Tim Mannix’s tantalising two-year-old looks ready to make waves in his three-year-old season with Sweet Lou gelding Madigan impressing in a first-up trial at Shepparton.
A winner of four of his five starts last season including the Vicbred Super Series silver title, he rattled home in 28.4 seconds to win by six metres.
That saw him one of three additions to the Trial File Blackbook this week along with Spyglass, who gets to frank that form when he races at Yarra Valley on Wednesday, and Our Roku, who impressed in the first trial at Melton.
Here are this week’s highlights from the Victorian trials circuit.
BACCHUS MARSH 10/06/23
Trial 4: – BLISSFULL STRIDE was able to take out the open class trial in reasonable time. He hasn’t raced since a victory at Maryborough in February. LAYDEN finished in second and followed with a fast finishing fourth at Bendigo on Tuesday night. THE EGG COUNTER was last of the three runners to cross the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.8 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – 2m, 8m
Trial 5: – GUEST ARTIST NZ is a former New Zealand pacer, which has joined Tim McGuigan. He was a runaway winner of his trial over the unraced gelding WESTERN VIEW with CAPTAIN BOAK being a further twelve metres away in third position. GUEST ARTIST NZ backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night and was a runaway victor so the form line is strong for WESTERN VIEW’s debut performance at Kilmore on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.7 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – 10m, 12m
Trial 6: – POWERLINC was stood down to have an ECG and to trial after his latest ninth at Geelong on May 31. He bounced back with a runaway trial victory over GIRLS VIEW with STAR RULER NZ being a head away in third spot.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.6 Last Half: – 58.2 Margins: – 10m, Head
MARYBOROUGH 11/06/23
Trial 1: – COTCHINELLIE was able to break through for his maiden success at Stawell and kept the ball rolling by winning the opening trial. He trailed the leader and used the sprint lane to win over LIGHTNING JASH, which finished off quickly through the middle from fifth on the markers. SWEET ANNIE MAY settled three back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 800m and raced keenly. She finished a close up third. COTCHINELLIE is racing at Shepparton this evening.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.5 Last Half: – 57.3 Margins: – Head, 1m
Trial 2: – MADIGAN is a smart pacer, which hasn’t raced since a win in the Super Series event in December. He prepared for his first up effort at Shepparton this evening with an all of the way victory, where he dashed home in a slick final quarter of 28.4 seconds. He strikes a suitable assignment first up this evening and should take beating. JAMES GARNER NZ finished in second after trailing the leader throughout and ROCKNROLL LADY came from four back on the markers to be third across the line. JAMES GARNER NZ is perfectly drawn for his Australian debut at Charlton on Monday so he must be considered as a winning chance.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.0 Last Half: – 58.1 Margins: – 6m, 10m
Mile Rate: – Madigan
Trial 5: – STEVIE GEE hasn’t raced since a third in the Super Series Final back in December. He was able to take out his trial by leading throughout but he did have a tendency to hang out in the home straight and has been withdrawn from his effort at Shepparton this evening. SALSKI was three back on the markers in the early stages, ended up trailing the leader with a mile remaining and finished off well to be beaten by a narrow margin. FLASH FOR CASH broke stride at the start and finished a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 60.5 Margins: – Head, 50m
Trial 8: – NAYOMI settled three back on the markers, used the sprint lane and finished off quickly to win narrowly. She is backing up at Shepparton this evening. BETTER KISS ME settled six back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 500m and sustained a strong run to finish a close second. WELEASE WOGER was third across the line after setting the speed.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.3 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 1m, Head
MILDURA 12/06/23
Trial 1: – MACH HU NZ has been unplaced in all of his four starts since resuming but he ran a better race last time out and he backed up that performance with a trial victory in a mile rate of 2.2.2. OUR ART WORK made several errors at his latest Mildura performance but he finished second in his trial effort leading up to today’s effort. HEZA WESTERN and PUNTO CALIENTE finished third and fourth respectively and are both backing up at today’s meeting.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.2 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – 2m, 3m
Trial 3: – ABSTRACTOR hasn’t had a great deal of luck at his recent Mildura performances and gained some confidence with a trial victory over BIZNESS CLASS, which finished fourth at his latest race track appearance after trying to lead throughout. ITSALLABOUTNED finished third and BEYONSKI was fourth in preparation for his effort at Mildura this afternoon.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.8 Last Half: – Not given Margins: – 3m, 20m
