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Unraced gelding Leniu goes straight into the blackbook of Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail.
“Leniu is an unraced gelding for trainer Ian Ward and was able to lead throughout in reasonable time,” Rail said.
Rail also added Schwarz and Enchauffour to his file this week.
TRIAL REPORT 282
SHEPPARTON 12/09/24
Trial 1: – GOTTA HAV ME NZ prepared for her effort at Echuca on Sunday with a very good trial victory against handy opposition. She showed enough gate speed to lead and was able to peel off a slick final half of 56.6 seconds to win nicely. NO NEIGH PHILTRA began quickly and angled in for the trail behind the leader. She battled on well and also appears to be a good chance at Echuca on Sunday. The trotter SEBASTIANS BOY was three back on the markers throughout and was closing in late for third. VANQUISH STRIDE is competing at Melton tomorrow night and was doing his best work late to pick up fourth after settling last of the five runners.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.5 Last Half: – 56.6 Margins: – 8m, 4m
Trial 2: – LENIU is an unraced gelding for trainer Ian Ward and was able to lead throughout in reasonable time. RED SHORES showed the most gate speed but immediately took cover behind LENIU and tried to issue a challenge from the home turn. The pair drew well clear of the others with FIRECRACKER NOLA being third across the line after settling four back on the markers. HARLEY BLUE was five back on the markers and ran into a distant fourth. Importantly, HARLEY BLUE came out and scored five days later at Shepparton and considering he was a long way behind LENIU and RED SHORES in the trial, they might be worth following. HARLEY BLUE is backing up again at Yarra Valley on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 4m, 30m
BLACKBOOKER: – LENIU
Trial 3: – LILLY LOTUS continued her impressive trial form with a comfortable victory over OKANUI BEACH. She trailed the leader, waited for the sprint lane and shot through in the latter stages to win easily. She is backing up at Wagga on Saturday night. OKANUI BEACH was slow to begin and settled a clear last in the early stages. He sprinted sharply from the 500m mark to hit the lead on the home turn but couldn’t withstand the late burst of LILLY LOTUS. PARISIAN BANDIT was third past the post after attempting to lead throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.0 Last Half: – 61.0 Margins: – 10m, Neck
BACCHUS MARSH 14/09/24
Trial 2: – WOTDIDUSAAAY hasn’t raced since a sixth at Melton in March. He was placed in the Wangaratta Cup two starts ago so he is a quality pacer when racing at his peak form. He was able to win the open class trial from ROCKNROLL WALLA, which has drawn awkwardly on the inside of the second row at Melton tomorrow night. HIGH FLYING HARRY NZ has recently joined trainer Conor Crook and finished third ahead of SEBS CHOICE and WHERES SEGGY.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.3 Last Half: – 57.0 Margins: – ½ head, 4m
Trial 4: – GOODTIME CAPTAIN prepared for his debut performance at Echuca on Sunday with a trial victory. He is by first season sire Captain Crunch out of the race winning mare Luvumoves (1.57.8), which has already produced the race winner Goodtime Jazzi. The second dam Indi Rose was also a race winner and has produced the handy pacers Sheluvsme (1.57.8), Luvumoves (1.57.8), Luvtoo (1.56.1) and Rocknroll Walla (1.56.4) so GOODTIME CAPTAIN has the breeding to suggest he should be able to win races. Unfortunately, no time and margins are available for the trial and there is no public video replay, which doesn’t give a great guide for his debut performance on Sunday but he did beat older horses and he should be competitive on his breeding alone. LADY SALINA finished in second position with EARS THE BOSS being third across the line. LADY SALINA is competing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – Not Given Last Half: – Not Given Margins: – Not Given
Trial 6: – RIGHT OF REPLY was able to take out the sixth trial by a comfortable margin. He had the lowest National Rating of all of the runners competing in the trial so it was obviously a handy performance and he is racing at Echuca on Sunday. ROCKY VALLEY finished in second position with GOODTIME LUNA being four metres astern in third spot. MAJESTIC CONNIES NZ was last of the four runners to cross the line. The second placed ROCKY VALLEY will be competing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.9 Last Half: – 61.7 Margins: – 4m, 10m
MARYBOROUGH 15/09/24
Trial 1: – DON’T CARE hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Hammerhead Mile in March but he did well at his trial victory against two pacers, where he led throughout so he is obviously in for a good campaign. CARRAMAR SOLOMONA was three back on the markers and moved to the outside with 800m remaining. He tried hard for second and WELL SAID NUGGET finished a close third after trailing the leader and using the sprint lane.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.4 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – Head, Head
Trial 2: – THAT OTHER THING trailed the leader, came to the outside with 300m remaining and finished off strongly to win easily. He backed up at Maryborough on Wednesday and ran a game second. THE GIRLS GOTFLAIR finished in second after setting the speed. LITTLER was last of the three runners for the duration of the trial.
