Bronte Nieuwenburg has done the form ahead of Ballarat on Thursday night.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: WOODLEA DIEGO (4) is an experienced 17-time winner. He was a winner three starts back at Melton when flashing home to win well. He has a good turn of foot. He will be relying a bit on luck here, but he is racing well. ARE WEASLEY (5) had to do it tough twice on one day at Stawell last Friday in the Stawell Toyota Pleasant Creek Heat and Final. He is likely going to have to do it tough again here from the barrier, but he can make his own luck. ALLGOOD VINNIE (3) has progressed out of maiden grade quickly since joining the Ashleigh Herbertson stable. It’s getting harder for him now, but he is in career-best form.
BACK: WOODLEA DIEGO (4) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: WOODLEA DIEGO (4), ARE WEASLEY (5), ALLGOOD VINNIE (3)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: The horses in this field combined have raced 240 times, and they are all looking to take home their maiden victory here. ROMAN CHARLIE (2) was fourth last start in a much harder race than this one. He had to make a sustained three-wide trip and still battled on well for fourth. His start prior, he was pulled up with a flat tyre, and prior to that he finished second three times consecutively. Barrier one is always a great position in a maiden, and that’s the position here for HART OF CYPRUS (1). She has gate speed and should map well. OPERTSER (9) maps well here, being able to follow through Roman Charlie early. From the strong Ross Graham–James Herbertson combination. WHIRILY MAURZ (5) is one of the better horses in this field. She’s a Bettors Delight mare that has placed a few times recently with promising runs. She just has an awkward barrier here.
BACK: ROMAN CHARLIE (2) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: ROMAN CHARLIE (2), HART OF CYPRUS (1), OPERTSER (9), WHIRILY MAURZ (5)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: This is a maiden trot where manners are really going to matter. ALDEBARAN BRIANNA (2) is first up here. She’s been hindered throughout her career by bad manners, but she certainly has the ability to win her maiden when she can trot throughout. She’s risky, but if her manners are good, she can perform well. Noting she will start from barrier one. MILLY METER (1) was made EOD on Friday, so she will start from barrier seven here. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, she will have time and space to settle early. Her run two starts back at this track was promising when she flashed home well to finish third. James Herbertson takes the reins for the first time on this mare. KICKABARREL (10) found some confidence last start, doing everything right at Maryborough. He is still learning what trotting is all about, as he does have the tendency to miss away early. He needs to put it all together here. ISLAND RUBEE (4) is first up for Rory Coverdale. It’s hard to place her ability based on her previous performances. She raced some of the best trotting mares in Australasia two starts back but was beaten 91m. A big ask for a maiden trotter. Last start she was tightened for racing room late. She has had three previous trainers from her eight career starts. She will likely suit Rory Coverdale’s small stable, one-on-one, detail-oriented training style.
SELECTIONS: ALDEBARAN BRIANNA (2), MILLY METER (1), KICKABARREL (10), ISLAND RUBEE (4)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: FREAK OUT (2) is sectionally the best performing horse in this race. He raced in the breeze last start at Cranbourne and still battled on well for second. He has a good barrier to get forward here. BINALONG BAY (10) was held up last start at Cranbourne when trying to find a run in the sprint lane, but it looked like he was travelling very well. He is racing well but will need luck from barrier 10. SHIRALEE (3) steps out for her 100th start here. She raced in the breeze last start but was still too good. Maps a little awkwardly, but if she finds a forward position she’s a great winning chance. DELTA STARZ (1) has good gate speed and has options here from barrier one. Her map suits her racing style.
