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Harness Racing Victoria form guru, Craig Rail was impressed by the comeback performance of the Emma Stewart-prepared Viney.
“He has returned in fine fettle and dominated his rivals at his comeback trial. He settled three back on the inside, pushed around the field to find the lead at the 1400m and finished off in slick final sectionals to score by a large margin,” Rail said.
Rail also added Flojos Best, Clara Rocks and Jetter Son to his file this week.
TRIAL REPORT 285
SHEPPARTON 03/10/24
Trial 2: DANGER PLAY settled last of the six runners, angled wide on the home turn and finished off strongly to grab victory. HALF PRICE BRIDE settled three back on the markers, waited for the sprint lane and worked home well for second. PARISIAN BANDIT trailed the leader and battled on fairly well for third. The early leader CELESTIALFRAGRANCE was fourth and LENIU was fifth after settling five back on the markers and going to the line with plenty in reserve. He backed up at Shepparton on Tuesday and won on debut and he is competing again at Shepparton this week.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.9 Last Half: – 58.7 Margins: – 5m, 5m
Trial 3: – The classy trotter SEBASTIANS BOY was able to stride to the lead shortly after the start and won with ease. UTOPIA began well and ended up in the trail behind SEBASTIANS BOY. He went back to the sprint lane but couldn’t go with SEBASTIANS BOY over the concluding stages. ILLAWONG STARDUST broke stride at the start and was tailed off throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.4 Last Half: – 58.7 Margins: – 15m, Distanced
KILMORE 03/10/24
Trial 2: – RUMPELSTILTSKIN continues to perform nicely at the trials and was able to win by a large margin in reasonable time. He is returning from a spell at Wagga this afternoon and is drawn to go well. LAVADA GOLD was stood down to trial after contesting a strong heat of the Super Series won by High Above. He was able to re-qualify by finishing in second place with RED HOT ASSASSIN being the third horse across the line. LAVADA GOLD backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night and finished seventh behind Midnight Mojo.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.0 Last Half: – 58.3 Margins: – 12m, 15m
Trial 4: – ULTIMATE MIKI is an unraced gelding by Always B Miki out of the handy race mare Maximum Joy (1.58.2, $31,250), making him a close relation to Tre Cool (1.54.2) and Mirakuru (1.53.7). He recorded handy time in defeating OHANA BY THE SEA with ALTIUS being the third horse across the line. ALTIUS followed up with a ninth placed effort behind Miki Mark at Kilmore on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.9 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: – 4m, 3m
Trial 7: – ALDEBARAN SUSANNE is a beautifully bred mare being by What The Hill out of the classy American bred performer Cold Sister (1.57.3, $262,321). She is still learning but is showing some potential and she took out the seventh event by a comfortable margin. She backed up at Bendigo on Wednesday night and ran a game race for second. CARLA PIXIE NZ won at her Australian debut then was placed in one of her next four attempts. She was given a freshen up after her latest Melton seventh in August and finished second in her comeback trial performance. She returns from a break at Ararat on Sunday night and appears to be a very good chance. FLYIN TIME was the third horse across the line and will be competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.4 Last Half: – 61.5 Margins: – 2m, 10m
KYABRAM 06/10/24
Trial 1: – ACE MONTANA has a National Rating of 58 and was clearly the class runner of the trial. He has joined trainer Graham Lyon since his latest fourth at Shepparton back in June and he took out the trial over LIFE IN PINK, which hasn’t started since winning at Cobram in October 2022. DUSTY TONY is an unraced gelding by the Canadian bred sire Gold Dust Beach out of the American bred mare Let’s Shake It Up Babe USA (1.56.6, $36,127) for trainer Ian Rea. He finished in third with YIPPEE being last of the four runners past the post.
