Harness Racing form guru Craig Rail has compiled his weekly in-depth report from the state’s trials circuit.
COBRAM 13/08/26
Trial 1: Only two horses contested the opening trial but with a sizzling final quarter of 27.2 seconds, both horses performed very well. OUR SPECIAL MEMORY led throughout and was able to hold off the late challenge of EYE WISH, which came to the outside at the 300m and tried very hard in the home straight.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.3 Last Half: – 56.7 Margin: – Head
Trial 2: – LITTLE MISS MORGAN settled four back on the markers, made her move at the quarter pole and sustained a strong run to win the trial nicely. She is competing at Melton this evening. CLASSIC FAIR was without cover early and progressed forward to find the lead. He ran along at an even tempo and was run down by a smart one close to the line so his effort was sound. He is having a busy week having raced at Kilmore on Thursday night with a fifth behind Majestic Monarch and is backing up again at Shepparton on Tuesday. The Nutrien Classic MUNNY THE MUNSTER settled fifth on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail behind LITTLE MISS MORGAN and finished off nicely for a game third. He is resuming in the Holmfield at Melton on Saturday night. The top three were able to draw well clear of the fourth placed SUMMER KISS, which trailed the leader early and ended up being three back on the inside.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.7 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – 1m, 5m
Trial 3: – JUST MY LUCK began very quickly to find the lead shortly after the start. He ran along at an even tempo and appeared to be strong at the finish, winning by about a length on the line. He finished unplaced at Kilmore on Thursday and is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. GOCCIADORO settled three back on the inside and was working home well at the end for second. RISE AGAIN settled in fifth and worked into a distant third ahead of SANDEE CHEEKS (4 back markers), which is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. THE TRAWLER trailed the leader and broke stride with 300m remaining. CELTIC MAC also broke stride approaching the home turn but she was already detached from the field when she did so.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.6 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 3m, 10m
CRANBOURNE 16/08/26
Trial 1: – ZIPPIN PAST began quickly and speared to the lead shortly after the start. She was always nicely clear of her rivals and jogged in to win the trial impressively. GATESYS DELIGHT settled three back on the markers, came to the outside with 500m remaining and also went to the line with something in reserve. JINXED broke stride shortly after the start and lost approximately 25m. She chased the pack and ended up being four back on the markers before coming out three horses wide on the home. She did very well to finish as close as she did. STREAK ON BY trailed the leader and ended up being last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.6 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – 10m, 3m
Trial 2: – ITSAWOMANSWORLD began sharply and was able to find the lead shortly after the start. She ran a fast third quarter and was able to hold off her rivals at the end to win by a narrow margin. TWIGSTAR settled three back on the markers, came to the outside on the home turn and worked home well for second. ZION JEWEL finished in third position after trailing the leader and holding her own in the straight. NOTANOTHA NAUGHTY was last of the four runners across the line but he was the widest runner turning for home and was picking up some ground in handy final sectionals. He is resuming from a spell in the Holmfield at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.4 Last Half: – 57.5 Margins: – Neck, 2.25m
MARYBOROUGH 16/08/26
Trial 1: – There was a lot happening in the opening trial with many changes throughout. CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY was successful after leading out, taking cover, being shuffled back on the markers and moving into the one out and one back trail with 500m remaining. ROMANTIC NINA was without cover early, four back on the markers at the 1700m, one out and one back at the 1500m, in the death seat shortly afterwards then found the lead at the 1100m. She did a bit wrong in the trial as she raced fiercely then broke stride when going to win with 50m remaining but she was still second past the post. She is racing at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. PIPALICIOUS began quickly and was behind the leader early before working to the front at the 1500m. She took cover again at the 1100m and finished in third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.7 Last Half: – 58.1 Margins: – Head, 1.75m
