Harness racing form analyst Craig Rail identified a handful of notable performers from the recent trials, with Volstead-sired runners particularly catching his eye.
Last year’s Redwood winner Vytis was brilliant at Geelong, while Voldagha shapes as one to follow at Shepparton next week after trialing well against quality opposition on the same track.
SHEPPARTON 19/06/25
Trial 1: - THEYASKABOUTLENNY is a juvenile gelding, which was runner up at his only start back in February. He settled four back on the markers, got shuffled to five back mid-race and produced a big finish to collect the prize. YESNOLETSGO trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and moved up without cover at the quarter pole. He couldn’t match the finishing burst of THEYASKABOUTLENNY but he battled on well for second. ALOT LIKE PENDLES settled in a rearward position and was last at the 1200m. She was doing her best work late and claimed third on the line. She is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. WICKED WIZARD began quickly and worked to the front despite putting in a few rough strides shortly after the start. He took cover behind BETATHANABOUGHTONE, which circled around the field from last, at the 1200m, and battled on fairly well for fourth.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.5 Last Half: - 59.6 Margins: - 2m, 4m
Trial 2: - SUNSET STRIDE began quickly to find the lead, ran along at a reasonable tempo and safely held his rivals at bay. He is scheduled to compete at Shepparton on Tuesday night. DUN ME UP FRANCY began quickly and trailed the leader. She raced keenly and came to the outside at the 500m before holding her ground at the finish. SKYFALL BENCHMARK settled three back on the inside and was making ground in the initial stages of the straight before running into a dead end at the finish. ALIZA HILL and GOTTA HAV ME NZ settled in fourth and fifth respectively and remained in those positions at the finish. ALIZA HILL is due to race at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.6 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - 5m, 1m
Trial 3: - GINGER ELLA is an unraced juvenile filly for trainer David Farrar. She is by Ride High out of the race winning mare As It Is In Heaven (1.58.4, $42,325), which has produced eight winners including Doubledipofheaven (1.56.8, $86,276), Power To Bolt (1.59.3, $61,533) and Always Be Chloe (1.56.4, $68,227). She began quickly to lead, took cover at the 1200m and moved away from the inside on the home turn. She finished off best in a handy final half of 58.1 seconds to get the prize. SHEZ CHANEL raced without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead at the 1200m and was run down on the line. BILL finished in third position after being three back on the markers throughout and is backing up at Wagga this afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 58.1 Margins: - Head, 6m
Trial 4: - NORDIC REIGN was clearly the class runner of the trial and began brilliantly to find the lead from the extreme draw. She set up a moderate tempo and had a good kick left in the run to the finish to get the prize. She backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night and finished seventh behind Ruby’s Dream. VOLDAGHA did a very good job for a maiden 3yo against proven winners to end up in second position. He settled three back on the markers, came to the outside on the home turn and finished off well. He will prove very hard to beat at Shepparton on Tuesday night. WORTH WAITING settled five back on the markers, waited for the sprint lane and finished off nicely without being fully extended.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.8 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 2m, Neck
BLACKBOOKER: - Voldagha
Trial 7: - MONAGHAN BOY continued to build on his list of his trial victories with a success in the final event. He settled five back on the markers, moved around to find the lead at the 1200m and held off his rivals to get the job done. TURBO JAY led out, took cover and came to the outside on the home turn. He chased determinedly and was beaten by a narrow margin. He will be competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. The eye-catching run of the trial came from IDEAL BANDIT. He settled five back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 500m and finished off strongly for a close up third. He backed up with an impressive victory at Bendigo on Wednesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Last Half: - 58.2 Margins: - Neck, Neck
ECHUCA 22/06/25
Trial 1: - MALHANA MUSCLES was able to defeat the pacers after leading for the majority of the journey. He was second on the first turn but ended up being in front after CRESCO THUNDERSTRUCK broke stride and lost the leading role. I AM ON THE RUN was without cover early, angled in behind the leader and battled on fairly. FENG SHUI MAGIC was three back on the markers throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Last Half: - 59.4 Margins: - 5m, 20m
Trial 3: - SO JOE RAN showed good gate speed to get across to the lead from a wide draw and was able to back off the tempo mid-race. He was able to hold off his rivals in the run to the finish. HARNETT settled three back on the markers and moved into the death seat at the bell. He battled on well for second with NELLS ALL BLISS (behind leader) being third past the post.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.0 Last Half: - 61.1 Margins: - Head, 1m
MARYBOROUGH 22/06/25
Trial 1: - INTO THE HARKNESS settled three back on the markers, came out three horses wide on the home turn and finished off fast to claim the prize. WICHITA DANCE trailed the leader and came to the outside on the home turn. He battled on okay in the straight and finished in second. MY DARLING DEVINE began quickly to lead and was run down over the latter stages. OUTMAZING NZ settled down at the tail of the field and remained last of the four at the finish.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.6 Last Half: - 58.5 Margins: - 1m, 3m
