITEDAN hasn’t raced since winning a heat of the New South Wales Breeders Challenge in September. He dashed home in a slick final quarter of 27.2 seconds to defeat his two stable mates LETSSTARTINHEAVEN and WILLOWS GIRL, both of which performed extremely well in the aged classics last season. HURRICANE HOOLY finished a distant fourth ahead of SOHO HUDSON. HURRICANE HOOLY will be competing at Charlton on Sunday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.5 Last Half: – 56.2 Margins: – 1.5m, 1.5m
Trial 10: – ZIPPIN PAST is a juvenile trotting filly by Pastor Stephen USA out of Zippin Around, which has produced the winners Billy Zippin (2.4.2, $33,720) and Zipping Volstead (1.57.8). She was able to defeat the nicely bred 3yo filly HEIR JAURDON, which is by Angus Hall out of Jaurdon, a daughter of the top trotting mare Jauriol (1.59.9, $248,824), which has produced four winners including Endsino (1.58.1, $185,203) and Hatchback (1.55.3, $226,060). WAR DAN PHOENIX hasn’t raced since September and finished in third ahead of NOSTRA NIPOTINA.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.3 Last Half: – 61.0 Margins: – ½ head, 1.75m
Trial 12: – FIGHTER COMMAND backed up his trial victory a week earlier with another success in fast time. He dashed home in a slick final quarter of 26.8 seconds to defeat the Eureka champion BAY OF BISCAY by a narrow margin. BEACH DIAMOND was last of the three runners across the line but wasn’t beaten by a large margin.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.5 Last Half: – 56.0 Margins: – Head, 2m
