Harness racing form guru Craig Rail noticed several standout performers at the recent trials.
Met With A Shrug showed promise when comfortably holding the back of classy trotter Perfidious Sue at Maryborough.
At Bendigo, unraced Waikare Adrienna turned heads with an impressive late charge to the line, while Resurgent Warrior also hit the line strongly.
Soho Park Avenue proved too good at Melton, racing away from rivals.
TRIAL REPORT 319
COBRAM 29/05/25
Trial 3: - ATOMIC BLACK is an unraced gelding by Soho Lanikai for trainer Wayne Potter. He settled three back on the inside, moved off the markers at the quarter pole and sustained a strong run in a slick last half of 57.0 seconds to win the prize. FIANO finished in second position after setting the speed and KUALIGHT settled last of the four runners and picked up ground over the latter stages to be in third spot. The second placed FIANO is competing at Wagga this afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Last Half: - 57.0 Margins: - 1m,10m
Trial 4: - JACKS ULTIMATE FURY NZ raced out three horses wide in the early stages, progressed forward to find the lead with a mile remaining and set up a genuine tempo. He went to the line with plenty in reserve and scored impressively. TUPELO pushed forward to find the lead shortly after the start, took cover behind the eventual winner JACKS ULTIMATE FURY NZ and tried hard for second. He is backing up at Wagga this afternoon. MAD PUNTA was the early leader and ended up being three back on the markers. He was the third horse across the line and ZIEGFELD finished last of the quartet but he came out and ran a very good race at Shepparton on Tuesday, which suggests this trial should be a good form reference. MAD PUNTA will be competing at Echuca on Tuesday.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.2 Last Half: - 57.9 Margins: - 2m, 10m
BACCHUS MARSH 31/05/25
Trial 2: - SAM NIEN hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Breeders Crown Final back in November. He has joined the stables of Darren Pace since his latest performance and was able to win his trial by a comfortable margin. BOOT LEGGING was placed twice during his juvenile season and he hasn’t started since October. He finished second ahead of the Tyrone Abela trained pair ALDEBARAN AXL and DANCE WITH ROXY.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.7 Last Half: - 60.2 Margins: - 5m, 5m
Trial 3: - WOTDIDUSAAAY won the open class trial of the day defeating ALBY TWO CHAINS. He recorded a slick final quarter of 27.8 seconds and the win would have given him plenty of confidence leading up to his effort at Melton on Saturday night. ALBY TWO CHAINS was only a metre away from the winner and the pair drew well clear of the third placed CRACK THE VAULT.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.4 Last Half: - 58.1 Margins: - 1m, 20m
Trial 5: - HILLWINSOME broke stride at the start and was placed outside of the draw at Cranbourne when making his last race track appearance. He went to the trials at Bacchus Marsh on the Saturday and at Melton on the Tuesday to get back in the draw as his gait speed is his primary asset. He won the trial by a narrow margin over DISTANT SUN, which broke stride in the latter stages when he was resuming since December at his most recent trek to the races. NUCLEAR ATTITUDE finished in third and was well ahead of the fourth placed UNKNOWN SON. The winner HILLWINSOME has drawn on the front line for his appearance at Warragul on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.9 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - ½ head, 8m
Trial 6: - BLAZIN BY hasn’t raced since finishing a distant sixth at his debut performance back in November. He finished off in a quick last quarter of 28.8 seconds to win his trial by a long way over the juvenile filly SWAYWITHSIERRA, which as the name suggests is related to Dancingwithsierra (1.54.3), Waltzingwithsierra (1.54.5), Tangoingwithsierra (1.53.1), Rockingwithsierra (1.55.7) and Salsawithsierra (1.59.2). She finished well clear of APOSTASY, which was last of the three runners across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.2 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 20m, 20m
MARYBOROUGH 01/06/25
Trial 1: - SOHO WASHINGTON hasn’t raced since being stood down to trial at Menangle in March but he is a handy juvenile and was able to defeat his older rivals without being fully extended. He trailed the leader, came to the outside with 600m remaining and appeared to be strong at the finish. He backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night and finished a close second behind the smart pacer Eyeneedthat. NICE ONE CENTURION attempted to lead throughout and set up a handy tempo so it was a good effort to finish second. AMORE ROCK settled last of the five runners, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m behind the eventual winner and tried hard for third.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.8 Last Half: - 57.0 Margins: - 1m, 1m
