Harness racing form guru Craig Rail identified several standout performers at the recent trials.

Arcee Phoenix sizzled to the line at Melton, while stablemate Gotfeelingsyouknow also impressed with a strong performance.

At Shepparton, Our Roku signalled he was back from a spell with a solid trial.

KILMORE 05/06/25

Trial 3: - VAN NOSTRAND won the trial for the juvenile trotters and recorded a big winning margin. He is by Majestic Son out of Indie Pepperell (2.0.6, $32,458), which has already produced the good winner Euryphaessa (2.2.6, $54,999). He defeated the Brent Lilley trained pair ALDEBARAN JAZMINE and EAGLESTONE with OUR ARNOLD being last of the four runners across the line.

Mile Rate: - 2.4.8                           Last Half: - 60.5                        Margins: - 40m, 8m

Trial 4: - MAJOR BERT hasn’t started since a fourth at Ballarat in early April. He was a winner at Bendigo in March and recorded reasonable time at his trial victory over KUTANI, which hasn’t raced since January. HONEST HARRIETTE finished in third position and was well clear of the fourth placed BETTING ON TASH. The winner MAJOR BERT will be competing at Wagga this afternoon.

Mile Rate: - 2.2.6                           Last Half: - 58.7                        Margins: - 4m, 3m

Trial 5: - POSTIT LAFITE is an unraced juvenile filly for trainer Kylie Sugars. She is by Poster Boy out of Our Chateau Lafite (1.57.3, $41,435) and is the second foal out of the dam. She finished off in a handy final half to defeat BJ ROBERTSON NZ, a Brent Lilley prepared colt by Thefasterthebettor, a New Zealand bred son of Bettors Delight that won two races in the Central Districts throughout his career. He has had five foals on the ground in New Zealand and has produced a winner. BJ ROBERTSON NZ could be the second winner from the sire considering his trial second. AMALIA was the third horse across the line and finished well ahead of LITTLE SASSY BOY.  

Mile Rate: - 2.3.2                           Last Half: - 58.5                        Margins: - 2m, 5m

SHEPPARTON 05/06/25

Trial 1: - ATUA MAGIC NZ is a smart juvenile pacer for trainer Shane Sanderson and won the trial effortlessly. He settled three back on the markers, moved into the death seat with 600m remaining and was able to win with plenty in reserve. He backed up with another impressive display at the races on Wednesday with his victory at Bendigo. SMALLTOWNSMOKESHOW settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and was doing his best work at the end to finish in second position. He also backed up with a big victory at Bendigo on Wednesday night. LISTEN TO THE HAND was the third horse across the line after trying to lead throughout. He finished fifth in the race won by ATUA MAGIC NZ at Bendigo on Wednesday.  

Mile Rate: - 2.3.8                           Last Half: - 59.0                        Margins: - 5m, Neck

Trial 3: - ISLAND FRANKIE began quickly to lead comfortably and ran along at an even tempo. He was trotting faultlessly throughout and won with plenty in reserve. He backed up with a debut victory at Bendigo on Wednesday night so the form out of the Shepparton trials last Thursday was very strong. LITTLE MISS VALLEY finished second after trailing the leader throughout and MY MATE LENNY was a distant third after breaking stride at the start. MY MATE LENNY wasn’t on his best behaviour at Bendigo on Wednesday night as he galloped three of four times in the run but he has ability when he is able to put it altogether.  

Mile Rate: - 2.4.9                           Last Half: - 60.4                        Margins: - 15m, Distanced

Trial 5: - OUR ROKU hasn’t raced since a tenth in the Breeders Crown Final in November. He was slow to begin, settled a clear last of the three runners early, moved through to trail the leader in the back straight and extricated from the markers at the 300m mark. He was able to win the trial by a good margin over UNCLE TREV, which has had one run since November 2024 and he attempted to lead throughout in the trial. OKANUI BEACH was the third horse across the line after trailing the leader for the majority of the trial.

Mile Rate: - 2.1.8                           Last Half: - 60.2                        Margins: - 15m, 20m

BLACKBOOKER: - Our Roku

Trial 7: - MAGIC MIKI is an unraced gelding by Always B Miki out of Magic Moment Lombo (1.57.4, $84,182), whose first three foals are yet to make it to the races. The second dam Lady Julie Lombo (1.59.3, $89,499) has produced three winners including Lombo Ranmiles (1.52.0, $139,808) and Fours Enuf Tas (1.55.2, $170,754) so there are some handy performers in MAGIC MIKI’s progeny. He recorded a runaway trial victory after settling four back on the markers before making a mid-race move to find the lead with 1100m remaining. FOURTH RESPONSE led out then took cover and finished in second with ATOMIC BLACK being a close up third after being four back on the markers and waiting for the sprint lane.

