Harness Racing form guru Craig Rail noticed several standout performers at the recent trials.
At Shepparton, Rebel Rebel and Pleasure To Have were standouts as they prepare for their runs at the track.
At Melton, Allthings Menacing was an eye catching second, running good late sectionals.
SHEPPARTON 09/07/26
Trial 1: – SERG BLANCO NZ took out the trial for the open class pacers after he settled down last of the three runners and sustained a strong run from the 500m mark. He appears to be well placed at Mildura this afternoon. FOLLOWTHEACE sat in the trail throughout and gained a late run through the middle to work into second position. WESTERN SONADOR set up a solid tempo in the leading role and was the last horse to greet the judge.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.2 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 1m, 4m (approximately)
Trial 2: – REBEL REBEL continued her reasonable trial form by taking out the second event. She settled four back on the markers, moved through to trail the leader approaching the home turn and finished off best via the sprint lane to win by a comfortable margin. He is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. MUDDY showed good gate speed to lead then took cover shortly afterwards. He came to the outside at the quarter pole and tried hard for second. MY ROCKING HORSE was three back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail behind MUDDY and picked up ground in the final 100m to finish in third.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.0 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 3m, head (approximately)
BLACKBOOKER: – Rebel Rebel
Trial 3: – PLEASURE TO HAVE produced a stylish performance to win his trial. He was fourth early, ended up being five back on the markers at the 900m and finished swiftly from the 300m to claim victory, looking very strong on the line. She is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. RIPPING RONALDO has a lot of ability but is still learning and was stood down to trial after galloping several times at his latest race track performance. He settled six back on the markers, moved forward at the 1200m and found the lead with just short of a lap remaining. He had a good lead turning for home but couldn’t repel the challenge of the winner. He backed up to win mid-week, which further enhances the good performance of PLEASURE TO HAVE. ALIZA MEL pushed forward to find the lead shortly after the start then took cover behind RIPPING RONALDO mid-race. She finished in third with MAXYS MUSCLES overcoming an early error to work into fourth position. The third placed ALIZA MEL is scheduled to compete at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
BLACKBOOKER: – Pleasure To Have
Mile Rate: – 2.4.4 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 2m, 18m (approximately)
Trial 4: – SCARLETT NIGHT is a nicely bred filly for leading Shepparton trainer Lisa Pitt and is performing nicely at the trials. She began quickly to lead and kicked on strongly once challenged in the straight to get the prize. He is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. LISTEN TO THE HAND trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 300m and fleetingly looked a chance in the straight but couldn’t get past the winner. He is returning from a spell at Mildura this afternoon. MAJOR FRIEND settled five back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 600m and tried hard for third. She finished third when resuming at Melton on Wednesday night and is racing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. DONTTELLNANNA finished in fourth after being three back on the markers for the majority of the trial.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.5 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – Neck, 8m (approximately)
Trial 5: – TA KALCHE settled three back on the markers, angled wide turning for home and finished off nicely to win the prize. WE DEALIN DIAMONDS settled six back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 700m and sprinted quickly under a strong hold in the back straight. She hit the lead on the home turn but was run down over the latter stages. She is heading up to Wagga to race this afternoon. KUALIGHT began very fast from a wide draw to find the lead shortly after the start. He set up a reasonable tempo and battled on fairly well in the run to the finish. ARCHIE MOTH did his best work at the end from the position of being five back on the markers to finish in fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.0 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 2m, 1m (approximately)
Trial 6: – SKYBELLA trailed the leader throughout and waited for the sprint lane. She showed very good acceleration at the end to win, seemingly with plenty in reserve. She backed up with a second placed effort at Kilmore on Thursday night. ESRA KAI began sharply and fired to the lead shortly after the start. He drifted out under pressure in the home straight but was able to hold down second. CLASSIC FAIR settled three back on the markers and finished in third with ALDEBARAN MARCUS (4 back markers) being the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 4m, 5m (approximately)
