Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail was most impressed by the unraced gelding Sorriso De Praia at the Maryborough trials this week.
Arrhythmia is another runner that impressed Rail after she finished quickly from last place out of the seven runners to run an eye-catching fourth at a Melton trial.
Look Like Diamonds also caught Rail's eye.
TRIAL REPORT 307
SHEPPARTON 06/03/25
Trial 1: - NORDIC REIGN has performed extremely well in two trials since returning from a spell and was able to dominate a strong field. She showed very good gate speed to lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and raced away for an easy victory. STAR DOWN UNDER finished in second after trailing the leader throughout. MAORIS MAC settled four back on the markers and came to the outside on the home turn. She was able to work past BITTA IRISH LUCK over the concluding stages.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Last Half: - 61.0 Margins: - 15m, 1m
Trial 4: - USYK showed very good gate speed to find the lead shortly after the start. He has already won a race this season and his experience shone through as he produced a strong front running display. IM BIG BUSINESS settled three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 700m mark and battled on well for second. SPARTAN SHIELD settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 700m mark and battled on okay for third. DELIZIOSO settled down a clear last early but finished off smartly for an eye-catching fourth.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.7 Last Half: - 57.2 Margins: - 6m, Neck
Trial 6: - SAVOY BALLROOM settled three back on the markers and moved to the outside at the 500m. She finished off nicely in a handy final half of 57.0 seconds to get up and score. It was a good effort leading up to her performance at Wagga this afternoon. FRUGAL FARE settled five back on the markers, came out three horses wide at the 300m and finished off well to be beaten narrowly. He backed up at Bendigo on Wednesday night and defeated a strong field by a narrow margin. VIEW THE ART finished in third position after attempting to lead throughout and will be competing at Charlton on Sunday. LOOK AWAY settled four back on the inside, used the sprint lane and drove through to finish in fourth position. He will be racing at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Last Half: - 57.0 Margins: - Head, 5m
KILMORE 06/03/25
Trial 1: - KYVALLEY RAY NZ is a New Zealand bred juvenile for trainer Brent Lilley. He is by the French sire Bold Eagle out of a race winning daughter of the champion mare One Under Kenny. He recorded slow time but was able to get the job done with his stable mates BROTHER MOUNTAIN (Propulsion – Mystic Hush 2.0.6, $94,943) and ROSE ALL DAY (Love You – Tailored Elegance NZ 1.58.7, $96,226) being second and third respectively. The mile rate might have been slow but all three trotters are bred to run.
Mile Rate: - 2.29.4 Last Half: - 68.4 Margins: - 5m, 12m
Trial 2: - ABOUTTIME was clearly the class runner of the trial considering his high National Rating of 89. He won the trial by a large margin and the win would have given him some confidence leading up to his first up performance at Melton on Saturday night. HONEST HARRIETTE is now with trainer Rita Burnett and finished in second position ahead of her performance at Cranbourne on Sunday. LA FRANK was last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.8 Last Half: - 57.2 Margins: - 80m, Distance
Trial 3: - ROLLWITHARTY has only had two starts and his latest effort was a seventh at Menangle in a heat of the Breeders Challenge series in August. He recorded reasonable time on the way to a comfortable trial victory. HOWSWEETTHESOUND finished in second position with the juvenile pacer RUGGARDS GEE TEE being the third pacer across the line. RUGGARDS GEE TEE is by Always B Miki out of the New Zealand bred mare Cracker Three, which is a descendant of Pleasant Franco, the dam of the champion pacer and sire Christian Cullen.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.2 Last Half: - 59.7 Margins: - 6m, 6m
Trial 6: - THE MAJORS GIRL hasn’t raced since December and has joined trainer Thomas Parnell since her latest performance. She won her trial in easy fashion and will be backing up at Cranbourne on Sunday night. NIGHT TIME GLORY is an unraced mare by Goodtime Sammy and finished in second position, comfortably ahead of EVILEYE and SCOTTYS DELIGHT.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.8 Last Half: - 60.8 Margins: - 8m, 4m
