A much-travelled former Kiwi and a just-turned three-year-old caught the eye on the Victorian trials circuit this week.

Glens Of Tokoa and Scruffy Moto led all-the-way to win at Bendigo and Warragul respectively and earned places in Craig Rail's Trial File Blackbook.

Scroll to the bottom for the updated Blackbook.

WARRAGUL 02/01/21

Trial 1: - SOVEREIGN MINX stepped away well to find the lead and was unchallenged from the start to the finish. She kept on building on her lead throughout the event and ended up winning by 70m. She backed up with a respectable fourth at Cranbourne on Sunday where she worked very hard to find the lead. KISSOFDEATH was second throughout and beat GUNNER GARDNER (Courage Under Fire – Foxy Roxy Rita) to the line by a large margin.

Mile Rate: - 2.10.0          Final Half: - 61.13    Margins: - 70m, 70m

Trial 2: - SCRUFFY MOTO (Auckland Reactor – Magic Music 2.1.9, $28,855) has been impressive in several recent trial performances and might be worth following. He led throughout and dashed home in a slick final quarter of 28.8 seconds to win by a large margin. CASINO CAT began quickly then angled in behind the leader. He finished a distant second with TOTALLY SHATTERED finishing tailed off after doing plenty wrong in the run.

Mile Rate: - 2.4.1            Final Half: - 58.60    Margins: - 65m, Distanced

BLACKBOOKER: - Scruffy Moto

Trial 3: - LEOSABI settled down three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 700m mark and dashed home in quick final sectionals to defeat MYSTIC CASTLE, which set up a slow tempo in the lead with END GAME being in third position after trailing the leader and using the sprint lane. ONE MANS TRASH was slow out and was out of position at the start, settled down last and moved into the one out and one back trail with 600m remaining. He did make up some ground in the straight despite being last of the four runners to cross the line.

Mile Rate: - 2.8.48          Final Half: - 57.80    Margins: - 1m, 3m

MARYBOROUGH 03/01/21

Trial 1: - Only two runners contested the opening trial of the morning with the Emma Stewart trained pacer AMPLE POWER leading throughout and beating PIN STRIPES by a large margin in a strong mile rate of 1.57.4. AMPLE POWER is drawn on the outside of the front line in a claiming event at Bendigo on Saturday night.

Mile Rate: - 1.57.4          Final Half: - 57.9               Margin: - 25m

Trial 2: - IF THE MOOD SUITS began quickly to find the front, set up a very slow tempo and scored with plenty in reserve. AMMICCHI finished in second position after being three back on the markers before moving into the death seat at the 600m mark. He backed up with an eighth at Ballarat on Wednesday night. LOVEN LAUGHTER was four back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail then came out three horses wide with 150m remaining. He finished in third position with ESSPE SUPREME being in fourth after settling last of the five runners. REEKO REACTOR trailed the leader and used the sprint lane but couldn’t extend in the straight and was last of the five runners to greet the judge.

Mile Rate: - 2.7.1            Final Half: - 60.3               Margins: - 2m, Neck

Trial 3: - TRAVEL BUG took on the pacers and put in a very good performance. He trailed the leader CARUSO STAR (Falcon Seelster – Lorimerjane), came to the outside before the home turn and jogged home to win in reasonable time. CARUSO STAR kicked on well in the straight and was a long way clear of the remainder of the field, which was headed by ONWATCH (He’s Watching – Charm Thee). ON WATCH was four back on the markers and moved to the outside with 700m remaining. ERNIESON settled down in third position but was a good 30m behind TRAVEL BUG with a lap remaining. He continued to yield ground and was a distant fourth with STAR OF VOUVRAY being last of the five runners throughout.

Mile Rate: - 2.1.0            Final Half: - 60.3               Margins: - 2m, 60m

Trial 4: - FUN ON RUM (Bacardi Lindy – Pepperell Mistral) settled third on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail and sprinted sharply to win by a good margin. He makes his debut at Melton this evening and should run a big race. IMA LOUIE TOUIE trailed the leader and was able to run into a distant second. He also competes at Melton this evening but it is hard to see him turning the tables on FUN ON RUM. DYNAMIC DIESEL led and broke stride on the home turn when seemingly doing enough to beat IMA LOUIE TOUIE to the line. FORGOT TO REMEMBER settled four back on the inside, moved into the death at the 1200m and pressured the leader from the 700m. She hit the front at the 300m mark but broke stride shortly afterwards and dropped out to be the last of the four runners to complete the course.

