Tim O’Connor has done the form for the 10 races at Melton Entertainment Park.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: Speed galore off the front row here, with most of the runners liking to press forward off the gate. I fancy ROCK PHONE (1) has the pace to hold if driver Jordan Leedham desires, but he could be inclined to take a sit over the middle trip. Given the likely early burn, I’m happy to side with HES ALL TORQUE (9) narrowly from the good draw. He’s been running home well of late behind handy rivals such as Jilliby Willow, Madrigal and New Shuffle and should be hitting the line hard here. SOAP AND BUBBLES (10) was solid in the Running of the Bulls at Birchip last time out and has a great little sprint on her, former Kiwi TEN DA TOUCH (8) is catching the eye and would get a huge chance if the pole-marker held the top, while ROCK PHONE (1) must be a chance given his draw and early speed. The chances certainly don’t end there, however…
SELECTIONS: HES ALL TORQUE (9), SOAP AND BUBBLES (10), TEN DA TOUCH (8), ROCK PHONE (1)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: Another wide-open event here where there’s a case to be made for most of the starters. And like the first, there appears plenty of speed off the front line. CELESTIAL ZODIAC (4) might be a good little each-way play based off the way he surged through the line last weekend in a race won by Vincenzo and much of his other recent form. HITTHEROADJACK (7) was solid in a better race than this won by Son Of Mac last weekend and is a tough customer who can run well despite the wide gate, HUGO ROCKS (11) was well backed and flashed home from last two runs ago and also wasn’t bad in that Son Of Mac clash, while KEAYANG WASABI (12) was caught parked and dropped out last time but the two runs prior to start the campaign were good. He can bounce back. Like race one, the hopes certainly don’t stop there…
SELECTIONS: CELESTIAL ZODIAC (4), HITTHEROADJACK (7), HUGO ROCKS (11), KEAYANG WASABI (12)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: FIRE MARSHALL (5) set the track alight with a new 2100m record at Charlton on Sunday when leading and running along to score by a big margin. It followed a big finale for third behind SEA FURY (4) in the Wangaratta Pacing Cup before that and a brave effort when parked with broken gear at Ballarat prior. He’s in good form and James Herbertson sticks here, which is a good lead. WILD CARD (1) is shooting for three-straight wins after good efforts at Cranbourne and Melton and draws for a lovely trip, LUVA SCRAP (9) is very consistent and will be getting home hard late, while STARZZZ DESTINY (2) has been runner-up his two runs back from a break and might be able to cross the pole-marker to lead this event early. A few others wouldn’t shock, including SEA FURY (4), EDWARDE GRANGE (10) and THE STEEL DRAGON (11).
SELECTIONS: FIRE MARSHALL (5), WILD CARD (1), LUVA SCRAP (9), STARZZZ DESTINY (2)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: Yet another tough event for the punters to sort out, with a stack of winning chances in the first trotting event of the evening. CLAUDYS HERO (9) is warming nicely into his campaign and produced a bold front-running display to beat a handy field at Bendigo last time out. His run prior when chased down by Just As I Am was also good. Just leaning his way. MAJESTIC TOOTH (5) might have the speed to cross to the fence and from there can run a race at odds. He was a brave second in the Wangaratta Trotters Cup when parked latest. HOWDY MATE (8) was a top two-year-old last season with two Group 1 runner-up placings and a win in the rich Nutrien series final to his name. He returns here with a great chance despite a sticky gate, while SKY LINDY (4) heads the others given her run of hot form. She had her picket fence ruined last start when fourth behind CLAUDYS HERO (9), but it was a solid effort from three back on the pegs.
SELECTIONS: CLAUDYS HERO (9), HOWDY MATE (8), MAJESTIC TOOTH (5), SKY LINDY (4)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: Great to see the return of last-start Group 1 Vicbred Super Series four-year-old winner HILLTOP HUGH (1), who heads back to the races following six trials! His last couple have been full of merit, with a big victory on March 3 and then a solid effort for fifth behind the pacers on March 10. He draws well and looks to get a great chance. That said, there’s just something about QUIRKY CHARACTER (9) that I love. His manners have become really good of late and he has managed top victories over KYVALLEY MAVEN (6) in his last couple of outings. It won’t be easy to run down the likely leader in HILLTOP HUGH (1), but I’m just going to lean his way. There’s a real X-factor there. KYVALLEY MAVEN (6) beat QUIRKY CHARACTER (9) three runs back and hasn’t been far away his last couple, while EL RESAMO (8) should get a nice run on the pole-marker’s back and is a must for trifectas and First 4s.
