Top New Zealand three-year-old Son Of Mac is expected to be a force here in Australia and the Kiwi native made an impression at his first public appearance on our shores.
Kyle Marshall’s stable star finished second in his hit-out at Geelong on Monday night, with HRV form analyst Craig Rail putting he and trial winner Star Hunter promptly into his Blackbook.
The other horse to follow from this week’s trial circuit is Major Drama, who impressed Rail with victory at Maryborough on Sunday.
TRIAL REPORT
TERANG 18/06/23
Trial 2: – KEAYANG GUCCI is an unraced filly by What The Hill for trainer Paddy Lee and showed very good maturity to win the trial. She settled three back on the markers, moved to the lead at the 1600m, took cover at the 700m and came to the outside with 400m remaining. She would have gained plenty of experience from the trial and scored comfortably so she appears to be very promising. MATTYO began quickly to lead, broke stride at the 1700m and lost approximately 30m, moved up without cover and found the front again at the 700m. He battled on well for second with ALLWATFUNJINGLES (4 back markers, trailed leader 1600m, third pegs 700m) being the third horse across the line.
Mile Rate: – 2.8.0 Last Half: – 61.7 Margins: – 3m, 25m
Trial 3: – QUIET STORM hasn’t raced since a fifth in the Super Series Silver event in December but he looked sharp in scoring. He led, ran along at an even tempo and scored with something in reserve. BOLRAMSKI NZ trailed the leader throughout and finished in second position. The undefeated trotter KEAYANG IGNITE hasn’t raced since winning the Homegrown Classic at Melton in December 2019. He settled last of the three runners, ended up being out very wide on the home turn and battled on fairly well over the concluding stages.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.0 Last Half: – 57.7 Margins: – 4m, 10m
Trial 4: – KEAYANG SNOWMAN is a gelding by Sweet Lou for trainer Margaret Lee. He trailed the leader early, ended up being three back on the markers and came to the outside at the 500m mark. He finished off best to defeat the early leader YOUNG BLUEY, which hasn’t raced since a win at Hamilton in December. JILLIBY FLASH finished off strongly from last to pick up third position. Both KEAYANG SNOWMAN and JILLIBY FLASH performed well enough in the trial to suggest they will be competitive in their assignments at Horsham on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.6 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: – Head, Head
MARYBOROUGH 18/06/23
Trial 1: – MAJOR DRAMA hasn’t raced since a third in the Homegrown Classic at Melton in April but produced a very good performance to score in the opening trial. He settled last of the three runners, came to the outside at the 300m and produced a big finish to win easily. He must be given a big winning chance at Kilmore on Sunday. SKY FULL OF STARS NZ finished second after trailing the speed and the early leader KARMA QUEEN was the last horse to finish.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.6 Last Half: – 58.4 Margins: – 10m, 12m
BLACKBOOKER: – Major Drama
Trial 2: – PERFIDIOUS SUE is still learning but has a lot of ability when she is able to put it altogether. She led out then took cover at the 1700m, came to the outside in the back straight on the final occasion and outstayed the early leader DEALERS KNOCK over the concluding stages. JANSU finished a distant third after being four back on the markers throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.4 Last Half: – 60.4 Margins: – 2m, 15m
Trial 5: – AMERICAN VICTORY is a juvenile filly by American Ideal for trainer Vin Mahar, which recorded an impressive victory albeit in slow time. She settled four back on the inside, was inconvenienced by a tiring runner then came to the outside approaching the home turn. She produced a big finish and got up to score over MONSIEUR FLAMEL, which settled three back on the markers with the early leader SMILENSAYCHEESE finishing in third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.6 Last Half: – 60.1 Margins: – Neck, Head
KYABRAM 18/06/23
Trials 1 + 3 were won by trainer and driver Mark Gledhill. The opening trial was won by WALTZING WITH NANA, an unraced three years old filly by He’s Watching. She was able to defeat the juvenile pacers CROCODILE BLOOD and HURRICANE BEN by two metres in a mile rate of 2.12.0. The second leg of Gledhill’s double was OUR CHRISTIANO, a speedy mare that hasn’t raced since a Shepparton victory in February. She defeated BENATAR by a narrow margin with SUMMERDAYS being ten metres away in third spot in a mile rate of 2.6.3.
