Gillieston trainer Wayne Hayes hasn't had a winner since July 2020, but his drought might soon come to an end thanks to an unraced daughter of Courage Under Fire.
Bay mare Roam continues to show promise at the trials and Craig Rail added her to his Blackbook after an impressive hit-out at Shepparton on May 10.
She was one of four new Blackbookers this week, with unraced trotter Aldebaran Buddy (Geoff Webster) added in alongside pacers Sunshine Warrior (Alex Ashwood) and Aureus (Jess Tubbs).
Scroll down for the wrap and updated Blackbook at the bottom of the page.
SHEPPARTON 05/05/22
Trial 1: - LIBERTY CREST showed some promise with a runaway victory over LORD BANFF. He trailed the leader, came to the outside and completely dominated in the home straight. He made his debut at Kilmore on Wednesday night and unfortunately galloped away but he does appear to be a capable type.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.0 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 15m, ½ Head
Trial 2: - YOEE prepared for his effort at Cobram on Thursday with a victory over KALARNEY PRINCE. He showed very good gate speed to lead clearly with KALARNEY PRINCE trailing then powered away in the straight to win with something in reserve. He unfortunately made an error in the early stages and lost his winning chance at Cobram.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.4 Last Half: - 62.1 Margins: - 8m, 6m
WARRAGUL 07/05/22
Trials 1 & 2 were both won by reinsman Glenn Hunter. SOVEREIGN TIGER settled last of the three runners and dashed away with the opening trial and DEFT TOUCH produced a similar performance in the final event after being given plenty of time to settle down in the early stages. Both horses are scheduled to compete at the Cranbourne meeting on Sunday.
MOOROOPNA 08/05/22
Trials 1 & 2 were both won by trainer and driver Ros Rolfe, whom used the events as a springboard to the Cobram meeting on Thursday afternoon. DALLAS PATRICK won the opening trial by a metre over MYNAMESGRAHAM and DALLAS MIKI defeated BLACK CAT CLAW by a large margin in trial two. Both horses missed a place at Cobram but are showing enough ability to suggest they can win races.
BENDIGO 08/05/22
Trial 2: - MISSED THE TRUTH finished fourth in the Mildura Guineas behind his stable mate PAS GUARANTEE when resuming but was able to gain his revenge at the trials. He pushed forward to find the lead with PAS GUARANTEE being in the trail. PAS GUARANTEE loomed up to win in the straight but MISSED THE TRUTH fought back strongly when challenged and was able to get the prize. It should be a good form trial with DIRECT COMMAND NZ being untouched to the line in third with SHAZZAS HIGHLIGHT doing her best work from five back on the markers to finish fourth. MISSED THE TRUTH and PAS GUARANTEE are both very good chances at Mildura this evening, DIRECT COMMAND NZ makes his debut at Swan Hill on Tuesday night, and SHAZZAS HIGHLIGHT finished third at Cobram on Thursday.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.4 Last Half: - 57.1 Margins: - Head, 8m
Trial 3: - SUNSHINE WARRIOR has joined trainer Alex Ashwood and recorded an impressive trial victory over GUARANTEED SECRET. He settled three back on the inside, moved away from the markers at the 400m and finished swiftly to score. The form line will be a lot stronger if GUARANTEED SECRET is able to win at Maryborough this afternoon, which is a definite possibility considering she has had two trial victories then followed with her latest trial second leading up today’s assignment. SUNSHINE WARRIOR should prove hard to beat at Swan Hill on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.1 Last Half: - 58.8 Margins: - 4m, 20m
BLACKBOOKER: - Sunshine Warrior
Trial 4: - TAY TAY was able to show strong improvement from her previous trial a week earlier to take out the fourth event comfortably so she appears to be very hard to beat at Melton tomorrow night. She fired to the lead and was always in control, running away to win by a comfortable margin. TALENT AGENT trailed behind his stable mate throughout and did a good job to hold out the late challenge of BOXOFCHOCOLATES (3 back markers) to finish in second spot.