SELECTIONS: FREAK OUT (2), BINALONG BAY (10), SHIRALEE (3), DELTA STARZ (1)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: SANCHEZ (10) is likely the most talented horse racing on this card. This smart horse has won over $150k in 25 starts. This is probably one of the easiest races he has found in his career. He’s often racing Group 1-winning performers. Tricky barrier, but he should be too good. INSIDER TRADING (2) won well last start, first up for his new stable, the McNaultys. He is likely to improve again, and he has the gate speed to potentially find the front. In saying that, on times Sanchez is performing 2–5 seconds better than the rest of this field, but Insider Trading will have a big head start with natural improvement if he finds the front and Sanchez needs to loop the field. MORRIS BROWN (6) is a versatile performer who has won two of his last three. This is a step up again for him, but he’s racing well and has confidence. He will benefit from good luck. MONSIEUR FLAMEL (5) is racing better than his numerical form suggests. He will be relying on luck here. Leaning towards a place-only chance, but not one to leave out of first fours.
BACK: SANCHEZ (10) – 4 units (win)
SELECTIONS: SANCHEZ (10), INSIDER TRADING (2), MORRIS BROWN (6), MONSIEUR FLAMEL (5)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: Sticking with two of the three Ross Graham-trained runners here, both with different racing styles. WHATS THE TEA (5) won well in the breeze at Melton two starts ago. He is the type of horse that can make his own luck and be put into the race, as he doesn’t have brilliant speed if relying on one run. He’s a very experienced trotter and will likely work forward from barrier five. AGAINST THE BRIDLE (9) was good winning last start at Cranbourne when leading. I do prefer when he finds the front, which he is unlikely to here, but he does have a good turn of foot and a suitable barrier to follow through early. TE AMO (8) hit the line really well last start at Maryborough to finish second behind Ai Sedhai. If he gets some lucky gaps and is close enough, he will be flashing home. RIDETHELIGHTNING (2) sustained a long, wide run last start at Terang but was beaten late by the promising Coltrane. If he can replicate that performance, he is a winning chance here.
SELECTIONS: WHATS THE TEA (5), AGAINST THE BRIDLE (9), TE AMO (8), RIDETHELIGHTNING (2)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: SHIFFRIN (4) was huge on debut when winning at Bendigo recently. It’s a step up again here, but she’s very well bred, from a top stable, and looks to have ability and will progress nicely through her grades. MUSELET (3) has gate speed and is in great form. He got very keen last start but still managed to win well when leading. He is likely to find the front again. BREATHE EASY (9) is in career-best form, being in the top three in 10 of his last 12 starts since joining the Basil Dooley stable. He has a suitable barrier to be saved for one run. Interestingly, James Herbertson takes the drive aboard this flashy chestnut for the first time. CAPTAIN WILSON (8) has been racing well on sectionals. At his best, he is a great sit-sprinter and will need luck from barrier eight.
BACK: SHIFFRIN (4) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: SHIFFRIN (4), MUSELET (3), BREATHE EASY (9), CAPTAIN WILSON (8)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: ALOOK TO LIKE (2) is likely to find a positive forward position here. Although he has been out of the winner’s circle for over a year, he has, on times, been racing OK. Tipping him on a map basis here, he should get a good run regardless of whether he finds the fence or not. The last time he was in this grade (NR up to 37), he ran a positive second. MIDNITE DESIRE (5) has made quite a few gear changes heading into this race. He has the most consistently positive form in this event. He has been competitive in all his starts this year and is working towards a win. He has the best sectional times in this field. SIR CANDY CLOUD (8) has got it wrong early in his last two runs. However, his two runs prior to that were good at Cranbourne. Being the only horse off the second line, he has options here and time to settle early. PISTOL QUEEN (1) is first up for 112 days here, so she will appreciate the soft fence-line trip. Needs to improve from last campaign to win this, but from barrier one she is a first four chance based on the map.
SELECTIONS: ALOOK TO LIKE (2), MIDNITE DESIRE (5), SIR CANDY CLOUD (8), PISTOL QUEEN (1)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R1 #4 WOODLEA DIEGO – 2 units (win)
R2 #2 ROMAN CHARLIE – 2 units (win)
R5 #10 SANCHEZ – 4 units (win)
R7 #4 SHIFFRIN – 2 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
3,4,5/1,2,5,9/1,2,4,10/1,2,3,10
QUADDIE
2,10/2,5,8,10/3,4,6,8,9/1,2,5,8
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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