Mile Rate: - 2.5.9            Final Half: - 58.8               Margins: - 25m, 15m

Trial 5: - AMBER STRIDE (Excel Stride – Galaxy Stride) pushed forward to find the lead and enjoyed a nice run throughout. She appeared to be in danger of defeat in the home straight but kicked back strongly to get the prize. FAITH STRIDE (Excel Stride – Blossom Stride 1.50.4, $18,575) trailed the leader, moved away from the inside at the 500m mark and made a spirited bid in the straight but just couldn’t get past AMBER STRIDE over the final stages. ESPRESSO STRIDE (Excel Stride – Miss Labretta 2.1.7, $3,130) settled three back on the inside, raced very greenly and eventually broke stride with 300m remaining so she finished last of the three runners.

Mile Rate: - 2.6.2            Final Half: - 63.1               Margins: - 12m, 2m

Trial 6: - JORDANS MATE began quickly to lead, set up a slow tempo and got away over the final stages to win easily. He is awkwardly drawn at Charlton on Monday but he performed well enough in the trial to suggest he can go well. ELLEN RUVAL trailed the leader, moved away from the inside with 300m remaining, despite being a good distance behind JORDANS MATE and tried to pursue but couldn’t peg back the margin. MICHAELS MENAME was last of the three runners throughout and lost his chance of finishing second when he broke stride on the home turn. He backed up with a Ballarat victory on Wednesday night, where he led throughout.

Mile Rate: -2.13.7           Final Half: - 63.1               Margins: - 12m, 2m

Trial 7: - STRATEGIC STRIDE (Love You – Glory Stride) dashed to the lead in the early stages and established a good margin on his rivals so it was basically a solo trial thereafter considering he ended up being so far in front with such a long way to travel. He won by a huge margin over IM JOSEPHINE, which was second throughout and MAJOR MAX broke stride at the start and was tailed off for the duration but he did make up ground on the second runner.

Mile Rate: - 2.6.7            Final Half: - 62.3               Margins: - 120m, 10m

Trial 8: - STORM STRIDE (Excel Stride – Scarlet Stride) began quickly to lead and established a good margin on his rivals. He continued to increase his lead and emulated the feat of his stable mate Strategic Stride in trial seven by recording a winning margin of over 100m. SYMPHONY STRIDE (Well Said – Spicy Stride 1.52.8, $184,635) was three back on the markers and moved to the outside of REMI MAGIC (Ernie Eldorado – Magic Chesay 1.59.9, $16,000) (trailed the leader) with 1200m remaining. That pair had a good battle for second and third but SYMPHONY STRIDE won the day and finished two metres ahead of REMI MAGIC on the line.

Mile Rate: - 2.4.3            Final Half: - 61.2               Margins: - 120m, 2m

Trial 9: - ALONG CAME ASPIDER wasn’t comfortable from the standing start and jumped sideways early but got into a trot and settled in third. He made a mid-race move to find the lead and was comfortably able to hold his two rivals at bay. He is awkwardly drawn behind a moderate beginner at Melton this evening. CAESAR MOMENT jumped away best to lead, took a trail and ended up settling last of the trio. He moved away from the markers at the 600m mark and chased hard but couldn’t peg back the winner. He has drawn barrier two against a reasonable line up at Charlton on Monday. SMART CHA CHA (Feng Shui’s Image – McKillop 2.5.7, $7,395) stepped away well and pushed forward to lead shortly after the start. She then took cover behind ALONG CAME ASPIDER but couldn’t accelerate over the latter stages.  

Mile Rate: - 2.12.7          Final Half: - 62.3               Margins: - 2m, 20m

Trial 10: - IMA CHERISHED STRIDE (Muscle Hill – Miss Pegasus) made it three runaway victories for the Mark Hayes stable on the day with an easy win over SURPRISE TO ME. She was fast out from the standing start, dashed to the lead and never appeared to be in any danger. SURPRISE TO ME trailed the leader and finished in second position. OUR WARRIOR (Yankee Spider – Charliesbaby 2.3.5, $18,352) was slow away and wanted to hang out several times in the run. He finished a distant last of the three but it is a difficult task for a very early season juvenile to take on the older horses.

Mile Rate: - 2.7.8            Final Half: - 62.3               Margins: - 80m, 100m

BENDIGO 03/01/21

Trial 1: - MAR PACIFICO stepped away well and found the front shortly after the start. He is a National Ratings 74 assessed trotter and his two rivals were rated in the forties so he was entitled to win. He led throughout and scored comfortably from LADY LIL, which trailed him throughout. SENTIMENTAL WIND was tailed off after he stepped away well but broke stride 50m after the start and lost valuable ground.

