Tim O’Connor has done the form for Friday night’s meeting at Melton Entertainment Park.
Race 1
SELECTIONS: MAURLEN GRACE (10), TRYX VIXEN (6), MISS JOPLIN (3), ILLUMINATE ME (4)
OVERVIEW: MAURLEN GRACE (10) produced a great run at the Bendigo trials ahead of her debut here at Melton, defeating Skyfall Bennchmark, who came out and recorded his eighth career win at Cobram on Sunday. That reads really well for a race like this and she looks a good bet to start the night. TRYX VIXEN (6) was well handled in the recent Breeders Crown series through December, but before that ran a gutsy second to Springfield River at Ballarat. She shapes as a key danger. MISS JOPLIN (3), ILLUMINATE ME (4) and HELENSHOPE (2) look best of the rest.
BACK: MAURLEN GRACE (10) – 2 units (win)
Race 2
SELECTIONS: BRINGSUSJOY (5), REIGN EM IN (1), HANDLER (9), KEAYANG OMAR (8)
OVERVIEW: BRINGSUSJOY (5) ran a cracking race for second in the Vicbred Silver Final for three-year-old fillies back in late November and then competed through the Breeders Crown series. She finished second last at Cobram on Sunday but looked held up with something left in the tank over the line. She might be the class here in an even contest with no stars. REIGN EM IN (1) draws well and looks the likely leader so will be hard to beat over the sprint trip, HANDLER (9) closed off nicely with a slick last half at Ballarat recently and KEAYANG OMAR (8) might get a nice run on the fence to threaten late.
BACK: BRINGSUSJOY (5) – 1 unit (each-way)
Race 3
SELECTIONS: SENNA STORM (2), LENARD ESS (9), JILLIBY SELWOOD (7), PISTOL PEARCE (4)
OVERVIEW: Tricky little race this, but have gone with SENNA STORM (2) on top. He was held up and then hit the line nicely for fifth when clear at Maryborough last time and boxed on bravely despite a torrid trip at Horsham before that. This is a suitable event from a good draw. LENARD ESS (9) charged home from back in the field at Geelong and should get a good trip from barrier nine, JILLIBY SELWOOD (7) is going okay and has to be a chance despite the wide gate and PISTOL PEARCE (4) heads a stack of other chances.
Race 4
SELECTIONS: DEVOLAS LEGACY (12), TOO THE MAX (10), MIDNIGHT MOJO (5), LIVELY RASCAL (11)
OVERVIEW: Another difficult event to sort out here, but there does appear to be some speed on paper and for that reason I’m looking towards the back row runners in DAVOLAS LEGACY (12) and TOO THE MAX (10). DAVOLAS LEGACY (12) was chopped out at a crucial stage last time when fighting out the finish and ran a brave race for third behind Montana Pride at Ballarat three back. Should be an each-way price. TOO THE MAX (10) continued his good form with a win at Geelong on December 19 and is expected to run well, MIDNIGHT MOJO (5) is knocking on the door after back-to-back runner-up placings, while LIVELY RASCAL (11) has ability and won a Bacchus Marsh trial ahead of this first-up assignment.
Race 5
SELECTIONS: CAN BE RUEBE (9), PLATINUM JIVE (3), ISOLATION (2), GUNFORHIRE (7)
OVERVIEW: CAN BE A RUEBE (9) drops back from contesting the Group 2 Vicbred Super Series Final at her latest start and draws for a nice trip off the back row. Her last success was back in early November when she led and defeated PLATINUM JIVE (3), who reopposes here and also has a great chance. ISOLATION (2) has good gate speed and should find the fence so can run well first-up, GUNFORHIRE (7) was extremely brave when just missing at Terang last time and looms as a chance despite another wide draw, while last-start winner RUBY WINGATE (8) is among the other hopes.
Race 6
SELECTIONS: SHIRALEE (8), KARDESLER (3), GOZO MAJOR (2), FEEL THE BUZZ (5)
OVERVIEW: SHIRALEE (8) strikes a really winnable race here with a lot of horses having very little form to get excited about. She was held up at Charlton last time out but really hit the line well when clear, and battled on well in a much stronger race than this when third at Terang prior. She looks the one. Whoever finds the top will take some catching and that might be KARDESLER (3), while GOZO MAJOR (2) and FEEL THE BUZZ (5) have been competitive at times recently.
BACK: SHIRALEE (8) – 3 units (win)
Race 7
SELECTIONS: RIDDLEMETHIS (9), BLUE OCEAN (1), FREAK OUT (5), KIMCHI (6)
OVERVIEW: Looks a great race for RIDDLEMETHIS (9) to land a second career win for budding trainer Daniel Zammit. He broke through in good style at Maryborough three back, then ran well at Geelong before hitting the line strongly from four back the fence at Terang last time. This is a race with limited form to get excited about, but BLUE OCEAN (1), FREAK OUT (5), KIMCHI (6) and MILLYS PRINCE (2) head the other picks, with old RIVER PATROL (3) likely to spear over to the front and give them something to chase.
BACK: RIDDLEMETHIS (9) – 3 units (win)
Race 8
SELECTIONS: DELS DESTINY (7), CHARLIES TACTICS (8), MONTANA CHEVELLE (5), PARLEZVOUS PATTY (6)
OVERVIEW: Another race with a few winning chances, but I’m leaning towards DELS DESTINY (7) despite the awkward gate. He won at Melton three starts back and hasn’t had much luck since in probably stronger races than this. CHARLIES TACTICS (8) hasn’t done much wrong in his four-start career to date and must rate as a good chance here, MONTANA CHEVELLE (5) found the top and broke through for a win last time out and PARLEZVOUS PATTY (6) has made mistakes his last couple but did win by a huge margin at the Melton trials recently.
Race 9
SELECTIONS: KICKABARREL (8), BETTOR MAN (7), RAMBO SUFFARELL (2), IN HIGH PLACES (6)
OVERVIEW: Open maiden event to close the card where I’m siding with KICKABARREL (8), who returns to the races on the back of a Bacchus Marsh trial win. He made mistakes in his latest starts during March, but made up huge ground in one of them to be only beaten 9.3m. BETTOR MAN (7) contested a Group 1 Vicbred Super Series Final in November and was a brave third last time out after doing plenty of work. He can win. RAMBO SUFFARELL (2) makes his debut on the back of a nice trial win at Melton, while IN HIGH PLACES (6) has shown glimpses and can run well.
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R1 #10 – Maurlen Grace – 2 units (win)
R2 #5 – Bringsusjoy – 1 unit (each-way)
R6 #8 – Shiralee – 3 units (win)
R7 #9 – Riddlemethis – 3 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
10/5,1,9,8/2,9,7,4/12,10,5,11
QUADDIE
9,3,2,7,8/8,3,2/9/7,8,5,6
For all your harness form in one place go to goodform.thetrots.com.au
** A betting unit is typically a percentage of the total bankroll or the amount of money you are willing to risk on a particular bet – for example 1 unit is 10% of your bankroll, therefore a $100 bankroll 1 unit equals $10
Chances are you’re about to lose. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
