Monaro Maro and Willem have gone into Trial File blackbook after eye-catching runs over the past week on the Victorian trials circuit.
Check out the bottom of the article for the list of horses I believe are close to a win based on their trial efforts.
SHEPPARTON 15/08/19
Trial 1: - GOLDEN SPURS led and set up a very slow tempo before sprinting up the straight to win comfortably. DANCES remained trotting but was very rough in her action early and settled three back on the markers. She moved away from the markers and loomed alongside GOLDEN SPURS on the home turn but the leader had a good kick left at the finish. TEQUILA BREE (Bacardi Lindy – Maori Sunshine 2.3.2, $45,075) settled four back on the markers and started to yield ground from the 400m mark. She was able to run into third when BELLA LUCY (Majestic Son – Hold That Grin 2.3.0, $27,813) (3 back markers) broke stride on the home turn. FAIRYTALE HALL was third on the first corner but broke stride and lost approximately 30m. She tacked on to the group and moved up without cover before galloping again. She made up another 30m and moved up without cover for a second time before making a further error.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.5 Final Half: - 59.6 Margins: - 6m, 25m (approximately)
Trial 2: - WESTERN SONADOR (Western Terror – Refresh Me 2.0.7, $34,605) has been quite impressive at the trials and scored again after he was forced to race in the death seat throughout. There was a lot to like about how he quickened when challenged in the straight. THE TALK (Somebeachsomewhere – Serenity Franco) dropped onto the markers to be four back before angling into the one wide line (1-2) at the 600m. He sprinted quickly out three horses wide before the home turn and joined WESTERN SONADOR but he couldn’t get passed that pacer in the straight. WILMA gained a one out and one back trail behind the eventual winner and battled on fairly well for third in the straight. UBETCHA (Betterthancheddar – Alleluia Lombo) was held up behind the tiring leader AFTER DARN approaching the home turn and worked home reasonably well once clear to claim fourth. ROCKS CAN ROLL (Pet Rock – Bowland Borg 1.59.1, $16,706) was three back on the markers throughout and finished fifth ahead of JUKEBOX JET (Rock N Roll Heaven – Beautifulsmile 1.59.2, $8,868) (5 back markers) and AFTER DARN finished last after setting the speed.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.7 Final Half: - 58.2 Margins: - Neck, 2m
Trial 3: - ROCKON LOCKSLEY settled fourth and moved around to take the lead at the bell. He appeared to be a little lazy at times but he won comfortably at the finish. THE DIAMOND KING was left without cover early before being driven along to find the lead at the 1600m. He then took cover at the bell and tried hard in the straight for second. RUSSIAN AGENT (Major Bronski – Rich In Memories 2.1.8, $44,095) finished third after being one out and one back for the majority of the trial. ITZ QUEEN OF BROADWAY never left the pegs and went to the line hard held with seemingly plenty in reserve. OK SUNI finished fifth after being shuffled back on the markers mid-race (4 back). DALLAS ELDON led out before taking cover and left the markers with 600m remaining but lost ground shortly afterwards. BUDDY MAGEE (Live or Die – Gypsy Tingira 1.59.1, $26,235) was left without cover for the majority of the trial and beat home EL EAGLE DIVA (A Rocknroll Dance – Mystery Moment), which broke stride momentarily on the home turn, and SASSCILIAN (Maffioso – Sass And Bling) was last throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Final Half: - 60.1 Margins: - 2m, 3m
Trial 4: - THE BLACK PRINCE is an extremely smart New South Wales trained pacer and was an impressive winner of the final trial. He settled in last position before moving into the death seat at the 1200m and put pressure on the leader MONGIANA a long way from home. He dashed away in the straight and recorded a sizzling final half of 54.6 seconds. PASSION PLAY trailed the leader throughout and got up in time for second but MONGIANA wasn’t really at full stretch down the straight. SHAKAHARI was four back on the markers behind ANOTHER COLONY and just got over the top of him in the latter stages.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Final Half: - 54.6 Margins: - 12m, head
ARARAT 17/08/19
Trial 1: - GRACIE CULLEN recorded handy time in her victory over Major Exclusive (won Terang since) so she is worth following. She is lightly raced but has shown potential in her career to date. MAJOR EXCLUSIVE beat home the remainder of the field by a large margin and naturally took improvement out of that trial by leading throughout at Terang. FIFTYSHADES CRESCO (Jet Laag – It’s Game On 1.58.1, $29,978) finished third over the trotting bred pacer MOLON LAVE (Fling It – Atego Lilly 2.3.0, $48,992), which has had several trial performances recently with NEVADA JANE being in fifth ahead of GHANASUYA (Mr Feelgood – The Princess Poet).
