School Captain and Rakero Rebel have warmed up for their Saturday night showdowns at Melton with impressive trials this week – and Craig Rail certainly hasn’t missed them.
Rail added both horses to his Blackbook ahead of their weekend assignments, with the Nathan Jack-trained School Captain impressing in a hit-out at Bendigo on Monday and Jess Tubbs’ Rakero Rebel starring at Ballarat the following afternoon.
Others to find their place in Rail’s Blackbook were Eagle Watch and Franco Novelist.
This week’s trial report can be found below, with the updated list of horses to follow at the bottom of the page.
KILMORE 19/01/23
Trial 2: - The quality mare HEAVENLY CHARM recorded a soft win after leading out then taking cover at the 1600m, She finished quickly via the sprint lane and got up to defeat ALASTAIR LAVROS, which trailed the leader early then worked to the front. ALASTAIR LAVROS backed up at Mildura five days later and finished second after setting the speed. PATSBEACHSTORM settled five back on the markers and made ground for third. The outstanding trotting mare QUEEN ELIDA NZ finished fifth but settled down in last position and never hooked to the outside at any stage. The winner HEAVENLY CHARM is perfectly drawn but faces a strong field in the opening event at Melton tomorrow night. QUEEN ELIDA NZ will take on an outstanding field including the New Zealander MAJESTIC MAN NZ and the Inter Dominion winner JUST BELIEVE in the Dullard Cup tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.7 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 1.5m, 6m
SHEPPARTON 19/01/23
Trial 2: - CHART TOPPER won the trial for the juvenile pacers. He settled down in last position, moved to the outside at the 500m and produced a strong finish to score. He is a nicely bred colt being by Captaintreacherous out of Queen of Pop so he is worth following. HAMMER DAN finished in second and also appears to have a promising future. The son of Vincent pushed forward to find the lead, took cover and was held up for a run at a vital stage before flashing through the middle late.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.0 Last Half: - 59.2 Margins: - 3m, 1m
Trial 4: - CHEYELLA was able to score over HIRANYA NZ in a field of just two runners. HIRANYA NZ led and CHEYELLA was too quick in the run to the judge. HIRANYA NZ is racing at Shepparton tonight and appears to be a strong winning hope despite the fact he was gunned down at the trials.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.8 Last Half: - 57.8 Margin: - Head
MARYBOROUGH 22/01/23
Trial 1: - TRIPLE ZED won the open class trial by leading throughout. He was untouched going to the line and could have won by further. MISTER EXCESSIVE trailed the leader and finished second with the trotter THE PENNY DROPS being last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.0 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - 6m, Head
Trial 3: - ROCKNROLL LADY posted handy time in taking out the third trial. She trailed the runaway leader SOAR throughout, waited for the sprint lane and seemed to have plenty in reserve to get the prize. PETREOS finished second after settling three back on the inside and moving to the death seat at the 700m. SOAR has joined trainer Trevor Patching after having a stint with Luke Watson. He set up a genuine tempo and was a big leader early but was run down in the final 100m, finishing third.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 1m, 1m
Trial 5: - CHILLIN probably produced the most impressive performance of the morning. He led out then took cover before sprinting very sharply along the sprint lane at the end to finish well clear of his rivals. RENEGADE OUTLAW was the widest runner on the home turn and came from last to run into a distant second. CHILLIN is racing against a very strong field in the Caduceus 3yo Classic at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.9 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 15m, 1m
BENDIGO 23/01/23
Trial 1: - GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW produced another stunning trial performance to win by a large margin. He trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 600m and quickly pounced on the leader ITSALLANDOVER before tearing away to win easily. ORLANDO ROCK was beaten by a long way but showed ability to run home strongly from sixth to snare second position.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.6 Last Half: - 59.1 Margins: - 30m, 3m
Trial 2: - SCHOOL CAPTAIN prepared for his effort in the Caduceus 3yo Classic at Melton tomorrow night with a sensational display. He led clearly, ran along at a genuine tempo and went to the line untouched to win by a large margin. HEATHBERN BRUCE trailed the leader throughout and was able to beat the remainder of the field by a good margin but it is hard to see him turning the tables at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.8 Last Half: - 56.60 Margins: - 14m, 18m
BLACKBOOKER: - School Captain