Trial 2: – DOWNTOWN GIRL trailed the leader for the majority of the trial, came to the outside at the quarter pole and raced away in the straight to win clearly. She is resuming from a spell at Maryborough on Monday afternoon. LUSTROUS settled three back on the markers and tried to chase but couldn’t go with the winner in the home straight. She is racing at Melton this evening. STATELY STAR began sharply to find the lead, backed off the tempo mid-race and was run down over the final stages.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.2 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 12m, 13m
Trial 4: – JILLIBY RADIANCE began quickly from the outside of the front line and was a clear leader mid-race. She was never in any danger of defeat and won by a large margin. She is racing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. PARDRAY was four back on the markers and worked into a distant second. DONNYOSKO trailed the leader and was a clear second in the final lap. He was still a clear second approaching the home turn but broke stride and lost valuable ground. He made ground again in the straight and should have finished second across the line but had to be content with third. He is racing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – 25m, 10m
GEELONG 17/08/26
Trial 1: – SWEET IRISH LOCH has been in great form with three recent victories. She was able to win the opening trial in fast time over the smart 3yo pacer LUVTOBEUPTOME, which has recently returned from a Queensland Winter Carnival campaign, where he won the Queensland Derby Consolation. SOLS ME NAME has been freshened since a Geelong victory in June and finished a close up third ahead of SEATHESTARS, which contested the TAB Eureka in 2025. BANJO STAR finished last of the five runners but wasn’t beaten by far in what was a quality field.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.8 Last Half: – 56.3 Margins: – 1m, 1m
Trial 2: – RIVER STORM hasn’t raced since winning the Homegrown Classic at Melton back in December. He dashed home in a slick final quarter of 27.9 seconds to win the trial by a large margin in handy time so a promising campaign appears to be looming. BRINGSUSJOY hasn’t raced since a sixth in the Ian Daff Memorial in March. She finished in second ahead of LE GASTON, which has been performing well at the trials over the past few weeks. CAPTAIN HANK NZ is a New Zealand bred 3yo gelding, which has had several trial campaigns over an eleven months period and was the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.2 Last Half: – 57.2 Margins: – 25m, 1m
Trial 4: – WHERDASUNDONTSHINE is a nicely bred juvenile colt being by Majestic Son out of the top race and producing mare Gluteus Maximus (1.59.6, $104,855). He is a half brother to the four winners Derrie Aire (1.58.1, $68,730), Kyvalley Shaunie (2.3.4, $46,723), Utopia (1.58.6, $83,280) and Darcys Fireball (1.55.2, $92,180) and commenced his career promisingly with a trial success. GOODTIME KENZIE hasn’t started since galloping several times in the run and being stood down to trial at Shepparton in November. He finished second ahead of IRON WOLF, which is an unraced gelding by Majestic Son out of Reine Sereine (2.4.7), whose first foal Vytis (1.59.0, $126,390) has done a superb job at the races. BELISARIUS finished a distant last of the quartet.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.7 Last Half: – 60.6 Margins: – 1m, 15m
Trial 5: – LETITRIDELUV backed up his impressive trial victory at Melton a week earlier with a runaway success in the final trial, dashing home in a slick final quarter of 27.8 seconds in the process. ARZALI SHACARRI is an unraced filly by American Ideal out of Insidious Charm, which has produced two winners including the promising 3yo pacer All Over It (1.52.9, $23,405). She finished in second ahead of SIR KITT, which finished in third and was well clear of the fourth placed MY CRYSTAL VISION.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.0 Last Half: – 56.2 Margins: – 10m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: Letitrideluv
MILDURA 17/08/26
Trial 1: – SNEAKY PHILTRA began quickly from the outside of the front line and ran to the front shortly after the start. She was untroubled in scoring and importantly, was able to go one step closer of getting back into the draw. She starts from the outside draw at Mildura this afternoon but she is still a big winning chance. YOU GIVE ME CHILLS settled last of the four runners, moved to the outside at the 500m mark and chased hard for second. He is resuming at Mildura this afternoon. BETTY CAROLINE trailed the leader throughout and finished in third with ELISSAS DELIGHT (3 back markers) being the last horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.6 Last Half: – 61.4 Margins: – 3m, 18m