Mile Rate: - 2.0.1 Final Half: - 59.0 Margins: - 15m, 25m
Trial 2: - SHOW ME THE MOOLAH was stood down to trial after being unplaced at Stawell in July and bounced back by taking out the trial for the trotters by a large margin over MISS CULLY and KEEPTHEDREAM. The lightly raced mare JUST STELLA MAGIC finished tailed off.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.2 Final Half: - 61.1 Margins: - 35m, 25m
MARYBOROUGH 18/08/19
Trial 1: - FRANCO JOLTO commenced from the handicap of 50m but with two horses galloping early, he was able to push forward and find the lead comfortably in the back straight on the first occasion. Being the only pacer in the trial, he was always in control and was never pushed out at any stage. SHIPS SUCCESS led out then took cover behind FRANCO JOLTO. He tried hard but was no match for the pacer in the latter stages. GLENGARRIFF and REMI FLYER both stepped off the mark well but broke stride about 100m after the start. GLENGARRIFF lost more ground than REMI FLYER and did a good job to be able to get into third late.
Mile Rate: - 2.12.5 Final Half: - 62.9 Margins: - 4m, 60m
Trial 2: - VALENTINA BRAVE took the lead away from SAFARI CHEER shortly after the start and was strong at the finish despite copping some pressure mid-race. SAFARI CHEER peeled to the outside in the home straight but couldn’t make an impression on the winner in the latter stages. SHADOW TERROR remained the three back on the markers for the majority of the trial and ran a distant third. EARS PONDER settled third but moved away from the markers at the 1700m and made an unsuccessful attempt to find the lead. He raced without cover thereafter and dropped out to be last of the four.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.1 Final Half: - 60.5 Margins: - 4m, 15m
Trial 3: - There was plenty of pressure during the middle stages of the trial and SEWPLAYFUL, which settled last of the five competitive chances, took advantage of a slow final quarter to get over the top of his rivals. MAJOR BANKS gained a one out and one back trail in the final circuit and hit the lead on the home turn but found SEWPLAYFUL to be too strong. TWO TELL battled on for third after copping plenty of pressure when leading. BIG TOM BART (Gotta Go Cullect – Karamea Dreamin 1.59.3, $37,226) settled last early before switching into the death seat and making up plenty of ground in the back straight on the first occasion. He had a decent crack for the lead but couldn’t find it and raced without cover for the remainder of the trip. He tired into fourth but he showed some ability and he didn’t handle the turn into the back straight on each lap so he is still learning. MASAKE finished fifth after trailing the leader and MY JUSTICE (Western Edition – Rogue Union) couldn’t keep in touch with the pack, yielding ground a long way from home before being tailed off.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.3 Final Half: - 63.9 Margins: - 3m, 8m
Trial 4: - MAKE HASTE speared to the lead early and was approximately five lengths clear before slackening off the tempo. He set up a slow speed throughout and dashed well clear when asked to extend in the final 400m. GERRY GIRAFFE (Bonavista Bay – Princess Yum Yum 2.9.4, $12,150) trailed the leader throughout and just held off the trotter LITTLE YANKEE (Yankee Spider – Admirals Image), which trotted away safely but slowly. At one stage he was about 25m behind GERRY GIRAFFE so he did well to peg back that margin.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.1 Final Half: - 62.8 Margins: - 40m, 1m
BENDIGO 19/08/19
Trial 1: - They all stepped away safely from the standing start with SPIDERS DEVIL working to the front from FETCH IT and IMA ZIABEE. FETCH IT moved away from the markers to challenge from the 700m mark, which gave IMA ZIABEE the opportunity to use the sprint lane. SPIDERS DEVIL held off his rivals to score narrowly with IMA ZIABEE gathering plenty of momentum late and FETCH IT tried hard but ended up being last of the three runners.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.7 Final Half: - 60.2 Margins: - Neck, 3m
Trial 2: - LEIGHA MILLER was the only horse in the combined 2/3yo trial that has won a race previously so she appeared to be well placed. She worked to the front shortly after the start and finished off in reasonable final sectionals to win the trial. GRACIES SHADOW (Shadow Play – Gracenator 1.58.3, $21,038) began quickly to lead before taking cover behind LEIGHA MILLER. She tried hard via the sprint lane and MEGHAN SUITS HER (Four Starzzz Shark – Peaceful Dreams) came to the outside from three back on the markers and finished off nicely for a close up third. PLAYBOY SHADOW (Shadow Play – Lombo Portrait 1.59.9, $94,998) was fourth throughout and finished in front of KENANDI DENESE (Falcon Seelster – Golden Illusion) (5 back markers) and WHERES WOOD WOOD (Mach Three – Vertigal 1.55.8, $317,380), which is out of the former top mare Vertigal but was out of position at the start and was always detached from the main group.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.9 Final Half: - 58.2 Margins: - 1m, 1m
