Two Trial File Blackbookers will attempt to transform their fine form on the Victorian circuit into success tonight at Tabcorp Park Melton.
Outstanding trotting mare Im Ready Jet will step out in the Aldebaran Park True Roman Trotters Free For All, her first start since a win in March.
Anton Golino's prepared her with a series of impressive trials performances, including a September trial at Geelong when she motored to the line to finish second behind Pink Galahs and earn herself a Blackbook place.
Perfect In Pink also steps out tonight. She'll start from the widest back row draw in the Logical Staffing Solutions Tatlow States, a Group 2 for two-year-old fillies.
She went into the Blackbook, along with stablemate The Lost Storm, via an impressive workout at Geelong on Shepparton 19, which was just two trials before Im Ready Jet's eye-catcher.
And there are four more names for Trial File followers to keep an eye on. This week Calders Day Out, First Dance, Oorah and Luella have jumped into the Blackbook.
Notes, replays and the highlights of the Victorian trials circuit are below. Scroll to the bottom for the updated Blackbook.
BENDIGO 17/10/22
Trial 2: - CALDERS DAY OUT hasn’t started since being unplaced at Yarra Valley in July but he appeared to be very impressive at his trial victory over stable mate JORDANS MATE. He settled five back on the markers, ended up being three back with several horses making a mistake at the bell then accelerated beautifully at the end, storming clear and recording a slick final quarter of 28.3 seconds. JORDANS MATE finished second after trailing the leader REINE DE LA LUNE, which held on for third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.4 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - 20m, 1m
BLACKBOOKER: - Calders Day Out
Trial 3: - The open class trotting event was won by WELL DEFINED NZ, which trailed the leader ILLAWONG STARDUST before coming to the outside at the 400m. He hit the lead on the home turn but to her credit ILLAWONG STARDUST kept on kicking along the inside and gave WELL DEFINED NZ a good fight down the home straight. TEETREETOMMY was three back on the markers throughout and held his own in the straight to finish third. WELL DEFINED NZ backs up in the McNamara Memorial Geelong Trotters Cup tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.1 Last Half: - 59.4 Margins: - 2m, 5m
Trial 4: - KIMORA SAFFI began fast from barrier three and was able to roll to the front. She set up a slow tempo early and was able to finish off in a quick final quarter of 27.9 seconds to get the prize. HEPHAESTUS PHOENIX trailed the leader and finished second. He came to the outside at the 500m and probably would have won the trial if he was trotting fluently but he was very rough in his gait and had to be held together in the home straight. The pair will be taking on the outstanding former New Zealand trotter Harry Stamper NZ in the opening heat of the Victoria Derby at Maryborough on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.6 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - Neck, 9m
Trial 6: - LOLLIPOP trailed the leader and moved into the death seat with 700m remaining. She sustained a long run and was able to win nicely. MODERN JIVE settled last of the four runners and moved to the outside with 400m remaining. She worked home well for second and followed with a fourth placed effort at Bendigo on Thursday night. The pair will do battle again in the opening race at Bendigo on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.7 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 3m, 8m
Trial 7: - DELIGHT TO WATCH has recently joined trainer Alex Ashwood and looked very sharp in his trial victory over HALF PRICE BRIDE. He started quickly to lead comfortably and never looked in any danger, going to the line untouched to win by a comfortable margin. HALF PRICE BRIDE settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 500m and ended up being out three horses wide at the 300m. She put in a tidy performance to finish second with IVANA BYTHESEASIDE being in third after settling three back on the markers in the early stages. DELIGHT TO WATCH is widely drawn and is taking on quite a strong field at Bendigo on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.0 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 6m, 3m
Trial 8: - CHEEKY EAGLE prepared for her effort in the Tatlow Stakes at Melton this evening with a comfortable victory over MAJOR MILESTONE. She was able to lead throughout and recorded a slick final half of 56.2 seconds so it was a good performance but she is meeting a tough field this evening. The field remained in the same order throughout the trial with MAJOR MILESTONE being second, PARADISE VALLEY third and MY ULTIMATE JACKO being last of the four runners to cross the line. MAJOR MILESTONE is favourably drawn for his return to racing at Bendigo on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.6 Last Half: - 56.2 Margins: - 3m, 2m
