Mildura Friday 11 July

OVERVIEW: SPRING DELIGHT (3) raced without cover throughout when a strong second behind GRENADE (5) two starts ago. The barrier draws are reversed today and he is a very good chance of turning the tables. GRENADE (5) led throughout from the pole position at his latest attempt. This race is no harder so he must be considered as a winning chance again. SUPER SUSPECT (4) settled in a rearward position, got checked in the back straight and chased hard when a game second behind Super Dry last week. She is racing in good form and is worth a ticket each way. DARK SANDS (1) performs best when he is able to lead and attempted to lead throughout when third last week. He is a place chance again from the pole position. APOLOGY ACCEPTED (8) should be finding the line strongly from his trailing draw.

SELECTIONS: SPRING DELIGHT (3), GRENADE (5), SUPER SUSPECT (4), DARK SANDS (1)

SUGGESTED BET: SPRING DELIGHT (3) to win

OVERVIEW: ADIEU MIKENNIS (6) remains undefeated in two starts at Mildura and endured a wide trip when taking on stronger opposition at Shepparton last outing. He is the class runner of the field and is a good chance of returning to winning form. KEAYANG CRIPPA (3) finished off strongly when second behind Stonebridge Star at Mildura last week. He secures a front line draw for the first time in five starts this preparation and should run a big race again. BEAUTY ABOVE (8) pushed forward to race without cover and battled on bravely for second behind Avoca Blues two starts ago. She picked up some ground from a rearward position last week and has claims from the trailing draw. ORAMA (5) lost her chance after breaking stride in the score up last week and is worth another chance. OUR MASTER PLAY (7) is better than his form reads and is a possible improver.

SELECTIONS: ADIEU MIKENNIS (6), KEAYANG CRIPPA (3), BEAUTY ABOVE (8), ORAMA (5)

SUGGESTED BET: ADIEU MIKENNIS (6) to win

OVERVIEW: AMERICAN BOXER (7) is awkwardly drawn but he drops in grade and finished off well for third behind Flame Blaster last week so he is worth an investment. FLYIN TOMMY (8) was placed three times in succession prior to a tenth in the Max Thorburn Memorial last week. He will find this to be a suitable assignment and looms as one of the leading chances. SNEAKY PHILTRA (5) commenced from the second line, circled around the field to find the front mid-race and produced a strong performance to win at Mildura three starts ago. She hasn’t had much luck in her two starts since and is worth an investment. CHEERS POVERTY (3) is drawn to be prominent throughout from the good draw and STONEBRIDGE STAR (4) finished off nicely to score against similar opposition at Mildura last week.

SELECTIONS: AMERICAN BOXER (7), FLYIN TOMMY (8), SNEAKY PHILTRA (5), CHEERS POVERTY (3)

SUGGESTED BET: AMERICAN BOXER (7) each way

OVERVIEW: CRUZ WITH ROME (8) is shooting for a winning hat trick and is a very good chance of completing the task. He led throughout and dominated his rivals to win the Max Thorburn Memorial last week. PUNTO CALIENTE (1) ran a big race when fourth in the same event last week as he was very wide from the 500m and made up a lot of ground. He may be headed off at the start by ROBERT CROCKA (2) but he is ready to break through for a win. CAVALRY (4) has worked back into some form having been runner up in three of his past four starts. He was held up for a run at a vital stage and finished off strongly for second last week. DAYLIGHT (5) led throughout to win at Mildura two starts back and is not without a chance against this grade.

SELECTIONS: CRUZ WITH ROME (8), PUNTO CALIENTE (1), CAVALRY (4), DAYLIGHT (5)

SUGGESTED BET: CRUZ WITH ROME (8) to win

OVERVIEW: CAULONIA TERROR (8) broke stride early and made up many lengths when seventh at Mildura last week. His previous efforts were against the open class and he should be hitting the line strongly under these conditions. IMPOSTER BOY (4) is a handy South Australian pacer, which won four races in succession prior to a third in the Emerging Stars Final at Globe Derby. He possesses early speed and should give a bold showing from his reasonable draw. LE SPARTACUS (7) continues to race in strong form and should go well despite being positioned on the inside of the second line. He outstayed his rivals after pushing forward to race without cover at Mildura two starts ago and finished well from off the speed last week. TOUGH AINT ENOUGH (6) is resuming since April but he is a smart horse, which has been placed in ten of his twelve starts to date. He is poorly drawn but is worth following.

