He was sent back to the trials to fix his bad manners, but Gary Donaldson’s talented trotter looks in great form ahead of his return to the races at Hamilton on Monday.
That’s the thoughts of Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail, who was impressed with Luvski’s performance at Maryborough on Sunday.
“He is very classy when he can put it altogether and he stepped away reasonably from the standing start before progressing forward to lead in his runaway success in the final trial,” Rail noted.
“He is backing up at Hamilton on Monday and will prove hard to beat if he is able to trot throughout.”
Luvski has subsequently found a place in Rail’s Blackbook, which can be found at the bottom of this week’s Victorian trial report.
TRIAL REPORT 262
STAWELL 25/04/24
Trial 1: - STARZINHEREYES had one start for new trainer Marnie Bibby in November and was sent for a spell. She was able to win the opening trial by a narrow margin over GERRALE, which hasn’t started since a third at Maryborough in August and the juvenile pacer SURFE LE MER was last of the three runners to the line. GERRALE will be competing at Maryborough on Friday afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.8 Last Half: - 58.0 Margins: - Neck, 13m
Trial 2: - ONE OFF NZ has recently joined trainer Barry Ainsworth after doing most of his recent racing in Tasmania. He was able to win his trial by a large and considering he has a very low National Rating of 33, he should be able to be placed in a suitable race in the near future. DON’T DOUBT hasn’t raced for nearly a year and finished second ahead of the trotters LOOKAT SPUNKY TROT and MAXIMEZ.
Mile Rate: - 2.4.4 Last Half: - 60.7 Margins: - 17.5m, 35.5m
BACCHUS MARSH 27/04/24
Trial 1: - BUBBY TO BASE has always shown her fair share of ability and was able to defeat the recent race winner RENDEZVOUS in the opening trial. She hasn’t raced since a seventh in the Gold Chalice back in February but recorded a mile rate of 1.56.6 when she won at Melton prior and she might be in for a good campaign. She is competing at Shepparton on Sunday afternoon. RENDEZVOUS was second ahead of the New Zealand bred pacer MACH MAJOR NZ and the trotter IMPERIAL WHIZ NZ was fourth past the post. RENDEZVOUS followed with a second placed effort at Ballarat on Wednesday night and IMPERIAL WHIZ NZ will be competing at Shepparton on Sunday.
Mile Rate: - 2.7.8 Last Half: - 59.2 Margins: - 6m, head
Trial 2: - FREMARKS MURPHY is an unraced gelding for trainer Courtney Slater. He is by Trixton out of Maoris Got Muscle, which has already produced the good winner Fremarkstilly. He won the trial over MAGIC CADABRA, which is by Great Success out of the former handy mare Mystic Hush (2.0.6, $94,943). Mystic Hush has already produced four winners including the $100,000+ earners in Sky Majesty (2.0.5, $111,658) and Carnera (2.0.3, $165,105). MAGIC CADABRA finished well clear of the third placed MAJESTIC PARTY BOY. The sister to FREMARKS MURPHY, FREMARKS PEGGY was an easy winner of the last trial over THE SARGENT.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.3 Last Half: - 62.4 Margins: - 4m, 25m
Trial 5: - ALBY TWO CHAINS is a very smart pacer that has been freshened since a ninth at Melton in March. He was clearly the class runner of the trial and defeated CHAPPY STREETNORTH with HEY GOYOUGOODTHING NZ being third across the line. The last half was run in a slick 57.1 seconds so ALBY TWO CHAINS is obviously close to his peak form and he returns from a spell at Melton tomorrow night. CHAPPY STREETNORTH is also competing at Melton and HEY GOYOUGOODTHING NZ is backing up at Cranbourne on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.3 Last Half: - 57.1 Margins: - 6m, Nose
ECHUCA 28/04/24