Trial 2: - ENOLA is an unraced filly by Soho Lanikai out of the race winning mare Our Chelsea Girl NZ (2.2.4, $45,261) for trainer Michael Stanley. She is related to four winners including Madigan (1.54.5) and Captain Moore (1.54.0) and even though it was a trial of only two runners, she showed some promise. She trailed behind the leader SEGUI LE STELLA, came to the outside at the 300m and was too quick in the straight with the last quarter being run in 28.2 seconds. SEGUI LE STELLA competed at Ballarat on Thursday and did well after trying to lead throughout. He will be backing up again at Melton on Saturday.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.1 Last Half: - 58.1 Margin: - 1m
Trial 3: - PERFIDIOUS SUE was clearly the class runner of the trial and was able to lead throughout to win comfortably. The second placed trotter MET WITH A SHRUG sat in the trail and tried very hard in the straight. Considering MET WITH A SHRUG has only raced once and PERFIDIOUS SUE is the winner of nine races to date he produced a very good performance. IKARA was last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.7 Last Half: - 60.8 Margins: - 2m, 8m
BLACKBOOKER: - Met With A Shrug
KYABRAM 01/06/25
Trial 1: - COTCHINELLIE was clearly the class runner of the trial considering his National Rating of 65 and he was successful. He has only had two starts since January, which has yielded one placing and he is backing up at Melton on Saturday night. The trotter MALHANA MUSCLES, which broke stride at the start at his most recent race track appearance at Kilmore, finished in second with UNION BOSS being last of the three runners throughout. MALHANA MUSCLES will be competing at Echuca on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.5 Last Half: - 61.00 Margins: - 4m, 3m
MILDURA 02/06/25
Trial 1: - The former Queensland pacer ESCOBAR NZ has joined trainer Andrew Vozlic and was able to lead for the majority of the journey to win the opening trial of the evening. He makes his local debut at Mildura this afternoon. SUPER SUSPECT was a very good run in second after she settled last of the four runners, moved to the outside at the quarter pole and was out three horses wide on the home turn. She is also backing up at Mildura today. MY LINE OF FIRE led out then took cover at the 1400m. He came to the outside on the home turn and tried hard in the straight, finishing in third ahead of LIFE ONA HIGHWAY (3 back pegs).
Mile Rate: - 2.4.2 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - 7m, 1.5m
Trial 2: - YOU ARE MY SOUL is an unraced filly by Rock N Roll Heaven for trainer Allan MacDonald. She sat without cover throughout, hit the lead at the 500m mark and dashed well clear at the end to win by a large margin. The time was slow but there was a lot to like about the way she got to the line and she makes her debut at Mildura this afternoon. YOU GIVE ME CHILLS finished in second after trailing the leader throughout. MY ULTIMATE JIMMY NZ settled a clear last early and worked into a distant third. MAJOR TARLZ began quickly to lead but broke stride when being overtaken in the back straight on the final occasion and finished a distant fourth. She is racing at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.5 Last Half: - 60.6 Margins: - 40m, 30m
BENDIGO 02/06/25
Trial 2: - CHENIN BEACH was the only pacer competing in the field of four runners and settled last early. He moved away from the markers with 300m remaining and was able to finish off best to get the prize. ILLAWONG STARDUST finished in second after she was without cover early before pushing forward to find the lead with 1700m remaining. She kicked on well in the straight and was beaten by a narrow margin. She is backing up at Melton tomorrow night. ZAREM settled three back on the markers and was able to gain the position behind the leader with 600m remaining. He waited for the sprint lane and drove through for a close up third. He is backing up at Melton this evening. I DREAM OF MILLIE went quickly with ILLAWONG STARDUST early before taking cover but peaked on her effort at the 600m mark.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.7 Last Half: - 59.6 Margins: - Head, Head
Trial 3: - FRANKYTHEFRENCHMAN began very quickly and was able to find the lead shortly after the start. He kicked well clear before the home turn and was able to sustain the run to win easily. MI BOW was six back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the half mile marker and went back to the inner approaching the home turn. He battled on fairly well for a distant second. WAIKARE ADRIENNA put in the eye-catching performance of the trial. She settled five back on the inside, angled wide on the home turn and finished off strongly. She is by Majestic Son out of the classy mare Waikare Patricia (1.59.9, $149,071) and is related to the two winners Waikare Colleen (2.4.5) and Waikare Maxwell (2.4.3) so she might be worth following.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.8 Last Half: - 61.5 Margins: - 10m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - Waikare Adrienna
