It was a big week of watching replays for Craig Rail, who crammed another nine horses into his Blackbook after promising performances on the Victorian trial circuit.
Pardon Me impressed at Terang, Rocky Outlook, Violet Stanford and Mister Jet caught the eye at Bendigo, and Some American, Chynchilla, Arcee Phoenix, Chivalry and Perfect Class all starred at Melton.
Scroll to the bottom of this week’s trial report for Rail’s updated Blackbook.
TRIAL REPORT
SHEPPARTON 20/04/23
Trial 1: - JUST RALPH settled five back on the markers, pulled hard and moved to the outside with 600m remaining. He finished strongly to score from stable mate THE WOLF, which settled last of the six runners and trailed behind JUST RALPH over the concluding stages. IDEAL COPY finished third after settling three back on the markers and is racing at Bendigo this evening. HY LEINVINCIBLE attempted to lead throughout but seemingly sustained a flat tyre and faded in the final 150m.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.1 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - 5m, 2m
Trial 3: - LARR DEES SON showed brilliant gate speed to find the lead from a wide draw and backed off the tempo mid-race. He had a good kick left in the run to the finish and defeated SARGEANT STRIDE, which settled three back on the markers and came to the outside with 300m remaining. LAST CHANCE LINDY came from four back on the markers and was doing her best work late to finish in third. LARR DEES SON broke stride when resuming at Kilmore on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.6 Last Half: - 61.0 Margins: - 7m, 10m
Trial 4: - CHYNCHILLA NZ commenced a good week at the trials with a victory over CASSIOPEIA. She settled in sixth position, came out three horses wide at the 400m and finished strongly to win with plenty in reserve. She backed up to win a trial at Melton on Tuesday. CASSIOPEIA trailed the leader throughout and held down second with CAESAR NERO (4 back markers) being in third. IM JIMMY JONES settled seventh on the markers and ran home strongly for an eye-catching fourth.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.8 Last Half: - 59.6 Margins: - 8m, 1m
Trial 6: - KINGS GUARD has recently joined trainer Stephen Boyington and impressed with his trial success over MORETON BAY. He was three back on the markers early, made a move with a mile remaining to find the lead and ran along at a genuine tempo. MORETON BAY came from last of the five runners and trotted home nicely for second with SHESAWISH (4 back markers) doing her best work at the end to pick up third. KINGS GUARD and MORETON BAY will renew their rivalry at Bendigo this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.8 Last Half: - 60.3 Margins: - 1m, Neck
Trial 7: - CHIVALRY began quickly to find the lead and never appeared to be in any danger of defeat. He won with plenty in reserve and emulated his stablemate CHYNCHILLA NZ by winning a trial at Melton six days later. COUNTRY ROCKSTAR trailed the leader and tried hard for second with BE DAZZLED coming from last of the five runners to be placed in third. LORD BANFF produced a tidy performance to finish fourth after racing without cover early, restraining to last of the six runners and going to the line strongly without angling to the outside at any stage.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.2 Last Half: - 57.9 Margins: - 2.5m, 15m
BACCHUS MARSH 22/04/23
Trial 1: - OFORTUNA prepared for her effort in tonight’s Bendigo Trotters Cup with a victory under the standing start conditions. She commenced from the handicap of 30m and was able to defeat INMYDREAMS, which has been trotting in good form and is also competing at Bendigo tonight. LAIR OF THE EAGLE was third across the line and backed up with a trial second at Melton on Wednesday afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.0 Last Half: - 60.9 Margins: - 3m, 1m
Trial 2: - SEBS CHOICE took out the fast class trial after dashing home in a slick final half of 57.2 seconds. He was able to defeat stable mate ALBY TWO CHAINS with BREATHE EASY being ten metres away in third position. SEBS CHOICE has only started once since November and finished fifth in the Tiger Tara Free For All behind Tango Tara in that performance so he should be reaching his peak for his performance at Melton tomorrow night. ALBY TWO CHAINS appears to be a strong winning chance at Melton tomorrow evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.6 Last Half: - 57.2 Margins: - 8m, 10m