Trial 4: - SWEET AGENDA prepared for her first up performance at Mildura on Monday night with a second placed effort behind EYE SEE PHILTRA. SWEET AGENDA led and went to the line with something in reserve but EYE SEE PHILTRA powered along the sprint lane to get the prize.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.1 Last Half: - 60.1 Margins: - Head, 12m
Trial 8: - EAGLE WATCH NZ produced a dazzling display to come from last and runaway with the prize. He has been lightly raced since coming from New Zealand and hasn’t started since a second at Kilmore in July but he might be in for a prosperous campaign. BLACKTOP ROCK (3 back markers) was able to pick up second when ROCKING BUGATTI, which tried to made a long run from the 400m, broke stride close to the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.4 Last Half: - 57.0 Margins: - 13m, 8m
BLACKBOOKER: - Eagle Watch NZ
SHEPPARTON 24/01/23
Trial 3: - JAPANESE MIKI is an unraced gelding for trainer Stephen Boyington, which continues to improve with every trial performance. He worked forward to find the lead from RINGORELLA and was able to runaway from his rivals at the end to win by a large margin.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Last Half: - 59.8 Margins: - 20m, 5m
Trial 5: - NEW YORKER began very quickly to find the lead and rolled along at a good tempo. He was getting a little weary at the end but was able to hold off all of the challengers to score. FRANCO NOVELIST NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which has joined trainer Luke Bryant. He was caught wide early, restrained to last and finished off boldly for an eye-catching second. He has ability and is worth following.
Mile Rate: - Not Give Last half: - Not Given Margins: - Not Given
BLACKBOOKER: - Franco Novelist NZ
BALLARAT 24/01/23
Trial 1: - ONE OVER ALL NZ competed in the Inter Dominion series and has also been on the Country Cups trail so he is a quality trotter. He was four back on the inside, came out four horses wide on the home turn and ran home strongly to score, seemingly with plenty in reserve. KYVALLEY HOTSPUR NZ began fast from the handicap of 20m to find the lead and was able to hold down second at the end. RED WHITE AN BLOOM was three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 500m and battled on well for a close up third. He will return from a break in the final event at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.2 Last Half: - 60.5 Margins: - Neck, 4m
Trial 5: - KYVALLEYHONEYBUNNY began well and ended up in the trail behind KYVALLEY PICASSO NZ. She gained an inside run in the home straight and was able to drive through to score. She is racing well but is widely drawn against a strong field at Shepparton this evening. MADEAKILLIN NZ settled down six back on the markers, gained a one out and one back trail and ran home strongly out wide late for an eye-catching second. FLOATING MOUNTAIN finished third after being three back on the markers throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.3 Last Half: - 60.5 Margins: - 10m, 2m
Trial 6: - RAKERO REBEL NZ prepared for his Australian debut at Melton tomorrow night with an outstanding display. He worked forward to find the lead, recorded fast time and went to the line with plenty left in the locker. OOGA CHAKA finished second after trailing the leader throughout and the trotter OLLIVICI NZ (3 back markers) wasn’t fully extended in third position.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.6 Last Half: - 55.8 Margins: - 10m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - Rakero Rebel NZ
Trial 7: - The boom pacer CAPTAIN RAVISHING didn’t disappoint at his first public appearance for the year. He ran to the front, set up a very fast tempo and ran away at the end to win effortlessly by 40m! SUPREME DOMINATOR NZ settled last of the four runners and finished second with stable mate FORTY THIEVES NZ being third past the post.
Mile Rate: - 1.54.2 Last Half: - 55.8 Margins: - 40m, 10m
TERANG 25/01/23
Trial 1: - VAN MARA NZ took out the open class trial by leading all of the way. HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN NZ settled four back on the inside early, moved up without cover at the 700m and finished second with JILLIBY WILLOW (3 back pegs) being in third. CODE BAILEY NZ hasn’t raced since June 2021 and settled down in last position. He beat home the trotter CREDIT MASTER NZ, which trailed the leader early before galloping with 500m remaining.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 56.7 Margins: - 4m, 6m
Trial 3: - BOLRAMSKI NZ was able to defeat the trotters after leading throughout. He had two Australian starts during his last campaign of racing for a win and a third so he does possess the ability to be competitive the next time he steps out onto the track. The smart trotter KEAYANG CHUCKY continued his good trial form by finishing in second position with JILLIBY RETRO being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.2 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 2m, 8m
