Tim O’Connor previews Saturday night’s huge Melton meeting, featuring the Group 1 Aldebaran Park Need For Speed Finals, Victoria Oaks and Derby heats, the V.L. Dullard Trotters Cup and the Smoken Up Sprint.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: FIGHTER COMMAND (2) has been awesome coming from off speed to win in two of three runs since returning from an Inter Dominion campaign in Queensland, where he claimed a heat and finished midfield in the final. He’s a horse right at the top of his game at the moment, and he’s the horse they have to beat. SIR JIMMY (6) was good from four back the fence in the Geelong Cup last weekend, beat all bar Catch A Wave prior and is going very well this campaign, OUR SUNSET DELIGHT (3) brings NSW form to Victoria but it’s very good in weaker grade, while BULLETPROOF BOY (10) won a third Smoken Up Sprint by beating Leap To Fame at huge odds in this race last year, and while he was very plain in the Geelong Cup last weekend from the fence, he’s too good to not give another chance.
SELECTIONS: FIGHTER COMMAND (2), SIR JIMMY (6), OUR SUNSET DELIGHT (3), BULLETPROOF BOY (10)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: Opening heat of the Victoria Derby where CARDIGAN DAN (2) draws to advantage for Team Stewart, who has four runners in the race. He ran a bottler with red-hot closing sectionals in a semi-final of the Vicbred Super Series before leading and being worn down by ENJOY LIFE (9) in the final. He’s sure to run well, but I’ll side with stablemate ENJOY LIFE (9). He has won nine of 10 career starts – including the Group 1 Vicbred final at his last appearance – and there’s a scenario where he quickly moves forward over the long trip to find the top. Either way, he draws for a good run and has only ever been beaten once from 10 starts. He might be too classy. SOHO CHARMER (6) sat parked to win a heat of the Vicbreds at Kilmore before galloping and ruining his hopes in the semis. He is a good horse and can threaten, while MOUNT BARKER BOY (7) ran well through the Vicbred series despite finishing last in the final and rounded up inferior rivals with a dazzling turn of speed at Melton last Friday. He looks to be a horse really maturing as the season wears on.
SELECTIONS: ENJOY LIFE (9), CARDIGAN DAN (2), SOHO CHARMER (6), MOUNT BARKER BOY (7)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: SOHO TRUMP (2) led and beat home BROOKLYN DAN (1) at Melton on September 26, but was entitled to do so given the barrier draw advantage and easy trip in front. In heat two of the Victoria Derby, BROOKLYN DAN (1) gets the ace gate and has the chance to overturn the result. He won a qualifier then finished a close-up fifth in the Group 1 Queensland Derby at Albion Park during July before a break and he’s a good horse who might be too slick. SOHO TRUMP (2) put in a poor run to miss the Vicbred final, but dominated the consolation and then that race last time out. He probably needs to cross to the fence at the start to win, though. LUVTOBEUPTOME (9) ran so well from off the fence in the Vicbred final and then thrashed inferior rivals in the Mildura Guineas last time out, while BETTORLEFTALONE (8) draws to get a nice trip and was a gallant second to The Final Dance at Geelong last weekend.
BACK: BROOKLYN DAN (1) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: BROOKLYN DAN (1), SOHO TRUMP (2), LUVTOBEUPTOME (9), BETTORLEFTALONE (8)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: NSW visitors NYMBAL (5) and PALLADIUM (1) look the key players here in heat three of the Victoria Derby, with the former narrowly favoured. Kerryann and Robbie Morris’ star youngster was badly held up in the Carousel Final last time out at Menangle and still managed to get clear late and run down PALLADIUM (1), who had controlled things at the top. It was a super performance. The two also clashed in the Group 1 Queensland Derby back in July, and while PALLADIUM (1) sat parked to score, NYMBAL (5) was very unlucky all the way to the line and arguably should have won. I think one of the two will prevail here. Other hopes are headed by SOHO PIASTRI (8), who was a big winner of the Vicbred Bronze consolation before kicking clear and being run down late by Pick Up Elvis a fortnight ago, and the Emma Stewart duo of SEASIDE BOY (7) and DYNAMITEDAN (9).
BACK: NYMBAL (5) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: NYMBAL (5), PALLADIUM (1), SOHO PIASTRI (8), SEASIDE BOY (7)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: Great edition of the VL Dullard Trotters Cup and I’m looking to JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (3), who I think can cross early and control the race from the top. She was well beaten by GATESYS GEM (2) in a heat and Group 1 final of the Vicbred Super Series for four-year-old trotting mares recently, but drew on the back line where she wasn’t able to use her blistering gate speed. On the fence, she’s a very good trotter who won two big features in Queensland during winter before galloping late and dropping out of the Inter Dominion Grand Final. HOPPY (9) had the perfect trip and sprinted past subsequent McNamara Memorial Trotters Cup winner Imperial Monarch to score a fortnight ago while beating LOVEMETO (7), who battled to get into things over the sprint trip from a bad gate first-up. He can certainly win back up over 2240m second-up. GATESYS GEM (2) is favourite after winning the Vicbred final and should be leader or leader’s back here, while GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW (6) is the other key hope and returns after a runner-up placing in the Inter Dom decider behind Gus.
