Harness racing form guru Craig Rail noticed several standout performers at the recent trials.
Rey Bailando caught Rail’s eye when he stormed home in a trial at Shepparton.
Rail also noted Seathestars’ strong trial win ahead of his run tomorrow night at Melton.
Unraced I Sea Red flashed home sharply to win in a strong trial field at Melton and is one to keep an eye on.
SHEPPARTON 22/05/25
Trial 2: - HOOKLINEANDSINKER settled six back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 1100m and progressed forward. He was able to get the better of the early leader WHENIMREADY in the final stages and was able to score with something to spare. He is backing up at Wagga this afternoon. WHENIMREADY was beaten by a narrow margin after setting a slow speed early. ROLLING REMONA trailed the leader throughout and never peeled to the outside at any stage. She went to the line under a good hold and followed with her effort at Kilmore on Thursday, where she didn’t have much luck and finished in fourth. She is also backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. MAD PUNTA raced without cover early, restrained to being third on the pegs at the 1800m and battled on fairly well for fourth.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.6 Last Half: - 59.4 Margins: - Head, 5m
Trial 3: - SUNSET STRIDE began quickly to face the breeze, angled onto the markers to be three back at the 1800m, moved into the one out and one back trail in the back straight and finished off best over the concluding stages. He went to the line untouched so it was a good performance and he is backing up at Wagga this afternoon. ANAKIN was one out and one back early before being left in the death seat. He battled on strongly for second and used the trial as a stepping stone for his performance at Kilmore on Thursday night, where he finished eighth in the opening heat of the Warragul Cup. ZIEGFELD trailed the leader and used the sprint lane to finish in third position. He is resuming at Shepparton on Tuesday afternoon. OUR ROKU was four back on the markers and picked up late ground to finish in fourth position.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - 5m, Head
Trial 4: - FRUGAL FARE began quickly and was able to run to the front past SCHEMING shortly after the start. He ran along at a genuine tempo and remained strong at the finish, winning with something in hand. WESTERN SONADOR settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 600m mark and tried hard in the straight. He worked home well and was also under a good hold at the end. SCHEMING trailed the leader and pulled out of the race with 300m remaining.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.1 Last Half: - 57.9 Margins: - Neck, Distanced
Trial 6: - MONAGHAN BOY continued his very good trial form with a runaway victory. He began well and angled in behind the leader before coming to the outside at the quarter pole. He sprinted quickly and completely dominated his rivals at the end. ROOSTER PHILLIPS settled five back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 500m and worked into a distant second. MY UPTOWN GIRL finished in third position after attempting to lead throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.2 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 50m, 1m
Trial 7: - REY BAILANDO settled six back on the markers, moved into the running lane (1-2) at the 600m and produced a big finish out wide, without being fully extended. JUST AS I AM finished second after setting the speed and ALDEBARAN ZANE was the third horse across the line after being in the trail throughout. BUMPER SERVICE settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 500m and battled on fairly well for fourth. He backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night but broke stride and finished down the track.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.3 Last Half: - 60.2 Margins: - 10m, 3m
BLACKBOOKER: - REY BAILANDO
BACCHUS MARSH 24/05/25
Trial 1: - LUVTOBEUPTOME is an unraced juvenile for trainer Courtney Slater and has been performing well at the trials. He was able to win the opening trial over THE PRIVATE DEAL, which is a filly by Sweet Lou for trainer Anthony Portelli. ZAV DAN finished in third position about two lengths away.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.2 Last Half: - 59.9 Margins: - 1m, 6m
Trial 3: - HITTHEROADJACK NZ won the open class trial of the day in fast time. He has been racing quite well at Metropolitan level in recent times and backed up with a big victory at Kilmore on Thursday. BUSLOAD OF FAITH NZ had excuses when he was resuming as his hind legs were hitting the sulky, which caused him to race fiercely. He boasted handy form last campaign and was second in the trial so he can show improvement at Melton on Saturday night. CLASSY OPERATOR NZ was a further six metres away in third position and IMA TERMINATOR was the fourth horse across the line. Both CLASSY OPERATOR NZ and IMA TERMINATOR are competing at Melton on Saturday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.3 Last Half: - 58.5 Margins: - 4m, 6m