Trial 7: – HELLOVASTORY raced without cover in the early stages, dropped in to trail the leader at the 1700m and made his move with 150m remaining. He finished off best and was able to claim the prize. He is scheduled to compete at Cranbourne on Sunday night. SIARGAO ISLAND began quickly to find the lead, backed off the tempo and was run down in the last portion of the event. He appears to be a good chance at Mildura this afternoon. SASSY GABBY trailed the leader early before ending up being three back on the markers with a lap and a half remaining. She used the sprint lane and finished off reasonably well. MAJOR HAYLEY settled five back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m, raced a little keenly and kept on chipping away for fourth. He is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.0 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – 1m, 2m (approximately)
MILDURA 10/07/26
Trial 1: – CEMETERY BAY finished seventh and was stood down to trial at his latest open class performance. He was able to win the opening trial over IDEAL DELIGHT, which hasn’t raced since his Maiden success at Globe Derby in December. He has joined trainer Naomi Kerr since his latest performance. LILBITAJAYTEE was last of the three runners across the line. The winner CEMETERY BAY and the second placed IDEAL DELIGHT are both competing at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.9 Last half: – Unavailable Margins: – Unavailable
Trial 2: – CAPTIVATE ME is another South Australian pacer that has been transferred to Naomi Kerr after previously being with Matt Whelan. He hasn’t started since a fourth at Victor Harbor in December but was successful in his trial performance. The trotter ATEGO ROBBO finished in second and MUSSEL WHITE was last of the three horses across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.0 Last Half: – Unavailable Margins: – Unavailable
BACCHUS MARSH 11/07/26
Trial 3: – HIGH RELIABITY is an unraced 3yo gelding by Aldebaran Eagle, which was having his third trial and was able to come out on top. RIVERDALE PIXIE is a juvenile filly for trainer Tyrone Abela, which was having her first trial attempt. She is by Father Patrick out of Never Never Land (2.1.6), whose first foal Lair of the Eagle (1.56.2, $93,340) was an eleven times winner. Her stable mate TINKERTON was also having her first trial and was able to finish in third position. She is by Father Patrick out of Fairytale Hall (2.4.6, $26,242) and is the first foal out of the mare. SHEEZ APPLES was last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.5 Last Half: – 62.3 Margins: – Unavailable
Trial 4: – SIR CANDY CLOUD was able to take out the fourth event on the program. He had been freshened since a tenth at Ballarat on May 14 then returned at Melton on Wednesday night with an unplaced effort. He is also backing up at Cranbourne on Sunday night. LIV ON LOVE broke stride at the start and was placed outside of the draw at her latest race track appearance at Ballarat. She finished in second place ahead of RIDDLEMETHIS, which hasn’t started since an unplaced effort at Melton in January. JAMALA KHAN and DELTA STARZ finished fourth and fifth respectively. The second placed LIV ON LOVE is racing at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.2 Last Half: – 60.4 Margins: – Unavailable
Trial 6: – KHANS CREED was performing well at the trials prior to having two unplaced runs in May and was spelled again. He has had two trials leading up to another campaign with a third at Melton followed by his victory at Bacchus Marsh. He was able to defeat the former South Australian pacer TRAILBLAZER, which has joined trainer Dianne Giles and is competing at Geelong this evening. GIVE FRED A CLAP was third across the line with the handy juvenile pacer FARROH JOE being the fourth horse to greet the judge. GIVE FRED A CLAP is racing at Cranbourne on Sunday and FARROH JOE backed up with a victory against his own age group at Kilmore on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.3 Last Half: – 60.2 Margins: – Unavailable
Trial 7: – SCAR broke stride and was stood down to trial at his latest performance. He performed well at his local trial track with a victory over THAT’S DUDLEY, which was kept ticking over after his Geelong victory a week earlier. JAKEE BOY finished in third ahead of his effort at Shepparton on Tuesday night and MAGIC LAW was the last horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.0 Last Half: – 61.5 Margins: – Unavailable
MARYBOROUGH 13/07/26
Trial 2: – ASSIGNED is a 4yo gelding for trainer Larry Walls, which has been unplaced in all of his three starts since resuming from a long spell. He was able to build some confidence by winning his trial over BREATHE EASY, which enjoyed a good campaign in the Autumn and has been freshened since his latest second at Melton in May. ARTIST is a stable mate to BREATHE EASY and hasn’t raced since contesting Super Series events back in November. He was the third horse across the line. The winner ASSIGNED will be competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.0 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – Unavailable
