Three unraced youngsters have slotted into Craig Rail’s Blackbook after impressive trial performances across the last week.
Jack MacKinnon owned-and-trained Jack Sprat is by former top race mare Une Belle Allure and caught the eye at Maryborough last Saturday, while Bella Danza finished off hard at Bendigo on Monday and looks a promising type for Alex Ashwood.
The other trial horse to follow is Jess Tubbs’ Fighter Command, who showed good ability with a huge victory over his rivals at Melton on Tuesday.
All three horses have been added to Rail’s Blackbook, which can be found below this week’s Victorian trial report.
MARYBOROUGH 02/09/23
Trial 1: - ABSOLUTION is a former South Australian pacer, which is now with trainer Zac Steenhuis. He led throughout to defeat CARRAMAR SOLOMONA in a field of two horses then backed up to win at Geelong on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.6 Last Half: - Not given Margins: - Not Given
Trial 4: - MY HIGH PEAK progressed forward to find the lead, copped some pressure mid-race and remained strong at the finish to win by a large margin. JUNGLE SPIDER was three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 1800m, pressured the leader then gained enough room to sit in the trail from the 1600m. He battled into a distant second with the unraced juvenile trotter JACK SPRAT being in third. JACK SPRAT is by Muscle Mass out of the former top mare Une Bella Allure and he made up a lot of ground from a distant fifth so he showed some ability. MY HIGH PEAK backed up at Bendigo on Thursday night and finished in second behind The Chook whereas JUNGLE SPIDER struck trouble in the same event.
Mile Rate: - 2.5.1 Last Half: - 61.4 Margins: - 20m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - Jack Sprat
KYABRAM 03/09/23
Trial 1: - DANGER PLAY galloped away and was stood down to trial in a heat of the Super Series last outing. She was able to win the trial over OUR LUCIANO, which also broke stride at the start in a heat of the Super Series last week. Both horses have a lot of ability but DANGER PLAY is taking on quite a strong field tonight at Melton.
Mile Rate: - 2.12.2 Last Half: - 63.0 Margins: - Head, 3m
TERANG 03/09/23
Trial 1: - KEAYANG TWEETYBIRD began quickly to lead but hung out badly on the first turn. She ended up being three back on the markers before moving to the outside at the 500m mark then produced a strong finish to win the trial. DRESSEDUPINTHECITY was in the trail before gaining the lead when KEAYANG TWEETYBIRD raced greenly on the first bend. She finished second ahead of THE FIERY SUNSET, which trailed the leader for the majority of the trip.
Mile Rate: - 2.13.8 Last Half: - 61.4 Margins: - 20m, 20m
Trial 3: - JOELITA has done a good job since returning from a long spell and continued her good form with a comfortable trial victory, where she led throughout and recorded a last quarter of 28.6 seconds. She is taking on a very strong field at Melton tomorrow night. KEAYANG IGNITE produced a game effort to be in second after trailing the leader and coming away from the markers on the home turn. He chased hard, despite racing roughly and he didn’t shirk the task in fast final sectionals. He is an undefeated trotter that hasn’t raced since December 2019 but returns from a spell at Melton tomorrow night. JILLIBY RHYTHM was out of position at the start and was last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.7 Last Half: - 58.3 Margins: - 2m, 3m
Trial 4: - EASTBRO JESSE began quickly to lead and went to the line with plenty in reserve to win easily. He is competing at Kilmore on Sunday and must be considered as a winning chance, despite drawing poorly. NAI HARN BARY sat in the trail throughout and finished second with KEAYANG FROGGY coming from last of the four runners to pick up third position. KEAYANG FROGGY is also racing at Kilmore on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - 6m, 1m
CRANBOURNE 03/09/23
Trial 2: - WILD CARD NZ hasn’t raced since February but appeared to be very sharp in winning the final trial. Admittedly he was clearly the class runner of the field on the National Ratings scale but he was able to lead throughout and score untouched. He returns from a spell at Kilmore on Sunday. DEFT TOUCH finished in second after settling three back on the markers and the unraced 3yo pacer MIDNIGHT PIRATE didn’t run a bad race after coming from last and making ground in the straight.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.4 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - 11m, 5m
MILDURA 04/09/23
Trial 2: - PIRATESOF ZANZIBAR prepared for today’s assignment with a strong victory over MODERN GINGER. He led early, took cover in the back straight on the first occasion and circled around the field to lead again at the 1200m mark. He was strong at the finish with MODERN GINGER being two metres astern after working to the front then taking cover. The former Queensland pacer JUSTUNDERTHELIMIT ended up being three back on the markers before moving up without cover at the bell. He finished a distant third and will make his Mildura debut this afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.6 Last Half: - 59.1 Margins: - 2m, 30m
Trial 3: - SOCIAL WRITER is a newcomer to the Andrew Vozlic stable and prepared for his performance at Mildura this afternoon with an easy victory. He led throughout to defeat AUCKLAND LASS, which was three back on the markers before moving into the death seat at the 1300m. UPTONGIRL trailed the leader throughout and broke stride at the 500m, losing all chance. All three of the runners in this trial will be competing this afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.5 Last Half: - 60.7 Margins: - 9m, Distanced