Mile Rate – 2.9.1 Last Half: – 60.9 Margins: – 10m, 15m
KYABRAM 15/09/24
Trials 1 + 2 were both won by trainer and driver Corey Bell. RED HOT ASSASSIN was the only pacer competing in the opening trial and was successful in a slow mile rate of 2.16.0. She was able to defeat KAMARAN and MONTANA MUSCLE. MAJOR MAURIE was able to win the second event. He was stood down to trial in New South Wales last outing and was recently transferred to Corey Bell. He won the trial by thirty metres in a mile rate of 2.7.4 with SMILE WITH A GRIN being in second and LIFE IN PINK finishing third. MAJOR MAURIE has had a busy week with his trial at Kyabram followed by his third placed effort at Ballarat on Thursday night and he will be competing again at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
ARARAT 15/09/24
Trial 1: – ROCKNROLL OPAL hasn’t raced since a sixth at Stawell in March. She was able to win her pre-meeting trial over the trotter KARAS DREAM, which has run some good races lately and SWEET MAJOR was the third horse across the line. WESTERN BOY was fourth past the post and will be backing up from an awkward draw at Melton this evening. The second placed KARAS DREAM backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night.
Last Mile: – 2.4.6 Last Half: – 61.7 Margins: – 9.5m, Neck
MILDURA 16/09/24
Trial 2: – IM BLINGIN IT raced on the outside of the leader and applied pressure a long way from home. He remained strong at the finish and was able to win the trial nicely. MACH HU NZ attempted to lead throughout and battled into a distant second after copping all of the pressure in the run. He is backing up at Mildura this afternoon. DRIBBABILL was third across the line after trailing the leader throughout. There were big margins between each of the runners at the end after such a genuine tempo was set throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – 63.0 Margins: – 25m, 20m
Trial 3: – ALLSOPP began quickly to find the lead from a wide draw and was able to run along at an even tempo. He was a comfortable winner over COURTNEY KATARINA, which raced in the trail throughout and tried hard in the latter stages. COURTNEY KATARINA will be backing up at Mildura this afternoon. SOUTHPAW SLUGGER broke stride at the start and lost approximately twenty metres. He moved up without cover at the 1100m and battled on well at the end for third. DEVIL OF A SMILE (3 back markers) was last of the four runners to cross the line and will be backing up at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – 3m, 15m
BENDIGO 16/09/24
Trial 1: – PARISIAN ARTISTE commenced from the handicap of 40m and pushed forward with the pacer CEMETERY BAY very early in the trial. He trailed the leader from the mile marker and came to the outside with 300m remaining before finishing off fast. CEMETERY BAY was second after beginning well and working to the front. ALFIE ALWAYS was third after being behind the leader early and ending up being four back on the markers. He backed up at Maryborough on Wednesday with a second placed effort.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 56.5 Margins: – 6m, 80m
Trial 2: – ZAREM prepared for his effort at Melton tomorrow night with a solid victory against the pacers. He settled three back on the inside, moved to the outside on the home turn and finished off fast to get the prize. PLAYNICE was second across the line after beginning quickly to find the lead and setting up a reasonable tempo. He will be backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. LIKEABLE ROGUE was five back on the markers and moved up without cover at the 600m mark. He finished third with GRUMPEE (trailed leader) being fourth across the line having not peeled from the back of the leader in the home straight and going to the line with something in reserve. GRUMPEE is scheduled to compete at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.4 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – 1m, Head