MELTON 14/07/26
Trial 1: MY MARIONETTE trailed the leader, came to the outside with 300m remaining and sprinted sharply in a slick last quarter of 28.0 seconds to win comfortably. THESTING began quickly to find the lead, ran along at an even tempo and finished in second position. MAJOR DRAMA settled last of the quartet and was able to work past TOPSIE BEWARE (3 back markers) in the run to the judge.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.8 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 14m, 4m
Trial 2: – WAZZANT ME began sharply and found the lead shortly after the start. He did drift away from the markers at the 500m but he was able to regain his concentration over the latter stages and scored by a narrow margin. He is making his debut at Melton tomorrow night. LAKE COMO settled four back on the markers, moved to the outside at the quarter pole and worked home nicely for second. DELTA STARZ began well and was able to slot in behind the leader shortly after the start. He did gain an inside run at the 500m but couldn’t take advantage of it and finished a distant third. STORM NIEN (3 back markers) and STARLIGHT HEAVEN (5 back markers) finished in fourth and fifth respectively.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.2 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – Head, 13.5m
Trial 3: – SEBASTIANS WAITING began fast and was able to roll to the lead shortly after the start. He backed off the tempo in the early stages then was able to sprint home in a solid final half of 57.7 seconds to win clearly. ALLTHINGS MENANCING was beaten by approximating six lengths but he spotted the leader a big start from last of the four horses and hit the line very strongly for an eye-catching second. His own final sectionals were very good. SNOW QWEEN trailed the leader and finished a distant third and TOSWEETTOTAME (3 back markers) was the last one home.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.8 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – 19m, 47m
BLACKBOOKER: – ALLTHINGS MENANCING
Trial 4: – SCAR began quickly and was able to find the lead. He was untroubled in scoring and was able to make it two trial victories in the space of four days with his win at Bacchus Marsh on the Saturday morning. MINNIE MIA settled down last of the six runners, came to the outside at the 300m and finished off quickly for a game second. She is resuming from a break at Shepparton on Tuesday night. OUR TINKA BELLE finished in third after trailing the leader throughout and LUSTROUS came from five back on the markers to hold down a distant fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.4 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 11m, 1m
TERANG 14/07/26
Trial 1: – ADELAIDE RED hasn’t raced since May and finished sixth in the New South Wales Oaks during her last preparation. She was able to get the prize in the opening trial over MATTYO, which was stood down to trial after making several errors at Terang on July 12. He was able to re-qualify with his second at Terang and will be backing up at Stawell on Monday. KEAYANG MINNESOTA hasn’t raced since a seventh at Hamilton in January, where she galloped away. She finished third in the trial ahead over THE FIERY SUNSET, which was successful at her latest race track appearance on July 03. THE FIERY SUNSET is competing at Geelong this evening. VAPAR JOHN was last of the five runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.5 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: Unavailable
Trial 2: – IMEASYCOMEEASYGO was runner up at his first trial at Terang then followed with a victory in his latest trial display. He was able to score in a reasonable mile rate of 2.2.7 with THE BLAZINBOOTS finishing in second. THE BLAZINBOOTS finished in fifth at his latest race track effort back in January. MIKI SHADOW galloped in all three of his attempts at the beginning of the year and was sent for a spell. He was third across the line and beat home his stable mate DEVEREAUX.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.7 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – Unavailable
Trial 3: – The training combination of Margaret and Paddy Lee had all three runners in the final trial with KEAYANG LAVITA coming out on top. She hasn’t raced since breaking stride and being stood down to trial at Melton in February. KEAYANG GYPSY was the second horse across the line. She hasn’t started since breaking stride several times in the Mount Gambier Cup back in March. JILLIBY SNIPER hasn’t raced since December but she did win on debut at Stawell on November 30. He was the last runner across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.7 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – Unavailable
