A nicely-bred juvenile in the care of Cranbourne trainer Jayne Davies looks ready to impress at the races after a strong trial performance last weekend.
Benbullen, who is out of the former top race mare La Machane, scored victory in good style at his home track on Sunday.
The Captaintreacherous colt settled last of the four runners, continued to use inside runs and dashed along the sprint lane to record an impressive win.
He was one of three horses added to Craig Rail’s Blackbook this week, joining Andy Gath-prepared Cool Night and Matthew Craven’s new acquisition Gotta Smudge as fresh horses to follow.
BACCHUS MARSH 24/09/22
Trial 3: - SEBS CHOICE is returning from a Queensland campaign, where he won the Redcliffe Cup and finished tenth in the Rising Sun. He was able to take out the third trial from the Jess Tubbs trained pacers CHEROKEE JOE and LA CAPTAIN. The top trotting mare QUEEN ELIDA NZ finished in fifth position but wasn’t beaten by far in fast time. She is competing in the Chris Howe Trotters Free For All at Melton tomorrow night, where she has drawn favourably.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.7 Last Half: - 56.4 Margins: - 5m, 2.5m
Trial 4: - The former New Zealand pacer GOSSIP GIRL NZ was able to win her trial over WHY NOT DREAM and BLISSFULL LILLY. GOSSIP GIRL NZ has won two races from her seven starts and hasn’t raced since a fourth in Invercargill on February 25.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.2 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 2.5m, 5m
Trial 5: - MUMPAYSTHEBILLS has been performing nicely at the trials and was able to take out the fifth trial from TAIMATE SASS NZ with NORMANDY BELLE being in third. NORMANDY BELLE is resuming from a break at Geelong this evening. MUMPAYSTHEBILLS and TAIMATE SASS NZ will both be taking on a strong field in the Starlet Trot at Cranbourne on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.9 Last Half: - 61.3 Margins: - 2m, 4m
TERANG 25/09/22
Trial 3: - JILLIBY ROY trailed the leader KOLOVOS and came to the outside at the 500m. He finished off strongly to win nicely with KOLOVOS holding down second. GOTTA SMUDGE has recently joined trainer Matthew Craven and ran an eye-catching third. He was left four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail and never peeled to the outside, going to the line jogging.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.6 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 2m, Neck
BLACKBOOKER: - Gotta Smudge
Trial 4: - JILLIBY SYLVESTER trailed the leader and his stable mate JILLIBY DYNAMITE, came to the outside at the 700m and was able to edge past that pacer in the straight to gain success. The top trotting mare PINK GALAHS remained last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Last Half: - 56.4 Margins: - 1m, 6m
MARYBOROUGH 25/09/22
Trial 1: - VALOUR STRIDE was able to lead throughout to win the opening trial on the program. He won at Ballarat on debut before heading to New South Wales and has returned to Victoria with Shane Sanderson. He returns from a spell at Wagga this afternoon. STAG PARTY NZ has had two starts since coming from New Zealand. He settled last of the three runners, pulled hard and moved to the outside with 500m remaining.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.7 Last Half: - 56.0 Margins: - Head, 20m
Trial 3: - EBONYS AVENGER was in the one out and one back trail, got left without cover and progressed forward to find the lead at the 1300m and scored comfortably from SAINT SEBASTIAN, which led out then took cover. EBONYS AVENGER followed with a second at Melton on Thursday afternoon behind the smart mare Aldebaran Vera.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.6 Last Half: - 56.8 Margins: - 8m, 30m
Trial 4: - THUMP began quickly to find the lead and set up a genuine tempo before running away from his rivals to win easily. He recorded a slick last half of 56.8 seconds and has a low National Rating of 45 so he can improve on his recent efforts. He is competing at Kilmore on Monday afternoon and is not without a chance. NAI HARN BAY settled behind the leader and was sticking on well before breaking stride with 100m remaining. He was able to hold down second however and MAJESTIC SUE finished third after settling four back on the inside.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Last Half: - 56.8 Margins: - 12m, 3m
ECHUCA 25/09/22
Trial 2: - AJAY BREEZY ROSE has now joined trainer Gary Pekin after having a stint with Colin Godden. She was clearly the class runner of the trial and gained success after settling three back on the inside and moving up without cover from the 700m. ARIANA SPRINGFIELD finished second after setting the speed and MANDS PEARL was third past the post after trailing the leader for the majority of the trial. ARIANA SPRINGFIELD is meeting a strong field for her debut at Shepparton on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.7 Last Half: - 61.0 Margins: - 2m, Head
CRANBOURNE 25/09/22
Trial 2: - BENBULLAN is a nicely bred colt being by Captaintreacherous out of the top race and producing mare La Machane. He settled last of the four runners, continued to use inside runs and dashed along the sprint lane to record an impressive victory. BIG ROCKIN DAN finished second after setting three back on the inside and coming out three horses wide at the 300m with COUNT THE PENNIES being in third after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 5m, 7m
BLACKBOOKER: - Benbullan
BENDIGO 26/09/22
