Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail spotted some standout performers at recent trials.
At Melton, Zara Tindall settled three back on the markers, used the sprint lane and finished strongly for an eye-catching second.
Former Queensland trotter Why Tanya Sue impressed at Terang, finishing just a metre behind a much higher-rated winner in her first run since May’s NSW Oaks.
At Maryborough, Kaiko Jett sustained a long run to win nicely after hitting the front at the 500m mark.
Unraced gelding Jusjohn also caught the eye at Bacchus Marsh with a strong second in fast time.
TRIAL REPORT
KILMORE 07/08/25
Trial 1: - RUMPELSTILTSKIN hasn’t raced since a ninth back in March but he did win two races during his last preparation of racing. He was able to finish off in a slick final quarter of 28.9 seconds to win the opening trial over MOMENTUM SHIFT with SHALLOW BEACH finishing in third position. MOMENTUM SHIFT finished fifth and SHALLOW BEACH was eighth in their performances at Kilmore on Thursday night. HIGHVIEW HAMMER finished last of the four runners but wasn’t beaten by far. He will be backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.2 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - Head, 4m
Trial 3: - BRONSKI ROYAL hadn’t raced since December prior to competing in his trial victory. He was suited by an even tempo being set throughout and was able to take out the trial by two metres over ABERDENE. The Julie Mifsud trained pacers HOWSWEETTHESOUND and NIGHT TIME GLORY finished third and fourth respectively. BRONSKI ROYAL backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night with a third placed effort.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.6 Last Half: - 60.1 Margins: - 2m, 4m
Trial 5: - MAJORS CREEK has been freshened since a sixth at Shepparton in June and recorded a runaway victory in her trial performance. She has a low National Rating of 46 so she can be well placed in the near future. She did back up with a victory at Kilmore on Thursday night. MISSLOLA has only raced once since September and that effort was in early June. She finished ahead of THE MAJORS GIRL with the unraced filly NO QUALMS running a distant fourth. MISSLOLA and THE MAJORS GIRL both backed up at Kilmore on Thursday night and finished unplaced.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.0 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 20m, 5m
SHEPPARTON 07/08/25
Trial 1: - CHIRRIPO won the Heidi George Classic last season and hasn’t raced since January. She settled three back on the inside and moved away from the markers at the 400m before sprinting home best to defeat RONNIE THE HAMMER by a narrow margin. RONNIE THE HAMMER was four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail behind CHIRRIPO and came out three horses wide on the home turn, finishing off nicely at the end. He is backing up at Wagga this afternoon. HEZASWEETIE was the third horse across the line after settling last of the five runners early. He is resuming from a break at Melton tomorrow night. MONGIANA was the fourth horse to the line after trailing the leader throughout in a quality trial to commence proceedings.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.9 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - Neck, 5m
Trial 3: - EZRA KAI competed in the New South Wales Derby in May and is a handy 3yo trotter when racing at his peak. He began quickly to find the lead and was able to defeat the promising juvenile HAMMER despite hanging away from the markers with 300m remaining. HAMMER put in another handy trial performance after trailing the leader, gaining an inside run and going to the line with something in reserve. WIND CHASER was last of the three runners across the line after trying to commence a forward move from the 600m mark.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.0 Last Half: - 59.7 Margins: - ½ Head, 1m
Trial 5: - BYRNESIDE BOOM broke stride and was stood down to trial at his latest performance on July 15. He was able to record handy time in his trial victory over JACKSBOY after making several moves in the event. He settled three back on the inside, circled around to find the lead at the 1400m, took cover at the 1100m and came away from the inside again at the 500m. He is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. JACKSBOY settled five back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail in the back straight and was doing his best work at the end. GEE YOUNG led out then took cover and circled around to lead again at the 1100m mark. He was third across the line with AFTER THE CHASE being in fourth position after gaining a soft run on the markers and being behind the leader from the quarter pole. He is competing at Wagga this afternoon. GEE YOUNG followed with a fifth placed effort at Kilmore on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 3m, 1m
BACCHUS MARSH 09/08/25
Trial 1: - GUARANTEED TROUBLE is yet to be placed in seven starts to date but he recorded handy time in his comfortable trial victory to commence proceedings. He is racing at Ararat on Monday night. HIGHLAND HOME is an unraced gelding by Ride High for trainer Michael Burns, which finished in second position. SWEET LADY LOU finished in third spot and was well ahead of the fourth placed STORM CRUSHER.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.3 Last Half: - 59.4 Margins: - 4m, 4m