Trial 4: - SHOTINTHEDARK hasn’t raced since January but he had reasonable form when he was last in work and he recorded handy time in winning the trial comfortably. GUARANTEED TROUBLE finished in second position with THE BLAZINBOOTS and BLAZIN BY being third and fourth respectively.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 59.7 Margins: - 5m, 8m
Trial 7: - FREMARKSTILLY loomed up on the home turn but broke stride when she was resuming. She quickly bounced back at the trials with a comfortable victory over SILENT REVERIE with NUCLEAR ATTITUDE being a further ten metres away in third position. THE SARGENT was a distant fourth across the line. The second placed SILENT REVERIE will be competing at Geelong this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.8 Last Half: - 60.7 Margins: - 10m, 10m
MARYBOROUGH 25/05/25
Trial 1: - DO IT performed below expectations at his first run since February but his trial performance was encouraging. He began quickly to lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and was able to hold on and score. He backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night and worked home fairly well for fourth. AMORE ROCK sat in the trail throughout and finished off quickly to be beaten by a narrow margin. BIG BOY MAL was last of the three runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Last Half: - 57.1 Margins: - Neck, 2m
Trial 3: - STANDANDELIVER began quickly to trail the leader, was shuffled to three back on the markers at the 1700m, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 400m and finished off best to gain the prize. He backed up with an unplaced effort at Bendigo on Wednesday night, where he broke stride in the latter stages. BIGGERBETTERBEST began quickly to find the lead, took cover then was held up for a run at a vital stage. He made ground at the end and ran into a game second. STAR RULER NZ was three then four back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 600m mark and finished in third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.6 Last Half: - 60.8 Margins: - 2m, 12m
Trial 5: - MANFREDI trailed the leader throughout and came to the outside on the home turn. He finished off best and was able to win comfortably. RYTA began quickly to find the lead and ran along at a genuine tempo. She peaked late but ran a handy race for second. ASHANTE CADMAN settled three back on the markers and finished in third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.1 Last Half: - 62.3 Margins: - 10m, 30m
ECHUCA 25/05/25
Trial 3: - RED ROBBER was left without cover in the early stages before pushing forward to find the lead at the 1700m. He backed off the tempo mid-race and kicked on well at the finish to win. He backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night, where he performed well to finish in fourth. ORSINO BELLE led out then took cover and came to the outside at the 300m mark. She tried hard but couldn’t peg back RED ROBBER in the run to the finish. She finished sixth behind Serene Rock at Bendigo on Wednesday night. ALECIA settled last of the three runners and started to yield ground in the final 1600m.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.5 Last Half: - 61.2 Margins: - 2m, Distanced
TERANG 27/05/25
Trial 2: - DYNAMITEDAN is an unraced colt by Somebeachsomewhere for trainer Emma Stewart. He has been performing nicely at the trials and continued the good run with a win, where he dashed home in a sizzling final half of 56.1 seconds. AFFAMATO finished fourth at a Melton trial effort in February and finished in second with JILLIBY KYMY LOU finishing a distant third. JILLIBY RANDAL and JILLIBY AMIGO finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.6 Last Half: - 56.1 Margins: - 4m, 15m
Trial 3: - LOOKS PERFECT is undefeated from two starts and hasn’t raced since his victory in the Homegrown Classic, where she recorded a mile rate of 1.55.3. She won the trial comfortably over HOUSE PARTY, which is an unraced filly by Captain Crunch. The trotter IMPERIAL MONARCH NZ finished a distant third but was able to record a respectable mile rate and last half in the process and is returning from a break at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.6 Last Half: - 56.8 Margins: - 6m, 15m
Trial 4: - SHIFU in an unraced gelding for trainer Matthew Horsnell. He was able to win the trial by a narrow margin. The trotters KEAYANG TWEETYBIRD and KEAYANG KUKRI finished second and third respectively. KEAYANG TWEETYBIRD finished fourth in the Nutrien Classic last season and hasn’t started since galloping away in a heat of the Super Series in August. KEAYANG KUKRI has also broken stride at her latest performances, one of which was in the New South Wales Oaks. She was a first up winner at Geelong prior.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.8 Last Half: - 60.3 Margins: - 1m, 15m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 28/05/25
