Ryan Duffy has only prepared one winner during a short training career, but might soon be adding to the tally with a pacer that hasn’t raced in close to two years.
Set Ablaze impressed Craig Rail at the Bacchus Marsh trials with “fast final sectionals” and might be worth following according to the Harness Racing Victoria form guru.
The five-year-old, who hasn't raced since March 2021, was one of five horses added to Rail’s Blackbook this week, with Spider Blood, Captain Hammerhead, Keayang Cedric and What A Pleasure also making the file.
Read the full review of this week’s trial circuit below and check out the updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
TRIAL REPORT 201
SHEPPARTON 09/02/23
Trial 1: - WESTERN SONADOR settled down last of the six runners, moved to the outside at the 700m, gained a one out and one back trail shortly afterwards and launched his winning claim at the 300m. RED HOT ASSASSIN raced without cover early, pressed forward to find the lead at the 1600m and was run down late but was never at full tilt. LETSGOBRO trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and moved to the outside at the 600m. He battled on well for third with IFITSTOBEITSUPTOME (lead, trailed leader 1600m) being in fourth.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.9 Last Half: - 56.8 Margins: - 1m, 3m
Trial 2: - LETTUCE TROT settled four back on the inside, moved off the markers with 500m remaining and asserted his superiority in the run to the finish. He backed up several days later at Warragul and was able to land the prize. SPIDER BLOOD began sharply to find the lead, ran along at a reasonable tempo and battled hard for second. He beat the remainder of the field by a large margin and should prove hard to beat at Gunbower on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.9 Last Half: - 60.6 Margins: - 3m, 25m
BLACKBOOKER: - Spider Blood
Trial 4: - CAPTAIN HAMMERHEAD hasn’t raced since finishing fifth in the Nutrien Final (Group 1) at Menangle in August but he appeared to be very sharp in his trial success. He trailed the leader, moved to the outside at the 600m and appeared to win with something in reserve. ONECROWDEDHOUR settled three back on the markers and finished second with VIKING being a nice third after settling down last, following up behind CAPTAIN HAMMERHEAD and never peeling to the outside at any stage.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.7 Last Half: - 58.1 Margins: - 4m, 3m
BLACKBOOKER: - Captain Hammerhead
BACCHUS MARSH 11/02/23
Trial 3: - IDLE TIMES has been performing nicely at the trials and was able to score in reasonable time. He backs up at Ballarat this evening but is meeting a strong field. TRINITYS DELIGHT hasn’t raced since recording successive victories in April. She was able to finish in second position and was a good margin ahead of BLISSFULL LILLY, which was third past the post.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.5 Last Half: - 59.4 Margins: - 4m, 12m
Trial 4: - SET ABLAZE hasn’t started since March 2021 and joins trainer Ryan Duffy after previously being prepared by Emma Stewart. He finished off in fast final sectionals and scored by a comfortable margin so he might be worth following. CARMY DAN finished in second position with MERRY DANCER being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.9 Last Half: - 57.6 Margins: - 8m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Set Ablaze
Trial 5: - SOMEJOYFUL NZ hasn’t raced since August but was able to finish off in a slick final half of 57.3 seconds so she has come back from a break in terrific order. She was able to score by a large margin over HAY THERE JOE with MIDNITE DESIRE being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.2 Last Half: - 57.3 Margins: - 25m, 10m
MARYBOROUGH 12/02/23
Trial 1: - GOLFO PARADISIO NZ created a big impression at his first campaign of racing and has been performing very nicely at the trials. He settled four back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 700m, came out three horses wide on the home turn and ran home best. He is taking on a very strong field at Melton tomorrow night but he is a very promising horse. MISSED THE TRUTH settled five back on the markers and moved into the death seat at the 800m. He went down fighting and the early leader RUBY WINGATE was third. THE MISSING SOCK NZ trailed the leader and had every chance in fourth but was racing outside of her class range and will appreciate competing against her own grade at Gunbower on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.7 Last Half: - 56.3 Margins: - ½ head, ½ head
Trial 3: - REDBANK MOLLY has moved to Victoria after having a long stint in Queensland. She settled three back on the inside, angled out wide on the home turn and finished fast to get the prize. It was a nice performance and she makes her local debut at Gunbower on Sunday. VAPAR FIRE finished second after settling five back on the inside and moving to the outside at the 700m.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.1 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 1m, 4m
Trial 4: - LET ME TELL YOU NZ is an unraced former New Zealand pacer for trainer Julie Douglas. He raced without cover early, progressed forward to find the lead at the 1300m and raced clear over the concluding stages to win easily. PANIC BUY was a good effort in second position after coming out three horses wide from the running lane (1-2, 1-1 at 1300m) and chasing hard late.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.0 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 8m, 2m
Trial 5: - OFF YOUR FACESKI gained a one out and one back trail, pushed forward to race without cover at the 700m mark and battled on strongly over the latter stages to win narrowly. He backed up at Charlton on Wednesday afternoon and recorded another narrow victory. TRAVEL BUG settled five back on the inside and ran home well without being extended at any stage. The early leader GOODTIMEDONTHESASH was the third horse across the line and backs up at Maryborough on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.6 Last Half: - 61.0 Margins: - Neck, 15m
Trial 10: - CENTURION DREAM took out the trial for the juvenile trotters. She stepped away well from the standing start and progressed forward to find the lead. She looked to be coasting going to the line and scored by a comfortable margin. STAR OF PATRICK settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 300m and finished off well. MAGIC LAW came from four back on the markers and worked into a distant third.
