An American trotter new to Australia looks one to follow according to Harness Racing Victoria trial spy Craig Rail after an eye-catching performance for new trainer Chris Lang this week.
The Emilio and Mary Rosati-owned Zenith Stride hasn’t raced since December 2021 and made plenty of mistakes in his hit-out at Kilmore, but finished strongly for second and is one of four horses added to Rail’s Blackbook.
He is joined in the file by Captain Hammerhead, Keayang Fitzy and Yogi Son, with the updated Blackbook found at the bottom of this week’s trial report.
TRIAL REPORT
SHEPPARTON 13/07/23
Trial 1: – CAPTAIN HAMMERHEAD was a very impressive winner of the opening trial. He settled five back on the markers, moved up without cover from the 600m and found the line very strongly in fast time. IVANA BYTHESEASIDE finished second after settling three back on the inside before pushing forward to find the lead at the 1500m. KIA ORA BEAUTY led out then took cover and was third across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.0 Last Half: – 57.0 Margins: – 5m, 10m
BLACKBOOKER: – Captain Hammerhead
Trial 2: – NORDIC REIGN wrapped up her trial preparation with a victory against older horses. She began quickly and progressed forward to find the lead with 1800m remaining. She held off the challenge of HI HO KYVALLEY (trailed leader) to get the prize. She made her debut at Bendigo on Wednesday night and was able to win impressively after leading out then taking cover at the bell. MAORIS MAC settled three back on the markers and finished third but was never pushed out at any stage.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.8 Last Half: – 59.3 Margins: – 1m, 10m
Trial 3: – CHART TOPPER settled last on the pegs, moved away from the inside at the 700m (1-2) and came out four horses wide on the home turn. He finished off fast to win nicely. ROCKNROLL RAIDER finished second after being fifth on the pegs before moving into the one out and one back trail. HOUSTON STREET was third past the post after trying to lead throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.6 Last Half: – 61.0 Margins: – 4m, 2m
MARYBOROUGH 16/07/23
Trial 1: – ALFIE ALWAYS settled three back on the inside, moved through to trail the leader with 500m remaining and zipped through along the sprint lane to get the prize. He backed up with a fourth placed effort at Charlton on Thursday. SONNYBOY finished in second position after trying to lead throughout. He hung out at the 500m, which allowed BOUTIKA (behind leader) to drive through and join him before the home turn but he kicked on well for second. BOUTIKA was third across the line and JUST ABIT DUSTY finished fourth after racing without cover throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.9 Last Half: – 61.9 Margins: – 3m, 10m
Trial 2: – MAJOR ANNIE NZ was able to spear to the front from a wide draw and led throughout. DOWNUNDER BARKERS settled four back on the markers, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and finished off quickly to run second. It was a good hit-out in preparation for his effort at Melton on Saturday night and he is also backing up at Maryborough on Monday. KARMA QUEEN weaved a passage from five back on the markers to fill third spot.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.1 Last Half: – 60.9 Margins: – 1m, 2m
STAWELL 16/07/23
Trial 1: – The Metropolitan class pacer KOWALSKI ANALYSIS had a lot of class on his two rivals and was able to produce a runaway victory. He hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Mildura Cup in April. NOSWEETSFORYOU finished second and was well clear of ALIENOFARMSTRONG.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.8 Last half: – 58.5 Margins: – 52m, 10m
BENDIGO 17/07/23
Trial 3: – DOUBLE DOT produced high gate speed to lead and showed good fighting spirit to hold off the challenge of AVENEL EAGLE to get the prize. She has a National Rating of 30 so she can be placed in a very suitable race in the near future. AVENEL EAGLE was given a hit-out leading up to his performance in the Australasian Premier Trotting Final at Melton tomorrow night. He was three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 500m and just failed to pick up DOUBLE DOT in the run to the finish. THAT’S YOUR OPINION came from five back on the markers to finish in third.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.8 Last Half: – 60.0 Margins: – Nose, 14m
Trial 4: – The star juvenile colt of last season THE LOCOMOTIVE was able to produce another trial victory leading up to his season debut. He was without cover early before working to the front at the 1700m and completely dominated his rivals. RAPID RETURN settled four back on the markers, moved out three horses wide on the home turn and ran home strongly for an eye-catching second. It was a game performance but she does take on a strong field in the Maryborough Oaks on Monday afternoon. SHEZA CHOCOLATIER was third after leading out then taking cover.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.0 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – 16m, 6m
Trial 6: – LUDACROUS began quickly to find the lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and was able to score nicely in fast time. She is racing at Shepparton on Tuesday night and should be highly competitive. FRENWOOD MIRACLE trailed the leader throughout and tried hard for second. NOTHINGBUTWAVES was four back on the markers throughout and finished in third position. OZZIE JOYBELL settled six back on the inside and moved into the one out and one back trail then battled on okay for fourth.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.9 Last Half: – 56.6 Margins: – 3m, 10m
Trial 9: – MAJOR COLLECT NZ trailed the leader, moved to the outside at the 500m and finished off quickly to score nicely. IDEAL PACE settled three back on the inside, followed behind MAJOR COLLECT NZ and never came to the outside at any stage. He hasn’t started since February and appeared to be very sharp in his trial performance. ORBIE finished in third after setting up a genuine speed.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.4 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – 4m, 8m
GEELONG 17/07/23
Trial 3: – KEAYANG FITZY hasn’t raced since 2021 but indicated a win was forthcoming with a slashing trial performance. He was able to lead throughout after running along at a genuine tempo and dashed well clear at the end. RAKERO REBEL NZ was six back on the markers in the early stages, moved into the one out and one back trail in the back straight but was still a long way from the leader and finished off strongly. JILLIBY JAY SEA was third past the post after settling five back on the inside and moving into the death seat at the 600m.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.4 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – 20m, 10m
