Tim O’Connor has done the form for Friday night’s meeting at Melton Entertainment Park.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: TAPPY (2) returned from a break and started his three-year-old season in style with a last-to-first win at Kilmore last week that has set the platform for a good preparation. It was a really promising effort and I fancy he can score again here from the handy draw with James Herbertson in the bike. If it’s not TAPPY (2), then it’s a wide-open event. GOOD DAY (3) made a sustained run from last at Shepparton on February 17 and only dropped out late, and did run very well first-up on New Year’s Eve at Melton, KISS ME MINI (10) makes her debut for the Adam Kelly yard without a trial but brings solid form from New South Wales to the table, while RUMPELSTILTSKIN (6) ran well when sixth at Shepparton on March 3 in a slick last half. That had some merit in what was his first race for about a year.
BACK: TAPPY (2) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: TAPPY (2), GOOD DAY (3), KISS ME MINI (10), RUMPELSTILTSKIN (6)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: Tricky race, but I’m siding with the first-up runner in BLUE MIKI (11). His last start was a solid effort despite being well beaten in the Vicbred Super Series Silver Final and I thought he was sound in a recent trial behind smart trotter Mercenary ahead of Friday’s assignment. His last victory was at Ballarat in late October when he worked hard early, found the front and powered clear in a 56.5 last half. Something like that would win this I fancy. SHIRALEE (2) might be able to get across to the fence here and that would give her a great chance. She was outclassed last time, but ran well in a couple of races for second prior. MIDNIGHT MOJO (6) is a super honest customer who hasn’t been far behind smart rivals Savon De Roche and Tappy in recent outings, while LIVELY RASCAL (9) heads the other winning chances from the nice trailing draw.
BACK: BLUE MIKI (11) – 1.5 units (each-way)
SELECTIONS: BLUE MIKI (11), SHIRALEE (2), MIDNIGHT MOJO (6), LIVELY RASCAL (9)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: OX KNOX (3) led and jumped off stride in the home straight last weekend when it looked as though he might be fighting out the finish. That was a stronger race than this, and his run when third – beaten 2.3m by Just As I Am – prior was also good in better grade. He has gate speed and might be able to lead all the way here. JUMPING JONES (6) was an amazing winner on debut as a nine-year-old at Ballarat last week when he sat parked and held off the handy Pipalicious to score. He can definitely win again despite the awkward gate. RAKERO WARRIOR (9) won well twice during February, made a mistake in the run after that and was a good second to Deep Love last week at Bendigo, while JAKARTA (4) heads the rest of the chances based off his runner-up placings to Crusher Clyde and Quake Proof in recent weeks.
SELECTIONS: OX KNOX (3), JUMPING JONES (6), RAKERO WARRIOR (9), JAKARTA (4)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: Maiden event here where Emma Stewart runner AMELIAS JEWEL (4) is fancied to start her career in winning fashion. She was second to stablemate Mount Barker Boy at the Melton trials on March 10 in what was a solid performance without being amazing, but she hails from a powerhouse stable and this does look a suitable assignment. PET WOLF (1) is a seven-year-old with just the two starts to his name, but he shows some ability despite still learning what it’s all about, while LIBERTY STAR DUST (5) and STEEL MIKI (6) both come through a race Tryx Vixen won at Bendigo on March 4. They ran well and must be regarded as chances.
SELECTIONS: AMELIAS JEWEL (4), PET WOLF (1), LIBERTY STAR DUST (5), STEEL MIKI (6)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: APRIL SUN (6) gets the nod here in a trappy event for the trotters where there’s plenty of naughty behaviour to cloud our judgement. He finally trotted all the way last time out at Kilmore and ran a great race for second. He had a dip for the lead early, was forced to sit parked, hit the front along the back and was only run down by one in the last 100m or so. It was a top effort and something similar probably wins this. That said, JACKOFALLTRADES (1) trialled really well at Melton on March 10 and thrashed the handy Charlies Tactics there, so he is one to watch first-up from a break. He’s fast and might prove hard to catch if he tears along out in front. MONTY MONTE (5) hasn’t shown much for new trainer Andy Gath but could improve in the small field, while FLING IT RAINBOW (3) tries hard but does get tired late in his races and might be a place chance at best.
SELECTIONS: APRIL SUN (6), JACKOFALLTRADES (1), MONTY MONTE (5), FLING IT RAINBOW (3)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: WHATS THE TEA (7) was a good winner from the chair at Maryborough on Monday and I fancy he can repeat the result here at Melton. He was held up back in the field and charged through the line impressively in his two starts before that victory, and he’s certainly going well enough to overcome the wide gate. JESSICAS STORY (2) is a consistent type who should be able to cross to the pegs and run a nice race, MACHO MAORI (3) looped the field to win at Bendigo in early March and was then caught parked before dropping out last time, while ATEGO DAWN (5) prevailed two runs back when beating home the on-top selection, but this draw is sticky.
BACK: WHATS THE TEA (7) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: WHATS THE TEA (7), JESSICAS STORY (2), MACHO MAORI (3), ATEGO DAWN (5)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: Gee, I like what I’m seeing from SHINELIKETHESUN (3) this preparation. She came from well back to score first-up from a break, and on Tuesday night this week rattled home from a mile back to finish second to I Am Harro. The last half was very slow, but it was a super effort to get so close from where she was with some of the interference and traffic problems she endured. BAR TAB (7) is a talented mare who hasn’t been seen at the races since making a couple of mistakes in running at Maryborough on February 11. If she trots cleanly, she can be right in this despite the bad barrier. KISS AT MIDNIGHT (6) was fourth when parked first-up at Kilmore and her runs late last preparation were sound, while BET BET HOTSHOT (1) can get keen in his races, but I think he’s got some ability and is good enough to run well despite being a maiden after 27 starts.
BACK: SHINELIKETHESUN (3) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: SHINELIKETHESUN (3), BAR TAB (7), KISS AT MIDNIGHT (6), BET BET HOTSHOT (1)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R1 #2 TAPPY – 3 units (win)
R2 #11 BLUE MIKI – 1.5 units (each-way)
R6 #7 WHATS THE TEA – 2 units (win)
R7 #3 SHINELIKETHESUN – 2 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
2/2,6,9,11/3,6,9/1,4
QUADDIE
1,4/1,5,6/2,3,7/3,6,7
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
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