SELECTIONS: JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (3), HOPPY (9), LOVEMETO (7), GATESYS GEM (2)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: MISTER DEVEREAUX (1) has been well supported in early betting for this Group 1 Need For Speed Prince Final and I can see why. He ran very well for third despite being held up by a wayward UNCLAD (8) in the heat behind MUNNY THE MUNSTER (7) and had been exceptional cutting ground off leading three-year-old Pastor Dunbar in a qualifier of the Vicbred series prior to that. He was down-the-track in the Group 1 showdown, but draw the pole here, I fancy his chances of running a great race. MUNNY THE MUNSTER (7) won that aforementioned heat thanks to a lovely drive by Stacey Towers and he’s a leading chance despite the wide gate, KYVALLEY RAY (5) is a multiple Group 1 winner in New Zealand who galloped his way out of contention in the other heat but must be respected back to his best behaviour, while THE PREACHER (4) looks the likely early leader and should run well alongside UNCLAD (8), who looked gone in the qualifier but rallied late and finished only 1.9m from MUNNY THE MUNSTER (7) in what was a quirky but good effort.
BACK: MISTER DEVEREAUX (1) – 2 units (each-way)
SELECTIONS: MISTER DEVEREAUX (1), MUNNY THE MUNSTER (7), THE PREACHER (4), UNCLAD (8)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: HALLEBESOFINE (7) was beaten as a short-priced favourite in the one and only heat of the Need For Speed Princess series at Melton on September 25, but it was a massive run in defeat and she’s the obvious favourite here despite the wide gate. In a race ultimately won by outsider AMIRA (6) – who scooted home best from well back on the fence – HALLEBESOFINE (7) worked hard early before letting JILLIBY AURA (2) find the top, and then sat parked to her in the last lap before only going down in the shadows of the post. JILLIBY AURA (2) dropped out sharply late to be beaten into eighth but draws for an easier lead here and is the danger, while ALDEBARAN ADA (4), HARPERSEVEN (5) and winner AMIRA (6) all ran well and are probably the other leading hopes.
SELECTIONS: HALLEBESOFINE (7), JILLIBY AURA (2), ALDEBARAN ADA (4), HARPERSEVEN (5)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: RIPPLES (7) is a classy filly from the Luke McCarthy barn who draws awkwardly here but has the class and lines up following a hit-and-run New Zealand mission where she ran well in a race for third in Auckland on September 25. Before that, she won the South East Oaks and Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Albion Park through July. WILLOWS GIRL (2) draws to find the pegs and was very good first-up from a break when beating the consistent SWEET IRISH LOCH (5) and TACTICALLY PERFECT (8) in the Gold Chalice first-up from a break, PRE EMINANT (6) ran really well for runner-up placings behind star stablemate Bettor Beach through the recent Vicbred Super Series, while DELIZIOSO (1) just missed in a photo at Shepparton on September 29 in what was her first outing in nearly a year and she can finish forward from the good gate.
SELECTIONS: RIPPLES (7), WILLOWS GIRL (2), PRE EMINANT (6), DELIZIOSO (1)
Race 9:
OVERVIEW: BETTOR BEACH (2) was absolutely breathtaking through the recent Vicbred Super Series where she made a clean-sweep of her heat, semi-final and the Group 1 final, and she looks near impossible to run down if she works to the front as expected. She’s very good and deserves to be at the short quote. Former Kiwi THE QUEENS GAMBIT (8) has had three starts for master trainer Jason Grimson for two big wins and a good closing third to star colt Loucasso last time out. There’s good wraps on her and she’s fancied for second. RACHELS LEGACY (4) crossed BETTOR BEACH (2) in the Vicbred final and could fill a minor placing if that was the case again, while MY BETTOR HALF (3) is a handy filly from the Emma Stewart barn who ran well through the Vicbred series despite being no match for her stablemate.
SELECTIONS: BETTOR BEACH (2), THE QUEENS GAMBIT (8), RACHELS LEGACY (4), MY BETTOR HALF (3)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R3 #1 BROOKLYN DAN – 3 units (win)
R4 #5 NYMBAL – 3 units (win)
R6 #1 MISTER DEVEREAUX – 2 units (each-way)
EARLY QUADDIE
2/2,9/1,2/1,5
QUADDIE
2,3,6,7,9/1,4,5,7,8/2,7/2,6,7
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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