Craig Rail's Trial File Blackbook has been given a spring clean, with the form analyst trimming the list to a select 18 after another week scouring Victoria's trials circuit.
Here's the latest, scroll to the bottom for Rail's updated Blackbook.
STAWELL 29/10/20
Trial 1: - BETTOR ROMANCE hasn’t raced since a Mildura victory in March and has had a few trials in the trotting gait recently. She has returned to pacing and is resuming from a break at Horsham on Monday. She was able to take out the opening trial over the unraced gelding THELONGROADNOWHERE (Artesian – Hope Williams), which is due to make his debut at Swan Hill on Tuesday. SPUNKY THOUGHTZ (Four Starzzz Shark – Spare The Thought 1.58.0, $87,908) is a nicely bred mare for trainer Sam Barker, which is engaged to race in the third race at Horsham on Monday. She finished third ahead of ZERO DOUBT (Shadyshark Hanover – Problem Solved 1.59.0, $27,361) and CHALKNCHEDDAR (Betterthancheddar – Carly Michelle) finished last of the five runners.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.1 Final Half: - 59.1 Margins: - 1m, 2m
Trial 2: - KENYA is a former New Zealand pacer, which had one start for Matthew Craven at Horsham in February then was spelled. He has since joined trainer Aaron Dunn and he took out his trial very comfortably over STRAIGHT UP, which hasn’t placed since June. KENYA is taking on a tough field in a heat of the Breeders Crown at Bendigo this evening. FIFTYSHADES CRESCO finished in third position and backed it up with an unplaced run at Ballarat on Wednesday night. A ROCKNROLL JET and ROUGH CUT were fourth and fifth respectively.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Final Half: - 59.7 Margins: - 15m, 5m
Trial 3: - SILENT MAJOR is a smart former New Zealander, which hasn’t raced since a fourth at Terang in June. He has already won four races in Australia and he recorded fast time at his comeback trial performance. He is a strong winning chance from the pole position at Horsham on Monday. TIC TACT finished second ahead of the trotter DUBLIN CHUBB, which broke stride in a heat of the Victoria Derby last week and was stood down to trial. BACARDI JESS is a new recruit for trainer Nick Edwards after previously being with trainer Roma Pocock. She finished last of the four runners but the time was very quick and she is drawn to find the lead in a suitable assignment at Horsham on Monday.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.3 Final Half: - 61.76 Margins: - Not given
BLACKBOOKER: - Silent Major
CRANBOURNE 31/10/20
Trial 1: - Only two runners contested the opening trial, which was a standing start event for the trotters. BRANDONS PRICE started from the handicap of 20m, stepped away safely and followed the leader GET UP EARLY (Yankee Spider – Packed Up Early 2.7.6, $18,588) until moving to the outside at the 600m. Once he got to the outside of the leader, he remained on level terms and went to the line under a hard grip as if it were a trackwork run.
Mile Rate: - 2.16.0 Final Half: - 62.30 Margin: - Neck
Trial 2: - CAPTAIN BELLASARIO dashed to the lead before the first corner and was always in control of the trial. He set up a slow speed in the early stages but there was a lot to like about the way he dashed to the post, recording his final 400m in a sizzling 27.4 seconds and winning the trial by 40m. He followed with a narrow but impressive victory at Yarra Valley on Thursday. CLASSY COUNTESS trailed CAPTAIN BELLASARIO throughout and couldn’t stick with him, yielding ground in the back straight on the final occasion. POST GAME (Sportswriter – Samantha Sparkle 1.56.8, $70,815) settled down in last position and was starting to lose ground gradually a long way from home. He ended up finishing a distant last of the three runners.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.5 Final Half: - 56.0 Margins: - 40m, 100m
Trial 3: - TYABB WONDER began quickly to lead, set up a slow tempo and dashed home in a handy final half to win easily. She went to the line with plenty in reserve and raced well clear in the home straight. She showed brilliant gate speed to lead at Yarra Valley on Thursday but broke stride shortly after the start and had to be retired from the event. VALLANI MAGIC trailed the leader throughout and raced roughly before the home turn. She finished second in front of FINAL COUNTDOWN, which was last of the three runners for the duration.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.2 Final Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 10m, 20m
Trial 4: - MY SUPERANNUATION dropped back to be last of the three runners, came to the outside with 500m remaining and finished off best to win the final trial over A LIL BETTOR (Bettors Delight – Donna Rosso), which trailed the leader and used the sprint lane. CROMPTON BAY set the speed and was still in with a chance with the three horses being locked in battle with 150m remaining but tired late and was the last horse to greet the judge.