Mile Rate: - 2.9.4            Final Half: - 58.0               Margin: - 12m, Distanced

Trial 2: - FETCH IT began quickly to lead then took a trail behind COMANDANTE at the mile marker. He came to the outside in the straight and was probably going to run a close second behind COMANDANTE but that trotter broke stride with 50m remaining and left him in front. He went on to win the trial from COMANDANTE with the pacer SABOTAGE (He’s Watching – Roxie Romance) finishing third after being five back on the markers, four back from the 1200m and without cover from the 800m. MISTER RICHARD CEE trailed the leader early, ended up being third on the markers and finished in fourth position with the juvenile pacer CURVEBALL (Betterthancheddar – Jaz Equity 1.57.5, $54,023) being fifth after settling fourth on the inside. LOOK FOR TASCOTT (Skyvalley – Hands of a Star) broke stride at the start and was tailed off for the remainder of the trial.

Mile Rate: - 2.2.5            Final Half: - 60.4               Margins: - 1m, 3.5m

Trial 3: - PRESIDENT ROYDON began quickly to lead with MARVELLOUS MAX trailing in a field of just two runners. MARVELLOUS MAX came to the outside with 150m remaining and picked up ground on PRESIDENT ROYDON, going down narrowly at the line. It is fair to say that both horses had plenty in reserve at the finish. PRESIDENT ROYDON resumes from a long spell at Bendigo tomorrow night.

Mile Rate: - 2.0.6            Final Half: - 57.4               Margin: - Nose

Trial 4: - ALIENS EXIST began quickly and was able to roll to the front shortly after the start. He set up a slow tempo and finished off in a slick final quarter of 27.4 seconds to get the prize. HEDEALSINDIAMONDS (American Ideal – Rebel Diamond 1.56.8, $59,750) settled three back on the inside and moved away from the markers with 700m remaining. He moved into second position and boxed on well in fast final sectionals. Both the winner and the runner up appeared to be coasting down the home straight so they performed very nicely. MALAVA MISS (Shadow Play – Western Art 2.3.4, $2,255) broke stride at the start and lost approximately ten metres. She settled down in last position but moved into the one out and one back trail behind HEDEALSINDIAMONDS before switching back to the inside on the home turn. TERROR OFA SAINT (Western Terror – Saint Grace 1.59.8, $14,356) trailed the leader and was the last of the four runners to greet the judge.

Mile Rate: - 2.4.1            Final Half: - 56.5               Margins: - 5m,6m

Trial 5: - The former New Zealander GLENS OF TEKOA started his Australian racing career in Perth before heading across to New South Wales. He has struggled for form hence he has a low National Rating of 41. He has recently joined trainer Ellen Tormey and was able to lead throughout in reasonable time so he should be able to find a suitable race in the near future. OZZIE SUNSHINE trailed the leader and used the sprint lane to finish in second position. It took her some time to hit top gear but she lifted in the latter stages. She is a reserve at Mildura on Tuesday but is a winning chance if she gains a start. CAYMANGONE settled down in last position, gained a one out and one back trail at the quarter pole, sprinted sharply up to third on the home turn and battled on quite well at the finish. SELAPHOBIA settled five back on the markers, moved away from the inside at the 600m mark, ducked back to the markers when in third on the home turn and wasn’t asked for an effort in the straight. HEZA BERGSTEIN finished fifth after settling four back on the markers and SPECULATOR (3 back markers) was the last one to cross the finishing line.

Mile Rate: - 2.0.3            Final Half: - 57.1               Margins: - 3m, 1m

BLACKBOOKER: - Glens of Tekoa

Trial 6: - SICARIO raced without cover and was second last early but pressed forward to find the lead with 1400m remaining. He ran along at a handy tempo and raced away from his rivals in the straight to score by a comfortable margin. It was the perfect hit-out for his effort in the Bendigo Cup tomorrow night. SIXTY pushed forward to find the front at the 1800m mark, took a trail behind SICARIO and tried hard for second position. He returns from a spell in the opening event at Bendigo tomorrow night is an upset chance. REVA led out, took a trail behind SIXTY then was shuffled to three back on the markers. She finished in third position with SHAWAMI LASS being fourth after moving away from the markers from four back on the inside at the 700m mark. NUREYEV was last of the five runners for the majority of the trip.

Mile Rate: - 1.55.4          Final Half: - 56.9               Margins: - 12m, 9m

Trial 7: - BELLA BRONSKI began well to get to the markers first, took a trail behind WENTHESTARZZZALINE then circled around to find the front at the 1700m mark. She raced keenly in the lead but she appeared to be very sharp at the finish, winning comfortably. She appears to be a good chance at Cobram on Sunday based on that performance. WENTHESTARZZZALINE was a clear second after leading out then taking cover with TELLMESUMTHINGRL rolling into third after coming from four back on the inside. MUSCLE UP MAJOR settled down last, came away from the inside with 300m remaining and finished on nicely for fourth. THORESAN was five back on the markers throughout and beat home OUR LITTLE GODDESS, which settled in third but raced very roughly at the half mile marker and dropped out sharply.

Mile Rate: - 2.0.0            Final Half: - 57.9               Margins: - 11m, 5m