Tim O’Connor has dived deep into the form for tonight’s meeting at Melton Entertainment Park.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: Great race to start the night where there’s a host of winning chances and it’s great to see the return of exciting mare SWEET IDEAL (12). She closed last campaign with a down-the-track finish in the Make Mine Cullen at Ballarat in January, but oozes top-end speed and showed her class with a sizzling Melton trial in late April to ready for her return. It’s never easy from outside the back row, but if the tempo is on, she will take no end of holding out late. KOSIMO (9) was kind to followers when he saluted at nice odds last Friday night and he’s got another good chance here. He’s really in a rich vein of form at the moment, and like SWEET IDEAL (12), you can expect him to be charging late. ALWAYS BE BLAKEY (11) was a stunning winner when beating KOSIMO (9) and four others that reoppose from last at Melton on April 4, while REPELLING (3) looks the likely early leader and did win from the front back here on the same night as ALWAYS BE BLAKEY (11). The chances don’t end there, so don’t be afraid to go wide in the Early Quaddie!
SELECTIONS: SWEET IDEAL (12), KOSIMO (9), ALWAYS BE BLAKEY (11), REPELLING (3)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: DANCE AFFAIR (4) makes his return to the races here and I fancy he might be able to work to the lead and prove hard to catch. He hasn’t drawn the front row for a number of runs, but when he last did, he was able to spear forward and find the top. I liked his latest trial when he led and was only beaten 4.3m into second by Hoorah Philtra, who we saw win super impressively at Melton last weekend. He’s got some form around some nice horses from last preparation, and he might come up a decent price here in another wide-open event. LILLY LOTUS (5) ran a great second to Intrusion on her return last time out and she looks capable of winning a race like this, IDEAL BANDIT (1) rounded up a weaker field to prevail easily at Shepparton last time and has the gate speed to race prominently here, while BIZZNESS CLASS (7) was a big winner in a good race at Mildura last start and is flying, but has a horror draw.
BACK: DANCE AFFAIR (4) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: DANCE AFFAIR (4), LILLY LOTUS (5), IDEAL BANDIT (1), BIZZNESS CLASS (7)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: MOJITO MADNESS (9) ran a great race for second first-up in the care of new trainer Samantha Gangell at Melton last week behind Prohibited Grade, who is currently in great form. He settled in the one-one and closed off nicely to only be beaten 1.2m with a good margin back to third. He gets a nice trailing draw here and looks right in winning contention. BUSLIN BRODY (5) has long been a favourite of mine, and while he can do things wrong in his races, his best is pretty good. He led and won easily at Bendigo two starts ago and is likely to be one of the on-speed runners in this event. The other key hopes appear to be LEANNE LEEANN (4), who is going really well with runner-up placings her past couple, and DHONI TROUBLE (6), who won well at the trials this week and ran a cracker for second two back at Kilmore.
SELECTIONS: MOJITO MADNESS (9), BUSLIN BRODY (5), LEANNE LEEANN (4), DHONI TROUBLE (6)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: STAR TO FALL (3) looks a really progressive filly for Craig Turnbull and she heads to this assignment on the back of an unlucky fifth in the NSW Oaks heats behind Willows Girl. She was held up in the home straight there, but surged through the line when clear in what was a great effort. Last campaign, she won a heat and semi-final of the Vicbred Super Series and only good horses can do that. Happy her way. TALERN LOFTY (7) led and won a handy race at Melton last time out and David Miles might just be aggressive again from out wide, ISOLATION (10) went back-to-back with big wins at Melton before being caught parked and battling away bravely to only be beaten 3.7m last weekend by The Steel Dragon, while NEW YORKER (9), USYK (8), FIRE MARSHALL (6) and KING CASEY (1) are among the host of chances.