SELECTIONS: CAULONIA TERROR (8), IMPOSTER BOY (4), LE SPARTACUS (7), TOUGH AINT ENOUGH (6)

SUGGESTED BET: CAULONIA TERROR (8) each way

OVERVIEW: It is an open race with several winning chances. MY ULTIMATE LEVI (3) performs best when he is close to the lead and running along at a genuine tempo. This race is slightly easier than his recent appearances so he gets his chance to run a big race. CEMETERY BAY (6) is likely to settle a long way back from his poor draw but he is capable of sprinting to the line quickly with the right trail forward and he does appear to be well placed against this line up. RIO ROCK (9) is another horse that appears to be well graded but is poorly drawn. She ran a big race for third behind Let’s Go Big Girl at Mildura two starts ago and recorded a slick mile rate of 1.57.5 when she scored at Mildura on March 14. GO AWAY AGAIN (2) hasn’t been at his best form recently but he is a very fast beginner and performs best when he is able to lead so he is a possible improver under these conditions.

SELECTIONS: MY ULTIMATE LEVI (3), CEMETERY BAY (6), RIO ROCK (9), GO AWAY AGAIN (2)

SUGGESTED BET: MY ULTIMATE LEVI (3) each way

OVERVIEW: BE GOOD MIKI (4) endured a tough run and just failed to gun down ONLY ONCE BITTEN (8) when a brave second at his Mildura debut. He moves to the front line now and is capable of going one better. GO JACK CROCKER (2) is a South Australian trainer pacer, which possesses early speed and should land a prominent position in the early stages from his good draw. He attempted to lead throughout and was run down over the latter stages when fifth (2m) at Globe Derby last outing. MIDNIGHT PIRATE (5) strung together four wins and three seconds in seven consecutive starts prior to his past two unplaced runs. He has been freshened since and is a chance if he returns to his peak form. TERROR THE CHRISTIAN (3) and WATCHTHECLOCK (7) both are capable of figuring in the finish without surprising.

SELECTIONS: BE GOOD MIKI (4), GO JACK CROCKER (2), MIDNIGHT PIRATE (5), WATCHTHECLOCK (7)

SUGGESTED BET: BE GOOD MIKI (4) to win

OVERVIEW: THE NINJA (10) is a juvenile pacer taking on the older Maiden class but his two starts to date were in the Australian Gold Graduate series so he is likely to find this assignment to be more suitable. SONORA SUNSET (2) attempted to lead throughout and appeared to have her chance when third at Charlton on Monday. She is yet to miss a place in six starts and she is drawn to find the lead again so she should give another forward showing. STAY ALPHA (1) trailed the leader and finished third behind the handy type in Jilliby Illusion last outing. He is ideally drawn and has been placing regularly against this class so he is not without a chance. MIKIS CASTLE (6) is a first starter for trainer Alex Ashwood, which raced very greenly at her only trial, where she finished in fourth place at Wagga. She should keep improving with the benefit of racing and HOLD ON FOREVER (12) attracted plenty of support at his Mildura debut but lost his chance after a bad getaway.

SELECTIONS: THE NINJA (10), SONORA SUNSET (2), STAY ALPHA (1), MIKIS CASTLE (6)

SUGGESTED BET: THE NINJA (10) each way

OVERVIEW: RED HOT MIKI (2) pushed forward to find the front and proved to be too strong in his heat victory. He has the fast beginner MACHSTIQUE (1) drawn on his inside but he is just as effective when coming from off the speed so he should prove hard to beat again. CALF PEN (7) worked hard early before gaining a trail when third behind GOOD BOOTS BINDI (10) last outing. He tends to perform best when saved for one last crack at the leaders and he follows out behind a fast beginner so he appears to be a good value bet. TO THE NINES (9) is a very strong pacer and is racing in peak form. He battled on bravely after enduring a wide trip in his heat third and was a comfortable winner prior so he must be considered as a winning chance. GOOD BOOTS BINDI (10) possesses a powerful finishing burst as evidenced by his big heat win at Mildura last week. He will be suited if there is a genuine tempo being set throughout.

SELECTIONS: RED HOT MIKI (2), CALF PEN (7), GOOD BOOTS BINDI (10), TO THE NINES (9)

SUGGESTED BET: RED HOT MIKI (2) to win