Mile Rate: – 2.13.4 Last Half: – 63.4 Margins: – Head, 10m
CRANBOURNE 06/10/24
Trial 1: – The Super Series champion COMMODUS has been kept ticking over by trainer Jayne Davies with successive trial victories at Cranbourne over the past two weeks. He trailed the leader JILLIBY DINGO, came to the outside on the home turn and sprinted sharply in the straight to win with ease. JILLIBY DINGO finished in second and the pair were well clear of the third placed MAORI FRANKLIN, which settled last of the four runners and worked past WHOSE ME MUM with 700m remaining. MAORI FRANKLIN is resuming from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.9 Last Half: – 61.1 Margins: – Long Neck, 45m
MILDURA 07/10/24
Trial 1: – FLOJOS BEST is an unraced juvenile pacer by Betting Line out of the former classic winning mare Flojos Gold (1.54.0, $202,575). She was three back on the markers for the majority of the trial, came to the outside with 400m remaining and sprinted sharply to record an impressive win. JOLEANER began quickly to lead, took cover at the 1300m and came to the outside approaching the home turn. She finished second with OUR MAGGIE being third after racing fiercely in the early stages before progressing forward and working to the front. JOLEANER is an emergency in several races at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 61.0 Margins: – 20m, 20m
BLACKBOOKER: – Flojos Best
Trial 2: – DALLAS MIKI prepared for his first up performance at Mildura this afternoon with a convincing win over LET ME ROCK. He showed good gate speed to lead and was always in control of the trial, scooting away at the end to win clearly. He is badly drawn for his first up performance at Mildura this afternoon but his trial victory suggests he can be competitive. LET ME ROCK sat in the trail throughout and finished second with SOCIAL WRITER being a large distant away in third after settling four back on the markers and circling around the tiring OUTA CONTROL at the bell. NOOSA BOY was last of the five runners across the line after galloping away. SOCIAL WRITER, OUTA CONTROL and NOOSA BOY are all scheduled to compete at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.1 Last Half: – 60.5 Margins: – 25m, 25m
Trial 4: – MARTHA LAVINIA was without cover for the entire journey and pressured the leader THE WAITING a long way from home. She remained strong at the finish and raced well clear at the end to record an emphatic victory. THE WAITING finished a distant second with BIG BAD CHAD (3 back markers) being a large distance away in third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.5 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – 45m, 60m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 07/10/24
Trial 1: – SEVE NZ trailed the leader SEA SILK and came to the outside with 500m remaining. He was just able to do best with SEA SILK holding down second from the late closing WHERES SEGGY, which settled three back on the markers, moved through to trail the leader approaching the home turn and waited for the sprint lane. Considering the final quarter was run in a slick 27.46 seconds, each of the three runners performed soundly.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.2 Last Half: – 56.37 Margins: – Neck, Neck
Trial 2: – THE IRON DUKE began fast from a wide draw and was able to draw across the early pacemaker COOPER CLEAVER to find the lead. He was able to finish off in slick final sectionals to win clearly. HESITATE continued his good trial form with an eye-catching second. He settled three back on the markers, was held up for a run at a vital stage and finished off fast via the sprint lane. The Metropolitan class trotter MERCENARY was third past the post after settling six back on the markers and moving to the outside with 700m remaining.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.7 Last Half: – 56.17 Margins: – 7.5m, 6.5m
Trial 4: – The former Southlander FUN TO LOVE NZ appears to be ready to make an impression at his Australian debut following his runaway trial success. He progressed forward to find the lead, travelled keenly throughout and appeared to have plenty in reserve at the finish. STARTIN TO GOGH finished in second after leading out then taking cover from the 1700m. CLARA ROCKS is an unraced filly by Rock N Roll Heaven out of Radical Storm (2.0.6, $32,155), which has produced six winners including Radical Impact (1.55.9), Amadeo (1.55.2) and Radical Major (1.55.1). She galloped away and lost approximately fifty metres thus settling a clear last in the early stages. She continued to make ground and produced a very tidy display to finish in third so she appears to have ability.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 57.55 Margins: – 9.5m, 25m
BLACKBOOKER: – Clara Rocks
Trial 5: – VINEY was unplaced in a heat of the Nutrien series at his debut back in April then was sent to the spelling paddock. He has returned in fine fettle and dominated his rivals at his comeback trial. He settled three back on the inside, pushed around the field to find the lead at the 1400m and finished off in slick final sectionals to score by a large margin. OLLIES MEDAL settled four back on the markers, moved up without cover with 600m remaining and battled on well for second. ANOTHER COLLECT came from last of the five runners and was doing his best work late for third.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.5 Last Half: – 56.09 Margins: – 14m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Viney
