Craig Rail is keen on the prospects of two first-starters at Cranbourne on Sunday after standout trial performances earlier this week.
Rail spied the Wayne Ronan-trained Topsies Bling at Maryborough and Chris Svanosio’s Delightful Charm at Melton, and quickly added them to his Blackbook ahead of their debuts this weekend.
Others to make the list of horses to follow were Aetos Dynamis (Trish McVeigh), Our Ultimate Gracy (Kate Hargreaves) and Wind Sock (Ian Livermore), who will go around at Albury on Tuesday.
TRIAL REPORT
HAMILTON 22/09/23
Trial 2: - CASE FORTY EIGHT is an unraced gelding by Huntsville out of the race winning mare Case Forty Seven (1.58.0). He was able to win his trial by just over a length in preparation for his debut performance at Horsham this afternoon. METRO BLISS is also ready to make her debut at Horsham this afternoon. The daughter of Betting Line is prepared by Matthew Craven and finished second ahead of SEA WARRIOR, which has had one placed effort in five starts to date.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.3 Last Half: - 59.7 Margins: - 3.5m, 2m
BACCHUS MARSH 23/09/23
Trial 1: - IM JOLLYGOOD hasn’t raced since a fifth at Kilmore in February but he was able to record the fastest time of the morning in defeating OUTMAZING NZ, which has only had two starts since coming across from New Zealand. TUAKANA NZ finished a good distance away in third position with the unraced gelding by A Rocknroll Dance MY ROCK MOVES finishing in fourth position. The winner IM JOLLYGOOD is competing at Cranbourne on Sunday afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 59.9 Margins: - 3m, 15m
Trial 4: - SPORTS EQUITY is a juvenile filly by Sportswriter, which made her debut at Melton on September 08, finishing fourth behind Nathan Street. She recorded the biggest winning margin of the four trials in her runaway success over LOU EASYANA, which is a Glenn Williams trained filly by Sweet Lou out of the handy mare I’m Smouldering (1.55.3, $327,967). PIPKEN finished in third position for trainer Tim McGuigan. She is by Betting Line out of the fast New Zealand bred mare Marrissima NZ (1.55.1, $80,166).
Mile Rate: - 2.4.3 Last Half: - 60.0 Margins: - 20m, 2.5m
MARYBOROUGH 24/09/23
Trial 1: - TOPSIES BLING is an unraced filly by Bling It On out of the speedy mare Bettor Downunder (1.53.2, $134,067) and appears to have some ability. She settled last of the three runners, angled wide on the home turn and sprinted quickly at the end. She appears to be a winning chance at Cranbourne on Sunday afternoon. The open class trotter THE PENNY DROPS ran a game fourth in the Maryborough Cup last outing and should be getting fitter with every start. He trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 700m, went quickly in the back straight and battled on fairly well at the finish. He is backing up in the Kilmore Trotters Cup over the staying distance of 3150m this evening. DOUBLE THE HUNTER was third past the post after setting the speed. He is backing up at Horsham this afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.1 Last Half: - Not given (last mile 1.59.0) Margins: - Not Given
BLACKBOOKER: - Topsies Bling
Trial 2: - MOOWALKA is a tough gelding, which finished fifth in the Super Series Final after galloping away at his latest attempt. He is likely to be preparing for the Victoria Trotters Derby during the Redwood Carnival after a sixth in the New South Wales Derby earlier in the season. He led throughout to win the trial nicely. AETOS DYNAMIS is a gelding by Skyvalley out of the race winning mare Miss Fisher (2.1.6, $26,552). He trailed the leader but did well to finish as close as he did with STELLAR STRUT (3 back markers) being a large distance away in third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - 3m, 25m
BLACKBOOKER: - Aetos Dynamis
Trial 6: - Trainer Damien Burns had two yearlings roll around in the sixth event. The winner HESISTATE is by Sportswriter out of Village Tango (1.56.9, $19,919), a race winning daughter of Village Jasper. HESITATE is the second foal out of the dam with the first being Mon Soleil (2.0.5). He took the trail early, came to the outside on the home turn and was under a hard hold at the finish. STORMY WOODS finished second in the trial and did well in a trial effort several weeks earlier when taking on older horses. He is by The Storm Inside out of Amberlu Hanover, a descendent of champion sire Holmes Hanover, which had two starts in Tasmania in 2014. He was run down in the straight but wasn’t fully extended.
