Every Saturday, Ryan Phelan hunts for the most reliable locks to strengthen your multi bets. By analysing race maps, sectional times, and key trainer/driver combinations, he delivers sharp insights to add confidence – and a touch of excitement – to your harness racing, thoroughbred, or sports multis.
Each selection is rated with low, medium, or high confidence and includes a suggested place or win price. The goal? Minimise risk, maximise consistency, and stack the odds in your favour for a strong overall return.
Race 1 – 1720m Congrats Hall Of Fame Mahar Family Pace
1/3 Miss Ari – Jodi Quinlan/Gary & Debbie Quinlan
Miss Ari continues to handle the step up in class with heart and style, winning 6 from 12, building a nice record at this track and remaining unbeaten over the distance in three attempts. She’s been consistently good on the clock, particularly in her closing sectionals, and she looks to map reasonably close to the speed, which will allow her to show her turn of foot when it counts.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $2.80
Race 2 – 1720m Congrats Hall Of Fame Legend Pace
2/9 The Naked Art – James Herbertson/Justin Lane
Both The Naked Art and Lougle are coming off back-to-back career-best performances and now find a very suitable race despite their draws over the short trip. Both have produced sectionals in those performances that are far superior to the opposition, which gives confidence that one of the two will win. I lean to The Naked Art with the better draw and ‘The Herb Factor’.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $2.20
Race 3 – 2240m Congrats Hall Of Fame Inductees FFA
3/9 Bulletproof Boy – James Herbertson/Scott Ewen
Veteran Bulletproof Boy just continues to amaze. Resuming here last week, the 11yo was slightly underdone, but his sectionals and performance suggest he’s right back in the zone, running his own last half in 53.75 off the track. With that run under his belt, an easier field and the extra distance, he stands out as the class act. Considering this time last year, he defeated Leap To Fame before starting second-up in a Victoria Cup, he looks very well placed.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.50
Race 4 – 2240m VICBRED Voucher Trot
4/5 Skybella – Nathan Jack/Russell Jack
Skybella has had two runs for the new stable and there have been positive signs, despite her win last time being somewhat fortuitous after her main challenger galloped in the closing stages. She has tactical speed, and with the scratching of what appeared to be her main rival in Vici Bloom, her map and likely control of the tempo become much more favourable.
Confidence: Low Rated Place Price: $2.00
Race 5 – 1720m – Congrats Hall Of Fame Simon Family Pace
5/6 Montana Pride – James Herbertson/Ashleigh Herbertson
Montana Pride has been flying in his past few runs. A winner three starts back in good time at the provincials, he has backed that up with some good performances on the clock here at headquarters, where he’s found the line in great heart. The main danger looks to be Thunderfire, who has plenty of talent but has his first try at this track and is awkwardly drawn. Montana Pride, with James Herbertson aboard, should represent good value from a draw that allows him to press forward.
Confidence: Medium Rated Place Price: $1.80
Race 6 – 2240m Aldebaran Park Trot
6/1 Spirited Lass – James Herbertson/Scott Ewen
In a race full of so many questions, I’m willing to take a punt on Spirited Lass doing everything right. When she does, she often wins, as evidenced from the same draw three runs back, and although she trotted throughout last time, something appeared amiss. Granted, she’s not a reliable conveyance, but neither are many of the others, and she gets the right draw and driver in an open affair.
Confidence: Low Rated Win Price: $3.80
Race 7 – 1720m TOC’s Takeaways Podcast – Now On Spotify Pace
7/7 Katunga Express – Ellen Tormey/John Tormey
In a race where the form is either exposed or unreliable, Katunga Express represents a horse who has been consistently producing good performances both to the eye and on the clock, despite being winless since April. He’s normally map-negative, so the draw isn’t too concerning, and there looks to be a heap of early speed, with the likely final fractions slow enough for him to come over the top at decent value.
Confidence: Low Rated Place Price: $3.50
Race 8 – 1720m – Congrats Hall Of Fame Clarke Family Pace
8/8 Ima Terminator – John Caldow/Maree Caldow
Again, another tricky race where I’m looking for value. Ima Terminator didn’t have much luck here last week, sitting parked and sticking to his guns well in the straight. He was good prior and should now be peaking fourth-up. He follows out a speedy beginner and will be at the mercy of tactics up front, but if the breaks come, he can flash late.
Confidence: Low Rated Place Price: $3.50
Race 9 – 2240m The Pearl
9/8 Delightful Miki – Ewa Justice/Kari Males
This looks a good race for Delightful Miki, who for the first time in six attempts at Melton looks a strong winning chance. She’s never raced here in anything below Group company, or at least heats leading into it, and now meets under-55 raters, which is a huge advantage. Furthermore, she’s been in great form across her past three starts and drops back to taking on her own sex. She’s a tough type too, so the 2240m is in her favour.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $2.50
Race 10 – 2240m Mimosa Homes Trot
10/6 Ijustcalledtosay – Kerryn Manning/Kylie Sugars
Ijustcalledtosay has clearly recaptured the form he displayed as an exciting juvenile, winning 3 from 8, but it’s the versatility he’s shown in those performances that commands respect. The wide draw may not pose too much of an issue, as he’s able to reel off strong final sections that few in this race can match.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $2.50
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