Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail was impressed by Harley Lane when she led throughout her trial at Cranbourne and looked quite impressive in the run to the finish.
Aetos Dynamis also impressed at Bendigo when he came from last to first to win his trial.
Willows Girl, Ripples, and Showmethetanlines also impressed in trials at Melton.
TRIAL REPORT 306
KYABRAM 02/03/25
Trial 1: - NORDIC REIGN won the Breeders Crown in her juvenile season and appeared to be back to her best form with a good trial win over the pacers. She showed very good gate speed to lead and finished off in a handy final half of 58.6 seconds. BACK PAGE WRITER finished in second after trailing the leader throughout and HITCH TO HIS STAR came from four back on the markers to finish in third. Both horses will be competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. LOOK AWAY settled five back on the markers and was fourth across the line. He will be making his debut at Wangaratta on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.1 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 2m, 5m
Trial 2: - HIGH FLUX hasn’t raced since a fifth at Shepparton in November but being the winner of seven races previously, he was clearly the class runner of the trial. He scored by a comfortable margin over CROCODILE BLOOD, which hasn’t raced since galloping away at Shepparton in early December. SPOT THE DEVIL and HARTNETT finished third and fourth respectively.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.3 Last Half: - 59.6 Margins: - 8m, 2m
CRANBOURNE 02/03/25
Trial 1: - HARLEY LANE is a filly by Lather Up out of the classy mare The Baggy Green (1.57.0, $108,700). She led throughout and looked quite impressive in the run to the finish, easily holding off the challenge of DENIS WILLIAM, which has a National Rating of 87! DENIS WILLIAM settled down in last position and made ground from the 600m mark. CRUNCHIE DIVA was five back on the markers early, ended up being four back then made a move at the 700m mark. She battled on fairly well for a distant third.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.6 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 6m, 9.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Harley Lane
MILDURA 03/03/25
Trial 1: - OUT YONDA is a nicely bred gelding by Tintin In America out of Madazhell (2.0.7 ,$42,350), which has produced four winners including Madazalways (1.54.7, $166,160) and Mykorona (1.56.4, $64,120). He took out the opening trial by a comfortable margin over IMA FIT TREASURE with LILBITAJAYTEE being a distant third. IMA FIT TREASURE will make his debut at Mildura this afternoon and LILBITAJAYTEE will return from a long spell on the same program.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.5 Last Half: - 61.0 Margins: - 4.5m, 13m
BENDIGO 03/03/25
Trial 1: - AETOS DYNAMIS settled five back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m and finished off boldly to win with ease. POPPY POPSTAR was stood down to trial after making several errors on the small track at Boort. She attempted to lead throughout and was unable to repel the challenge of AETOS DYNAMIS over the concluding stages. She is backing up at Birchip on Sunday. THAT’S YOUR OPINION came from four back on the markers to pick up third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.7 Last Half: - 60.4 Margins: - 8m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - Aetos Dynamis
Trial 2: - THE DARK THUNDER trailed the leader before pouncing to the front with 500m remaining. She dashed well clear in the run to the finish, scoring by thirty-five metres. LILLYS TIGER was beaten by a long way but still showed some promise in running second. She settled four back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 1700m and went to the line with something in reserve. VULCAN STRIDE raced without cover early, pushed forward to lead and raced fiercely throughout the middle stages. He was headed at the 500m but was able to hold down third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.2 Last Half: - 62.3 Margins: - 35m, 5m
Trial 3: - SORRISO DE PRAIA raced without cover in the early stages, pushed forward to find the lead at the 1700m and was able to dash home in a slick final half to win the trial. LUVN OSMAN showed very good gate speed to lead, took cover and held his own over the latter stages to finish in second position. He ran smart enough sectionals to suggest he can go close at Mildura this afternoon. CHOGI settled five back on the markers and moved into the death seat at the 700m mark. She battled on nicely for third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.9 Last Half: - 56.9 Margins: - 4m, 4m
Trial 4: - FOXYONTHERUN began swiftly to find the lead shortly after the start. He enjoyed a nice run mid-race but finished off in handy final sectionals to get the prize. COUNTRY ROCKSTAR is now with trainer John Tormey and finished in second after settling five back on the markers and moving into the one out and one back trail at the 800m mark. He appears to be a good winning chance at Shepparton on Tuesday night. NOBLE JULIA was third across the line after trailing the leader throughout and will also be competing at Shepparton. CLEM MCCARDLE (3 back markers) was fourth and SPECULATOR was fifth after settling four back on the markers and moving up into the death seat at the 800m mark. SPECULATOR is backing up at Wangaratta on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.1 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - 3m, 3.5m
