A new addition to the John Tormey stable looks capable of picking up an early victory here in Victoria after impressing at the Shepparton trials during the week.

Craig Rail thought the effort of Bentleigh was good enough to find him a place in his Blackbook, commenting that the son of Bettors Delight “has a moderate record across the border but he was very impressive in his victory”.

Others to make the Blackbook this week are Ian Montgomery’s Cannon Beach and Emma Stewart’s Perfect In Pink.

SHEPPARTON 10/03/22

VIKING appears to be a juvenile of some talent. He raced fiercely, contacted a sulky and failed to finish in the Premiere Stakes at his debut. He led throughout in his effortless trial victory over RAWORTH GIRL so he should be competitive the next time he steps out onto the track.

Mile Rate: - 2.2.4             Last Half: - 59.3                Margins: - 15m, 5m

The open class trial saw the reappearance of the David Aiken trained pacer REACTOR NOW. He hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Inter Dominion Consolation in December but he finished quickly from fourth to win his Shepparton trial then backed up a week later to lead throughout at a Kilmore trial.

Mile Rate: - 2.0.2             Last Half: - 58.1                Margins: - 5m, 5m

ALWAYS LOCKSLEY took out the final trial from OUR MYSTERY BET. OUR MYSTERY BET is making his debut for trainer Juanita Breen at Shepparton this evening and appears to have ability. He settled fifth on the markers, came to the outside with 700m remaining, found the one out and one back trail then finished stylishly. The winner ALWAYS LOCKSLEY is a handy maiden considering he was placed in a heat of the Homegrown Classic last season.

Mile Rate: - 2.5.5             Last Half: - 59.4                Margins: - 1m, 8m

 

BACCHUS MARSH 12/03/22

The open class trial was won by the John Nicholson prepared pacer SEBS CHOICE, which hasn’t raced since winning the Breeders Crown Silver Pace at Bendigo in November. He finished off in a slick final half of 57.0 seconds to defeat RELENTLESS ME and ALTA CASSINO.

Mile Rate: - 2.1.1             Last Half: - 57.0                Margins: - 8m, 2m

 

TABCORP PARK 15/03/22

Unfortunately, the first two trials, which included the open class trial, has no video replay available but the first two across the line in the opening event (RED WHITE AN BLOOM and COPACABANA) are both talented trotters. The open class event featured four runners, all prepared by trainer Emma Stewart with LIKE A WILDFIRE returning from a Sydney campaign and defeating BEYOND DELIGHT, LONGFELLOW and PHOENIX PRINCE. The last placed PHOENIX PRINCE appears to be one of the leading hopes in the Charlton Cup on Sunday.

Mile Rate: - 2.2.0             Last Half: - 55.74              Margins: - ½ head, 2.5m

The juvenile filly PERFECT IN PINK might have recorded slow time in her trial success but she looked to have that ex factor about her. She settled in fifth position, was checked and galloped at the 1200m, losing 20m, tacked onto the group then produced a powerful finishing burst out wide on the track. She is out of the fast mare Kabbalah Karen B (1.52.8, $285,098) and is related to several star performers including Our Little General (1.49.8, $765,566), Kasbah Kid (1.53.1, $185,520) and Ladies in Red (1.51.9, $569,500).

Mile Rate: - 2.5.7             Last Half: - 58.31              Margins: - 7m, 3m

BLACKBOOKER: - Perfect In Pink

CHINESE WHISPERS continues to have issues at the start but she is very talented. She broke stride at the start and lost approximately 50m before chasing hard and pushing forward into the death seat at the 900m mark. She pressured the leader in the back straight then ran away from her rivals to win very easily. QUAKE PROOF was able to pick up late ground to finish in second position.

Mile Rate: - 2.6.8             Last Half: - 57.54              Margins: - 7.5m, 2m

The juvenile trotter EXALTED added to her reputation with a third placed effort behind CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY, which had a good couple of days as he was also successful at a Bacchus Marsh trial performance on Saturday. EXALTED was three back on the markers before moving into the one out and one back trail approaching the home turn then went to the line hard held.

Mile Rate: - 2.4.2             Last Half: - 60.13              Margins: - 2m, head

SOHO SERAPHINE is a juvenile filly for trainer Michael Stanley and was very comfortable in scoring. She began quickly to find the lead and was untouched in defeating SPRING BLUE. She is out of the former fast Western Australian mare Angel Bromac NZ (1.56.9, $56,600) and appears to be a horse that should keep improving.

Mile Rate: - 2.1.1             Last Half: - 58.93              Margins: - 7m, 1.5m

WOTDIDUSAAY hasn’t raced since August but he looked very sharp in his victory over CAN’T TOP THIS. He powered to the lead in the early stages, ran along at a genuine tempo and was able to win with his ears pricked on the line.

Mile Rate: - 1.57.6           Last Half: - 55.93              Margins: - 3m, 7.5m

 

SHEPPARTON 15/03/22

BENTLEIGH is a former New South Wales trained pacer, which has recently joined astute mentor John Tormey. He has a moderate record across the border but he was very impressive in his victory over MAC SHADOW, where he began quickly to lead and was allowed to stride a long way from home. He won by a huge margin so he will prove very hard to beat at Charlton on Sunday.

BLACKBOOKER: - Bentleigh

 

KILMORE 17/03/22

The juvenile trotter BELLEZZA created some interest in the opening trial. The time was very slow but she was inconvenienced by the galloping CINKARI at the 500m and finished nicely for second behind the eight times winning trotter FIELDS OF KYVALLEY. She is by first season sire Centurion ATM USA (1.53.4, $731,374) out of Tupenny Bit, making her a close relation to the top performers Save Our Pennys (1.56.9, $198,728), Wobelee (1.56.2, $504,329) and Dreamee (2.1.2, $50,057).

Mile Rate: - 2.16.4           Last Half: - 64.0                Margins: - 4m, 60m

MACHANE SAID and CANNON BEACH both performed nicely in the fifth trial and have shown enough ability to be able to win races. MACHANE SAID led and found sufficient in a quick last quarter of 28.3 seconds to get the prize. CANNON BEACH settled in fourth position, moved up without cover at the 600m mark and chased hard over the latter stages.

Mile Rate: - 2.3.5             Last Half: - 58.6                Margins: - 2.5m, 5m

BLACKBOOKER: - Cannon Beach