SELECTIONS: QUIRKY CHARACTER (9), HILLTOP HUGH (1), KYVALLEY MAVEN (6), EL RESAMO (8)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: Small field, but an intriguing contest that starts with the early speed battle. GHOST OF TIME (3) has the pace to cross to the fence, but it will be interesting to see if Ryan Sanderson takes a sit on a horse like SMOKEN ACE (6), who also shows great early toe in his races. Then there’s BULLETPROOF BOY (7), who is clearly the class runner of the field and might just bully his way to the front. Whenever he lands in transit, I’m keen on him getting the job done. He was a massive winner of the Newcastle Mile from last, then copped a check and broke in the Miracle Mile last weekend. He produced an incredible run to chase the field, tack on and only be beaten 11.8m by Leap To Fame. He’s flying and just loves the 1720m here at Melton. The classy FIGHTER COMMAND (5) returns for his first start since September and heads here on the back of two good trial wins, while GHOST OF TIME (3), SMOKEN ACE (6) and OLIVER DAN (4) could all win without shocking, but look better place chances.
BACK: BULLETPROOF BOY (7) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: BULLETPROOF BOY (7), FIGHTER COMMAND (5), GHOST OF TIME (3), SMOKEN ACE (6)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: FOLLOWTHEACE (2) showed great gate speed to lead and control a 2240m race here at Melton on March 7, which he ended up winning in dominant fashion with a slick last half of 55.5. He easily held off Vincenzo there and that horse has come out and won impressively since. If he leads here, he will be awfully hard to run down over the 1720m. METEOR MOTH (8) hasn’t thrived on the tight tracks at Ararat and Birchip his last two, but is a classy customer who narrowly missed top free-for-aller Hi Manameisjeff in the Mercury80 prior and ran well in the hot 4YO and 5YO Championship at Cranbourne before that. ALWAYS BE BLAKEY (1) won well on resumption, chased hard for third latest and will get a nice trip, while ROCKNROLL WALLA (7) charged home nicely for fourth in a good first-up display and he’s a good value runner for trifectas and First 4s.
BACK: FOLLOWTHEACE (2) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: FOLLOWTHEACE (2), METEOR MOTH (8), ALWAYS BE BLAKEY (1), ROCKNROLL WALLA (7)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: Super race here where last Friday night’s Geelong Pacing Cup champion JILLIBY NITRO (8) is narrowly fancied to secure back-to-back wins. His victory there at Beckley Park was quite brilliant, needing just part of the straight to reel in his rivals from last. His runs in some of the state’s big features prior were good and he’s quick enough to round up his opposition given the expected genuine tempo. CAPTAIN PERFECT (6), a top three-year-old in 2025, makes his first appearance of the season here. He was narrowly beaten by star stablemate Loucasso in a recent trial and heads to this race on the back of a triumph in the Breeders Crown final in December. He’s classy and can resume in winning fashion. MY ULTIMATE BARNEY (7) produced a great run in the Paleface Adios Stakes to qualify for the Chariots of Fire at Menangle, but made a mistake and basically took no part in that feature on March 7. His best is very good, but the gate is awkward. SON OF MAC (5) bounced back to winning form with a top performance last weekend and he won’t be far away based off that.
BACK: JILLIBY NITRO (8) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: JILLIBY NITRO (8), CAPTAIN PERFECT (6), MY ULTIMATE BARNEY (7), SON OF MAC (5)
Race 9:
OVERVIEW: ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (7) was able to cross, lead and beat I AM WILMA (4) when they last met in the Breed For Speed Gold Trot at Melton on February 28 – and I fancy we will see a repeat of that here. ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (7) made a mistake and galloped after finding the front in last weekend’s Group 1 Hammerhead Mile, but can bounce back to winning form. I AM WILMA (4) was a little plain first-up from a break, but then chased home hard behind ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (7) in that race during late February and is the main danger, while ALDEBARAN ACRUX (6) was fourth in that aforementioned event and was trapped three wide in a forgive job in the Geelong Trotters Cup last Friday. It’s great to see PINNIE (5) back at the races after a serious atrial fibrillation issue in her last outing at Ararat during late February and she is next best.
BACK: ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (7) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (7), I AM WILMA (4), ALDEBARAN ACRUX (6), PINNIE (5)
Race 10:
OVERVIEW: We close the evening with a battle between the two-year-olds where BAYSTYLE (5) is perhaps the safest way to play. On debut at Maryborough, he sat parked and beat home three rivals that reoppose here while only going down narrowly to Onelook. It was a good effort. FORTYHOURS (6) closed off really nicely for second at the Melton trials on March 10 and heads to the races with a great chance on debut, STERLING GIGI (3) worked forward and battled on well for third in that clash at Maryborough, while STOLEN ONE (4) was solid at the Bendigo trials ahead of her first career start.
SELECTIONS: BAYSTYLE (5), FORTYHOURS (6), STERLING GIGI (3), STOLEN ONE (4)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R6 #7 BULLETPROOF BOY – 3 units (win)
R7 #2 FOLLOWTHEACE – 3 units (win)
R8 #8 JILLIBY NITRO – 2 units (win)
R9 #7 ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (7) – 2 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
1,6,7,8,9,10,11,12/3,4,6,7,9,11,12/1,5,9/4,5,8,9
QUADDIE
1,6,9/5,7/1,2,8/6,8
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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