Melton Saturday 24 May

OVERVIEW: KISS (10) is resuming since a victory in the Nutrien Classic back in November but she is a recent trial winner at Bendigo and her class will take her a long way to winning. FIRST DANCE (11) is race fit and in form so she is a definite danger. She finished off fast when an eye-catching third behind The Narcissist in fast time at her latest attempt. DRAW A DREAM (4) hasn’t been at her best form during this campaign but her latest handy finishing second was encouraging and she has the best draw out of the major chances. LE BELLE BIJOUX (9) was headed off at the start, came to the outside to park without cover at the 1100m and went down fighting when a brave second last week. She is a tough mare and is worth thought again.

SELECTIONS: KISS (10), FIRST DANCE (11), DRAW A DREAM (4), LE BELLE BIJOUX (9)

SUGGESTED BET: Boxed Trifecta 4,9,10,11 (Cost $24)

OVERVIEW: YOUNG BLUEY (9) produced an enormous performance when second in the Ouyen Cup, where he settled in a rearward position, sprinted brilliantly to circle around the field and find the lead then broke stride momentarily on the home turn when looking the winner. He won the Mildura Cup three starts ago and has the speed to trouble this field. METEOR MOTH (5) led from the pole position and was able to hold his rivals safely at bay when he scored at Melton last outing. He has won seven of his ten starts to date and is likely to give a forward showing. SIR JIMMY (4) has a very good record over the sprint distance and produced a big performance to win in a mile rate of 1.54.0 two starts ago so he is worth following. HES FROM HEAVEN (7) also produced a top performance to win at Bendigo last outing and has claims despite the wide alley. ARGGGHHH (6) is an honest campaigner and rates as a value hope.

SELECTIONS: YOUNG BLUEY (9), METEOR MOTH (5), SIR JIMMY (4), HES FROM HEAVEN (7)

SUGGESTED BET: YOUNG BLUEY (9) each way

OVERVIEW: ALRIGHTY (8) is resuming since winning the Homegrown Classic at Melton in December but he has performed consistently in three recent trial performances so he should be near his peak form. He follows out behind the fast beginner SASSY GALLEON (1) so he must be considered as a winning chance. KEAYANG KURKI (10) was resuming since an unplaced effort in the Breeders Crown in November when she won comfortably at Geelong. She galloped away and lost all chance in the New South Wales Oaks last outing so she is worth another chance. SASSY GALLEON (1) has been well below her peak form in three starts back from a break but she performs best when she is able to lead so she can improve from the pole position. EZRA KAI (6) and MECARNO (7) are both quality horses, which are capable of showing up despite being drawn widely.

SELECTIONS: ALRIGHTY (8), KEAYANG KURKI (10), SASSY GALLEON (1), MECARNO (7)

SUGGESTED BET: ALRIGHTY (8) each way

OVERVIEW: CHASING REX (3) endured a tough run and battled on well for fourth behind Clymenus last outing. This is his best draw for some time and he should give a bold showing. MY UNCLE STAN (4) has had a run of bad luck recently and is racing much better than his form reads. He came from last and finished off swiftly when an eye-catching fourth behind Jaccka Connor at Melton last outing so he is worth a ticket each way. CALEXICO (9) won five races in succession prior to a fifth at Melton, where he never really travelled well but kept on coming at the finish and wasn’t beaten by far. He is a handy 3yo pacer and looms as one of the leading chances. CRIME WRITER (8) won the Ouyen Cup last outing and was also placed in the Mildura Cup so he appears to be well placed in this event. He is awkwardly drawn but he should be finishing off strongly.

SELECTIONS: CHASING REX (3), MY UNCLE STAN (4), CALEXICO (9), CRIME WRITER (8)

SUGGESTED BET: CHASING REX (3) each way

OVERVIEW: JILLIBY ILLUMINATE (4) is a classy mare and is a strong chance of completing a hat trick. She produced a big finish and scored impressively in a handy mile rate of 1.55.8 at Melton last outing. PERUN (3) began quickly from a wide draw and worked hard on the outside of the leader when sixth at Melton last outing. He is better drawn for this assignment and he finished off strongly from off the speed at his first two starts back from a break so he must be respected. NEW YORKER (2) was held up for a run and didn’t have much luck when sixth behind Clymenus last outing. He finished off smartly via the sprint lane prior and he has claims from his good draw. THE IRON DUKE (5), LINCOLN RIVER (6), ALOT LIKE LOUIE (8) and JACCKA CONNOR (10) are all capable of showing up without surprising in a quality event.  