MARYBOROUGH 08/03/25
Trial 1: - SORRISO DE PRAIA is an unraced gelding for trainer Michael Gadsden, which created a big impression. He was without cover in the early stages, progressed forward to find the lead at the 1100m and raced well clear in the run to the finish. He will be making his debut at Charlton on Sunday and should prove very hard to beat. CHEYS ANGEL settled five back on the inside, moved up without cover at the 700m mark and battled on well for second. ANGEL OF ANGER trailed the leader early and ended up being three back on the markers. She finished in third ahead of CARRAMAR TITMUS, which led out then took cover. ANGEL OF ANGER will also be competing at Charlton on Sunday afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 1.56.0 Last Half: - 56.6 Margins: - Not available
BLACKBOOKER: - Sorriso De Praia
Trial 4: - The classy juvenile pacer MAXO MIGHTY was able to defeat the older horses in the fourth event. He settled three back on the markers, wanted to hang in at several stages of the event but was able to sprint quickly from the 500m mark. He wanted to race greenly but was able to get the job done. MAXBECA trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 300m mark and tried hard for a close second. He will be backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. NEON TIGER broke stride momentarily at the start, settled last of the five runners and was able to work past the early leader PENTAL STORM to pick up third position. He is competing at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.5 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - 1m, 8m
Trial 6: - OLIVER DAN needed to qualify from the standing start leading up to his performance in a heat of the Tasmania Cup on Sunday. He was able to step away safely to find the lead and was untroubled in scoring over PESCI, which sat in the trail throughout. PESCI is competing in the Charlton Cup on Sunday afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.1 Last Half: - 57.8 Margin: - 12m
BACCHUS MARSH 08/03/25
Trial 1: - COOPER CLEAVER was beaten by a long way at his first start in almost a year but he has had two trials since and was able to win the opening trial at Bacchus Marsh by a comfortable margin. He is backing up at Melton this evening. IMA TERMINATOR hasn’t started since winning the Bacchus Marsh Cup at Melton in November 2023. He showed a lot of promise at his four starts in the latter stages of the 2023 season and is on the comeback trail. YANKEE RAIN and JUST PEDRO were third and fourth across the line respectively.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.1 Last Half: - 60.3 Margins: - 5m, 2m
Trial 2: - BRINGSUSJOY is a nicely bred filly, which has been unplaced at her four starts to date and hasn’t raced since being unplaced in a heat of the Super Series back in August. She is returning to the racetrack at Cranbourne on Sunday night and would have gained a lot of confidence from her easy trial success. JAMALA KHAN finished second on the way to his effort at Ballarat on Thursday night. MY BEAUTIFUL LIFE and ILEANA finished third and fourth respectively.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.1 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - 5m, 2m
Trial 3: - MAUDARCHY NZ was able to take out the trial for the trotters. She scored by a narrow margin over KICKABARREL, which has been performing quite nicely at the trials and will make his debut at Cranbourne on Sunday night. SKYTE finished a distant third ahead of ACE DAN. The winner MAUDARCHY NZ backed up at Bendigo on Wednesday night and finished in fifth.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.0 Last Half: - 61.0 Margins: - 1.5m, 20m
Trial 4: - SPORTY PHILTRA has joined trainer Joe Pace since her latest Shepparton victory in early February. She is making her debut for the stable at Melton this evening but is awkwardly drawn. She recorded handy time in scoring over MIDNITE DESIRE, which backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night. SOFT LANDING finished in a distant third.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.5 Last Half: - 59.5 Margins: - 5m, 20m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 11/03/25