Trial 2: – ACCELERE NZ trailed the leader and came to the outside on the home turn. He was able to get the better of the early leader HOOKLINEANDSINKER in the home straight and scored by approximately half of a length. He has returned to Victoria after a long stint in Queensland and should go well at Mildura this afternoon. HOOKLINEANDSINKER ran along at an even tempo and peaked late into second. I WANT MARY broke stride at the start and finished in a distant third with the trotter OUR MAJESTIC MIA also striking trouble at the start and coming in last.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 1.5m, 100m
KILMORE 18/08/26
Trial 1: – TRUE APLOMB settled five back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 800m and sprinted quickly down the back straight to hit the lead at the 500m. She sustained the run and was able to win nicely. She is resuming at Maryborough on Monday and went well enough at the trials to suggest she can be competitive. KYVALLEY MISTY attempted to lead throughout and was headed in the back straight but to her credit, she came again via the sprint lane and finished well clear of the remainder of the field. She is also racing at Maryborough on Monday. THECANDYBARHEIRESS settled four back on the markers, came to the outside at the 600m and finished in third.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.9 Last Half: – 60.9 Margins: – 3m, 15m
Trial 3: – The top juvenile trotter VERBICI won at his last public hit-out before the Bob Conroy 2yo Classic at Melton on Saturday night. He dashed home in a slick final quarter of 28.3 seconds and scored comfortably. IM HAVINTOTROT was competing against strong opposition when he was last in work and was able to fill second position. The speedy trotter KENNYS SON finished in third position on his way to his performance at Shepparton on Tuesday night while his stable mate KYVALLEY REEVA NZ was the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.2 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 3m, 5m
Trial 5: – KYVALLEY DIXON is a classy juvenile filly that has already won two races for the season and put a good gap on her rivals over the latter stages to win the trial by a large margin. CLOUDY CANYON has also been a winner during his juvenile season and finished in second ahead of SABIHALIL. LOVE THAT BIRD and ALDEBARAN TYSON were both beaten by long margins, finishing fourth and fifth respectively. KYVALLEY DIXON and CLOUDY CANYON will be competing against each other at Maryborough on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.1 Last Half: – 60.4 Margins: – 20m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Kyvalley Dixon
Trial 7: – I AM WILMA hasn’t raced since finishing in third against the open class at Melton back in June. She was successful in the trial over QUIRKY CHARACTER with his stable mate NEPHEW OF SONOKO being in third position. CHARLESTON AVENUE was last of the four runners across the line but it was a quality trial. The winner I AM WILMA is racing at Melton tomorrow night and will prove extremely hard to beat.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.9 Last Half: – 60.6 Margins: – 2m, 8m
BLACKBOOKER: – I Am Wilma
Trial 8: – WHITEHAVEN BOY is an unraced colt by Lather Up out of Anybeach Anywhere (1.56.1, $33,774), making him related to Rocknroll Rocket (1.55.9, $30,199). He was able to win the trial over EDGAR BROMAC, which is by Guaranteed out of Emily Bromac (1.57.8, $18,055), making him closely related to Eugene Bromac (1.58.1, $20,199). The top two finished well clear of the third placed AMANDO. DAYSOFWINEN ROSES has had several trials recently and was the fourth horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.7 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – Head, 10.25m
BALLARAT 19/08/26
Trial 1: – SHES CAPTIVATING was able to take out the opening trial and improved on her trial sixth at Terang a week earlier. It was a slowly run race and a dash home with the last quarter being 28.4 seconds. AUSTON has already performed well at the races this season having had a first and a second from two attempts. He finished a close second in the trial ahead of his stable mate FARADY with HEAVENLY GEM being last of the quartet across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.1 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – 1m, 1.5m
Trial 2: – Leading trainer Emma Stewart had all three horses in the trial and LOOKS PERFECT came out on top. She hasn’t raced since smashing the track record at Charlton in August 2025 and she has the record of four starts for four wins. CASTERTON was having his first trial and did well for a close second. He is by Downbytheseaside out of Majeur Le Crest (1.57.6, $50,503) and is related to the classy performer Sir Richard Lee (1.51.1, $226,465). THE BLACK MAMBA was last of the three runners across the line. He has been placed at his two trials to date.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.2 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: – 1m, 7.5m