Mile Rate: - 2.2.5                           Last Half: - 58.1                        Margins: - 22m, head

MARYBOROUGH 08/06/25

Trial 1: - ULTIMATE VINNIE hasn’t raced since competing in the Lord Mayors Cup during the Bathurst Gold Crown Carnival. He was clearly the class runner of the trial field and dominated his rivals at the end after setting up a reasonable tempo in the lead. NICE ONE CENTURION was the second horse across the line after trailing the leader and BIG BOY MAL was last of the trio for the duration.

Mile Rate: - 2.0.1                           Last Half: - 56.4                        Margins: - 12m, 10m

Trial 4: - SOHO PINA COLADA was formerly with trainer Michael Stanley and has recently joined Danny O’Brien. She dashed home in handy final sectionals after working forward to find the lead at the 1100m to win the trial over INSIDER TRADING, which came from three back on markers. MAGELLAN finished some distance away in third position after settling down last of the quartet with METRO MAORI (behind leader) being last of the four runners across the line.

Mile Rate: - 2.7.6                           Last Half: - 58.1                        Margins: - 1m, 15m

Trial 5: - It was only a field of two maiden trotters but both horses have shown ability at the trials. ISTANBUL was able to secure victory by a head margin over MET WITH A SHRUG. Unfortunately, ISTANBUL galloped on the first turn and lost his winning chance at his debut performance on Wednesday but he was confidently supported.

Mile Rate: - 2.5.4                           Last Half: - 60.9                        Margin: - Head

MELTON 10/06/25

Trial 2: - ENOLA continued her good trial form with a victory in handy time. She began quickly, worked to the front at the 1300m and kicked back strongly when challenged in the home straight. SOHO CHARMER is an unraced colt for trainer Michael Stanley. The son of Soho Tribeca led out then took cover and used the sprint lane. It appeared as though he was going to win in the final stages but ENOLA found a good kick at the end. TILLS TREASURE settled four back on the inside, moved up without cover at the 700m and battled on well for third.

Mile Rate: - 1.58.5                         Last Half: - 57.3                        Margins: - Head, 3m

Trial 4: - BAY OF BISCAY hasn’t started since winning the Chariots of Fire in a sensational mile of 1.49.1. He began quickly to find the lead, set up a moderate tempo for the open class brigade and dashed home in a blistering final quarter of 26.6 seconds to win the trial. CATCH A WAVE returned from his Western Australian campaign in style. He restrained to be last of the four runners, came out three horses wide on the home turn and finished fast to be beaten by under a length on the line. His own final sectional would have been outstanding. OLIVER DAN trailed the leader and finished in third with MIKI TO SUCCESS (3 back pegs) being last of the quartet across the line.

Mile Rate: - 1.59.3                         Last Half: - 55.1                        Margins: - 1.5m, 3m

Trial 6: - ARCEE PHOENIX produced a super performance to win a quality trial in effortless fashion. He settled last of the quartet, angled out wide on the home turn and produced a big finishing burst to win running away. He is an outstanding trotter and would take a lot of beating in the Inter Dominion series coming up in Brisbane. MUFASA METRO NZ finished second after attempting to lead throughout. CALLMETHEBREEZE FRA settled three back on the markers, came to the outside at the 500m and battled on fairly well for third. OLLIVICI NZ trailed the leader and used the sprint lane. He was last of the four runners across the line but he wasn’t far from the second horse.

Mile Rate: - 1.58.3                         Last Half: - 57.6                        Margins: - 6.5m, Neck

 BLACKBOOKER: - Arcee Phoenix

Trial 9: - VINEY quickly bounced back after his very disappointing performance at Melton on Saturday night.  He was without cover early before angling in behind the lead at the 1800m. He always travelled sweetly and sprinted brilliantly in the final 150m to win by a good margin. SHOWMETHETANLINES NZ began quickly and attempted to lead throughout. He was run down at the end but he set up a genuine tempo and he was taking on older horses at the 2240m journey. INDI PARTY MOOD settled four back on the markers, came to the outside at the 300m and battled on well for third with BLAZIN BY (3 back markers) being fourth across the line.

Mile Rate: - 1.59.3                         Last Half: - 56.9                        Margins: - 7.5m, 8.5m

Trial 10: - GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW settled last of the three runners after racing greenly at the start, then waited for the sprint lane. He showed terrific acceleration at the end to win the trial by a length. MISS YO NZ is a former New Zealand trotter, which has joined trainer Andy Gath. She showed good gate speed to lead and held down second from THUNDA STRUCK, which sat in the trail throughout.

BLACKBOOKER: - Gotfeelingsyouknow