Tim O’Connor has done the form for 10 races at Melton Entertainment Park on September 5.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: What a race to start the night of the Vicbred Super Series semi-finals! Good luck guessing the speed map here because there are so many scenarios, with a host of the big guns drawn on the front row. Regardless of where he ends up, I’m siding with the unbeaten ENJOY LIFE (6). He’s eight from eight to start his career, with his most recent win being a strong VSS heat victory at Kilmore from midfield in the running line. MOST EXCITING (1) lands the coveted gate one and will get a much easier trip than he did when a brave fourth in his qualifier behind The Niteshift. He did plenty of work there and was only beaten 12.9m. SOHO CHARMER (2) sat parked for the last lap and dug deep to hold out his rivals to score narrowly in another of the heats. He looms as a big chance if he can cross to the fence, while MAJOR BLITZ (3) takes plenty of encouragement in his races, but was good when he led and almost held out Le Cardinal in a very good qualifying run last week. There are a few other hopes, including another heat winner in CARDIGAN DAN (13), who would need luck from outside the back row but is very talented.
SELECTIONS: ENJOY LIFE (6), MOST EXCITING (1), SOHO CHARMER (2), MAJOR BLITZ (3)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: Semi-final two for the three-year-old colts and geldings, where, like race one, plenty have a chance. There are good wraps on THE NITESHIFT (5), and he showed why with a dominant front-running win in his heat at Kilmore last week. He worked across THIS IS HEAVEN (1) to lead and took out the quickest of the six encounters by 8.3m. If he works to the top again, he will be awfully hard to stop. NEPTUNITE (2) ran a really good race for second in the qualifier behind Soho Charmer and draws the front row this time, reigning Vicbred two-year-old champion SOHO TRUMP (6) found the top in his heat and was too strong for stablemate SOHO PARK AVENUE (8), who was parked and did a great job to box on and finish just 1.8m away. Other key chances are THIS IS HEAVEN (1) from the good draw, DUSTY PHILTRA (4), who was super when running a fast-finishing third to Enjoy Life, and heat winner LE CARDINAL (7), who is very talented but needs the speed on to be a factor from the horror draw.
SELECTIONS: THE NITESHIFT (5), NEPTUNITE (2), SOHO TRUMP (6), SOHO PARK AVENUE (8)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: Craig Turnbull has three runners in this 0W/15.0K stake contest and I’m keen on the chances of ROCKY ROCKS (2) for his daughter Abbey. He ran a really good race for fifth in a heat of the Vicbred Super Series last week when he came from back in the field and made up ground in a pegs-dominated event. Before that, he was narrowly beaten by the undefeated Enjoy Life in the Tasmania Derby at the end of a strong Apple Isle campaign. He draws to get down to the pegs here and looks a great hope. Stablemate HITCH TO HIS STAR (4) did well to finish second in a 1200m dash from a horror gate last time out and is another very talented pacer that is certainly capable of winning a race like this, LOUGLE (7) is knocking on the door for victory since joining the Stephen Clarke barn and came from last to just miss the airborne The Naked Art last weekend, while KEAYANG PAYTON (8) draws inside back row and comes here after a tough death seat triumph at Ballarat.
BACK: ROCKY ROCKS (2) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: ROCKY ROCKS (2), HITCH TO HIS STAR (4), LOUGLE (7), KEAYANG PAYTON (8)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: BETTOR BEACH (12) was scintillating when leading effortlessly and darting clear late to win her three-year-old fillies’ heat by a big space at Kilmore. It was clearly, in my mind, the best victory from the three qualifiers and has her as the horse to beat here. Sure, gate 12 isn’t easy, but she’s good enough to overcome it. Stablemate PRE EMINANT (4) was first-up since running second in the Vicbred final as a two-year-old when she got home nicely for second from three back the fence in the same heat. She draws to press forward and is a classy filly who might get the advantage on BETTOR BEACH (12) from the top. MAGELLAN (1) hit the line well from a hopeless position in the BETTOR BEACH (12) heat and draws well in gate one, while CYCLONE JENNI (7) ripped out the best last half and quarter of her race when she absolutely rattled from last to be beaten just 1.8m by HEAVENLY FLYER (2) in the second of the heats. Others to factor in are Emma Stewart runner MY BETTOR HALF (13), Rickie Alchin’s CONCILIATE (10) and qualifier winner ALOT LIKE JEANNIE (5).
BACK: PRE EMINANT (4) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: PRE EMINANT (4), BETTOR BEACH (12), MAGELLAN (1), CYCLONE JENNI (7)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: Semi-final two for the three-year-old fillies where QUATRO MOTH (5) is set to start a short favourite despite her below-expectations performance in the heat at Kilmore. There, she ran a $1.20 elect, found the front and kicked clear into the straight, only to be run down late and fall into third. She has actually been beaten her last three starts when deep in the odds-on range and can get a little rough under pressure, so is certainly a risk. That said, I’ll back the Emma Stewart stable to get her right, and at her best she’s the horse to beat. SWEET IRISH LOCH (3) ran well enough for fifth in her heat behind Alot Like Jeannie and was a close-up third behind a couple of handy Stewart stablemates at Melton prior to that. She will likely press forward and is a chance of finding the early lead. KEAYANG PASSION (7) was third in the heats to Bettor Beach in a fast last half, and despite being drawn awkward, is a classy enough type who finished fourth in a Group 1 NSW Oaks during May, while TRYX VIXEN (2) is one that I think can improve sharply at odds if she can cross to the fence and get a nice run in transit. ISTHISTHEREALLIFE (12), ENOLA (13) and RACHELS LEGACY (6) all ran well in their respective qualifiers, but have tough gates.
