Regal Rock looks ready to make an impression after more than 15 months away from the races following a good trial performance at Bendigo on Monday.
Form guru Craig Rail rated the hit-out good enough to include him as one of three additions to the Blackbook this week, with the Glenn Bull-trained pacer now back in Victoria after stints in Queensland and New South Wales.
The unraced Gotfeelingsyouknow made the Blackbook after a stunning 50m win at the same Bendigo trial meeting, while the Ben Yole-trained Iamnopet impressed enough at Kilmore on Wednesday to also be included in the file.
Read Rail's analysis of this week's Victorian trial circuit below and get his updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
TRIAL REPORT
BACCHUS MARSH 26/11/22
Trial 2: - KIA ORA BEAUTY broke stride at the start and was put outside of the draw at her latest race track appearance. She recorded fast time at her Bacchus Marsh trial victory on the Saturday and backed up at the Melton trials two days later. She won her trial convincingly from RENDEZVOUS with REALLY WHISKY finishing a distant third. The former New South Wales pacer RARIFIED MAN filled fourth position as a lead up to his Victorian debut at Ballarat on Thursday night, where he unfortunately made a few errors and finished tailed off.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - 8m, 15m
Trial 5: - LAYDEN has been unplaced in all of his six starts to date but he has been showing some promise at the trials so he might improve the next time he steps out onto the track. He was able to take out the last trial from TALLULAH LEE, which hasn’t raced since winning at Stawell on October 05, and SEA SILK filled third spot. LAYDEN and TALLULAH LEE will be competing at Melton on Tuesday but are meeting a couple of handy performers.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.7 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - 2m, 8m
ECHUCA 27/11/22
Trial 1: - BEACH TIME ran to the front shortly after the starter said go, ran along at an even tempo and went to the line with plenty in reserve to win the opening trial comfortably. He is widely drawn in a heat of the Australasian Young Drivers Championship at Melton on Tuesday night but he is not without a chance. JITTERBUG ARDEN settled last of the three runners and came to the outside at the 500m mark. He finished second and NANANELLIE (trailed leader) was last of the three runners to complete the course.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.3 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - 2m, 4m
Trial 3: - EPIC ORION has only had the one start and that performance was back in October 2021. He did show some ability at his trial victory as he settled down in fourth position, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 900m and came out three horses wide at the 700m. EBONYS SANDS is an unraced filly prepared by Jason Ross and also showed some ability. She unsuccessfully tried to lead early, was forced to race without cover and looked to be under pressure before the home turn then came again in the straight.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.3 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - 4m, 1m
CRANBOURNE 27/11/22
Trial 1: - CAPTAIN BELLASARIO boasts a National Rating of 79 so he appeared to have a lot of class over his rivals that consisted of horses with Ratings of 50 and below or were trotters. He wasn’t involved in the score up by design and gave the pack approximately 40m start so he could have a good hit-out. He caught up to the field, came to the outside at the 600m mark and showed great acceleration at the end to win by a large margin. KILLARA INSANITY led out then took cover at the 1100m and finished off reasonably well for a distant second and the former New Zealander CRAZY NZ finished third after working forward early and trotting to the lead with just over a lap remaining. KILLARA INSANITY will compete at Yarra Valley on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.2 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 22m, 5m
MARYBOROUGH 27/11/22 (no official results are available on the website at this stage)
Trial 1: - SOHO BROADWAY settled last of the five runners, came to the outside at the 700m and sustained a strong run to score in the opening event. She proved too strong for MISSED THE TRUTH, which set the speed and boxed on well with SOLESSEO MATUCA being in third just ahead of AUSSIEPRIDE. AUSSIEPRIDE returns from a spell at Melton on Tuesday night.
Trial 2: - BLAKE BOLAC began fast to lead, took cover at the 1300m and made his winning move on the home turn. He drew clear in the run to the line in what was a very good workout for his effort in the Youthful Stakes at Melton this evening. LEDECKY ran a game race for second after being three back on the markers early before circling around the field to lead at the 1300m.
Trial 5: - DOWN UNDER EARL prepared for his effort at Charlton this afternoon when he found the front, pulled hard and dashed well clear to win by a large margin. MAORI MUSCLE trailed the leader and broke stride at the 300m but was able to hold down second position. He returned from a spell at Ballarat on Thursday night but made several errors and finished in seventh.