BACK: STAR TO FALL (3) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: STAR TO FALL (3), TALERN LOFTY (7), ISOLATION (10), NEW YORKER (9)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: KYVALLEY MICHAEL (2) galloped early, settled last and made up big ground out wide in a great run behind The Priestess on April 10 before rattling home from back in the field for fourth to Im Havintotrot at Bendigo last time out. He got past TICTOK (1) and FAITH FULL (4) there and looks ready to win. FAITH FULL (4) ran well in that same race and hasn’t been far away lately for new trainer Matthew Gath, CLAUDYS HERO (9) keeps running good placings in this type of grade and must be rated a good chance again, while IJUSTCALLEDTOSAY (10) returns from a strong three-year-old season where he won five races and trialled well against the pacers a couple of weeks ago for this first-up assignment.
BACK: KYVALLEY MICHAEL (2) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: KYVALLEY MICHAEL (2), CLAUDYS HERO (9), FAITH FULL (4), IJUSTCALLEDTOSAY (10)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: While he often ends up back in the field in his races, I reckon WHERE IS WOODY (4) can give this a real shake should he land close enough from gate four. Last week at Bendigo, he charged home for fourth in a quick race won by the handy Major Blitz, recording the best last half despite covering plenty of extra ground. Think he’ll be each-way odds and can run well. FEARLESS WRITER (6) has good gate speed and has been runner-up to handy rivals both starts this campaign, WILD CARD (1) was only run down by Ideal Bandit last time at Shepparton and gets the nice draw, LOU WILL (2) can figure if he gets across to the pegs as expected, while a few others wouldn’t surprise.
BACK: WHERE IS WOODY (4) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: WHERE IS WOODY (4), FEARLESS WRITER (6), WILD CARD (1), LOU WILL (2)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: Lots of winning hopes here, but happy to be in the corner of the in-form MY LITTLE BO (9) for Andy Gath. She ran a great race when fourth – beaten just 3.7m by Hes No Romeo – on ANZAC Day and that was a much stronger race than she tackles here. Keen runs well. INTRUSION (8) was simply brilliant winning by a big space in a slick last half on the same card and must be a huge chance again here, SOAP AND BUBBLES (7) has a great turn of foot on her but just can’t quite land close enough in the run to win and PERUN (4) was massive in defeat after a tough trip when nailed in the shadows of the post by Kosimo last Friday. He looks ready to win soon. Other hopes are headed by SEA FURY (2), who was huge when second to Fire Marshall two starts ago at Melton and might find the top.
BACK: MY LITTLE BO (9) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: MY LITTLE BO (9), INTRUSION (8), SOAP AND BUBBLES (7), PERUN (4)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: She’s got a bad draw to contend with, but I AM WILMA (7) brings the best formlines into this race given she’s chased home the likes of Remus Pheonix, Rockinwithattitude and Jilliby Ballerini since returning from a spell. She’s was a Group 1 winner last preparation and I fancy she might just be too classy here. Stablemate HILLTOP HUGH (4) also won a Group 1 last campaign, and while he’s been placed his two starts this season, he has had every chance from the front. He’ll run well again as the likely early leader. South Australian visitor STOCKMAN PETER (6) was unlucky not to win when he locked wheels at a crucial time last visit to Melton and he heads here on the back of impressive wins at Globe Derby and Port Pirie, while veteran NEPHEW OF SONOKO (8) gets the nice peg-line draw to run well.
SELECTIONS: I AM WILMA (7), HILLTOP HUGH (4), STOCKMAN PETER (6), NEPHEW OF SONOKO (8)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R2 #4 DANCE AFFAIR – 1 unit (each-way)
R4 #3 STAR TO FALL – 2 units (win)
R5 #2 KYVALLEY MICHAEL – 2 units (win)
R6 #4 WHERE IS WOODY – 1 unit (each-way)
R7 #9 MY LITTLE BO – 1 unit (each-way)
EARLY QUADDIE
1,3,4,6,8,9,11,12/1,4,5,7/4,5,6,9/3,7,10
QUADDIE
2,4,9/1,2,4,6/2,4,7,8,9/4,6,7
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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