Trial 6: - BUBBY TO BASE is a nicely bred filly being by Sweet Lou out of the Artsplace mare Sapphire Lil, which won ten races and has produced four winners including Saphirique (1.52.1, $137,710). She had a successful week at the trials with a victory at Bacchus Marsh and another win at Melton several days later. OLIVIA ROSE finished second with SOFT LANDING being in third spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.3 Last Half: - 59.7 Margins: - 3m, 8m
Trial 7: - FEMALE ASSASSIN has returned from a spell in good form and kept the momentum rolling with a victory in the final trial. She was able to defeat BOND GIRL, which recently joined trainer Larry Lynch with SPORTSRAMA being third across the line. FEMALE ASSASSIN appears to be one of the leading chances in the opening event at Bendigo tonight.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.2 Last Half: - 61.0 Margins: - ½ head, 2.5m
TERANG 23/04/23
Trial 3: - THE GAME is an unraced entire by Grinfromeartoear for trainer Xavier O’Connor. He is a close relation to Scotts Rain (1.54.4) and showed some ability by taking out the third trial. The mile rate was very slow but he showed good gate speed to lead before taking cover then accelerated nicely via the sprint lane over the latter stages. VEGAS PRINCE was last of the five runners early but remained away from the markers and progressed forward into the death seat. He went down narrowly and appeared to have something in reserve. He is poorly drawn at Hamilton on Monday but should run a good race. DIDAFULL ONEEIGHTY is a filly for trainer Matthew Craven, which finished in third after trailing the leader early before moving to the front with 1100m remaining. She makes her debut at Hamilton on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 2.11.3 Last Half: - 62.2 Margins: - 1m, 1m
Trial 4: - TO THE MAX settled last of the five runners before moving to the outside at the 700m. He sustained a strong run to pick up the early leader BANKSOFTHEMURRAY, with MY WATERLOO (trailed leader) being third across the line. The eye-catching performance of the Terang trials was from PARDON ME. She is a beautifully bred filly for trainer Matthew Craven being by Captaintreacherous out of I’m Wrongly Accused (1.58.5), which has produced the fast performers Kimble (1.54.5) and Rubins Plight (1.57.7). PARDON ME settled four back on the inside, angled wide with 150m remaining and finished strongly under a good hold. She makes her debut at Hamilton on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.4 Last Half: - 60.2 Margins: - ½ head, ½ head
BLACKBOOKER: - Pardon Me
MARYBOROUGH 23/04/23
Trial 3: - HOT ROCKS settled in the running lane (1-2), trailed forward out three horses wide from the 600m (3-1) and was even wider on the home turn. He finished quickly out wide on the track and was able to win softly. It was a good hit-out leading up to his debut performance at Hamilton on Monday. OURBEACHBABE settled four back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail and commenced her forward move half way down the back straight. She couldn’t repel the finishing burst of HOT ROCKS but did well to pick up second spot and resumes from a break at Hamilton on Monday. SUMMER GRIN was third across the line after trailing the leader throughout and is also racing at Hamilton, where he is favourably drawn in the opening event.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Last Half: - 59.2 Margins: - 4m, 3m
Trial 5: - OFF ME ROCKA settled four back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail and commenced her winning move with 300m remaining. She finished off best to defeat WICHITA DANCE, which settled down in last position and angled to the outside at the 700m mark. WICHITA DANCE backed up at Charlton on Thursday and would have won had she not locked wheels with 100m remaining. MISS MORAINE was five back on the markers, angled out very wide on the home turn and was finishing off nicely to be third across the line. She came from the back and finished fifth at Charlton on Thursday afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.8 Last Half: - 60.1 Margins: - 2m, Short ½ Head
CRANBOURNE 23/04/23
Trial 1: - SIR CHOW NZ began very quickly to find the lead and slowed down the tempo mid-race. He was able to dash home in a slick final half of 57.6 seconds to get the prize by a comfortable margin. END GAME settled four back on the markers and chased hard for second with SAHARA BREEZE finishing fast from last on the home turn to run an eye-catching third. SAHARA BREEZE backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night and produced a big performance to win a heat of the Gold Bullion series.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.5 Last Half: - 57.6 Margins: - 6.5m, 6.5m