Trial 3: - RORY MCHINSON pushed forward from the outside of the front line to find the lead over HIGHWAY HUNTSMAN. He ran along at a genuine tempo throughout and established a big lead before the home turn. He held that advantage and was completely dominant over his rivals. MAORISHADOW settled four back on the markers and worked home into a distant second. HIGHWAY HUNTSMAN held off JEDSTAR (Imperial Count – Tangalan Jack 2.5.6, $43,090), which left the markers from three back at the 600m mark. KING OF ROCK settled last and went to make a forward move in the back straight on the final occasion but galloped several times and came in at the tail of the field.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.8 Final Half: - 60.1 Margins: - 45m, 1m
Trial 4: - TIME TRAVELLER settled three back on the markers before coming to the outside at the quarter pole. He sprinted sharply to head off LEWIS LANE on the home turn then held off the late challenge of PLUKKA. PLUKKA trailed the leader throughout and allowed TIME TRAVELLER to get passed him before the home turn but he did have his chance to win in the straight if he was good enough. GLITZNGLAM dropped back at the start to be last of the four and was able to pick up third over LEWIS LANE, which showed his customary early brilliance to lead but peaked in the latter stages.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.9 Final Half: - 60.4 Margins: - 1m, 3m
TABCORP PARK, MELTON 20/08/19
Trial 1: - MONARO MARO is a smart former New Zealand trotter and she zipped through a last mile of 2.2.76 on her way to a completely dominant display in the standing start trot. She did it easily and had plenty left in reserve so expect her to be winning races in the near future. THEYALLENDINY trailed MONARO MARO throughout but couldn’t go with her and JANNYS DREAM remained in last position from the handicap of 10m.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.7 Final Half: - 59.29 Margins: - 71m, 26m
BLACKBOOKER: - Monaro Maro
Trial 2: - There were only two horses in the trial that did everything right and they finished first and second. DREAM OVER led with PRINCE OF LIGHT trailing. It appeared as though PRINCE OF LIGHT was going to win when he came to the outside but DREAM OVER kicked back on the line. TEQUILA BREE (Bacardi Lindy – Maori Sunshine 2.3.2, $45,075) galloped with 1400m remaining. SCOOTIN AROUND (Bacardi Lindy – Redneck) made an error at the start and BOOTSANDALL (Cullens Legacy – A Beautiful Sound), which was third across the line, broke stride in the back straight on the final occasion.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.7 Final Half: - 60.71 Margins: - Neck, 105m
Trial 3: - The field raced in single file until approaching the final corner where BIT OF A DREAM led from BRAEVIEW FELLA, IMPLODE, which pulled hard, MANTHADEE and RETURN SOLDIER was last of the five. MANTHADEE sprinted home best in the dash up the straight and did it easily from BIT OF A DREAM with RETURN SOLDIER doing his best work at the finish. IMPLODE was able to work passed BRAEVIEW FELLA by sneaking up along the sprint lane over the latter stages.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.9 Final Half: - 58.41 Margins: - 3m, 2.5m
Trial 4: - MAKE ME HAPPY showed his usual early speed to find the lead and controlled the race perfectly. DIAMOND STRIDE trailed MAKE ME HAPPY until coming to the outside with 600m remaining. She tried hard but found the winner to be too good in the blustery conditions. BAILIEBOROUGH settled last and made up some ground in the back straight when getting around the tiring JAHUN JOE but he peaked in the final 150m.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.7 Final Half: - 61.25 Margins: - 4.5m, 30.5m
Trial 5: - It was a very slow start to the trial with nobody seemingly wanting to lead in the very windy conditions. CARTER MAYSON eventually pushed to the front from a wide gate with PIPPO NIEN (Village Jasper – Ella Jane) taking cover and FLYIN FIRST CLASS (Caribbean Blaster – Flyin Indi Air 1.58.1, $100,119) settling in third position. LAKEY LOU (Devilish Smile – Hilton Dream 2.1.6, $38,269) actually had his head in front early but driver Zac Phillips snagged him back to the tail. It was a slowly run trial and FLYIN FIRST CLASS moved into the death seat from the 850m mark with LAKEY LOU following. She hit the front on the home turn and fought off her rivals to win narrowly. PIPPO NIEN finished second after she loomed as a big threat with 100m remaining but she wanted to lay in over the latter stages. LAKEY LOU dropped off before the home turn but rallied again in the straight to pick up third with CARTER MAYSON dropping back to fourth.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.6 Final Half: - 61.27 Margins: - 1/2neck, 3.5m