SELECTIONS: JILLIBY ILLUMINATE (4), PERUN (3), NEW YORKER (2), LINCOLN RIVER (6)

SUGGESTED BET: JILLIBY ILLUMINATE (4) to win

OVERVIEW: SEBASTIANS BOY (9) was heavily supported in a much stronger race last week and he produced a big effort after galloping away and making up many lengths to finish fourth. He should be at his peak form after having two starts back from a spell and he will take beating if he produces a fool proof display. PINNIE (8) is a speedy mare that scored over Avant Guard in handy time last outing, where she led out then took cover. This race is no harder and she should be finishing off strongly. EL RESAMO (4) is a genuine front runner that ran a cheeky race last week when a close second behind Jilliby Ballerini. He is a good chance of finding the lead again so he is worth following. MERCENARY (6) came from last when fourth behind Jilliby Ballerini last week. He is better than his form reads and rates as a value hope.

SELECTIONS: SEBASTIANS BOY (9), PINNIE (8), EL RESAMO (4), MERCENARY (6)

SUGGESTED BET: SEBASTIANS BOY (9) to win

OVERVIEW: WATTS UP PARTYTIME (3) was left stranded without cover mid-race and proved to be too strong when a comfortable winner at Melton last week. He is a good chance of finding the lead from his ideal draw and he is a short course specialist so he is a big chance of completing a hat trick. HARRY STAMPER (8) continued his consistent form with a game second behind WATTS UP PARTYTIME (3) last outing. He should gain a reasonable run through from the second line and rates as one of the leading chances. PARISTIAN ARTISTE (7) was unsuited to racing without cover when fifth at Melton last outing. He is capable of sprinting to the line quickly with the right trail forward and is worth a ticket each way. ALDEBARAN VERA (4) will strip fitter after her first up third behind I’m Ready Jet and PLYMOUTH CHUBB (5) has the early speed to be prominent throughout.

SELECTIONS: WATTS UP PARTYTIME (3), HARRY STAMPER (8), PARISIAN ARTISTE (7), ALDEBARAN VERA (4)

SUGGESTED BET: WATTS UP PARTYTIME (3) to win

OVERVIEW: LOUCASSO (3) completely dominated his rivals in the Preview of this series after he parked without cover and established a winning margin of 23m. He is better drawn against the same field so he is clearly the horse to beat. EYENEEDTHAT (6) finished second in the Preview after a second behind the smart colt Quatro Moth. He is a good chance of finishing in the Quinella position again. SOLS ME NAME (7) was very impressive in winning on debut then raced very greenly and dropped out in the Preview. He is a smart colt when he puts it altogether and is worth another chance. THE NINJA (1) and LA SMOOCH (2) both performed well enough in the Preview to be worth thought in multiple combinations.

SELECTIONS: LOUCASSO (3), EYENEEDTHAT (6), SOLS ME NAME (7), LA SMOOCH (2)

SUGGESTED BET: LOUCASSO (3) to win

OVERVIEW: DEGARMEA TEALE (4) pushed forward to race without cover and produced a brilliant performance to win on debut in a sizzling mile rate of 1.53.7 at Bendigo. She defeated the same field in the Preview and can only be better from her first up run so she is clearly the horse to beat. RIDE THE HIGHS (5) attempted to lead throughout in the Preview and was no match for DEGARMEA TEALE (4) but she beat the others clearly so she is a good chance of finishing in the Quinella position again. SHEZALLRHYTHM (2) finished in third after trailing behind the winner throughout in the Preview. She is a place chance again along with ALOT LIKE JEANNIE (3). 

SELECTIONS: DEGARMEA TEALE (4), RIDE THE HIGHS (5), SHEZALLRHYTHM (2), ALOT LIKE JEANNIE (3)

SUGGESTED BET: DEGARMEA TEALE (4) to win