BLACKBOOKER: – Keayang Fitzy
Trial 4: – VEE EM GEE MACRAY began quickly and was able to lead throughout, dashing home in slick final sectionals. AUREUS trailed the leader, used the sprint lane and missed out by a narrow margin. SOHO SERAPHINE settled five back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and went to the line under a strong hold in third position. KEAYANG SANTIAGO finished in fourth position after being four back on the inside and moving into the death seat at the 600m mark.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.6 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – ½ head, 6m
Trial 5: – YOGI SON NZ is a nicely bred former New Zealand trotter, which has only had three starts to date. He settled six back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 1400m and found the front with 1100m remaining. He dashed well clear at the end and was very impressive. He has a low National Rating so he is definitely worth following. NO REMORSE was four then five back on the markers at the 1100m, used the sprint lane and dashed through to finish in second position. EQUAL AND OPPOSITE led out then took cover and filled third spot.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.3 Last Half: – 61.0 Margins: – 15m, head
BLACKBOOKER: – Yogi Son NZ
Trial 7: – KEAYANG KAMIKAZE settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 800m mark and sustained a strong run to score nicely. JUSTALITTLESIP NZ settled 5 back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail behind KEAYANG KAMIKAZE and held his own in the run to the finish. ROCKNROLL DOO NZ came from last of the six runners and was doing his best work at the finish to be in third spot. The early leader HITTHEROADJACK NZ ended up being fourth across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.1 Last Half: – 56.7 Margins: – 3m, 3m
Trial 8: – ROCKNROLL GRONK was four then five back on the markers, moved away from the inside at the 600m and kicked on strongly through the middle to get the prize. He has been performing nicely at the trials and should run a good race at Geelong this evening. HAVEYOUMETTED began quickly to lead, took cover, moved away from the inside on the home turn and hit the lead in the straight before being run down at the end. KEAYANG BLUE JEANS settled six back on the inside, angled wide at the 150m and finished off solidly for third.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.0 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – 1m, 1m
MILDURA 17/07/23
Trial 1: – LINXX was driven very aggressively in the early stages and eventually wrestled the lead away from BLACKTOP ROCK at the 1300m so he produced a very good performance to collect the prize. He hasn’t raced since March but he is obviously somewhere near his peak. BLACKTOP ROCK went hard in the early stages of the event and did well to finish in second. It was a strong trial effort for his effort at Mildura this afternoon. ULTIMATE TROUBLE settled last of the five runners and finished off fairly well in third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.2 Last half: – 61.0 Margins: – 3m, 2m
Trial 2: – ONLY ONCE BITTEN NZ began very quickly to find the lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and was very strong at the finish. It was a very good form pointer for his performance at Mildura this afternoon. SINISTER settled three back on the markers, moved to the outside at the 600m and battled on well for second. He also has winning claims in his performance this afternoon. RAINDROPS trailed the leader throughout and finished third ahead of the former South Australian trained pacer BREWSKI.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – 2.5m, 10m
Trial 3: – AINTSOBAD trailed the leader, moved away from the markers and got home best to win in fast time. He is favourably drawn for his performance at Mildura this afternoon. The former New Zealand pacer TACT FERGIE NZ, which has already raced in New South Wales and Queensland in four Australian starts, finished in second after setting up a genuine tempo. The first two across the line were well clear of the third placed COTTON CANDY MAN.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.1 Last Half: – 59.9 Margins: – 3m, 45m
KILMORE 18/07/23
Trial 2: – ROGUE GENTLEMAN trailed the leader, came to the outside on the home turn and finished off fast to win impressively. BRANDLO PRINCE stepped away quickly from the standing start to find the lead, set up a genuine tempo and was run down in the final 100m. BULLION HARRY settled three back on the inside, made his move at the 600m and tried hard for third.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.8 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 2m, 10m
Trial 4: – BUNDALONG MOON settled four back on the inside, ended up being three back and finished off well for a victory. He makes his debut at Shepparton on Tuesday night and is not without a chance. ZENITH STRIDE USA is a former American trotter that joins trainer Chris Lang. He should have won the trial by a large margin. He settled a distant third on the markers, moved to second but broke stride at the 1300m and lost approximately 50m. He then chased hard, tacked onto the group and broke stride again at the quarter pole. He got back into a trot and finished fast along the sprint lane to finish in second spot. CYLONE LEBRON finished third after following behind the leader ASTRO for the majority of the trial.
Mile Rate: – 2.6.6 Last Half: – 67.2 Margins: – 3m, 5m
BLACKBOOKER: – Zenith Stride USA
Trial 5: – DESTINY STRIDE settled three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 800m and finished off best to score. CAPTAIN TOM began fast to race without cover, progressed forward to find the lead at the 1700m and fought on well for second. He is backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday and looms as one of the leading chances. JOSIE ELLA finished third after leading out then taking cover.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.1 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 4m, 7m
Trial 6: – SWEET MIRACLE began quickly and used some energy to find the lead shortly after the start. She copped a lot of pressure in the back straight on the first occasion, took cover at the 1300m and moved to the outside with 500m remaining. She remained strong to the finish and got the prize from CAPTAIN BARNARTO, which began quickly and ended up being three back on the markers. FRIENDS settled last of the four runners, used the sprint lane and worked into third with HERESHECOMESSASSY being the last horse across the line after going very quickly in the early stages. SWEET MIRACLE resumes from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night and is not without a chance.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.9 Last Half: – 60.1 Margins: – 3m, 2.5m