GEELONG 19/06/23
Trial 3: – STAR HUNTER hasn’t raced since being unplaced in a heat of the Rising Stars in October but he looked good in leading throughout and defeating a handy field. He dashed home in a slick last half of 56.7 seconds and held his rivals safely at bay. SON OF MAC NZ is an outstanding former New Zealand pacer, which finished second in the Northern Derby at his latest performance. He settled last of the six runners, moved into the running lane (1-2) at the bell and made a strong run from the 600m mark to finish a game second. VINCENZINA finished third after settling five back on the markers and moving into the one out and one back trail at the 500m.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – 56.7 Margins: – 2.5m, 3m
BLACKBOOKERS: – Star Hunter + Son of Mac
Trial 4: – SIR ED hasn’t raced since finishing fourth at Melton in November. He has joined trainer Kylie Sugars and was able to win his trial after progressing forward to find the lead shortly after the start. ALDEBARAN STILES settled five back on the markers before angling into the one out and one back trail in the back straight on the final occasion. He finished solidly for second with TE AMO being third after settling three back on the inside and being shuffled back on the markers.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.3 Last Half: – 59.6 Margins: – 2m, 8m
Trial 7: – NO BIGGIE is a talented gelding that boasts a consistent record. He was placed in the 2020 Super Series Final behind Is That A Bid but hasn’t raced since August 2021. He settled five back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and produced a strong finish to get the prize. IMHAVINAGOODTIME is undefeated from two starts and won the Homegrown Classic at his latest attempt. He settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 600m and was run down in the last stride. MARIACHI finished third after trailing the leader throughout and the early pacemaker OLLIE JACK was fourth past the post.
Mile Rate: – 2.5.9 Last Half: – 60.4 Margins: – Nose, 6m
BENDIGO 19/06/23
Trial 4: – THE LOST STORM was the outstanding juvenile colt of last season and hasn’t raced since his impressive victory in the Super Series Final in December. He produced a tidy display to defeat stable mate TECHYS WATCHING after he settled five back on the inside and commenced his run from the 500m mark in a last half of 56.8 seconds. TECHYS WATCHING went down narrowly after being in front for most of the journey and JOYFUL led out before taking cover to finish in third spot. SKINNYDIP NZ attempted to follow The Lost Storm into the trial and ran a handy fourth in what was a very strong event.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.4 Last Half: – 56.8 Margins: – Head, 2m
Trial 5: – KYVALLEY ARCHER settled three back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail and came out three horses wide from the home turn. He finished strongly to record a good win. TUMULT progressed forward to find the lead and looked to be a winning chance but broke stride with 50m remaining and was second past the post. GUNNY TEE was without cover early then four back on the markers and was without cover again late. He battled on well for third with AMALIA PEARL (5 back pegs) doing her best work at the end to finish in fourth spot. The first three horses across the line are all competing at Bendigo tonight and KYVALLEY ARCHER went well enough to suggest he can run a big race.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.7 Last Half: – 62.0 Margins: – 4m, 1m
Trial 6: – OLIVER DAN began quickly to find the lead, ran along at a genuine tempo and held off his rivals to score. ELYSIAN JAY finished second after settling four back on the markers and finishing off nicely. LIGHTNING JASH was third after trailing the leader throughout and PERFECT IN PINK came from last to finish in fourth and wasn’t pushed out at any stage.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.9 Last Half: – 57.1 Margins: – Head, 2m
Trial 8: – ROCKINWITHATTITUDE has returned to Victoria after completing the New South Wales Derby and Oaks double at Menangle. She was three back on the markers early, worked to the front at the 1500m and scored comfortably in reasonable time. KYVALLEY PIERRO led out then took cover before chasing gamely for second. He strikes a strong field but should be competitive at his first up run tonight at Bendigo. OUR MARVELLA NZ came from three back on the markers to finish in third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.4 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 3m, 6m
Trial 9: – TREACHERY began fast but couldn’t head off HI MANAMEISJEFF NZ on the first turn and ended up being in the trail. She left the markers at the quarter pole and finished off well to score. SOHO HISTORIA finished hard from last of the three runners to fill second and HI MANAMEISJEFF NZ was the last horse to complete the course.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.2 Last Half: – 56.1 Margins: – 2m, 4m
Trial 12: – MACH DAN won the open class trial by a narrow margin. He was able to lead throughout but really had to dig deep and fight off the late challenge of TOUGH TILLY, which sat in the trail throughout. AMORE VITA NZ was last of the three runners throughout but was making ground in the run to the finish.
Mile Rate: – 1.58.3 Last Half: – 55.8 Margins: – Head, 2m