Mile Rate: - 2.17.4 Last Half: - 64.6 Margins: - 2m, 12m
TERANG 13/02/23
Trial 1: - VICTREE HILL prepared for his performance at Melton tomorrow night with a big victory. He stepped away well and progressed forward to find the lead then completely dominated his rivals. ROHAAN has recently joined trainer Matthew Horsnell and ran a nice second. He settled five back on the inside, broke momentarily at the 1600m, remained five back on the inside then worked into the one out and one back trail at the 600m. He was doing his best work at the finish with HAUTACAM being in third position after settling three back on the pegs.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.9 Last Half: - 58.5 Margins: - 25m, 6m
Trial 3: - KEAYANG CEDRIC settled last of the six runners, angled into the running lane at the 1200m (1-2) and charged home out wide on the track to produce a big victory. The time wasn’t overly fast but he appeared to have plenty left at the finish and he looks to be promising. CITYSIREN finished second after settling four back on the pegs and moving into the death seat at the 600m. OUR ULTIMATE LAYLA trailed the leader, used the sprint lane and fired through into third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Last Half: - 60.4 Margins: - ½ head, 1m
BLACKBOOKER: - Keayang Cedric
Trial 5: - JILLIBY NITRO trailed the leader and used the sprint lane to win softly. CODE BAILEY NZ settled three back on the inside, came away from the pegs at the 300m and finished well for second. The early leader HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN NZ finished in third spot.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.2 Last Half: - 55.3 Margins: - 1m, 5m
TABCORP PARK, MELTON 14/02/23
Trial 1: - DESTINY STRIDE is a filly by Captaintreacherous, which overcame an early error to gain the back of the leader before sprinting home best to score. LOCHINVAR CAMILA settled four back on the inside and worked into second spot with SOHO VESPER LIND being in third after settling three back on the inside.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.9 Last Half: - 59.05 Margins: - 6m, Head
Trial 3: - TRIPLE EIGHT NZ prepared for his effort at Melton tomorrow night with a victory over stable mate BETTER ECLIPSE in a field of two horses. TRIPLE EIGHT NZ led, BETTER ECLIPSE came to the outside on the turn and the pair finished in unison with the last quarter being run in a sizzling 26.07 seconds.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.2 Last Half: - 54.44 Margin: - Head
Trial 5: - SERGEANT LOU is a very talented juvenile pacer and had the benefit of race experience over his rivals. He was left without cover for the majority of the trip and really extended nicely at the end to score by 25m. FERRIGNO settled six back on the markers, raced greenly but sustained a long run from the 600m when a game second. INDI AIR TONIGHT finished third after leading out then taking cover behind THE MOCKINGBIRD.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.9 Last Half: - 58.64 Margins: - 25.5m, 7m
Trial 8: - DEUCE COUPE NZ continued his good trial form and is capable of improving of his race form. He began quickly to find the lead and finished off in good final sectionals to win by a clear margin. NANCY KAY trailed the leader, moved to the outside at the 700m and tried hard for second. She is backing up at Cranbourne on Tuesday night and she finished well clear of DIAMONDSNBLUE, which finished nicely from last of the eight runners.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.8 Last Half: - 57.48 Margins: - 14.5m, 20.5m
Trial 10: - EVER HOPING settled sixth on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 900m, gained a one out and one back trail at the 500m and finished off best. HEAVENLY CHARM was five back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 1700m and found the front at the 1400m. She battled on well for second with STAR RULER NZ being third after leading out then taking cover. The eye-catching effort came from the sixth placed WHAT A PLEASURE, which came from last of the nine runners and made ground out wide on the track under a hard hold. She is nicely drawn and should run a big race at Ballarat this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.4 Last Half: - 58.53 Margins: - ½ neck, 10m.
BLACKBOOKER: - What A Pleasure