BENDIGO 24/04/23
Trial 2: - CHOOZ REACTOR settled last of the five runners, peeled out three horses wide at the quarter pole and produced a big finish to get up and score. It was a good display and would have given her some confidence for her first up effort at Swan Hill on Monday night but she is meeting a very tough field in a heat of the Mares Sprint Championship. YOURSNMINE trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and worked home well for second with LETS MAKE TRACKS being third across the line after working to the front with 1700m remaining.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.3 Last Half: - 60.8 Margins: - 3m, 4m
Trial 3: - OTIS RISING trailed the leader BLACK JAX, came to the outside on the home turn and finished off best to get the prize. BLACK JAX held down second after showing an abundance of early pace. ROCKY OUTLOOK produced a tidy display to finish in third position. He settled down in fifth spot, gave the leaders a healthy start and finished off boldly without being pushed out at any stage. He is out of Elegant Outlook and stems from the same maternal family as the great mare Jadah Rose, the dam of Guaranteed, so he is worth following.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.1 Last Half: - 60.9 Margins: - 2m, 18m
BLACKBOOKER: - Rocky Outlook
Trial 4: - The outstanding trotting mare IM READY JET took on the pacers and was able to produce a big finishing burst to get the prize. She settled three back on the inside, angled out three horses wide from the 300m and dashed home to defeat the early leader KYLOAN QUEEN.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 59.0 Margins: - 2m, 22m
Trial 5: - VIOLET STANFORD is a juvenile trotter for trainer Nathan Jack and created a good impression by defeating older horses. She trailed the leader, came to the outside with 300m remaining and went to the line with plenty in reserve to win easily. She is by Volstead out of the former open class mare Mingara NZ so she is worth following. AGAINST THE BRIDLE finished second after attempting to lead throughout and IN REDWHITEANDBLUE (3 back markers) was third past the post.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.9 Last Half: - 62.8 Margins: - 5m, 12m
BLACKBOOKER: - Violet Stanford
Trial 6: - MISTER JET is a French bred trotter by Bold Eagle (FRA) out of Elusive Jet (FRA) and is the first foal out of the dam. He settled last of the six runners, moved to the outside at the 700m, gained a one out and one back trail in the back straight and commenced his winning run at the 300m. He sprinted quickly and appeared to be very impressive in the run to the post, despite trotting roughly over the concluding stages. SAN ANTONIA ROSE finished second after leading out then taking cover and LILY JINAYA was third across the line after sliding to the front with 1700m remaining.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.3 Last Half: - 63.2 Margins: - 15m, 1m
BLACKBOOKER: - Mister Jet
Trial 8: - WELL DEFINED NZ won the trial for the open class trotters. He started from the second line, trailed the leader, came to the outside on the home turn and sprinted very quickly to win well. AMANDINE hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Victoria Trotters Oaks in October and finished second after setting the speed. KIMORA SAFFI led but but galloped fifty metres after the start and chased hard for a handy third.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.6 Last Half: - 59.2 Margins: - 5m, 15m
MELTON 26/04/23
Trial 2: - ELUSIVE showed good gate speed to lead from a wide alley and dashed home in fast final sectionals to record a narrow but decisive victory. SOME AMERICAN has a lot to learn but created a big impression in finishing second. He is by American Ideal out of Somerocksomeroll (1.53.3, $64,540) with the second dam being the Group 1 winner Rocknrolla so he is bred to run. He settled five back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 600m, paced roughly at the quarter pole, raced greenly on the home turn then charged home under a strong hold. FANCY FREE finished a close up third after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.7 Last Half: - 56.86 Margins: - Head, Neck
BLACKBOOKER: - Some American