Trial 2: - YNOBE NOVA hasn’t started since competing in the Homegrown Classic in December. He finished off in reasonable final sectionals to win the trial over the former Queensland pacer YELLA. YELLA is making his Victorian debut at Geelong on Friday night. BREATHE EASY was a further two lengths away in third position with FLYING SPARKS being last of the four runners across the line. FLYING SPARKS is racing at Cranbourne on Sunday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.6 Last Half: - 58.1 Margins: - Head, 6m
Trial 4: - The classy filly PROHIBITED GRACE was able to defeat a handy field in the fourth event. She is yet to win in five starts this term but she did win the Breeders Crown last season. ROCKY VALLEY finished in second position and was nicely ahead of MONT SALLY with PERFECT PEAK being a further ten metres away in fourth position. PERFECT PEAK followed with an eighth placed effort behind Macho Maori at Kilmore on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.8 Last Half: - 59.5 Margins: - 3m, 4m
Trial 5: - GOODTIME CAPTAIN was a winner in handy time at Bendigo in May and produced another tidy performance at the trials with a victory in a strong mile rate of 1.58.8. He is competing at Ararat on Monday night. JUSJOHN is an unraced gelding by Bling It On for trainer Andrew Rawlings, which did a good job to finish second in fast time. He defeated the remainder of the field headed by HAVEACHAT by a large margin. SENTIMENTAL VALUE was the fourth horse across the line and is making her debut at Geelong this evening.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Last Half: - 58.9 Margins: - 10m, 25m
BLACKBOOKER: - Jusjohn
Trial 6: - WOTDIDUSAAAY hasn’t raced since a second at Ballarat in mid-June. He finished off in slick final sectionals to win the trial over SHADOW CELT, which was placed in the Wedderburn Cup earlier in the season. TALLULAH LEE has returned to trainer Ian Slater after a stint in New South Wales and was the third horse across the line with IMA TERMINATOR being last of the four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.3 Last Half: - 57.7 Margins: - 4m, 2.5m
MARYBOROUGH 10/08/25
Trial 1: - WISH UPONA DREAM trailed the leader and used the sprint lane. She accelerated nicely to get up and win on the line. CENTURION DREAM attempted to lead throughout and finished in second. He is resuming from a spell at Geelong this evening. TICTOK was slow to begin and was a clear last early. She was able to catch up at the 1700m mark and moved to the outside with 600m remaining. She was still a chance on the home turn but broke stride and lost valuable ground. She backed up with a fourth placed effort at Kilmore on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.9 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - Head, 30m
Trial 3: - KAIKO JETT is a nicely bred filly for trainer Rod Carberry and recorded handy time in her trial victory. She is by Poster Boy out of Bou Chard (1.54.2, $66,670), whose first foal is Sportsbou (1.55.2, $20,065). She trailed the leader, moved to the outside with 800m remaining and hit the front at the 500m mark, sustaining the run to win nicely. ROCKNMETRO attempted to lead throughout and kicked on well for second. GOOD HEAVENS settled three back on the markers and worked home well via the sprint lane.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.3 Last Half: - 56.0 Margins: - 1m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - Kaiko Jett
Trial 4: - BLACKRANGE GLORY continued his very good trial form with a comfortable victory. He raced without cover early, pushed forward to find the lead at the 1300m and ran along at a genuine tempo. ALDEBARAN TUCKER led early then took cover at the 1300m mark. He raced keenly throughout then held his own over the later stages. He is resuming at Melton tomorrow night. PLEASANT SURPRISE settled four back on the markers and finished a distant third ahead of THELMABELLA (3 back markers). MET WITH A SHRUG was slow out and was a clear last early. She finished off quickly and was fifth across the line but would have been third in another stride or two.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Last Half: - 58.1 Margins: - 5m, 20m
Trial 5: - CURYO GENTLEMAN settled five back on the markers, came to the outside at the 1700m and sprinted quickly to lead at the 1600m. He was still able to finish off in a slick final half 56.4 so he sprinted twice in the run and recorded an impressive victory. BLUE MIKI led out then took cover at the 1600m mark. She finished a distant second with GLENLINE (3 back markers) being the third horse across the line. BLUE MIKI is resuming at Geelong this evening.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.9 Last Half: - 56.4 Margins: - 20m, 5m
CRANBORUNE 10/08/25
Trial 2: - STEEL RULER suffered atrial fibrillation and was stood down to trial at his latest Ararat performance in May. He recorded a handy mile rate of 1.58.8 in winning the trial and the last half was run in a slick 57.1 seconds so he has obviously bounced back to his peak form. He returns to the race track at Geelong this evening. COVERED IN GOLD is a nicely bred gelding that was placed at his debut. He finished a close second with RIVER STORM finishing in a distant third. COVERED IN GOLD followed with a fifth placed effort at Kilmore on Thursday night.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Last Half: - 57.1 Margins: - Neck, 9m
