Turkey Lane, an 11-year-old who won the Great Eastern in 1998, beat Shamrock Dancer by a length. The promising trial by the veteran encouraged trainer Brian Searle and jockey Gary Preston.

Searle said Turkey Lane hadn't raced until he turned five and spent 13 months out of racing after his Oakbank success five years ago.

"He fell over another horse at Warrnambool and bowed a tendon soon after and needed a long break," Searle said.

"I know he is 11-years-old but the horse doesn't and considering his age he hasn't had a lot of racing."

Local favourite Raquets, who on recent winning form would challenge for favouritism in next Monday's feature, jumped poorly in the second steeple trial, finishing 22-lengths behind the winner Voodoo Sunset in third place.

Trainer David Halliday will bring Raquets back to Oakbank on Thursday morning to school because he was disappointed with his effort, which failed to inspire confidence.

"He's a funny horse and he may have got bogged down but he is very fit and I know he is better than what we saw today," Halliday said.

"I've got to bring him back for another look around on Thursday because we need to go into the race feeling more confident than we are at the moment."

Premier Adelaide trainer Tony McEvoy produced Lance Corporal and Medipal in the hurdle trials and both gave pointers to strong winning chances this weekend.

McEvoy had intended sending Lance Corporal to Warrnambool in a fortnight for the Galleywood Hurdle but made the horse a late entry for the $94,500 Yalumba Classic Hurdle (abt 3600m) next Monday after seeing the nominations.

"It doesn't look overly strong for a $90,000 race and Lance Corporal was a winner around here last Easter in the Trial Hurdle," McEvoy said.

"It is a race I would love to win and I will have to seriously consider running him in it now on the strength of his trial this morning."

Lance Corporal ran second to the John O'Connor-trained Top Kala but was beaten only a half-head and could have easily won had he been extended by jockey Adrian Garraway.

Medipal, ridden by Shane Pateman, settled last but rounded up his rivals under mild urging to win by a widening half-length. He will start in the $30,500 Ord Minnett Sharebrokers Trial Hurdle (abt 2900m) on Saturday.

Victoria's premier jumps trainer Eric Musgrove produced five runners at the trials. He won a hurdle heat with Refugee, the fastest winner of the morning, and Wriggles ran a close second to Medipal. Super Cobra finished fourth in a hurdle division.

The Rampager and Pooky Bear led with a round to go in their steeple schools and were retired. Both galloped stylishly and took to the Oakbank fences with zeal, indicating they will be competitive in whatever Musgrove chooses to run them in - the $94,500 Von Doussa Steeple (abt 3250m) on Saturday or the Great Eastern.

Media Release - Oakbank Racing Club

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