Trial 8: – COLLECTIVE WORKS is a former New South Wales trained pacer, which has recently joined trainer Carson Millar. He settled last of the four runners from the standing start, angled out three horses wide on the home turn and finished off best to beat the trotters comfortably. He makes his Victorian debut at Geelong this evening. VYTIS began safely and was able to find the trail behind the leader ENCHAUFFOUR. He waited for the sprint lane and was able to pick up second on the line from ENCHAUFFOUR and CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY (3 back markers) was last of the four horses past the post after trying to commence a run with 600m remaining.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.0 Last Half: – 58.31 Margins: – 7.5m, Head
BENDIGO 07/10/24
Trial 2: – CENTURION DREAM began quickly to lead early then took cover behind BILLY ZIPPIN. She was racing keenly throughout but was still able to finish off well when asked to challenge the leader with 300m remaining. She is backing up in the Trotters Oaks at Melton tomorrow night. HILLSIDE settled last of the five runners early and moved up without cover at the 700m mark. He hit the front when leaving the back straight on the final occasion and was run down by CENTURION DREAM on the line. The early leader BILLY ZIPPIN finished in third and it was great to see champion reinsman Brian Gath back in the sulky.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.5 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – Head, 20m
Trial 3: – ORSOME DIVA made it two trial victories in the space of five days after she was successful at the Kilmore trials on Thursday afternoon. She trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and came to the outside with 600m remaining. She wanted to race fiercely throughout the middle stages but still had a good kick left in the run to the finish and scored comfortably. PERFECT PEACH led out then took cover and finished in second with I NEED AGIRLFRIEND doing her best work late from five back on the markers to fill third position. PERFECT PEACH is competing at Charlton on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.1 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 3m, 10m
Trial 4: – REIGN EM IN did a very good job for a pacer with a National Rating of 41 to defeat a handy field in the fourth event. He speared to the lead early, copped some pressure from SURFSUP but held the front running position. He was still able to finish off in a slick last quarter of 28.3 seconds despite being pressured early and held his rivals safely at bay. SHAQ settled last of the five runners, moved up without cover at the 800m mark and battled on well for second. He is resuming from a break at Shepparton on Tuesday night. The Metropolitan class trotter ZAREM finished in third after he settled four back on the markers and moved into the one out and one back trail behind SHAQ in the back straight.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.9 Last Half: – 57.4 Margins: – 2m, 2m
Trial 5: – JETTER SON prepared for his effort at Mildura this afternoon with a victory over WILLIAMS. He began quickly and led comfortably into the first bend before backing off the speed mid-race. He was able to dash home in a slick final half of 57.1 seconds and scored clearly so it was an impressive display and he will be very hard to beat this afternoon from the pole position. WILLIAMS trailed the leader throughout and LOMBOK prepared for his debut performance at Mildura this afternoon with a third placed effort after he dropped back to be last of the four runners in the early stages of the event.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 15m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: – Jetter Son
Trial 8: – KATUNGA EXPRESS began quickly and ran to the lead shortly after the start. He ran along at a reasonable tempo and recorded handy time in taking out the trial. LETSROCKLETSROLL finished in second after settling last of the three runners and coming to the outside on the home turn. His final sectionals were slick considering the final half recorded by the leader and winner KATUNGA EXPRESS was 56.4 seconds. INTEREPRETATION finished last of the three runners after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.8 Last Half: – 56.4 Margins: – 4m, 4m
TERANG 08/10/24
Trial 1: – Trainer Matthew Craven provided all five runners in the opening trial and it was more like track work than a serious contest with all of the runners seemingly having something left in reserve. WE BETTOR BELIEVE IT NZ led throughout to win the trial from FIDES, which settled four back on the inside and moved into the death seat with 700m remaining. FIDES looked to be jogging and was probably travelling better than any of his stable mates in the run to the finish. BOLRAMSKI NZ finished in third after settling down in last position and moving into the one out and one back trail in the back straight on the final occasion. JUMPINGJOY NZ (3 back markers) finished in fourth and MICHAYWEY was the last one home after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.9 Last Half: – 58.0 Margins: – 1m, 3m
Trial 4: – SWEET IDEAL continued her very impressive form with a runaway victory in the fourth trial. She steamed to the lead in the early stages, always travelled well and shot away approaching the home turn to win by a large margin, seemingly with plenty left in hand. KEAYANG WASABI finished in second after settling four back on the markers and moving off the markers at the 600m mark. He quickly got to second at the quarter pole and maintained that position at the end. MALANI JOH came from last of the five runners to pick up third, finishing ahead of the two trotters LOVE YA BROTHER (3 back markers) and ALDEBARAN DAHLIA (behind leader). ALDEBARAN DAHLIA is backing up at Ararat on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.8 Last Half: – 56.8 Margins: – 25m, 15m
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