A promising two-year-old for breeders Bruce and Vicki Edward, an impressive Mildura arrival and a fresh three-year-old were all eye-catchers on Victoria’s trials circuit this week.
You Little Terror has joined trainer Danny Weinert’s after previously doing his racing in New South Wales and “was very impressive” in his trial win on Monday.
Two-year-old Sir Jimmy was also a standout this week, with the son of gifted American Mare Carolsideal ($545,401) winning his Ballarat trial for Emma Stewart.
That pair, along with Leroy O’Brien’s Blake Bolac, were all added to the Blackbook this week.
Scroll on for their replays and the highlights from the Victorian circuit.
CRANBOURNE 14/05/23
Trial 1: – SOVEREIGN TIGER produced a big performance with his very easy victory when taking on the pacers. He began quickly and ran along at a genuine tempo before racing well clear to score by twenty-seven metres. He is resuming from a break at Yarra Valley on Monday afternoon and must be considered as a winning chance. SPARKLING SUE is also racing at Yarra Valley and finished second after trailing the leader throughout. PLAIN ED was four back on the inside early and ended up being three back on the markers before holding down a distant third.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.1 Last Half: – 59.7 Margins: – 27m, 40m
Trial 2: – KNIGHTS TEMPLAR was clearly the class horse of the field considering he has a National Rating of 83. He purposely remained a good margin behind the field early before chasing to catch the pack and settling four back on the markers. He commenced his winning move at the 400m mark and raced clear over the concluding stages. WHOS WATCHING LILY trailed the leader and used the sprint lane to finish second with MATTS DELIGHT being in third after setting the speed. MATTS DELIGHT is resuming from a spell at Yarra Valley on Monday.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.8 Last Half: – 56.5 Margins: – 23m, Neck
MARYBOROUGH 14/05/23
Trial 2: – BLAKE BOLAC prepared for his performance at Ararat on Sunday with a convincing win over WATCHING THE BOYS. He began quickly and found the lead on the first corner with WATCHING THE BOYS sitting in the trail. He then ran along at a reasonable tempo and finished off in a slick last quarter of 28.4 seconds so he should prove hard to beat on Sunday. WATCHING THE BOYS finished nicely clear of the third placed ROMANEYE, which settled fifth on the inside and moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m mark.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 58.0 Margins: – 8m, 6m
BLACKBOOKER: – Blake Bolac
Trial 3: – DEALERS KNOCK showed brilliant gate speed and rushed across the face of the field to lead clearly. He raced very fiercely during the middle stages and held off the late challenge of SIR EROS to gain the prize. SIR EROS settled six back on the inside, sprinted quickly down the back straight then dropped in for a little breather before using the sprint lane. He just failed to overhaul the leader and put in a very good performance. He appears to be a big winning chance at Ararat on Sunday. KELLYBUSH settled four back on the markers and worked into third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.1 Last Half: – 61.2 Margins: – Head, 10m
Trial 5: – IZARRA prepared for her first up effort at Maryborough on Thursday with a convincing win over IM LADY RHONDA. She sat in the trail behind IM LADY RHONDA, came to the outside on the home turn and won with plenty in reserve. IM LADY RHONDA finished clearly ahead of the third placed SIR ED, which settled three back on the markers before hitting the lead on the home turn then trotting roughly. IZARRA stepped out onto the track and won on Thursday so it is a very good form pointer for IM LADY RHONDA, which is an unraced juvenile filly by Sebastian K.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.8 Last Half: – 61.0 Margins: – 4m, 10m
MILDURA 15/05/23 (The results of the Mildura trials have not been uploaded. Results of the trial listed in this report were as broadcast on the night).
Trial 2: – YOU LITTLE TERROR was very impressive in his runaway success. He led out, took cover and was shuffled to three back on the markers before charging around the field to lead again at the 1200m. He then completely dominated the trial and raced away to score by approximately twenty-five metres. RAINBOW RAIN began quickly from a wide draw but was left stranded out three horses wide then progressed forward to find the lead at the 1600m before taking cover. He finished second and was clear of MEXICAN STANDOFF, which trailed the leader early before being shuffled back to being last of the four during the middle stages.