Trial 1: - SEATHESTARS settled five back on the markers, angled wide on the home turn and ran home strongly to win. The final half was 57.7 seconds and he stormed home from a long way back so it was an impressively display. It was a good hit-out for his performance at Melton tomorrow night. SOHO THE REAL DEAL was three back on the markers, moved to the outside with 600m remaining and battled on well for second. CALLMETHEBREEZE FRA hasn’t raced since a tenth in the Bill Collins Sprint back in October but his comeback trial was very good. He was without cover early, restrained to be four back on the markers at the 1300m then angled into the one out and one back trail at the 600m. He came out wide on the home turn and battled on strongly. OLLIVICI NZ trailed the leader FREEASABYRD, was held up for a run at a vital stage and worked home well for a close up fourth. OLLIVICI NZ returns from a break at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.9 Last Half: - 57.7 Margins: - Head, 4.75m
BLACKBOOKER: - Seathestars
Trial 3: - Only two horses contested the trial for the open class pacers with ROCK N ROLL DOO NZ proving to be superior. He sat in the trail early before circling around to find the lead with 1300m remaining. He finished off in a sizzling final half of 54.9 seconds and recorded a mile rate of 1.54.2 so he produced a very tidy performance. HECTOR NZ couldn’t keep in touch with the winner at the end.
Mile Rate: - 1.54.2 Last Half: - 54.9 Margin: - 23m
Trial 4: - I SEA RED continued his great trial form for the Ballarat & District Trotting Club Standardbred Group and recorded an impressive success. He settled three back on the inside, angled wide on the home turn and finished off fast to claim the prize. SHOWMETHETANLINES NZ hasn’t raced since winning the Sapling Stakes at Menangle in March. He worked forward to find the lead and was run down in the last few strides. SOHO PARK AVENUE led out then took cover and used the sprint lane. He finished a close third with SWEET IRISH LOCH (4 back pegs, death 400m) being last of the four runners across the line but the trial should be a good form reference.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.5 Last Half: - 57.3 Margins: - Head, Long Head
BLACKBOOKER: - I Sea Red
Trial 5: - LAMBRO MACH raced without cover early, progressed forward to find the lead at the 1300m and finished off in a slick final quarter of 27.4 seconds. He won the Golden Nursery Pace Final and the Lordship Stakes during his last preparation and is now being prepared by Andy Gath. RAKAROMPA NZ settled three back on the markers, came to the outside at the 600m and hit the lead on the home turn but peaked in the latter stages. She did finish well clear of the third placed MEDINA, which led out then took cover.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.7 Last Half: - 56.5 Margins: - 10m, 29m
Trial 8: - DOUGS TRIBE was able to lead throughout and win the last trial. COCOSWORLD trailed the leader and tried hard to finish in second position. TOO THE MAX settled three back on the inside, was held up for a run at a vital stage and angled wide with 150m remaining. He hit the line nicely to finish in third position. He has recently returned from the Mildura area and has joined trainer Jennifer Douglas. He makes his debut for the new stable at Geelong this evening. NOT FOR ME settled last of the five runners, came out three horses wide on the home turn and made some ground for fourth.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.7 Last Half: - 59.1 Margins: - 2.75m, neck
HORSHAM 28/05/25
Trial 1: - NEATNTIDY has won three of his past five starts and kept the momentum rolling leading up to his performance at Melton on Saturday with a trial success. He was able to win by a narrow margin over FORTY LOVE, which hasn’t raced since a third at Melton in March. DEE ROE has been freshened since a seventh in the Mildura Cup and finished in third with PICK UP ELVIS being last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.1 Last Half: - 61.1 Margins: - ½ head, 2m
Trial 2: - KOMODO hasn’t raced since a ninth at Swan Hill in February. He was on the Derby trail prior and he possesses high speed. He won the trial by a comfortable margin over BONAVISTA BOY with WICKED HANGOVER being in third position. LEWIELEWIS was fourth across the line giving trainer Aaron Dunn three of the first four place getters after he provided the entire field in the opening trial so Dunn is likely to have some success in the next few weeks.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.2 Last Half: - 59.2 Margins: - 5m, 4m