Trial 2: - RIPPLES NZ appears to be a very promising filly and continued her good trial form with an effortless victory over MY BETTOR HALF. She ran to the front shortly after the start and appeared to be jogging in the run to the finish, winning with plenty in reserve and by a handy margin. MY BETTOR HALF settled three back on the markers, came to the outside at the 600m mark and was able to work into second position. MAJOR BLITZ trailed the leader throughout and finished in third with the first three horses across the line finishing well clear of the remainder of the field, which was headed by TRIROCKIN.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.1 Last Half: - 57.2 Margins: - 8.5m, Neck
Trial 3: - ULTIMATE MIKI began quickly to find the lead and set up a slow tempo. He was able to finish off in a sizzling final quarter of 27.3 seconds to gain the winning prize. MEDINA settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 500m mark and chased hard for second. She is making her debut at Cranbourne on Sunday night. SANDSTING finished in third after trailing the leader throughout with EMMA ROX being in fourth from her position of being four back on the inside. EMMA ROX will also be making her debut at Cranbourne on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Last Half: - 57.9 Margins: - 2.5m, Head
Trial 5: - MOUNT BARKER BOY began quickly and was without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead then dominated his rivals. The son of Ride High finished off in a slick final quarter of 28.1 seconds and appears to have a promising future. MISTER AMERICANO settled four back on the markers and moved to the outside with 500m remaining. He chased hard and finished in second position. KEEPING IT SIMPLE came from fifth to pick up third position and ARRHYTHMIA finished off quickly from last of the seven runners to run an eye-catching fourth.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Last Half: - 57.1 Margins: - 5m, 10.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Arrhythmia
Trial 7: - RAGING WHITEBAIT NZ began brilliantly to find the lead from the outside of the front line. He set up a moderate tempo mid-race but finished off in a sizzling final quarter of 27.1 seconds to win softly. LOOK LIKE DIAMONDS settled last of the four runners, moved up without cover at the 800m mark and did a very good job to finish second. GIVE DAVE A WAVE was backing up from his Melton victory on the Saturday night prior and was third across the line after settling three back on the inside. He is using the same tactics as the week prior and will be racing at Melton again on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.1 Last Half: - 56.1 Margins: - 6m, 7m
BLACKBOOKER: - Look Like Diamonds
Trial 8: - GIANVITO began quickly to find the lead and backed off the tempo mid-race before holding his rivals safely at bay in the run to the finish. He is by Father Patrick out of the former top mare Miss Warbucks and is closely related to the handy trotter I’m Daddy Warbucks. TROUVILLE SUR MER trailed the leader throughout and finished in second with SAMBEZIA coming from four back on the markers to pick up third. WHATSTHEGOSS was three back on the markers and was going to finish third but broke stride with 100m remaining. PARLEZVOUS PATTY settled six back on the markers, pushed forward to fifth when his stable mate ILLUMINANCE galloped ahead of him and remained in fifth across the line. ILLUMINANCE was sixth after making her early error but she did chase hard mid-race. WHATSTHEGOSS, PARLEZVOUS PATTY and ILLUMINANCE are all scheduled to compete at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.6 Last Half: - 62.3 Margins: - 5m, 25m
Trial 9: - AARDIES PEAK NZ led out then took cover behind MISTER BLINDSIDE. He came to the outside on the home turn and finished off best to gain the prize. MISTER BLINDSIDE pushed forward to find the lead at the 1800m and battled on fairly well for second. ENCHAUFFOUR finished in third position after being three back on the markers and HIGHPOINT put in an eye-catching performance when coming from last and finishing off swiftly. HIGHPOINT appears to be a value hope in his effort at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Last Half: - 61.5 Margins: - 2m, 9m
Trial 10: - The top mare ROCKINWITHATTITUDE settled four back on the markers, came to the outside with 600m remaining and sustained a strong run to score. MEGA SPUR trailed the leader, used the sprint lane and accelerated nicely for second. ILLAWONG STARDUST was third after attempting to lead throughout and TIPSY TURVY (3 back markers) was last of the four runners across the line. MEGA SPUR and TIPSY TURVY are both backing up at Melton on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.6 Last Half: - 59.6 Margins: - 2m, 7m