Craig Rail is confident some success is in store for Jess Tubbs’ recent acquisition Visionary after a strong trial performance at Geelong early this week.
The former Michael Hughes-trained squaregaiter has not raced since April, but looks to be doing well since joining Tubbs’ Myrniong stable.
Visionary is one of three new Blackbook entries this week, with John Justice’s top trotter Mufasa Metro and Rodney Lakey-trained Rocknroll Gig also making the file.
TRIAL REPORT
SHEPPARTON 18/08/22
Trial 1: - THE WOLF NZ prepared for her Victorian debut in a heat of the Matriarch Pace at Melton tomorrow night with another classy trial display. She led out then took cover behind BEACH MEMORIES and finished off best in the home straight. BEACH MEMORIES hasn’t raced since March but has won six of her nineteen starts including the Super Series Silver event last season so she is a quality filly. She beat the remainder of the field headed by BETTOR ROBYN (5 back markers) by a decisive margin.
Mile Rate: - 1.56.0 Last Half: - 56.9 Margins: - Neck, 18m
Trial 2: - MISS FRANCENE has already won a two years old trotting event this season and was kept ticking along nicely with a victory over SARGEANT STRIDE in the second event. She led out, took a trail and moved away from the inside on the home turn. SARGEANT STRIDE progressed forward to find the lead at the 1600m, was headed by ESS KAY HOLLYWOOD approaching the home turn and came again in the straight for a nice second. He makes his debut at Bendigo on Tuesday and must be considered as a strong winning chance. ESS KAY HOLLYWOOD sprinted sharply from fourth to hit the lead at the 300m and just peaked on his run late. He backed up at Geelong on Wednesday night and was very unlucky in finishing fourth behind the top filly Rockinwithattitude. LOVENUS finished fifth in the trial after settling in the running lane (1-2). She will make her debut at Maryborough on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.6 Last Half: - 61.2 Margins: - 1m, 5m
Trial 3: - VIKING hung in badly at the start, settled three back on the markers then progressed forward to lead with 1600m remaining. He was able to take out the trial without being fully extended and due to back up at Kilmore on Thursday night but was subsequently withdrawn. The most eye-catching performance out of the Shepparton trials was from ROCKNROLL GIG. He hasn’t started since finishing unplaced in the Bathurst Gold Crown Final in March but he won a heat of that series and indicated there are more wins to follow with a fast finishing second. He settled a distant fourth early and made up many lengths in the home straight. GOPATI NZ prepared for his performance at Cobram this afternoon with an honest third after leading out then taking cover.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Last Half: - 59.0 Margins: - 6m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: - Rocknroll Gig
Trial 5: - ALDEBARAN DINO is undefeated from two starts and continues to impress. He began well and trailed the leader before coming to the outside with 600m remaining. He drew clear in the straight to win by a comfortable margin. GUNNING followed behind ALDEBARAN DINO all of the way and finished well ahead of the remainder of the field in second position.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.4 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 10m, 15m
STAWELL 21/08/22
Trial 1: - TICKTOK prepared for her effort at Maryborough on Monday with an easy victory over MORSURE DAMOUR in the opening trial. She is meeting a strong field on Monday but she has won two of her past three starts and with her trial success as well, she should have plenty of confidence leading into that assignment.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.8 Last Half: - 59.7 Margins: - 7.5m, 54m
Trial 2: - PUZZLE PIECE is a strong 3yo pacer when racing at his peak form and hasn’t raced since a second at Ararat in June. He had the highest National Rating of those horses competing in the trial and he was able to use his class to win by a large margin. He is returning from a spell at Maryborough on Monday. VAPAR BRENDA finished in second ahead of the unraced juvenile pacer DELIGHTFULL TAMMY, which is prepared by Peter Manning.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.1 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - 24m, 4m
MARYBOROUGH 21/08/22
Trial 1: - BETTOR BE THE BOMB continues to be competitive in the Metropolitan open class ranks and was able to take out the opening trial after finding the lead shortly after the start. He remained strong at the finish and is backing up at Melton tomorrow evening but has unfortunately drawn on the outside of the second row. JUSTALITTLESIP NZ settled six back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the bell and produced a brave performance to finish second. He is racing at Cranbourne on Sunday and should prove very hard to beat again.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.6 Last Half: - Not given Margins: - Not given
Trial 3: - EXCLUSIVE DANCER settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 900m and proved too strong in the run to the finish. SAINT WIN finished second after setting the speed and YANKEE BOOT FLAT (5 back pegs, 1-1 at 900m, 3 wide turn) was doing his best work at the finish to be a close up third. YANKEE BOOT FLAT will resume from a spell at Bendigo on Tuesday.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.4 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - 1m, 1m
Trial 4: - The New South Wales Derby winner HARRY STAMPER NZ produced a solid performance to win his trial after trailing the leader and moving to the outside with 600m remaining. He scored untouched from DOWNUNDER BARKERS, which came from last of the three runners. DOWNUNDER BARKERS stormed home from last to finish an eye-catching fifth at Geelong on Thursday and DEALERS KNOCK, which set the speed and ran last of the three runners in the trial, won at Charlton on Thursday so the form line for HARRY STAMPER NZ appears to be strong.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.1 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - 2m, 10m
Trial 6: - THAT OTHER THING was able to lead throughout to defeat JANSU, which was in the trail throughout with CALL ME JACK finishing last of the three runners. Both THAT OTHER THING and JANSU will be competing at Maryborough on Monday but they are taking on a good field.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.9 Last Half: - 61.2 Margins: - 2m, 10m
GEELONG 22/08/22
Trial 2: - I AM PEGASUS began quickly to find the lead and held off her rivals to win the fast class trial. MUFASA METRO NZ produced a big run to finish second after he settled four back on the inside and ran home powerfully. JUST BELIEVE settled last of the five runners, waited for the sprint lane and motored home to finish third. ANYWHERE HUGO (trailed leader) and MARGARET RUTH (3 back markers, death seat at 400m) weren’t too far away either in a very strong trial.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.7 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - Nose, Head
BLACKBOOKER: - Mufasa Metro NZ
Trial 4: - VISIONARY trailed the leader before moving to the outside with 600m remaining. She recorded a soft victory and should have a prosperous campaign. OVERANDOUT settled four back on the markers and came to the outside with 500m remaining. He chased hard for second with REINE DE LA LUNE (3 back markers) being in third position. REINE DE LA LUNE took on a strong field and is making her debut against the genuine maiden class at Bendigo on Tuesday night so she should go well in that event.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.0 Last Half: - 59.7 Margins: - 8m, 15m
BLACKBOOKER: - Visionary
Trial 6: - HULI NIEN was a very impressive winner of the open class pacers event. He settled last of the three runners and finished off fast to run over the top of the early leader BULLETPROOF BOY in a slick final half of 55.8 seconds (27.3 quarter). He hasn’t started since a fourth in the Young Pedro FFA back in May. COMMANDER BUZZ finished last of the three horses after trailing the leader but he has a National Rating of 66, which is well below his rivals (Huli Nien 95, Bulletproof Boy 120). He is racing in the VHRC Caduceus Victoria Sires Classic at Group 3 level tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Last Half: - 55.8 Margins: - 4m, 4m