Mile Rate: - Not Given Final Half: - Not Given Margins: - 2m, 3m (approximately)
KILMORE 04/11/20
Trial 1: - CONSTANTINOPLE (Trixton – El Scorcho 2.2.6, $14,255) settled three back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 700m mark and hit the lead approaching the home turn. She wanted to hang in a little over the concluding stages but scored with something in reserve. DELS DESTINY trailed the leader YANKEE MAUREEN, was able to get around that galloping runner on the home turn and ducked back to the inside of CONSTANTINOPLE in the straight. She worked home nicely into second position. FAIRFIELD FLYER settled four back on the markers and followed up behind CONSTANTINOPLE (1-1) in the final lap. She finished a distant third with ALDEBARAN TAKARA (Trixton – Aldebaran Turnpike 1.59.6, $20,625) running in fourth after being slow away from the standing start and settling fifteen metres behind the second last horse early. YANKEE MAUREEN stepped away fast and moved across from out wide on the track to find the lead on the first turn. She enjoyed a good run in front but broke stride when being challenged with 300m remaining.
Mile Rate: - 2.10.4 Final Half: - 60.9 Margins: - 2m, 10m
Trial 2: - LA PUDDIE showed brilliant gate speed to lead by approximately five lengths early. He ran along at an even tempo and kicked well clear in the run to the finish, going to the line under a strong hold. COBARGO GRIN settled five back on the markers, was left without cover with QUIETACHIEVER beginning to tire at the 900m mark then battled on well for second. THE BOOST settled sixth on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 800m mark and finished third ahead of COULD BE WOODY, which started slowly from the pole position and was fourth on the markers in the first circuit then moved to be three back on the markers for the last lap. KNOW REPLY (Heston Blue Chip – That’s All Right 1.59.9, $24,127) settled down last, was fifteen metres behind the second last horse entering the back straight on the final occasion and came out three horses wide at the 600m mark. She worked past TRADE WHISPERS, which trailed the leader, chasing hard mid-race and QUIETACHIEVER (3 back markers) was the last one home after yielding ground with a lap remaining.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.4 Final Half: - 60.3 Margins: - 10m, 5m
Trial 3: - It was an armchair drive for trainer and driver Geoff Webster aboard the talented juvenile trotter BROMWICH. He dashed to the lead shortly after the start and cruised down to the line to win without having to be extended. EVAS IMAGE dropped back to last early, moved up without cover from the bell and tried hard in the straight but BROMWICH was safely able to hold her at bay. ALDEBARAN MIDORI began quickly but was content to take cover behind BROMWICH shortly after the start. She lost ground in the straight but beat home ABUNDANCE (3 back markers), which broke stride with 300m remaining.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.7 Final Half: - 58.5 Margins: - 3m, 15m
Trial 4: - RULES DON’T APPLY began quickly to lead, was able to back off the tempo mid-race and sprinted home in a slick final quarter of 28.5 seconds to win in a quality trial of four trotters. ILLAWONG ARMSTRONG settled down last of the four runners, gained an inside run approaching the home turn and dashed through late for second placing. CASH LOVER was three back on the markers, moved to the outside on the turn and was picking up some ground. She showed a bit of speed down the straight but she was trotting very roughly in behind over the concluding stages. IM HECTOR finished last after trailing the leader throughout but he wasn’t extended at any stage of the journey.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.1 Final Half: - 60.1 Margins: - 2m, 4m
Trial 5: - ROCCO AMERICANO (American Ideal – Wya Mya Macray 1.57.4, $84,650) is nicely bred and was very impressive in taking out the fifth trial. He showed brilliant gate speed to lead clearly, raced very greenly on the first turn and elected to take cover, ended up being three back on the markers, raced keenly in the backstraight, broke stride momentarily with 400m remaining then recovered and stormed home to win with plenty in reserve. He has a lot to learn but he appears to be very promising. ANDRES settled down four back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 700m mark and battled on well for second with SUMMER GRIN being in third position after settling down in sixth and trailing forward nicely in the final circuit (1-1). THE CONSTITUTION was in fifth position early, got shuffled back to last in the back straight and was hitting the line strongly in fourth. INSULTING trailed the leader, made a move in the backstraight on the first occasion to find the lead, took a trail and finished fifth with GOZO GOLD (Modern Art – Cuban Gold) being the last run to cross the line after zooming around the field from last to find the lead at the 1500m before tiring late.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.0 Final Half: - 61.4 Margins: - 2.5m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: - Rocco Americano