Trial 9: - ROLL WITH RON settled three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 800m and powered to victory. He has been racing against strong opposition in the Northern Region Championship series and followed up with a fourth Bendigo on Thursday night. WIPE THE CANVAS switched back to the pacing gait after a short stint trotting, where she showed some ability but made a few errors. She attempted to lead throughout and finished in second with ROCKNFURY (4 back markers) being third past the post.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.4 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - 8m, 4m
Trial 12: - PROSECCO BOY began quickly to find the lead and set up a reasonable tempo. He looked in bother half way down the front straight but showed fighting qualities to kick back and get the prize. CHUBBY CHECKER NZ trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 500m and finished second with IMNOPUMPKIN using the sprint lane from three back on the markers and finishing a close up third. BOXOFCHOCOLATES restrained to last of the six runners and picked up a lot of ground in the last quarter to finish fourth.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.7 Last Half: - 56.2 Margins: - Nose, Head
GEELONG 18/10/22
Trial 1: - FIRST DANCE NZ is a New Zealand bred juvenile, which shows plenty of promise but still has a lot to learn. She began quickly to lead then took cover behind IM WESLEY at the bell. She wanted to go fiercely after taking cover and when she went to go past IM WESLEY in the home straight, she hung in, switched off and didn’t really know what to do. She is obviously a talented type that will keep on improving with experience. IM WESLEY battled on strongly after being driven aggressively early and both YOUNG BLUEY (5 back markers) and VEE EM GEE MACRAY (6 back markers) were finishing off strongly. YOUNG BLUEY is taking on the talented type My Captain Oro at Horsham on Monday but he should be doing his best work at the end.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.1 Last Half: - 58.5 Margins: - ½ head, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: - First Dance NZ
Trial 3: - HURRIKANE FRANCO began very quickly to find the lead, broke stride momentarily at the mile marker but maintained the lead and kept on rolling along at a reasonable tempo. He was still strong at the finish and was able to take out the trial. OORAH is by Art Major out of the former outstanding mare Arms of An Angel (1.49.5, $221,866) and showed plenty of talent in finishing second. He settled down five back on the markers and finished off strongly in slick time so he is worth following. ALWAYS BE HAPPY finished third after being three back on the markers then behind the leader from the 700m mark.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.0 Last Half: - 56.8 Margins: - 2m, 2.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Oorah
Trial 6: - KNIGHTS TEMPLAR was able to defeat the Geoff Webster trained pair ELEGANT and COBBER. The trial was just like track work with none of the three horses being fully extended at any stage but it was still a tidy display from KNIGHTS TEMPLAR considering he came from last of the three horses in a sizzling final quarter of 27.0 seconds to get up and win. Both ELEGANT and COBBER were kept on ticking over for their performances at Melton this evening.
KILMORE 19/10/22
Trial 1: - QUEEN OF QUEBEC was stood down to trial after breaking stride at Maryborough last week and quickly bounced back with a good trial victory. She led throughout and was untouched going to the line to win comfortably. QUEEN INVASION was four back on the markers, moved into the running lane at the 500m (1-2) and came out three horses wide approaching the home turn. She finished off strongly with the former New South Wales pacer ONE APOLLO NZ (3 back pegs) doing his best work for third.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.4 Last Half: - 59.5 Margins: - 6.5m, 3.5m
Trial 3: - AMERICAN LEGACY NZ was without cover in the early stages and progressed forward to find the lead at the 1700m. He rolled along at a genuine tempo and proved too strong for THE ROCKNROLL KING NZ, which battled on well after being left stranded without cover. GIVEITATRY settled last on the markers, came to the outside at the 800m (1-2) and made up a lot of ground in the final quarter of the race. LUELLA NZ put in an eye-catching performance to finish fourth. Considering she has a National Rating of 55 and the three horses in front of her are rated 69 and above, her effort was very encouraging. She settled four back on the markers, gained a clear passage on the home turn and stormed home late.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.3 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - 3m, head
BLACKBOOKER: - Luella NZ