Trial 5: - NELSON BAY is an unraced juvenile, which is scheduled to make his debut at Mildura this afternoon. He is by Sweet Lou out of Western Jazz, an unraced daughter of the top mare Jazzam. He recorded slow time but he extended really nicely from behind the leader in the straight so he looks to have a lot of ability. OUTA CONTROL finished second after settling three back on the markers and FOXY TWO GLOVES broke momentarily at the start but was able to find the lead and held down third spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.6 Last Half: - 60.9 Margins: - 18m, 20m
BENDIGO 04/09/23
Trial 1: - ZAREM is a very fast trotter and appeared to be well placed in the trial considering his National Rating of 74. He trailed the leader, came away from the inside on the home turn and sprinted away to win easily. He appears to be a strong winning chance at Kilmore on Sunday. ITS DIAMOND CREEK stepped away nicely from the standing start to lead and finished second while BENNY THE GUN was last of the three runners throughout but met a handy pair of trotters. ITS DIAMOND CREEK and BENNY THE GUN are both competing at Shepparton on Tuesday.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.5 Last Half: - 60.3 Margins: - 20m, 8m
Trial 2: - BEEJAYS STAR was able to gain some confidence leading up to her performance at Mildura this afternoon with a victory over PETE MITCHELL. She settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 600m and kicked on well in the run to the finish. PETE MITCHELL settled four back on the markers and picked up ground with the early leader JERSEY SAM being third past the post.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.0 Last Half: - 59.0 Margins: - 4m, 1m
Trial 4: - OUR LUCIANO was backing up from the Kyabram trials on the weekend with trainer Keith Cotchin trying to get the gelding by Sweet Lou back into the draw prior to the Super Series semi-final at Melton tomorrow night. The process was successful as he has come up with barrier two for his important assignment. He was three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 700m mark and proved too strong in the run to the finish. ROCKSTAR LEO finished in second after working to the lead with a mile remaining. He is resuming from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night. BELLA DANZA is an unraced juvenile filly by Bettors Delight for trainer Alex Ashwood. She finished off hard from last of the five runners to pick up third and might be worth following.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.4 Last Half: - 57.0 Margins: - Head, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: - Bella Danza
KILMORE 05/09/23
Trial 3: - DAYLIGHT AT DAWN has returned from Tasmania with his latest performance being in a heat of the Tasmania Cup in March. He led throughout and dominated his rivals to win impressively. He returns from a break at Kilmore on Sunday but is meeting a strong field. MITZI SAID came from last of the three runners to pick up second and AMERICAN WEREWOLF was last across the line after trailing the leader but he is taking on a much easier field at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.5 Last Half: - 56.5 Margins: - 15m, 5m
Trial 5: - KYVALLEY HOTSPUR NZ was three back on the markers and produced a powerful finishing burst to take out the trial. YOU NO ILL BE LATE hasn’t raced since finishing fourth in the Victoria Trotters Derby last season but finished in second after trailing the leader and using the sprint lane. The New Zealand trained filly VIRGINIA CLOWERS NZ attempted to lead throughout and was still in front with 150m remaining but broke stride and lost her chance. She has the ability to win at Kilmore on Sunday if she delivers a fool proof display.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.6 Last Half: - 60.7 Margins: - 2m, 40m
MELTON 05/09/23
Trial 4: - BETTOR BE THE BOMB hasn’t raced since finishing fourth in the Geelong Rocket in March but he was able to take out the open class trial after he trailed the leader and remained strong at the finish. HEAVENLY GIPSY settled last of the three runners, waited until the 150m mark before she made her move and finished off well for second. The early leader EL BOSTON finished in third position.
Mile Rate: - 1.58.7 Last Half: - 57.47 Margins: - 2.5m, 16m
Trial 5: - IM READY JET produced a very impressive performance to win the open class trotting event. She began brilliantly to lead and never looked in any doubt, powering against a strong head win in the home straight and recording a sizzling final quarter of 28.35 seconds. VICTREE HILL was three back on the inside and tried hard for second. ZENITH STRIDE USA trailed the leader, came to the outside at the 300m mark but galloped on the home turn and lost his chance.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.2 Last Half: - 57.11 Margins: - 24m, 21.5m
Trial 6: - FIGHTER COMMAND is an unraced juvenile for trainer Jess Tubbs and looks to have a promising future. He trailed the leader early, moved to the lead at the 1600m and ran away over the latter stages to win by a large margin. PABLO ROCKS finished in second after settling three back on the markers and moving to the outside at the 600m mark. JORGE STREET settled last on the markers and finished off reasonably well for a distant third. He returns from a break at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.5 Last Half: - 57.21 Margins: - 19.5m, 35.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Fighter Command
HAMILTON 06/09/23
Trial 1: - KOWALSKI ANALYSIS has only had two starts since being unplaced in the Mildura Cup in April. He was able to gain some confidence by winning the opening trial over TEDDY RUNKLE, which hasn’t had a start since April. The unraced 3yo gelding by Huntsville CASE FORTY EIGHT for trainer Jim Barker finished a distant third ahead of another unraced gelding in BETTER BLUE BOYS, which is a son of Bettors Delight for Michael Bellman.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.6 Last Half: - 58.4 Margins: - 3.5m, 11.5m