Trial 2: - HEZ HARRYWHO has had a run of ordinary barrier draws at his most recent performances and he appears to race best when he is able to lead. He led throughout and was untroubled in winning his trial, which would have given him some confidence leading up to his next performance. LOYOLA ROCKNROLLA trailed the leader throughout and finished in second position with OUR CHRISTIANO being in third after making a move from three back on the markers at the quarter pole.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.0 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - 6m, 1m
MARYBOROUGH 28/04/24
Trial 1: - DEE ROE has returned from a New South Wales campaign, where he finished second in the Simpson Memorial and followed with a fourth in a heat of the New South Wales Derby. He is a very smart pacer and outclassed his rivals in the opening trial after settling five back on the markers and angled out four horses wide on the home turn. He will prove hard to beat at Hamilton on Monday. His stable mate HOT DEAL finished in second after settling three back on the markers and angling out wide on the track with 300m remaining. JAMES IN CHARGE was four back on the markers and waited for the sprint lane. He worked into third from ASMILEANDAWINX (trailed leader) with the early pacemaker SUNSTAR being the last one across the line.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.4 Last Half: - 56.3 Margins: - 1m, 4m
Trial 2: - SEQUENCE trailed the leader and moved away from the inside on the home turn. She finished off best and grabbed the early leader SEBASTIANS SECRET on the line. BLACK RANGE GLORY settled last of the four runners and ran into a distant third. SEQUENCE hasn’t raced since being unplaced in the Breeders Crown Final in November and she was placed in the Super Series in September so she is a classy mare.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.5 Last Half: - 57.9 Margins: - Nose, 15m
Trial 5: - CORNELIA hasn’t raced since January 2020! She competed in the Allied Express Classic during her juvenile season and has been showing some speed at the trials. She led out, took cover at the 1500m, and used the sprint lane to snare victory over KIMCHI, which left a trailing position in third to work to the lead mid-race. She backed up at Melton on Thursday night. KYRGIOS settled down last of the six runners and moved up without cover from the 800m to run a game third. He certainly showed enough talent to suggest he could win a race in the near future and is competing at Maryborough this afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.5 Last Half: - 58.6 Margins: - Head, Head
Trial 6: - REIGN EM IN raced very roughly and dropped out at his performance before the trial but he bounced back into his peak form with a comfortable victory after leading throughout. He backed up with his performance at Melton on Thursday night and peaked late after working very hard to lead. ANGEL OF ANGER filled second spot after settling five back on the markers and coming out very wide on the home turn. She is competing at Maryborough this afternoon. JILLIBY TIDALWAVE came from four back on the markers to pick up third and SURBITON HARTBREAK came out very wide from sixth to run into fourth position. SURBITON HARTBREAK is also competing at Maryborough this afternoon.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.1 Last Half: - 57.9 Margins: - 12m, Neck
Trial 7: - LUVSKI was a brilliant winner when resuming then made errors at his next two attempts and was stood down to trial at his latest performance. He is very classy when he can put it altogether and he stepped away reasonably from the standing start before progressing forward to lead in his runaway success in the Final trial. He is backing up at Hamilton on Monday and will prove hard to beat if he is able to trot throughout. ITS DIAMOND CREEK settled three back on the markers before coming to the outside at the 800m mark. He finished second ahead of SURBITON ARMISTICE, which led out then took cover. ITS DIAMOND CREEK is at Shepparton on Sunday and SURBITON ARMISTICE will be competing at Maryborough on Friday.