Mile Rate: – Not Given Last Half: – Not Given Margins: – 25m, 50m (approximately)
BLACKBOOKER: – You Little Terror
HAMILTON 15/05/23
Trial 3: – METRO ASSASSIN is a colt by Rocknroll Hanover out of the race winning mare Molly Pitcher, which has produced two handy performers in Ayejayem (1.57.7) and The Sportz Star (1.57.5). He was able to win the trial from KEAYANG MOON SHINE with BUYERS MARKET being in third position. BUYERS MARKET hasn’t raced since March 2022 but recorded a trial victory in slick time at Stawell in July and was having his first public outing since. He has a low National Rating of 44 so he can be well placed during his current campaign. He is perfectly drawn at Ararat on Sunday and is not without a chance.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.9 Last Half: – 59.1 Margins: – Nose, 1.5m
BENDIGO 15/05/23
Trial 5: RAPID RETURN began quickly to lead before taking a trail behind AGAINST THE BRIDLE, which pushed forward from a wide draw. He waited for the sprint lane in the home straight and finished off quickly to record a soft win. AGAINST THE BRIDLE prepared for his debut performance at Ballarat on Friday with a reasonable second. He has ability but is still learning and he did race very greenly on the 800m corner. JANSU was the third horse across the line after settling three back on the markers.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.2 Last Half: – 62.5 Margins: – 6m, 7m
Trial 7: – UPTOWN LAD prepared for his first up performance at Yarra Valley on Monday with a convincing victory. He settled four back on the inside, came out three horses wide from the 500m and finished off strongly to win over BULLAPARK BENO, which began well and progressed forward to find the lead with a mile remaining. ITSALLANDOVER came from last of the five runners to pick up third position.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.8 Last Half: – 61.5 Margins: – 3m, 6m
Trial 8: – CHILLIN emulated his stable mate UPTOWN LAD in the trial prior by winning impressively leading up to his resumption at Yarra Valley on Monday. He began quickly to lead and was never really extended in a soft victory. Both of the David Van Ryn trained runners should perform very well in their return to the track on Monday. TALKNPLAY finished second in the trial after trailing the leader and BETTORSWEETVICTORY came from four back on the markers to finish in third spot.
Mile Rate: – 2.4.0 Last Half: – 59.8 Margins: – 6m, 16m
Trial 10: – RELENTLESS ME appeared to be very sharp in her victory over MONA MIA in a quality trial. She commenced from the inside of the second line, settled three back on the markers and moved up without cover from the 600m, winning nicely and without being fully extended. MONA MIA started off a third line behind RELENTLESS ME and settled fourth on the inside. She followed RELENTLESS ME for the entire journey until coming to the outside with 200m remaining and trying hard in the straight. She is resuming at Melton tomorrow night. BETTERNBETTER was third after trailing the leader throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.1 Last Half: – 57.6 Margins: – 4m, 6m
GEELONG 15/05/23 (The results of the Geelong trials have not been uploaded. The trials listed in this report are as per the broadcast on the night)
Trial 1: – STOCKMAN PETER took out the standing start trial for the trotters and appeared to be impressive. He stepped away well and gained a trail behind the leader WYLDCAT before coming to the outside in the home straight. He extended nicely and was able to win with something in hand. WYLDCAT fought on strongly for second and ACOOL INVESTMENT finished in third after being three back on the markers throughout.
Mile Rate: – Not given Last Half: – Not given Margins: – Head, 12m (approximately)
Trial 2: – GOODTIME HAYLEY began very quickly to find the lead and completely dominated her rivals. She raced well clear in the run to the judge to score by approximately five lengths. MAJOR BLUE finished second after trailing the leader throughout and EIGHT POUND HAMMER came from four back on the inside and made good ground via the sprint lane.
Mile Rate: – Not Given Last Half: – Not Given Margins: – 15m, 1m (approximately)
Trial 7: – ROGUE GENTLEMAN made a successful return after settling three back on the markers in the early stages. He came to the outside with 500m remaining and was able to win with something in reserve. DICKO DIXON attempted to lead throughout and was run down late but he was beaten by a smart horse on the night. He is backing up at Ballarat this evening. The former pacer KHANS CREED finished third after beginning well but breaking stride and losing approximately thirty metres on the first turn. He was very heavily backed on his trotting debut but made an error and he did chase hard in his trial effort so he obviously has the ability to win races in the trotting gait when he is able to put it altogether.
Mile Rate: – Not Given Last Half: – Not Given Margins: – 3m, 18m (approximately)
BALLARAT 16/05/23
Trial 1: – SIR JIMMY is a juvenile gelding by Art Major out of an American bred mare in Carolsideal, which paced 1.50.6 overseas. He trailed the leader and enjoyed a nice trip but extended very nicely at the finish to win by a large margin. He looked very sharp at the end, running a last quarter of 28.1 seconds and he scored under a hard hold so he obviously has a promising future. The trotter CHINSKI finished in second after setting the speed and MONSIEUR FLAMEL was third across the line after settling four back on the markers.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.4 Last Half: – 57.8 Margins: – 20m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: – Sir Jimmy
Trial 2: – KING REPELLERE is another juvenile prepared by Emma Stewart that appears to be a future winner in his freshman season. He trailed the leader early, came to the outside and rushed to the lead with 1700m remaining then never appeared to be in any danger of defeat. He is by the champion sire Bettors Delight out of the top race mare and handy producer Repelem so he is bred to be a handy type. JOHN VINCENT finished second after leading out then taking cover and MY MERC NZ was last of the three runners throughout.
Mile Rate: – 2.9.4 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 6m, 3m