Trial 4: - LETSROCKLETSROLL continued his good trial form at Bendigo with a comfortable victory. He settled last of the four runners, pulled hard and came out three horses wide at the 500m mark. She sprinted sharply to quickly get to the lead and was too good in the run to the judge. RESURGENT WARRIOR trailed the leader, came to the outside with 150m remaining and picked up good ground late for second. It was a good form reference for his performance at Mildura this afternoon. The early leader TOORAM CEE CEE finished in third on his way to Echuca on Tuesday night and STAROFTHESHOW (3 back markers, without cover at 500m) was last of the quartet to cross the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Last Half: - 58.5 Margins: - 4m, 1m
BLACKBOOKER: - Resurgent Warrior
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 03/06/25
Trial 2: - There were a lot of moves and changes in the second event but HILLTOP HUGH, a gelding by What The Hill for trainer Chris Lang, was able to come out on top. He was six back on the markers early, moved into the running lane (1-2) and finished off strongly out wide on the track. HILLWINSOME was backing up from his trial victory at Bacchus Marsh on the Saturday and filled second after being five back on the markers early and sprinting to the lead at the 300m mark. TE AMO was in various positions in the run after starting off being without cover, angling onto the markers at the 1800m and moving forward into the death seat again with a half mile remaining. He battled on fairly well for a distant third. RYMES finished fourth after settling seventh on the inside, moving up without cover, pressuring the leader SCAR for some distance and ending up being three back on the markers. Both RYMES and SCAR are competing at Melton this evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.7 Last Half: - 61.1 Margins: - 3.5m, 17.5m
Trial 4: - MUFASA METRO NZ hasn’t started since finishing ninth in the Cranbourne Trotters Cup in February. He began quickly to find the lead, backed off the tempo mid-race and was able to win comfortably enough. COCONUT MICKEY finished in second after leading out then taking cover. She chased hard in the straight and it was a good effort to finish close behind a horse of the caliber of MUFASA METRO NZ. IMPERIAL COMMAND NZ settled four back on the markers and finished a distant third ahead of SHAQ THE ANVIL. OURPETABILT finished fifth after settling five back on the inside. She appeared to be bolting on the home turn with no clear run and she was taking on a classy field so she might be worth following for her new trainer Chris Svanosio.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.1 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - 2.5m, 9m
Trial 5: - The Bathurst Gold Crown place getter SOHO PARK AVENUE produced probably the most impressive trial performance of the week when he demolished his rivals to win by over thirty metres and recorded handy time. He settled three back on the markers, came to the outside at the 600m and powered home his last quarter in 27.4 seconds. GUARANTEED TROUBLE finished second after trailing the leader throughout and MEDINA was third after setting the speed. GUARANTEED TROUBLE is scheduled to compete at Echuca on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.4 Last Half: - 56.2 Margins: - 31m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Soho Park Avenue
Trial 6: - ARCEE PHOENIX has returned from New Zealand in fine fettle and should be in for a good Winter campaign. He was taking on the pacers, settled last of the six runners before moving into the one out and one back trail behind SOHO THE REAL DEAL. He finished off fast in a slick final quarter of 28.0 seconds and was pulling away from his rivals on the line. SOHO THE REAL DEAL finished second after being five then four back on the markers and pushing forward without cover in the back straight on the final occasion. ISOLATION finished in third after attempting to lead throughout and THE VIXEN NZ (trailed leader) did the best of the rest in fourth position. ISOLATION is competing at Warragul on Monday afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.1 Last Half: - 56.8 Margins: - 2.5m, 4.25m
Trial 7: - FRITSCH trailed the leader, stayed out of trouble and used the sprint lane to drive through and get the prize. THE ITALIAN DREAM began quickly to lead and kicked well clear before the home turn but peaked in the straight. He locked wheels with I AM WILMA with 150m remaining but was second past the post. CHICAGO CRAZE came from four back on the markers to pick up third. I AM WILMA settled five back on the markers, moved up without cover at the 900m mark and was going to win the trial before locking wheels with THE ITALIAN DREAM and galloping so she was an unlucky fourth.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.8 Last Half: - 62.0 Margins: - 12m, 6.5m