Mile Rate: - 2.9.2 Last Half: - 60.5 Margin: - 1m
SHEPPARTON 26/09/23
Trial 1: - SERG BLANCO NZ hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Blacks A Fake FFA in June. He worked to the front early, took cover behind WESTERN SONADOR and proved to be too quick for that pacer in the run to the finish. WESTERN SONADOR held down second with the National Ratings 50 assessed pacer FOLLOWTHEACE coming from six back on the markers and finished fast for a cracking third. FRANCO NOVELIST settled last of the seven runners, moved into the death seat at the bell and finished fourth in what was a very strong trial.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 56.0 Margins: - 3m, 8m
Trial 3: - KICKER ROCK began quickly to lead, took cover at the 1700m then circled around to find the front again at the bell. He always appeared to be in control and won by a comfortable margin. LENNYS ANGEL settled down last of the six runners and produced a big finish for an eye-catching second. OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS worked forward to find the lead early then took cover behind KICKER ROCK at the bell and finished in third.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - 8m, 1m
Trial 4: - OUR ULTIMATE GRACY NZ is a New Zealand bred pacer, which had several trials in New South Wales before joining trainer Kate Hargreaves. She delivered the most impressive trial victory of the week after leading throughout and dashing well clear of her rivals to win by a large margin. MISS COLLANN settled four back on the markers and made some ground late for second with MY UPTOWN GIRL being in third after settling three back on the markers.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.0 Last Half: - 56.5 Margins: - 40m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - Our Ultimate Gracy NZ
Trial 5: - WINDSOCK hasn’t raced since contesting a heat of the New South Wales Breeders Challenge in 2022. He appeared to be very sharp in his trial victory, where he raced without cover early, progressed forward to find the lead and ran along at a rapid rate, winning by a large margin. FELLINI also shows the ability to win races and chased valiantly after angling in behind the leader from the 1700m mark. She beat the third placed LETSGO BIG GIRL (lead, trailed leader, third pegs 1700m) by thirty-five metres.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.8 Last Half: - 57.2 Margins: - 15m, 35m
BLACKBOOKER: - WIndsock
Trial 6: - BIG BAD OSSIE pushed forward to find the lead, enjoyed a good run mid-race and sprinted home in a slick last half and quarter to win under a strong hold. SUGARPOVA NZ finished in second after settling three back on the markers and moving through to trail the leader at the quarter pole. She never peeled off the back of BIG BAD OSSIE at any stage and went to the line with something in reserve. ELECTRIC EYE settled four back on the markers and finished third ahead of the two trotters YANKEE LOVER, which broke stride at the bell and SHEZA PLEASURE, which also made an error on the home turn.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.4 Last Half: - 57.8 Margins: - 8m, 12m
MELTON 26/09/23
Trial 1: - DELIGHTFUL CHARM prepared for her debut performance at Cranbourne on Sunday with a runaway trial success. She showed good gate speed to lead and finished off in a sizzling final quarter of 27.04 seconds so she must be considered as a winning chance on the weekend. KARTIARE settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 300m mark and battled on well for second with HE HAD BETTER BE being the third horse across the line after he was three back on the markers for the majority of the trial.
Mile Rate: - 1.59.0 Last Half: - 56.91 Margins: - 15m, 7m
BLACKBOOKER: - Delightful Charm
Trial 3: - PLATINUM JIVE NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which has joined trainer Vic Pace. She was without cover early before progressing forward to find the lead then she ran along at a genuine tempo. She recorded fast time in her success over CRIMES OF A LADY, which led out then took cover and used the sprint lane. Both horses will meet again at Bendigo on Tuesday night, where CRIMES OF A LADY will possibly find the lead and PLATINUM JIVE NZ is very awkwardly positioned on the inside of the second row. PABLO ROCKS settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 700m and battled on well for third. He strikes a suitable line up at Maryborough on Monday so the form out of this trial should be very strong. LADY MIKI finished a close up fourth after she settled five back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 700m and battled on fairly well at the finish.
Mile Rate: - 1.55.7 Last Half: - 55.5 Margins: - 4.5m, Neck
Trial 4: - EMMWALLEN was performing well at the trials prior to a debut victory and he kept the momentum rolling with another impressive success. He began quickly, progressed forward to find the lead and won by a large margin. EXALTED LADY NZ began quickly to lead, took cover shortly afterwards and battled on for a distant second. She is making her debut at Maryborough on Monday but has drawn awkwardly. PREFERRED LOVE was without cover early, restrained to be fifth on the markers and moved into the running lane at the 700m (1-2). She produced a big finale out wide on the track and finished in third place.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.2 Last half: - 59.40 Margins: - 12m, 1.5m
Trial 6: - ZENITH STRIDE USA began quickly to find the lead and finished off in slick final sectionals to win easily. SHAQ THE ANVIL settled three back on the markers, moved away from the inside on the home turn and finished off well for second. MADENA SKY led out then took cover and finished third. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY NZ settled five back on the markers, gave the leaders a big start and did well to pick up ground in very quick final sectionals and ended up in fourth.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.24 Last Half: - 57.42 Margins: - 11m, 1.5m
Trial 7: - HARRY STAMPER NZ took out the trial for open class trotters after he led out then took cover behind OFORTUNA. He trailed the leader and came to outside from the 500m, sustaining a good run to get the prize. OFORTUNA battled on well for second after setting the speed and HATCHBACK finished fast from last of the five runners to be third across the line.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.66 Last Half: - 57.37 Margins: - 7.5m, 3m
Trial 8: - CATCH A WAVE parked without cover early, restrained to fourth on the markers then moved to the outside with 600m remaining. He recorded sensational final sectionals, including a last quarter of 25.82 seconds to win the trial comfortably. MIRAKURU finished second after setting the speed and FYNN FROST NZ was third across the line after a slow getaway.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.77 Last Half: - 54.55 Margins: - 6.5m, 7m