SELECTIONS: QUATRO MOTH (5), SWEET IRISH LOCH (3), KEAYANG PASSION (7), TRYX VIXEN (2)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: SOHO BELLAGIO (4) was a huge winner at Menangle on debut and then had little chance in his Vicbred Super Series heat for two-year-old colts and geldings the way the race was run. He still did a great job to come off the fence for the last lap, close the margin to 9.3m on Some High and record the fastest last half despite covering extra ground. You’d anticipate the aggressive driving style of Michael Stanley would get him to the front here, and from there he’d be the one to beat. LAKE COMO (10) is a very promising gelding from the Jess Tubbs stable who came three-wide in the final half and only went down 4.7m when running second to Cardigan Sniper in the last of three heats last Friday. He’s a danger with the right tempo. FULLY RECKLESS (6) led, handed up and was dragged out of proceedings by a tiring horse in his qualifier behind front-running winner SMACK BANG BART (7), but made up ground when clear and can turn the tables on that rival with a bit of luck. The other key hopes are AUSTON (9) and THEMIDNIGHTEXPRESS (3), but loom more as place chances for mine.
BACK: SOHO BELLAGIO (4) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: SOHO BELLAGIO (4), LAKE COMO (10), FULLY RECKLESS (6), SMACK BANG BART (7)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: Semi-final two of the two-year-old boys’ series will see CARDIGAN SNIPER (1) a warm favourite. And it’s deservedly so. He won the $100,000 APG final and $20,000 Youthful Stakes before finding the top and being too strong in his VSS heat last Friday. He draws well, looks to have enough speed to lead and from there will take an awful lot of beating. KINGS GALLERY (9) was perhaps a little disappointing when fourth in his heat behind SOME HIGH (11), but can be forgiven one plain run. He won his two starts prior in good style, chased home Emma Stewart-trained rivals for second in the four outings before that and is a classy type. From the nice trailing draw, he can be a factor. SOME HIGH (11) worked to the top and never looked like being beaten when winning his heat. Barrier 11 isn’t as easy, but he has barely put a foot wrong in five career starts. They look the winning contenders, with FARROH JOE (5) perhaps the best of the rest after his encouraging second placing behind Smack Bang Bart last Friday. ALLOA (2) and BAYSTYLE (3) are other leading place chances.
SELECTIONS: CARDIGAN SNIPER (1), KINGS GALLERY (9), SOME HIGH (11), FARROH JOE (5)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: KAHULA (6) looks to have a mortgage on the first semi-final for the two-year-old fillies after an effortless and dominant heat win last Friday. She worked to the front, controlled the race and darted clear in slick sectionals to win by 5.8m. Her form lines are outstanding, and include a dominant victory in the $200,000 Nutrien series final in May and a great third, beaten just a head, in the Group 1 Protostar at Albion Park in July. She’s the one to beat here. Group 1 placegetter LATHER ME UP (3) finished last in that aforementioned qualifier but did actually record the quickest final half and can improve drawn better this time around, LA CANTATRICE (11) finished best to win a frantic opening qualifier of the series to make it three victories in succession, while SOHO SPARKLE (4) was fair when third to Ideal Frankie in heat two and is among the other contenders along with fast-starter OZZIE TART (5), who only appear place chances if the favourite brings her A game.
SELECTIONS: KAHULA (6), LATHER ME UP (3), LA CANTATRICE (11), SOHO SPARKLE (4)
Race 9:
OVERVIEW: IDEAL FRANKIE (5) stamped herself as a star of her age group with massive 21.8m, 46.9m and 42.6m wins in her first three race starts, which included victory in the rich APG series at Melton in late June. That earned her a place in the Group 1 Protostar slot race at Albion Park, where she ultimately failed and finished towards the back of the field. She led and thrashed her rivals as a $1.20 favourite in a heat of this series last week and looks the likely winner once again. SOHO ASTER (3) was caught in a slick lead time in her qualifier, but loomed to win and only missed in a photo. She is a threat with the right trip, particularly if she can get to the fence. SHES CAPTIVATING (6) reeled off the best last half to grab second on debut behind IDEAL FRANKIE (5) and looks to have some really good ability, while TEERDEE (9) and DREAMS FOREVER (7) were two of the eye-catching closers in that frantic heat won by La Cantatrice and are worth considering for trifectas and First 4s.
SELECTIONS: IDEAL FRANKIE (5), SOHO ASTER (3), SHES CAPTIVATING (6), TEERDEE (9)
Race 10:
OVERVIEW: Very keen on the chances here of LOCKSLEY CAVALIER (3), who presents first-up from a freshen without a trial. In his one run last campaign, he did an incredible job to finish third from last in a race where first and second across the line were the leader and leader’s back. He was beaten less than 10m in a Group 1 Vicbred Super Series final before that and I think he has the scope to go onto bigger and better things. VICI BLOOM (5) looms as the key danger based off her good trials and dominant first-up win from the front at Melton on August 15. She’s a talent and will be hard to beat, particularly if she gets to the top. FREIGHT SHAKER (1) is an honest type who draws well in gate one, while NAKEDTRUTH (7) dropped out badly with an issue last time but has been back to the trials and defeated Group 1 winner Gatesys Gem in good style there recently.
BACK: LOCKSLEY CAVALIER (3) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: LOCKSLEY CAVALIER (3), VICI BLOOM (5), FREIGHT SHAKER (1), NAKEDTRUTH (7)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R3 #2 ROCKY ROCKS – 2 units (win)
R4 #4 PRE EMINANT – 2 units (win)
R6 #4 SOHO BELLAGIO – 3 units (win)
R10 #3 LOCKSLEY CAVALIER – 3 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
1,2,3,6,13/2,5,6,8/2,4,7/4,12
QUADDIE
2,3,5,6,7,12,13/4/1/6
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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