Trial 2: - ARISTOTLE settled last of the three runners, came to the outside at the 600m and finished off fast. He was aided by the leader LOVE WHO hanging out at the 600m mark and also IKARA breaking stride but he was able to dash away to win by a big margin. IKARA did well to recover and pick up LOVE WHO in the run to the finish. LOVE WHO is backing up at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.5 Last Half: - 59.0 Margins: - 20m, 10m
Trial 4: - HALLEBESOFINE began quickly to lead then took cover shortly after the start. She came to the outside with 500m remaining and asserted her superiority in the run to the finish. She backed up with a victory at Bendigo on Wednesday night. PIPALICIOUS was last of the trio and waited for the sprint lane in the run to the finish. She was able to work through into second position. CHANTILLY LASS began quickly and was without cover early before working to the lead. She battled on fairly in the straight to finish in third.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.1 Last Half: - 62.0 Margins: - 5m, 1m
GEELONG 23/06/25
Trial 1: - It was only a field of two runners for the open class event and the millionaire pacer BETTER ECLIPSE proved to be superior. He zipped to the lead shortly after the start and rushed home his final quarter in 26.9 seconds. JUST AS WELL NZ couldn’t go with BETTER ECLIPSE at the end and finished twenty metres in arrears.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.5 Last Half: - 56.0 Margin: - 20m
Trial 2: - LUVTOBEUPTOME settled three back on the markers, came to the outside at the 600m mark and sprinted sharply to win impressively with his last quarter being 27.1 seconds. He is making his debut against a strong field at Melton on Saturday night. WEONA OUR RIGHTS finished in second after trying to lead throughout and LIBERTY STAR DUST was last of the trio after sitting in the trail.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.4 Last Half: - 57.2 Margins: - 8m, 25m
Trial 3: - VYTIS was without cover early and eased onto the markers to be three back. He came to the outside at the 300m and was able to pick up the leaders in the straight to win untouched. JAKARTA NZ finished in second after beginning quickly and setting the speed. TE AMO sat in the trail behind the leader and finished third while REGINALDS REIGN was last of the quartet for the duration.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.4 Last Half: - 59.9 Margins: - 1m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: - Vytis
Trial 4: - WHISKEYDRINKINGBILL began quickly to lead, took cover and ended up being three back on the markers from the 1400m mark. He came to the outside at the 300m and appeared to be under pressure in the middle on the home turn but he was able to kick back and score. He is competing at Cranbourne on Sunday. GOODTIME LIBBY settled five back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 600m, was planted out three horses wide at the 300m and moved up to hit the lead with 150m remaining. She peaked a little on her run late but she finished a close second. She is also engaged to race at Cranbourne on Sunday. BUSLOAD OF FAITH NZ pushed forward to find the lead, took cover behind GIVE DAVE A WAVE at the 1400m and was held up for a run at a vital stage. He powered along the sprint lane and finished in third position.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.5 Last Half: - 62.8 Margins: - Head, 2m
BENDIGO 23/06/25
Trial 3: - ANGOVE is a gelding by Kvintet Avenger FIN and is related to four winners including Iona Spider (1.59.6, $107,040) and Montana Chevelle (2.0.6, $34,825). He showed very good gate speed to lead and never appeared to be in any danger of defeat, winning clearly. MODERN HOPE settled three back on the markers and worked into second. She is competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night. ENGAGE was last of the six runners early and was giving the leaders a big start. He made good ground over the latter stages and ran into a handy third. COOPER KAI finished in fourth after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.6 Last Half: - 62.8 Margins: - 9m, 2m
Trial 4: - ZENARIO began quickly and trailed the leader throughout. He went back into the sprint lane in the home straight and dashed through to win impressively and in fast time. JETTER SON began fast to lead and wanted to race keenly. He set up a very genuine tempo and was run down at the end. RALTED was three back on the markers and battled into a distant third.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.4 Last Half: - 57.3 Margins: - 4m, 25m
Trial 6: - LOUIE LOU I NZ backed up his eye-catching trial performance a week earlier when he led throughout to score over BE GOOD MIKI. He backed off the speed mid-race and finished off in a sizzling final quarter of 26.8 seconds. BE GOOD MIKI trailed the leader throughout and POLLY PEACHUM was last for the duration. POLLY PEACHUM backed up with an eighth placed effort at Kilmore on Thursday.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Last Half: - 56.8 Margins: - 10m, 8m
Trial 7: - GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW continued his terrific trial form with a runaway victory over ILLAWONG STARDUST. He began well and sat in the trail throughout before producing a big finish from the 300m mark. He is resuming from a spell at Melton on Saturday night. ILLAWONG STARDUST set up a reasonable speed in the lead and battled on okay. SUNSUP settled last of the four runners and was able to get past SALSKI in the battle for third and fourth.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.9 Last Half: - 58.2 Margins: - 14m, 2m