Friday, 15 May 2009NEW SOUTH WALES
Several trial horses that attract attention at Canterbury on Saturday come from outside the metropolitan area and have been prepared through trials on provincial and country tracks.
SR1: Newcomer
(8) OUR ROCK STAR meets a solid field of experienced youngsters but he is a stylish Rock Of Gibraltar colt out of the Cummings yard and has done more than enough in two Randwick trials, improving second time out to score over 740m in slow going last Friday, to bear watching from a good draw.
SR7: Gundagai-trained
(7) MONTEREY ROAD 
(David Blundell) has had two trials at Canberra on April 27 and May 8 for a win and a second and should come back to town close to the form that saw him win races here when last in work.
(10) CENTRE ARENA (Jan Bowen) would be preferred in something longer but the Muswellbrook-trained galloper has been to Gosford and Newcastle for two trials in recent weeks and did get through heavy going well to win his latest trial at Broadmeadow.
SR8:
(8) THE TAKE (Paul Perry) is known to produce bold runs for the top Newcastle stable when fresh and there seems little doubt he is prepared to produce something with blinkers going on after three April trials at Wyong (3rd), Newcastle (1st) and Broadmeadow (4th). Grafton-trained
(9) BRILLIANT PRINCE (Terry Commerford) comes to town off a second in a trial on his home track. It's a long way to come for no reason but his first-up stats are poor. The Guy Walter-trained
(1) MR INCREDIBLE has had two trials and an extra week of work after he was scratched from a first-up engagement at Hawkesbury last week.
VICTORIA
 | Stickpin is in the right grade
Photo by Racing and Sports | |
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There aren't many official triallers down to run in Melbourne this week. The new rule regarding new metropolitan runners needing to publicly trial can't come quick enough for us punters. There was a trial at Cranbourne on 12 May from which several runners on Saturday emanate.
(MR5-2) STICKPIN (Brian Mayfield-Smith) won the very trial at Cranbourne over 990m. All his form is in group and listed company so this is no step up.
From the same trial
(MR7-3) FAMOUS ROMAN (Brian Mayfield-Smith) was second. This is the horse that comes from Perth and won the G3 RJ Peters Stks before being beaten 2.5L in the Railway.
(MR5-10) BENELLI (Bevan & Richard Laming) was placed in the trial and while beaten a way there has interest as he comes from New Zealand and has run some decent races in mile events.
Finally
(MR2-3) CHORTOVA (John McArdle) was 4th in the trial. Runs again after a brief let up where she ran some nice races including a win at Flemington.
QUEENSLAND
Exceptionally consistent galloper
(BR1-10) PYRAMIDS (Gerald Ryan) won a trial at Eagle Farm on 5 May. Last campaign this horse had 8 starts for 5 wins and 3 placings. Used to carrying big weights, he gets the limit here.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
(AR1) - A number of the first starters here have trialled, with (11) ZIP PLEASURE winning over 1000m at Cheltenham Park earlier in the month. (3) COMMINSKY was almost three lengths away in second. Another first starter in this race, (4) GIGGLING DOLLAR, scored in the following heat in slower time, beating (10) PERSONAL MOTIVE, (6) TUNGATALUM and (9) LUNA BALLERINA. (1) CATCHPENNY was a close second in another of the heats from the same day. But while we've had a brief look at most, the one to watch is (8) HAPPY KNOCKOUT, who was heavily supported at Oakbank and did little, but might be worth another look here.
(AR6-7) ORIENTATION : Former New South Wales galloper having first start for new stable. Is a two time fresh-up winner and won a 1000m trial at Cheltenham earlier in the month. Nice weight and good gate here.
