Tim O’Connor has drilled deep into the form for the eight-race card at HQ.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: BIZZNESS CLASS (2) has been crying out for a good barrier draw here at Melton and he finally gets one in a race where he looks well suited. He has run some cracking races across recent months, including two starts ago behind Ideal Bandit and against four horses that reoppose here. There, he had the best last half of the race despite covering stacks of extra ground three and four wide through the last lap. He should be able to find the pegs here and is expected to give this a real shake. That said, there’s plenty of talent in the opening event on the card. ROYAL APPOINTMENT (1) will likely get the run of the race from gate one and has been going well for a long time now, HEATSEEKER (8) led and won at Melton last time out and maps to run a forward race, while it’s great to see Sunraysia top-liner DALLAS MIKI (10) in town. From a front row draw, where Ros Rolfe could adopt the free-rolling tactics that have proven so fruitful at Mildura, he’d be a huge winning chance. Gate 10 is tricky, but he should perform well.
BACK: BIZZNESS CLASS (2) – 1.5 units (each-way)
SELECTIONS: BIZZNESS CLASS (2), ROYAL APPOINTMENT (1), HEATSEEKER (8), DALLAS MIKI (10)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: GUNFORHIRE (11) hasn’t won for some time, but is going well to my eye and looks to have struck a winnable race despite the wide back row draw. He’s been close enough behind handy rivals such as Sanchez, Lambro Mach, Keayang Wasabi and Major Blitz in fast last quarters and halves since returning from a spell and should be closing hard here with Ewa Justice jumping aboard for the first time. Happy on the each-way as I’m sure there’s a win in store soon. KEAYANG PAYTON (1) is running well without setting the world on fire and looks the potential early leader, which gives HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (8) a great chance if he ends up leader’s back. He has rattled home his last three, including a win from last at Melton on May 1. OZZIE CORKA (10) was trapped in the chair last time and faded late, but was very good at huge odds before that when fourth to Ideal Bandit.
BACK: GUNFORHIRE (11) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: GUNFORHIRE (11), HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (8), KEAYANG PAYTON (1), OZZIE CORKA (10)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: DONMARO (2) put in his best run since arriving from New Zealand when he burned early to find the front, and was only worn down late by handy rivals Zenario and Frugal Fare in a 3.5m defeat at Melton last Friday. He draws well here and is fancied to get the top, which gives him a great hope of his first Australian win. IN AN IDEAL WORLD (6) is ready to break through for victory after a string of close-up efforts, including last Saturday when parked and only beaten 4.5m to Perun. Other leading hopes appear to be the consistent CLYMENUS (8), who ran well for second last weekend, and HITTHEROADJACK (4) and ODIN (7), who weren’t far behind Donmaro in last Friday’s clash.
SELECTIONS: DONMARO (2), IN AN IDEAL WORLD (6), CLYMENUS (8), HITTHEROADJACK (4)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: What a mouthwatering clash we have here between KEAYANG RENEGADE (9) and SOME AMERICAN (6). KEAYANG RENEGADE (9) looks a genuine star of the future and could barely have been more impressive in his six career starts to date where he has won by big margins in fast time. I’m certainly in his corner, but this looms as his biggest assignment against past Breeders Crown winner SOME AMERICAN (6). Emma Stewart’s charge has trialled the house down for his return, which included a 53.8 last half blow-out at Melton recently. He will probably spear forward and is likely to find the front. From there, he might be hard to catch. They appear the clear winning hopes, with the in-form LE BELLE BIJOUX (3) and KEAYANG WASABI (8) musts for the minor end of trifectas and First 4s.
SELECTIONS: KEAYANG RENEGADE (9), SOME AMERICAN (6), LE BELLE BIJOUX (3), KEAYANG WASABI (8)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: Some really nice, progressive trotters line up here where KYVALLEY JUDGE (10) is fancied in a race of many chances. Chris Svanosio’s untapped four-year-old held off SAM NIEN (1) in a recent Melton trial, which was used as a tune-up following a runner-up placing at Menangle over a month ago. His prior wins were sensational as a short-priced favourite at Kilmore and Bendigo, and a faultless trotting display will see him smoking home late. After a great 2025 campaign, SAM NIEN (1) is back for his first run as a four-year-old and has trialled well for this assignment, last-start Group 1 NSW Trotters Derby winner PASTOR DUNBAR (6) is clearly one of the horses to beat but comes up against some more seasoned rivals this time around, while PROHIBITED GRACE (2) is running in great form and might be the early leader.
BACK: KYVALLEY JUDGE (10) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: KYVALLEY JUDGE (10), SAM NIEN (1), PASTOR DUNBAR (6), PROHIBITED GRACE (2)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: MUSKEE (7) is a really nice trotter for the John Justice yard and his two wins this preparation have been tough as nails. After failing on May 2, he pulled hard in the breeze last weekend, looked gone at the corner but rallied again to beat a handy field of rivals. He might have to do it tough again here, but his best is capable of getting it done. COLTRANE (9) has either galloped out of play or won this campaign so a faultless trotting display will have him right in this, KARBINE (4) is flying at present and won impressively at Bendigo on Wednesday night, while CENTURION DREAM (3) showed good gate speed when winning at Terang recently and would be competitive if she worked across to the fence.
BACK: MUSKEE (7) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: MUSKEE (7), COLTRANE (9), KARBINE (4), CENTURION DREAM (3)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: MY ULTIMATE BARNEY (1) was able to lead and win a hot Geelong Rocket two starts back and he’s fancied to produce the same from the good gate here. He was huge when wide for the trip in the 1200m Stampede last start and Andy Gath has the son of Downbytheseaside in great form, so he looks very hard to beat. TAB Eureka champ BAY OF BISCAY (6) is third-up from a break and should be hitting peak fitness. He was caught parked last time and only went down narrowly in the City of Melton Plate, but again has a sticky gate to contend with. HES FROM HEAVEN (5) had the back of BAY OF BISCAY (6) when first-up in that aforementioned race and just got past him late, while OLIVER DAN (2) has been very competitive this campaign without winning, but probably looks a place chance at best.
SELECTIONS: MY ULTIMATE BARNEY (1), BAY OF BISCAY (6), HES FROM HEAVEN (5), OLIVER DAN (2)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: LAMBRO MACH (5) settled leader’s back and chased hard along the sprint lane last week to just miss in a good race at Melton. That followed a number of impressive runs, and he looks very dangerous in this type of grade. That said, it’s a wide-open event to close the night where Emma Stewart’s lightly-raced MOST EXCITING (2) is a key player. He was able to cruise to the front and score easily against lesser opposition at Cranbourne on April 19, and will be very hard to beat if he works to the top here. WHERE IS WOODY (3) ran a cracker from way back in the field for second at Melton on May 9 and will appreciate the small field for his get-back style of racing, and MONTANA PRIDE (7) put the writing on the wall by rocketing to the line in a fast last half behind Major Blitz at Ballarat last week. Good race with lots of chances!
SELECTIONS: LAMBRO MACH (5), MOST EXCITING (2), WHERE IS WOODY (3), MONTANA PRIDE (7)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R1 #2 BIZZNESS CLASS – 1.5 units (each-way)
R2 #11 GUNFORHIRE – 1 unit (each-way)
R5 #10 KYVALLEY JUDGE – 1 unit (each-way)
R6 #7 MUSKEE – 3 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
1,2,3,4,8,10,11,12/1,5,8,10,11/2,4,6,7,8/6,9
QUADDIE
1,2,6,10/4,7,9/1,5,6/1,2,3,5,7
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
Chances are you’re about to lose. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