TERANG 12/08/25
Trial 1: - IMPERIAL MONARCH NZ broke stride on the home turn at his latest racetrack appearance when competing at Metropolitan level. He was able to bounce back with a victory in reasonable time over the former Queensland trotter WHY TANYA SUE, which hasn’t raced since finishing unplaced in the New South Wales Oaks back in May. She was only beaten by a metre with the winner having a National Rating that is 42 points higher so she produced a good performance. PRETTY BASIC finished third ahead of the Kelly Stuart-Mitchell trained duo CLAUDY AN GUS and SIX NATIONS.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.6 Last Half: - 58.5 Margins: - 1m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Why Tanya Sue
Trial 4: - MOONLIGHT MOTH is an unraced colt by Ride High out of Macy Lila (1.58.6, $38,375), which makes him related to Major Moth (1.52.8, $399,349) and Outback Queenie (1.58.7, $49,387). He finished off in a quick final quarter of 28.3 seconds and was able to score by a comfortable margin so he obviously has ability. HAVADASH JOH finished in second and was well ahead of JILLIBY KYMY LOU with the Matthew Craven trained pacers CARAPAZ and TRIP TO PARIS finishing fourth and fifth respectively. JILLIBY KYMY LOU is racing at Ararat on Monday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.2 Last Half: - 58.1 Margins: - 4m, 10m
Trial 5: - BROWNIESATMIDNIGHT finished off in a sizzling final quarter of 27.5 seconds to win easily. He has a National Rating of 67 and he defeated horses with a much higher rating so he produced a tidy performance. ISTHISJUSTFANTASY finished in second position and is backing up at Melton on Saturday night. CODE BAILEY NZ hasn’t started since finishing unplaced in the Terang Cup in February and was the third horse across the line. VINEY was the most loosely assessed horse in the trial and finished in fourth.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - 6m, 2m
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 12/08/25
Trial 1: - DAVOLAS LEGACY NZ pushed forward to race without cover before finding the top. She took cover at the 1400m and enjoyed a nice trip before coming to the outside at the 300m mark. She sprinted sharply at the end and was able to record a good victory. GOODTIME MACH progressed forward to find the front in the back straight on the first occasion and went down fighting in second place. HEY GIGI settled five back on the markers, moved to the outside at the half mile marker and finished a distant third.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.2 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 1.75m, 61.25m
Trial 3: - ROCKNROLL WILLOW is an unraced filly for trainer Courtney Slater, which led throughout and recorded handy time. She makes her debut at Ararat on Monday night. KING KASEY settled five back on the markers and moved into the death seat with a half mile remaining. He battled on well for second and is also backing up at Ararat on Monday. MATRIARCH DAISY was the third horse across the line after leading out then taking cover and using the sprint lane. PRE EMINANT settled three back on the markers and made ground through the middle to finish in fourth.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.7 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - 4.25, neck
Trial 4: - CALL ME JACK settled four back on the markers, moved to the death seat at the quarter pole and sustained a strong run to win nicely. PREFERRED LOVE finished in second after attempting to lead throughout and seemingly having plenty in reserve. She is competing at Cranbourne on Sunday night. I AM HELLBOUND finished third after trailing the leader throughout and MUSKEE was fourth from his position of being three back on the markers.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.8 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 1.5m, 6.25m
Trial 5: - FREIGHT SHAKER settled three back on the markers, moved to the death seat at the 800m mark, hit the front at the quarter pole and was able to win hard held. He is competing at Cranbourne on Sunday night. ALDEBARAN SUSANNE broke stride at the start, chased hard and tacked on at the 1500m. She was last of the five runners, moved into the one out and one back trail with 500m remaining and did a very good job to finish in second position. CHARLIES TACTICS settled four back on the markers, came out three horses wide on the turn and worked into third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.0 Last Half: - 58.5 Margins: - 15m, head
Trial 6: - GOODTIME LIBBY was able to lead throughout and finished off in a slick final half of 56.3 seconds to hold on and win the trial. She is racing at Ararat on Monday night. ZARA TINDALL NZ settled three back on the markers, used the sprint lane and ran home strongly for an eye-catching second. SERGEANT LOU was four back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 500m and battled on well for third.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.3 Last Half: - 56.3 Margins: - 1.5m, 2.75m
BLACKBOOKER: - Zara Tindall NZ