Trial 3: - HIGH ABOVE continues to create a good impression and was able to get up to score. He settled five back on the markers, moved into the running lane (1-2) and came out four horses wide on the home turn. He hit the front with 150m remaining, raced greenly and held on to win. REIGN EM IN has recently joined trainer Jess Tubbs and produced a good performance to finish second. She trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers then angled wide with 150m remaining before charging home late. JOHN VINCENT led out then took cover and finished third via the sprint lane.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 59.37 Margins: - Head, 4.5m
Trial 4: - BUBBY TO BASE backed up her Bacchus Marsh trial victory with an impressive win over DRAW A DREAM. She trailed the leader and finished quickly in a slick final quarter to get the prize. DRAW A DREAM gained a one out and one back trail, came out three horses wide at the 500m and finished strongly for second. DOUGS FLAME was third across the line after being five back on the markers and racing roughly on the home turn before finishing off strongly.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.6 Last Half: - 57.58 Margins: - Neck, 1.5m
Trial 6: - CHYNCHILLA NZ produced another classy performance to win in a slick mile rate of 1.55.6. She raced without cover throughout, pulled hard and remained strong at the finish. EL CAMINO was brave in defeat after he had a decent crack for the lead before angling in for the trail and chasing hard in the run to the finish. MAGIC FEELING settled midfield (1-2) and was doing his best work at the finish to gain third position.
Mile Rate: - 1.55.6 Last Half: - 56.76 Margins: - 2.5m, 10.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Chynchilla NZ
Trial 7: - ROCKINWITHATTITUDE has had several trial performances leading up to her first effort since winning the Super Series Final in December. She was able to lead throughout and recorded a slick mile rate of 1.57.9. COPACABANA produced a game performance to finish second after settling three back on the markers and moving into the death seat at the 500m. OVERANDOUT finished third after trailing the leader throughout and ARCEE PHOENIX finished fast from last on the markers to run an eye-catching fourth.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.9 Last Half: - 58.43 Margins: - 2m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Arcee Phoenix
Trial 9: - ENCIPHER produced another outstanding display with a victory over YAMBUKIAN and VON ART NZ. She settled last of the three runners, came to the outside with 700m remaining and sustained a long run to win in fast time. YAMBUKIAN finished second after trying to lead throughout and VON ART NZ held her ground in the straight.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.0 Last Half: - 55.77 Margins: - 2m, 3.5m
Trial 10: - CHIVALRY NZ backed up his Shepparton trial victory with another big performance, where raced without cover early before working to the front at the 1300m. He dashed home in a slick last quarter of 27.8 seconds and won with plenty in reserve. SEEMESHINEYHEELS finished second after leading out then taking cover with PARIS ABBIE coming from last of the five runners to work into third position.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.0 Last Half: - 58.39 Margins: - 15m, 3m
BLACKBOOKER: - Chivalry NZ
Trial 11: - PERFECT CLASS hasn’t raced since finishing second in the Super Series Final in December but he appeared to be very sharp at his trial success. He settled three back on the inside, moved off the markers at the 500m and finished fast in a sizzling final quarter of 27.15 seconds to get the prize. MAJOR CELEBRITY progressed forward to find the lead and went down narrowly with the former New Zealander SEVE NZ finishing third after trailing the leader throughout. THE HUNTRESS settled down in last position and used the sprint lane to work into fourth in a trial that should be an excellent form reference for the oncoming weeks.
Mile Rate: - 1.54.7 Last Half: - 56.17 Margins: - Head, 10.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Perfect Class
Trial 12: - MELANION NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which has joined trainer Andy Gath. He settled four back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 900m and came out three horses wide from the 300m mark. He produced a big finish to win nicely. The champion trotter JUST BELIEVE took on quality pacers and went down narrowly. He was without cover early, worked to the lead at the 1300m and finished off in slick final sectionals (55.86, 27.57) but was beaten on the post. JUST RALPH came from last and had to change course several times in the final 300m before finishing well via the sprint lane to pick up third.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.1 Last Half: - 55.86 Margins: - Neck, 1.5m