Mile Rate: - 2.6.1 Last Half: - 59.3 Margins: - 20m, 4m
BLACKBOOKER: - Luvski
YARRA VALLEY 29/04/24
Trial 1: - The training combination of Gary and Debbie Quinlan provided the Trifecta in the pre meeting trial at Yarra Valley. The Super Series winner SAHARA BREEZE hasn’t started since finishing sixth in the Victoria Oaks Final in October but she was able to win the trial from KARTIARE. KARTIARE’s last race track performance was an unplaced run in a heat of the Breeders Crown after he galloped away. CALLING BUDDY also hasn’t raced for the current season but he has been placed in four of his six starts to date including a victory in a mile rate of 1.56.4. He finished third in a quality trial with PRESTIGIACOMO being the next best in fourth.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.8 Last Half: - 57.4 Margins: - 2m, 2.5m
BENDIGO 29/04/24
Trial 1: - INSPIRE continued his good trial form with a victory over ZIPTIE, where he trailed the leader and came to the outside at the quarter pole. He dashed well clear on the home turn and wanted to switch off in the home straight but was still able to win by a big margin. He will be competing at Shepparton on Sunday. ZIPTIE held down second spot and OPRAH DOUBLE YOU came from five back on the markers to fill third position.
Mile Rate: - 2.8.2 Last Half: - 64.0 Margins: - 12m, 5m
Trial 3: - RUMPELSTILTSKIN settled three back on the markers, got shuffled back to fourth mid-race and came to the outside at the 300m mark. He switched back to the sprint lane in the straight and was able to win by a slender margin. GUARANTEED END is an unraced juvenile filly by Guaranteed out of the bonny mare Weeks End (1.54.3, $107,284) and showed a lot of promise. She settled four back on the markers and produced a big finishing burst to go down narrowly. FEAR THE POWER was three back on the markers before circling around to find the lead at the bell. He battled on well for third ahead of his stable mate NUGGET ROGERS (6 back pegs).
Mile Rate: - 2.1.4 Last Half: - 59.1 Margins: - Nose, 2m
BLACKBOOKER: - Guaranteed End
Trial 4: - KATHYS FREE drew clear at the end for a very impressive win. She settled 4 back on the markers and sustained a long run from the 800m with the winning margin continuing to widen at the end. TEETER began quickly to find the lead and set up a reasonable tempo. She was well beaten by KATHYS FREE but was able to beat the remainder of the field by a comfortable margin. LOYOLA SPIAGGIA finished in third after trailing the leader and LE BETTY (3 back markers) was fourth across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.2 Last Half: - 58.4 Margins: - 17m, 7m
Trial 6: - CLYMENUS prepared for his performance at Melton on Saturday night with a comfortable victory in the final trial. He was three horses wide early before finding the lead at the 1600m. He then kicked well clear on the home turn and appeared to be peaking in the final 50m but he was always a long way clear of his rivals. FULLOFMISCHIEF produced a very good performance to fill second spot. He settled three back on the markers and produced a strong finishing burst to pick up second place. It was a nice effort leading up to her effort at Shepparton on Sunday night. MIKIS PLEASURE was third after being four back on the markers and will also be backing up at Shepparton. RINGORELLA (5 back markers) finished in fourth spot.
Mile Rate: - 2.0.1 Last Half: - 57.9 Margins: - 7m, 8m
TERANG 30/04/24
Trial 1: - KEAYANG ZAHARA has been outstanding at her two starts to date and continued the momentum rolling with a trial victory over the unraced pacer JILLIBY TOMCAT. She is travelling to Sydney tomorrow night for a shot at the New South Wales Oaks. JILLIBY TOMCAT is by Betting Line out of Jilliby Opal, which has already produced two very good winners in JILLIBY ROAD RUNNER (1.54.3, $44,869) and JILLIBY SYLVESTER (1.54.1, $186,820). ALDEBARAN VERA finished in third with KEAYANG WOLFPACK being in fourth thus giving trainer Margaret Lee the first four runners across the line.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.9 Last Half: - 58.7 Margins: - ½ neck, 2.5m
Trial 2: - KEAYANG LAVITA is an unraced filly by Volstead out of the New Zealand bred mare Another Player NZ, which won nine races and amassed $62,088 in Stakes. The first foal out of Another Player NZ was the outstanding performer Majestic Player (1.51.2, $544,264) and KEAYANG LAVITA won the trial by over thirty metres so she is worth following. JILLIBY TOPGUN finished in second and the juvenile trotter MAORIS AVENGER was last of the three runners across the line.