SHEPPARTON 13/06/23
Trial 1: – FYNN FROST NZ broke stride in the latter stages and lost his chance at Melton last outing. He was able to bounce back to win his trial over MAJOR WATSON NZ after he settled three back on the markers before moving into the death seat at the 800m mark. MAJOR WATSON NZ attempted to lead throughout and was run down on the line. He is backing up at Shepparton this evening. ROYAL STARZZZ finished third after trailing the leader throughout and NATIONAL NEWS NZ came from last to run into an eye-catching fourth.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.1 Last Half: – 57.0 Margins: – Head, 4m
Trial 3: – AVENEL EAGLE hasn’t raced for nearly a year but he appeared to be very sharp in winning his trial. He began quickly to find the lead, took a trail at the 1400m and used the sprint lane to win clearly. THAT’S YOUR OPINION settled in third position and pushed forward to find the lead in the back straight on the first occasion. He battled on well for second and ESS KAY HOLLYWOOD finished third after settling last of the pack and running to the line strongly without being pushed at any stage. He is returning from a spell at Shepparton this evening and should take beating despite an awkward draw. He is also engaged to race at Kilmore on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.8.1 Last Half: – 59.4 Margins: – 6m, 2m
Trial 4: – SPYGLASS NZ produced a sparkling performance to win clearly and is worth following. He settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 700m and hit the front at the quarter pole, dashing well clear in the run to the finish. MONSIEUR MEILLAND settled last of the seven runners, moved into the running lane at the 600m (1-2) and came out three horses wide from the 300m. He produced a creditable performance to fill second spot and PEPPERMINT came from five back on the markers to be in third.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.2 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – 30m, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: – Spyglass NZ
Trial 5: – ALDEBARAN DINO hasn’t raced since being unplaced in a heat of the Great Southern Star in February but he is a very smart trotter and completely dominated his rivals in the trial by leading throughout. MENEWA finished in second despite breaking a lugging pole. He was three back on the markers and moved to the outside with 600m remaining. He has been promising a win for some time and is racing at Charlton on Monday. SUPER SERVICE came from last of the four runners to pick up third. He is booked to race both at Shepparton tonight and Kilmore on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.8 Last Half: – 59.5 Margins: – 12m, 10m
MELTON 13/06/23
Trial 1: – OUR ROKU is a juvenile filly by Downbytheseaside out of the very good producing mare She’s Norma Jeane. She began brilliantly to lead, set up a genuine tempo and scored clearly so she is worth following. The Shakamaker Classic runner up THESTATESMAN came from last of the four runners and finished brilliantly for an eye-catching second with COOPER CLEAVER (3 back pegs) being third across the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.55.9 Last Half: – 58.83 Margins: – 7m, 48m
BLACKBOOKER: – Our Roku
Trial 3: – HES CHARLIES ANGEL began quickly to find the lead, set up a reasonable tempo and produced a brilliant final half of 55.63 seconds. He appeared to be in danger of defeat with 100m remaining but kicked on determinedly over the latter stages. TERRY NZ settled three back on the inside, moved off the pegs at the 300m and loomed up to win but peaked on his run in the final 50m. He is racing at Kilmore on Tuesday night and should prove hard to beat. YORKSHIRE NZ settled last of the five runners and came out three horses wide in the final 300m. He battled on well over the latter stages to finish third ahead of NORMS LADY (trailed leader).
Mile Rate: – 1.58.4 Last Half: – 55.63 Margins: – 2m, 5m
Trial 6: – CHINESE WHISPER NZ settled three back on the markers, came out three horses wide on the home turn and finished off best to win in the last stride. BALTICA NZ trailed the leader throughout and finished second with VACATION HILL NZ being third after setting the speed. It was a strong trial and all three trotters performed nicely. VACATION HILL NZ is resuming from a spell at Melton on Saturday.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.4 Last Half: – 57.19 Margins: – ½ head, ½ neck
ARARAT 14/06/23
Trials 1 + 2 were dominated by local trainer Michael Bellman considering he provided the Quinella in both events. The first trial was won by CAESARION, which has only had one start since November. He defeated MAVERICKS JET by thirty-five metres in a mile rate of 2.1.3. The second trial was won by the classy trotter MAJESTIC PRIDE, which was successful by a large margin over the nicely bred pacer SETTEBELLO with PRINCE OF ROCK being last of the three runners across the line. The mile rate was a solid 2.0.9 and the winning margin was fifteen metres.