Trial 6: - NEXT THRU began very quickly to find the lead then set up a slow tempo mid-race. GALLEONS GLORY trailed the leader throughout and came to the outside in the straight. He finished fast in the final 30m but just failed to overhaul NEXT THRU. Both horses appeared to have something in reserve. SUCCESS COUNTS finished third after racing three back on the markers throughout. PROSTHESIS was making up good ground from last and was going to fill third position before breaking stride in the final stages. IMPERIAL WHIZ settled four back on the markers and was never extended at any stage.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.3 Final Half: - 58.56 Margins: - Neck, 10m
Trial 7: - RISHI led and ran along at a genuine tempo. PAY RISE followed with GHADASTAR in third position and MISTER WICKHAM was snagged back to last. The final half in the cold and windy conditions was a sharp 56.8 seconds and RISHI was strong to the line. PAY RISE performed very well at the trials again to run RISHI down to a metre and a half on the post. MISTER WICKHAM also did a good job to work into third just in front of GHADASTAR in a quality trial to end the program.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Final Half: - 56.80 Margins: - 1.5m, 4.5m
SHEPPARTON 20/08/19
Trial 1: - The former Breeders Crown and New South Wales Derby winner CUSTODIAN performed nicely by leading all of the way in the opening trial. He hasn’t raced for over a year but he appeared to be quite sharp in the run to the finish. ENFORCE THE LAW made up ground late from three back on the markers to finish a game second. FAIRYTALE HALL has ability when she does everything right and she worked into third after trailing ENFORCE THE LAW throughout. KEPT MY WORD trailed the leader and dropped back to fourth. The very interesting performer in the trial was SHAKAMOND, which hasn’t started since a fourth in a heat of the Breeders Crown back in 2013. He settled in fifth and dropped off the pack from the 500m mark but he wasn’t asked for an effort at any stage. If anything, he was making up ground again at the finish. YENTLS GOLDFINGER (Yentls Star – Gondoland) broke stride and lost approximately 20m in the early stages. She finished last of the six but it was a tough task for an unraced qualifier taking on several proven “group” performers.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.5 Final Half: - 59.0 Margins: - 5m, 15m
Trial 2: - EL BANCO pulled his way to the lead and raced keenly throughout, setting up a genuine tempo and stringing the field out. RUSSIAN AGENT (Major Bronski – Rich In Memories 2.1.8, $44,095) settled three back on the inside and emerged as a danger turning out of the back straight. He had the easier run and was able to get the better of EL BANCO, which kicked on well, in the straight. SASSCILIAN (Maffioso – Sass And Bling) settled last of the seven and finished off well for a distant third. DALLAS ELDON settled four back on the markers and finished fourth ahead of I AM SPEED, which trailed the leader. EL EAGLE DIVA (A Rocknroll Dance – Mystery Moment) was without cover early before slotting onto the markers in fifth ahead of BUDDY MAGEE (Live or Die – Gypsy Tingira 1.59.1, $26,235). She ended up finishing in front of BUDDY MAGEE at the finish.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.3 Final Half: - 61.7 Margins: - 7m, 25m
Trial 3: - TECHYS ANGEL (Alta Christiano – Venus Williams 1.55.3, $31,738) settled five back on the markers behind ROCKS CAN ROLL (Pet Rock – Bowland Borg 1.59.1, $16,706) and gained the one out and one back trail behind that pacer when it made a move with 600m remaining. She unleashed a strong finishing burst to gun down the leader JUST RALPH (Changeover – Krisney Girl 1.57.1, $19,570) in the final 100m. JUST RALPH led out then took cover but started to race fiercely so took the lead again at the 1500m. He had a good lead turning for home but became a little leg weary in the final stages. ROCKS CAN ROLL finished third ahead of FANNYCHENAL, which pushed to the lead then took cover. LILBITAHENRYTEE settled three back on the markers and finished fifth ahead of JUKEBOX JET (Rock N Roll Heaven – Beautifulsmile 1.59.2, $8,868) and ANTIGONUS (Yankee Spider – Golden Antigone), which were second last and last throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.6 Final Half: - 59.9 Margins: - 1.5m, 2m
Trial 4: - WILLEM raced fiercely throughout the entire trial and set up a very genuine tempo. He was still under a good hold at the finish and recorded fast time on his way to an easy victory so he might be working back to his best form. ANOTHER COLONY settled down last of the three and moved around the tiring WENTHESTARZZZALINE in the back straight on the final occasion. He ducked in behind WILLEM and tried hard but couldn’t keep on his back in the straight.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.3 Final Half: - 58.0 Margins: - 9m, Distanced
BLACKBOOKER: - Willem