Last Mile: - 2.12.3 Last Half: - 63.1 Margins: - 32m, 2.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Keayang Lavita
MELTON 30/04/24
Trial 1: - SON OF MAC NZ progressed forward to find the lead shortly after the start and ran along at a genuine tempo. He kicked on strongly in the run to the finish and recorded swift time in scoring. FRANCO PROMACHOS NZ travelled to Tasmania to commence his career and remained undefeated in three starts. He has been performing extremely well at the trials and appears to have a promising future. He led out then took cover behind SON OF MAC NZ before finishing a close up second. SMOKEN ACE NZ prepared for his return at Melton on Saturday night with a game third. He was three back on the markers throughout but he never peeled off the back of FRANCO PROMACHOS NZ at any stage in the home straight so it was a very good performance. LAYDEN was last of the four runners throughout.
Mile Rate: - 1.54.4 Last Half: - 55.5 Margins: - ½ Neck, 4.5m
Trial 2: - MY UNCLE STAN finished off in slick sectional times to win the second event. He settled four back on the markers and came to the outside at the 300m before getting home best to defeat HAVEYOUMETTED, which began quickly and trailed the leader but wanted to pull hard so he moved around to find the top with 1100m remaining. ANDREW led out then took cover and was third across the line in handy time.
Mile Rate: - 1.57.3 Last Half: - 56.7 Margins: - 2m, 2.5m
Trial 4: - PLATINUM JIVE NZ began quickly to find the lead and set up a moderate tempo. She finished off in a sizzling final quarter of 27.1 seconds and got the prize. SHAZZA LOVE was an excellent run in second. She settled six back on the markers and made a long run from the 600m in fast final sectionals to be beaten less than a length. UNDERTHESOUTHRNSUN was third across the line after being three back on the markers and finished ahead of MEGA WATTS, which trailed the leader throughout. UNDERTHESOUTHRNSUN will be making his debut at Cranbourne on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.2 Last Half: - 57.0 Margins: - 2.5m, 10.5m
BLACKBOOKER: - Shazza Love
Trial 6: - BELLE NEIGE hasn’t started since an incredible win at Charlton in August, where she led and went very waywardly before ending up close to the outside fence in the straight. She was very impressive in her trial victory after settling down five back on the markers and producing a big finish out wide on the track. MAJESTIC MOVER finished second after settling four back on the markers before moving into the death seat at the 300m. The former New Zealand trotter WISHING STAR NZ finished in third position after trying to lead throughout.
Mile Rate: - 2.3.9 Last Half: - 60.9 Margins: - 1.5m, head
BLACKBOOKER: - Belle Neige
Trial 7: - THUNDA STRUCK trailed the leader and came away from the inside at the 800m. He finished off strongly and was able to win comfortably. VAL THORENS settled last of the three runners and worked into a distant second with the early leader STAR OF PATRICK dropping back to finish at the tail of the field.
Mile Rate: - 2.1.1 Last Half: - 57.7 Margins: - 10.5m, 56m
Trial 10: - JACK SPRAT began quickly and raced without cover early before angling in behind the leader. He left the markers in the back straight on the final occasion and hit the front at the 600m before holding his rivals at bay. SAM NIEN is a juvenile trotter for trainer John Justice and showed plenty of promise. He settled four back on the inside and came away from the pegs at the 600m before running home stylishly for a close second. He is by Volstead out of the classy mare Sassy Pinevale (1.57.6, $176,195), which has produced the handy performer Electrojet (1.58.7, $77,728) and he showed enough ability to be worth following in the future. DISTANT SUN settled five back on the markers and came out three horses wide on the home turn. He finished well for third with DORA LEE coming from six back on the markers to pick up fourth position.
Mile Rate: - 2.2.6 Last Half: - 60.3 Margins: - ½ head, 2.5m
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