Trial 6: - ILLAWONG BYRON began quickly to lead, ran along at an even tempo and held off a determined challenge from ELECTROJET to narrowly take out the trial. He wanted to hang out a little in the straight but he got the job done. ELECTROJET trailed the leader and moved up without cover with 600m remaining. She chased hard over the final stages and missed out narrowly. LOLA DEVEREAUX settled three back on the markers but broke stride when turning out of the back straight and lost her chance. JAYBEEOHDEE broke stride in the score up and was tailed off throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.4 Final Half: - 59.7 Margins: - 1m, 30m
Trial 7: - IM NO OUTLAW began quickly and zoomed to the lead shortly after the start. He backed off the tempo mid-race but was really forced to sprint sharply in the final 250m when ICONIC MAJOR made a bold move around the outside. He lifted under pressure in the home straight and was able to score narrowly. ICONIC MAJOR is now being prepared by trainer Ahmed Taiba and produced a good effort to finish second. He settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 600m mark and was sprinting very quickly approaching the home turn. MAXINES DELIGHT finished third after trailing the leader throughout and DELIGHTFUL JAZZ was last of the four after being four back on the markers before slotting into the one out and one back trail in the back straight on the final occasion.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.2 Final Half: - 56.1 Margins: - Head, 5m
Trial 8: - BULLION HARRY began quickly and was on the outside of the speed early, angled in to trail the leader before the first turn and was shuffled back to third at the 1600m. He moved into the death seat with 1200m remaining and was able to draw clear in the latter stages to record a soft victory. KYVALLEYHONEYBUNNY settled down in third position, made a move at the 1700m and found the front shortly afterwards. She tried hard in the straight but was outstayed by BULLION HARRY in the run to the judge. CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY (Used To Me – Bella Cheval 2.1.7, $38,638) showed good gate speed to lead, took a trail and still looked to be travelling really well on the final bend but broke stride and lost her chance. QUEEN INVASION was fourth early, moved into the one out and one back trail behind BULLION HARRY but galloped when angling out three horses wide on the home turn. ALDEBARAN YAHTZEE made an error at the start and was tailed off throughout. ASTRO (Love You – Auravale 2.8.2, $30,650) was fifth on the markers, became detached from the main group in the back straight and galloped with 600m remaining, dropping out to the tail of the field.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.1 Final Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 6m, 30m
Trial 9: - HEAVENLY SMILE just prevailed in a thrilling finish to end the program of nine trials. She settled down in fourth position, circled around the field from the 1600m to find the lead turning out of the back straight and set up a reasonable tempo. She was headed in the home straight but was able to kick back and score. BETTER ECLIPSE (Betterthancheddar – Power of Eclipse) trailed the leader early before being shuffled to three back on the markers at the mile marker. He moved out three horses wide with 300m remaining and loomed up in the straight but was nosed out on the line. ILLAWONG AWESOME (Mach Three – Miss Astronomical) led out, took a trail and came to the outside approaching the home turn. He kicked on determinedly in the middle late and missed out narrowly. That trio got away from EDEN DOROTHY (Hurrikane Kingcole – Safe Hills 2.2.1, $8,375), which settled fourth on the markers and DAISYBOO (Art Major – Dolly Jasper 1.55.6, $38,973) finished last after missing approximately 100m in the score up. She did do a very good job to chase the pack and tack on at the 1100m but the effort took a toll and she tired out of it late.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.6 Final Half: - 58.2 Margins: - Nose, ½ head
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