TABCORP PARK, MELTON 28/11/22
Trial 1: - TRADIE LADY produced a huge performance to win the Breeders Crown Silver event at her debut and kept the momentum rolling with a soft trial victory. She settled fourth on the inside, gained a one out and one back trail and finished off strongly. EXALTED settled five back on the inside and moved into the death seat at the 700m. He battled on strongly for second and TUMULT ran a nice race for third after pressing forward to find the lead at the 1100m mark.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.0 Last Half: - 60.39 Margins: - 3.5m, head
Trial 3: - STOCKMAN PETER in an unraced three years old trotter for trainer Michael Cole. He raced without cover throughout and kept on giving when a game winner over KELLYBUSH, which tried to lead throughout and kicked well clear before the home turn.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Last Half: - 59.60 Margins: - Neck, 6m
Trial 4: - MAJOR MOTH appears to have returned from a break in outstanding form with several recent trial victories, the latest being an all of the way win over HES IDEAL, which took the trail and held on well in fast final sectionals. WHISKEY CAVALIER came from last of the four runners to pick up third ahead of MONSIEUR DELACOUR (3 back markers). MONSIEUR DELACOUR will appreciate easier grade when he competes at Charlton this afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 1.54.3 Last Half: - 54.70 Margins: - 2.5m, 8m
Trial 5: - CELESTIALFRAGRANCE put in a good display after galloping at the start and missing away by approximately 20m. She came out three horses wide from seventh and finished strongly to win from OVER THE ODDS, which battled on gamely after racing without cover throughout. KIA ORA BEAUTY was backing up from her trial success at Bacchus Marsh on Saturday and finished off solidly from sixth to pick up third spot. She moves back into the draw after the two trial performances for her effort at Yarra Valley on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Last Half: - 58.31 Margins: - Head, 3.5m
Trial 6: - LORIMER LADY settled four back on the inside, came out three horses wide at the 300m and finished well to get the prize. WICHITA KANSAS is now with trainer Dianne Giles and finished second after settling in third and moving into the death seat at the 600m mark. RAKAREPLAY came from five back on the markers to finish third. WICHITA KANSAS can improve on her numerical form at Melton on Tuesday and RAKAREPLAY was doing enough at the end to also suggest he could be competitive in the same race.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.1 Last Half: - 59.47 Margins: - 2m, 11m
BENDIGO 28/11/22
Trial 1: - ALL CASHED UP has been runner up at Country Cups level (Shepparton) recently and wouldn’t look out of place contesting the heats of the Inter Dominion so he was clearly the class runner of the trial. He was impressive however as he led throughout and recorded slick final sectionals to win by a large margin.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.6 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - 55m, 2m
Trial 2: - GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW is a Russell Jack trained juvenile trotter by Majestic Son and created a good impression by leading throughout and scoring by 50m! He seemed to go to the line with plenty in reserve and is worth following. OPRAH DOUBLE YOU trailed the leader and finished second with IN REDWHITEANDBLUE (4 back pegs) being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.4 Last Half: - 60.1 Margins: - 50m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: - Gotfeelingsyouknow
Trial 3: - OZZIE SWEET PEA and HEATHBERN BRUCE prepared for their performances in their respective Youthful Stakes events at Melton tonight with a solid trial hit-out. OZZIE SWEET PEA trailed the leader, moved into the death seat at the 700m and proved to be too good with HEATHBERN BRUCE (5 back markers) gaining the one out and one back trail behind her in the back straight on the final occasion.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.5 Last Half: - 56.5 Margins: - 10m, 15m
Trial 5: - LOST FOUR WORDS trailed the leader early, worked to the lead with 1700m remaining and ran along at a genuine tempo. She was able to get well clear of her rivals and scored impressively. BOXOFCHOCOLATES sprinted quickly along the passing lane from four back on the markers to pick up second with ROCKET BOY coming from last of the six runners to find third spot. PRAY TELL raced without cover for the last 800m and pulled hard so she put in a handy performance to be fourth across the line.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.0 Last Half: - 56.3 Margins: - 8m, Head
Trial 6: - REGAL ROCK NZ had three starts with trainer Matthew Craven in 2017/18 and headed up to Queensland and New South Wales. He returned to Victoria with a very impressive display after he showed brilliant gate speed to lead clearly, ran along at a genuine tempo and held his rivals safely at bay. The classy trotter DON’T CARE finished second after settling five back on the markers and moving into the one out and one back trail with half of a mile remaining. RINGOS A STAR made an early move from sixth to race without cover from the 1200m and did well after a tough run to gain third position. RINGOS A STAR is a strong type and is competing at Melton this evening. IM READY JET was slow out and settled down last of the seven runners. She moved into the running lane at the 800m then never peeled to the outside at any stage, going to the line bolting with plenty to give.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.8 Last Half: - 60.7 Margins: - 3m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - Regal Rock NZ
Trial 8: - LA PERRIERE settled four back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 300m and was able to get home best to get the prize. BROTHER JOSEPH settled three back on the inside and finished second and SHEZ MAJESTIC (5 back pegs), used the sprint lane to finish third. The trial changed complexion when the leader NORMANDY BELLE galloped on the home turn. She kicked well clear and was going to win the trial easily before she broke stride.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.7 Last Half: - 60.6 Margins: - Head, 3m
KILMORE 30/11/22
Trial 3: - MODERN BLISS began very quickly to find the lead, pulled hard and rolled along at a genuine tempo. He remained strong at the finish and scored by a large margin so it was an impressive display. AROCKNATTHEPARK came from four back on the markers and finished fast for an eye-catching second. He is backing up at Melton on Tuesday night and he performed well enough in the trial to suggest he can be competitive.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Last Half: - 56.5 Margins: - 15m, 4m
Trial 4: - LEAVEMEOUT settled sixth on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 1700m and worked to the front shortly afterwards. He ran right off the track at the 500m and was very wide on the home turn so it was a good performance to regather momentum and get the prize. He is racing at Melton on Tuesday and is capable of improving on his numerical form. CAPTAIN TOM finished second after settling five back on the markers and running home well through the middle late.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.2 Last Half: - 59.1 Margins: - 1.5m, Nose
Trial 5: - IAMNOPET began quickly to find the lead and ran along at a genuine tempo. He raced well clear over the concluding stages and scored by 20m. He has a low National Rating of 49 so he should be able to win a race in the near future. THUG ROSE NZ settled three back on the markers and finished second with TALLYHO JO coming from last to finish in third.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.8 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 20m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Iamnopet
HORSHAM 30/11/22
Trial 1: - HANOVER JACK has recently returned to trainer Jason Ainsworth after a long stint with Kate Attard in Mildura. He won the pre-meeting trial over TALLULAH LEE, which was placed at the trials several days earlier and TALLARAS SHADOW finished in third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.5 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 3.5m, 1.5m