Trial 1: - PARISIAN ARTISTE took advantage of the Bendigo standing start trial to gain some practice from behind the tapes leading up to the Swan Hill Cup. He led throughout to win the trial and was obviously able to gain some confidence as he scored an emphatic victory in Thursday night’s feature. KIMORA SAFFI produced a very good performance in that trial considering she was very slow to move then chased hard to finish second.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.2 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - 6m, 50m
Trial 2: - UPTOWN LAD is a promising juvenile trotter and was able to lead throughout in his trial. He was completely dominant and was able to score by 160m! Admittedly, several of his rivals made errors but he recorded reasonable time and should continue on his handy campaign.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.7 Last Half: - 60.5 Margins: - 160m, 20m
Trial 3: - HOLD THAT GOLD has been performing extremely well at the trials for some time and if he can reproduce that form at the races, he should be winning a race in the near future. He settled four back on the inside, moved up without cover at the 800m and pushed past ROHAAN, which found the front at the bell, to win easily. He recorded slick final sectionals so it was a very tidy display.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.6 Last Half: - 58.1 Margins: - 12m, 8m
Trial 4: - NEPHEW OF SONOKO won the trial for the open class trotters after leading throughout. He has drawn on the pole position in the Chris Howe Trotters Free For All and should give a bold showing. HOPEFUL BEAUTY was second after trailing the leader and coming to the outside with 400m remaining. ALWAYS READY was last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.1 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - 1m, 8m
Trial 7: - LIGHTNING JASH prepared for his first up performance in a heat of the Northern Region Championship with a trial victory over DENNY ROCKS. DENNY ROCKS trailed behind LIGHTNING JASH and got close via the sprint lane but LIGHTNING JASH just held on to get the prize. He finished second in his effort at Swan Hill on Thursday.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.8 Last Half: - 56.9 Margins: - Nose, 8m
Trial 9: - ILLAWONG KELLIE produced a good performance to hold off TOPHUT JOHNY. She settled sixth on the inside, circled around the field to find the lead at the 1200m and held on at the end. She is competing at Geelong tonight and is not without a chance.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.3 Last Half: - 58.2 Margins: - Head, 12m
Trial 11: - MAGIC MIKE has been racing in top form and prepared for his effort at Swan Hill on Thursday night with a narrow but decisive trial victory. He settled five back on the inside, moved up without cover at the 700m and pulled hard in the final circuit but was able to hold on and get the prize. DUKE OF DUNDEE was also preparing for Swan Hill on Thursday and finished second after trailing the leader and using the sprint lane. The pair competed in the same race at Swan Hill with MAGIC MIKE being second with DUKE OF DUNDEE finishing third.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.6 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - Nose, 7m
TABCORP PARK, MELTON 27/09/22
Trial 2: - COOL NIGHT is an Andy Gath prepared juvenile, which showed very good acceleration to win his trial comfortably. He settled four back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail on the home turn and came out three horses wide on the home turn, winning untouched. NANCY KAY finished second after trailing the leader and moving up without cover at the 600m.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.7 Last Half: - 57.77 Margins: - 4m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: - Cool Night
Trial 5: - LONGFELLOW was able to lead throughout and win the fifth trial on the program. He finished off in a slick final quarter of 27.1 seconds and was able to fend off CHEROKEE JOE, which trailed the leader and used the sprint lane. TOUGH TILLY had little luck in third after racing without cover, easing back to last then moving into the breeze again at the 500m. MONA MIA (3 back markers) was last of the four runners in a quality field.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.1 Last Half: - 56.60 Margins: - Neck, 1m
Trial 7: - CAPTAIN BELLASARIO has had trouble settling in his races recently but he relaxed better when driven with cover in his trial victory, where he was very impressive. He was four back on the inside, moved away from the markers approaching the turn and produced a big finish to win in fast time. IDYLLIC attempted to lead throughout and finished second with LA CAPTAIN being in third after being five back on the markers throughout.
Mile Rate: - 1.54.6 Last Half: - 55.74 Margins: - 4m, 5.5m
Trial 8: - LADIES IN RED hasn’t raced since a brilliant win in the Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park in July. She produced an outstanding display in the trial after racing without cover early before finding the front at the 1100m. She only scored by a neck margin but went to the line under a vice like grip and had plenty in reserve. PHOENIX PRINCE should be working up to peak fitness and looked a little sharper than his first up trial at Ballarat, using the sprint lane to finish second. MACH DAN settled last of the three runners and chased hard to win by a narrow margin.
Mile Rate: - 1.55.5 Last Half: - 57.25 Margins: - Neck, ½ head
MILDURA 28/09/22
Trial 2: - VIERA worked hard after commencing from a wide draw and eventually got across IMPRINCESSMIA to find the lead. He ran along at a reasonable tempo and got the prize from ORAMA, which produced a big performance. She missed away by approximately 40m, tacked onto the group with 1000m remaining and came out wide on the home turn, finishing solidly. IMPRINCESSMIA held down third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.3 Last Half: - 61.3 Margins: - 3m, Neck