Trial 5: – CENTURION DREAM prepared for her effort at Melton this evening with a convincing victory over ZIPTIE. She raced without cover throughout, pulled hard and drew clear at the end. ZIPTIE was second past the post after setting the speed and MI BOW finished in third after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.6 Last Half: – 62.0 Margins: – Not given
Trial 6: – SWIFT WATCH NZ settled three back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m mark and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He finished off quickly and grabbed victory on the line. It was a good confidence building effort leading up to his effort at Wagga tomorrow night. DIEING ART has returned to Victoria after a successful New South Wales campaign. He settled four back on the inside, moved off the markers at the 600m mark and battled on strongly to finish only a head behind the winner. He is also competing at Wagga on Saturday night. ANGUS INDIANA finished third after setting the speed and BRUISED EGO (trailed leader) was the last horse home. BRUISED EGO will be resuming from a spell at Echuca on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.4 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – Head, 5m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 17/09/24
Trial 1: – BEYOND DELIGHT began very quickly to find the lead and ran along at a rapid rate. He scored by a narrow margin but he did record a mile rate of 1.53.8 so it was a solid first up performance. BULLETPROOF BOY had a good hit-out leading up to his performance in the Graham Goffin Memorial at Melton tomorrow night. He trailed the leader, came to the outside at the quarter pole and went down by a narrow margin. ACT NOW settled three back on the markers, trailed the leader approaching the home turn and finished off well via the sprint lane. NATHAN STREET performed extremely well, despite being last of the four runners across the line. He is a 3yo pacer and was taking on genuine open class performers. He was last of the four runners throughout but went to the line hard held with no clear run at the finish.
Mile Rate: – 1.53.8 Last Half: – 55.12 Margins: – Short ½ head, 4m
Trial 3: – SCHWARZ hasn’t raced since a fourth in the Sapling Stakes back in May. He has recently joined trainer Chris Romanidis and produced a terrific front running performance to win easily. ROCKNROLL ROCKET finished in second after trailing the leader throughout and trying hard at the end. DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS was five back on the markers early, moved off the inside at the quarter pole and finished off well for a distant third. IMPEACHED was fourth across the line after being three back on the markers throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.7 Last Half: – 57.07 Margins: – 13.5m, 10m
BLACKBOOKER: – Schwarz
Trial 4: – ENCHAUFFOUR hasn’t raced since striking trouble and losing his chance in the Nutrien Final back in April. He won a heat of that series on debut and has since joined trainer Jess Tubbs. He led throughout to win the trial from KYVALLEY JAGGER, which was without cover early before angling in behind the leader. KYVALLEY JAGGER is backing up at Yarra Valley on Monday afternoon. FRITSCH was three back on the markers throughout and finished a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.2 Last Half: – 59.79 Margins: – 16m, 18m
BLACKBOOKER: – Enchauffour
Trial 8: – GIPSY PRINCESS began quickly to find the lead and backed off the tempo early. She finished off in a sizzling final quarter of 26.98 seconds and won the trial clearly so it was an impressive display. HARRYS A ROCKSTAR finished in second position after trailing the leader and coming to the outside with 300m remaining. IM A DENNY TOO NZ followed the markers from three back to finish in third position. HEY GOYOUGOODTHING NZ was four back on the markers and finished fourth so the first four on the markers filled the first four positions with the last quarter being very fast.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.1 Last Half: – 56.09 Margins: – 8m, 3m