Trial 6: - LUVSKI was trotting roughly at the end but he was a very impressive winner. He was four back on the markers, pulled hard and circled around the field to find the lead at the bell. He shifted out on the home turn but was well clear of his rivals and won nicely. PICKET WIRE led out then took cover and tried hard for second. She is backing up at Melton tomorrow night. VICI BLOOM led out then took cover at the 1700m before ending up being three back on the markers. She held her own in the straight to be third across the line and is scheduled to return to the races at Wangaratta on Sunday night. SUNSUP settled five back on the markers and finished in fourth. BUSLIN BRODY was three then four back on the markers and was the fifth horse across the line. Both SUNSUP and BUSLIN BRODY will also be backing up at Wangaratta on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.4 Last Half: - 58.4 Margins: - 5m, 4m
Trial 7: - SMART AND MIGHTY NZ began quickly to lead, raced greenly around the first turn and raced fiercely throughout the middle stages. He hung in under pressure over the latter stages so he did do a fair bit wrong but he was able to get the job done. TERROR EYES NZ trailed the leader and chased hard in the straight to finish in second. He was well clear of the third placed BULLDOG KHAN, which settled four back on the markers and came to the outside on the home turn.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.1 Last Half: - 56.5 Margins: - 3m, 11m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 04/03/25
Trial 2: - DRAW A DREAM settled three back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m and came out three horses wide approaching the home turn. She finished off best in fast time to win nicely. LOOKS LIKE DIAMONDS settled four back on the inside, moved through to trail the leader on the home turn and finished in second. ZENA RHAYNE BOW attempted to lead throughout and finished in third ahead of GIVE DAVE A WAVE (trailed leader), which is backing up at Melton tomorrow night. MAJOR CELEBRITY finished last of the five runners but did well to finish with the pack after he galloped at the start.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.7 Last Half: - 56.1 Margins: - 2.5m, 10m
Trial 3: - DISCERNMENT continued her good trial form with a dominant display after leading throughout. MY BETTOR HALF settled three back on the markers, came to the outside at the 700m and battled on well for second. WILLOWS GIRL settled last of the seven runners and finished off strongly out wide on the track to produce an eye-catching effort for third. ROCKNROLL WISH NZ came from five back on the markers to finish in fourth position.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.3 Last Half: - 57.0 Margins: - 7.25m, 8.25m
BLACKBOOKER: - Willows Girl
Trial 6: - THE NINJA began quickly to trail the leader and came to the outside on the home turn. He hit the front in the straight then was just able to hold off the late challengers. RIPPLES NZ settled four back on the markers, angled out very wide on the home turn and finished off fast for a big second. MAJOR BLITZ was the third horse across the line after attempting to lead throughout. QUATRO MOTH did well to finish as close as he did after he broke stride in the score up and was a clear last in the early stages of the event.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.1 Last Half: - 57.6 Margins: - 1/2head, 2.25m
BLACKBOOKER: - Ripples NZ
Trial 7: - SHOWMETHETANLINES NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which created a big impression at his first Australian appearance. He led throughout and continued to build on his lead to score by over fifty metres in a mile rate of 1.55.6. He makes his Australian debut in the Sapling Stakes as part of the Miracle Mile program at Menangle tomorrow night. LOTAKEVI finished second after settling four back on the markers and angling to the outside on the home turn. APACHE BART was without cover early, angled onto the markers to be three back at the 900m and moved to the outside with 300m remaining. He battled on okay for third.
Mile Rate: - 1.55.6 Last Half: - 57.1 Margins: - 53.75m, 9.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Showmethetanlines NZ
Trial 8: - ARTIST trailed the leader early before moving around to find the lead at the 1500m. He enjoyed a nice run mid-race and had a good kick left in the run to the finish. He returns from a spell at Melton tomorrow night. WICKED BEAUTY settled four back on the markers before moving to the outside into the one out and one back trail at the 900m. She finished off quickly for a handy second. She must be considered as a winning chance at Carrick in Tasmania on Sunday night. CLARA ROCKS was three back on the markers and made late ground along the sprint lane for a creditable third.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.0 Last Half: - 57.7 Margins: - 1.5m, 7m
Trial 11: - ARCEE PHOENIX was able to lead throughout to win the trial for the open class trotters. He zipped home his last quarter in 27.9 seconds and was given a good hit-out leading up to the Hammerhead Mile at Menangle on Saturday night. IM READY JET finished second after trailing the leader throughout and ROCKINWITHATTITUDE was last of the three runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.1 Last Half: - 57.0 Margins: - 5.5m, 35m