Mile Rate: - 1.56.8 Last Half: - 56.0 Margins: - 9m, Nose
HORSHAM 09/05/22
Trial 2: - Trainer Aaron Dunn produced four unraced juveniles in the second event with LITTLE LOUIE defeating YOU BEAUTY and NEATNTIDY with HOT ROCKS being in fourth. The first three horses LITTLE LOUIE (Sweet Lou – Little Lyn (1.56.8, $84,390)), YOU BEAUTY (Sportswriter – Shadow Scooter (1.58.7, $13,120)) and NEATNTIDY (A Rocknroll Dance – The Waratah 1.57.9, $40,861) are all making their debut at Swan Hill on Tuesday night. The only horse competing in the trial that wasn’t prepared by Aaron Dunn was ALWAYS TORQUE TOME (Always B Miki – Torque Attraction (1.58.7, $35,432) and he was the last one to complete the course but wasn’t beaten by far.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.8 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - 2m, 2.5m
TABCORP PARK, MELTON 10/05/22
Trial 1: - ROCKINWITHATTITUDE is a juvenile trotter with David Miles and was able to defeat several experienced rivals under the standing start conditions so it was a tidy performance. He was able to lead all of the way to defeat PETITE LOVE, which trailed the leader and HESALLMUSCLE finished third after breaking stride on the first turn.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.0 Last Half: - 60.42 Margins: - 5.5m, 49m
Trial 2: - ULTIMATE STRIDE NZ commenced from the handicap of 20m but he began like a rocket and led shortly after the start. He won by a large margin and a similar brilliant beginning will put him in with a big chance at Melton tomorrow evening.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.3 Last Half: - 59.05 Margin: - 38.5m, 97.5m
Trial 3: - AUREUS was one of the horses that was checked at the 700m in the trial won by Major Celebrity a week earlier and took advantage of a more economical run in behind the leader to win her trial comfortably. She finished fifth in the Pink Bonnet at her latest attempt and is worth following in Victoria. NANCY KAY finished second after setting the speed and ROADMASTER finished in third from three back on the inside so it was a finish dominated by those horses following the markers. Considering the pattern of the trial, LOUIE LOU I did well to come from seventh and pick up fourth position.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.8 Last Half: - 57.36 Margins: - 7.5m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Aureus
Trial 4: - The open class trial was won by TRIPLE EIGHT NZ after he progressed forward to find the lead from the 1400m. He dashed home in a sizzling final quarter of 26.53 seconds to win clearly. BETTER ECLIPSE settled four back on the markers, came out three horses wide on the home turn and made ground without being pushed so it was another excellent run.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.5 Last Half: - 55.68 Margins: - 5.5m, 2.5m
Trial 5: - ALDEBARAN BUDDY was able to lead throughout and appeared to be a likely winner of the future. He scored by nearly 25m and appeared to be jogging throughout. He is by Aldebaran Eagle out of Sundon’s Babe, an unraced daughter of the great mare Merinai NZ (2.0.8, $243,255), which won 19 of her 24 starts! He defeated the 3yo trotter ALDEBARAN DEMI, with the Chris Lang prepared juveniles SALUTE STRIDE NZ and TRIUMPH STRIDE NZ finishing third and fourth respectively.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.1 Last Half: - 62.38 Margins: - 24.5m, ½ head
BLACKBOOKER: - Aldebaran Buddy
Trial 8: - SOLESSEO MATUCA has returned after a handy trip to New South Wales where he finished third in a heat of the NSW Derby then fourth in the Final. He settled four back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail and finished strongly to defeat the early leader DOUBTLESS BAY NZ with ITS EBONYNIVORY being third after making a move from behind the leader at the 600m mark.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.5 Last Half: - 56.58 Margins: - Head, Neck
Trial 9: - OLLIVICI NZ continued his impressive trial form with a strong win against the pacers. He broke stride in the score up, missed away by approximately 10m and settled in fifth position. He pushed forward to race without cover at the 1300m and drew clear in reasonable time. THEULTIMATE finished second after setting the speed and LALIBELA was third after settling down last of the six runners. LALIBELA produced a good effort and is backing up at Cranbourne on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.7 Last Half: - 58.47 Margins: - 6.5m, 3.5m
SHEPPARTON 10/05/22
Trial 3: - LASTING BOND produced a brilliant finishing burst from three on the markers to gun down the early leader BUNDLE OF NOTES with LADY PEBBLES finishing off strongly for third position. LASTING BOND has been promising a win for some time and should be competitive when he next steps out onto the track.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Last Half: - 59.2 Margins: - 3m, 5m
Trial 5: - LOST FOUR WORDS began sharply and pushed forward to find the lead going around the first bend. He set up a reasonable tempo and ran away from his rivals to win nicely. EL BOSTON dropped back to sixth early, moved up without cover at the 800m and wanted to race very fiercely. He was able to find the one out and one back trail with 500m remaining and worked into second late. HARRY OVENS came from five back on the pegs to finish third with SHOSHONE BRAVE being in fourth after coming from last at the bell.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.7 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - 10m, Neck
Trial 6: - ROAM is showing a lot of promise for trainer Wayne Keyes and might be worth following in the near future. He trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 700m and raced greenly but was able to get away near the line to win with something to spare. TREACHEROUS LASS settled last of the four runners and went through to trail the leader on the home turn before working through along the sprint lane for second.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.5 Last Half: - 57.9 Margins: - 5m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - Roam
