Melton Saturday 28 June

OVERVIEW: It is a great race to start the night with the return of several star pacers. CATCH A WAVE (9) hasn’t started since finishing fourth in the Fremantle Cup in early May but he has been flying at the trials with his latest effort being a victory at Melton, where he ran a half in 53.4 seconds! He will be giving his main rivals a start but he should be steaming home at the end. BAY OF BISCAY (5) is resuming since winning the Chariots of Fire back in March. He defeated CATCH A WAVE (9) at the trials albeit he led and CATCH A WAVE (9) picked up many lengths but he is likely to give a bold showing. OLIVER DAN (6) and MIKI TO SUCCESS (1) were both competing at a high level during their last campaign and they finished third and fourth respectively in the trial won by BAY OF BISCAY (5) on June 10. TRIPLE EIGHT (2) ran a sharper race at his latest second and rates as a knockout chance.

SELECTIONS: CATCH A WAVE (9), BAY OF BISCAY (5), MIKI TO SUCCESS (1), OLIVER DAN (6)

SUGGESTED BET: CATCH A WAVE (9) to win

OVERVIEW: SOME AMERICAN (3) is resuming since finishing unplaced in the Chariots of Fire back in March. He won the Breeders Crown last season and he was victorious at a recent Melton trial victory, where he was able to scoot home his last quarter in better than 27 seconds. He is a brilliant beginner and is a good chance of leading throughout. KINGMAN (11) finished third in the Breeders Crown last season and is resuming since a sixth in the Paleface Adios Sprint at Menangle in February. He finished second behind the smart pacer Keayang Tokyo at a recent Terang trial performance and he has the strength to overcome the poor draw. WAR DAN BUDDY (10) finished last of the four runners in the trial won by SOME AMERICAN (3) but he did beat that runner to the line in the Chariots of Fire at his latest race track appearance. He boasts a strong record and is not to be underestimated. HES FROM HEAVEN (8) is very awkwardly drawn but he ran a nice fourth under the open class conditions last time so he should be running home well.

SELECTIONS: SOME AMERICAN (3), KINGMAN (11), WAR DAN BUDDY (10), HES FROM HEAVEN (8)

SUGGESTED BET: SOME AMERICAN (3) to win

OVERVIEW: LET HER ROLL (11) won the Breeders Crown Final last season and is resuming since a New South Wales Oaks campaign in early May. She is a classy filly and boasts the record of eight wins from just twelve starts so she is sure to have plenty of admirers. SWEET IDEAL (12) is a very talented mare that is still learning but is also building up an imposing record. She was a runaway winner at Melton two starts ago then finished off strongly from a long way back at her latest third. JAZZY MELEA (6) recorded a mile rate of 1.53.9 when she won the Ian Daff Memorial at Melton three starts ago. She has beaten easier opposition at her past two attempts but she is very strong and proved three runs ago she is capable of mixing it with this class. UBETTA KNOT (2) endured a torrid trip and did well to finish fifth last week. She is a place chance along with VEE EM GEE MACRAY (8) and EMILY VINCENT (9).

SELECTIONS: LET HER ROLL (11), SWEET IDEAL (12), JAZZY MELEA (6), UBETTA KNOT (2)

SUGGESTED BET: LET HER ROLL (11) to win

OVERVIEW: SILVER PISTOL (5) is resuming since finishing fifth in the New South Wales Derby back in March. He won a heat of that series and was successful at the Terang trials last week last week so he must be respected. FOX DAN (8) is awkwardly drawn for his first run since a fourth in the Bathurst Gold Chalice but he has the class to test this field. He has won five of his eight starts to date and recorded a sizzling mile rate of 1.52.1 when he won a heat of the Chalice two starts ago. IM DUSTEE (10) produced an incredible effort after working hard in a very quick lead time when he scored last week. This is a race of more depth but he is worth thought again. HEZ ALL ROCK (4) battled on gallantly for second behind Bettor Isolate in a strong race at Horsham last outing and rates as a value hope.

SELECTIONS: SILVER PISTOL (5), FOX DAN (8), IM DUSTEE (10), HEZ ALL ROCK (4)

SUGGESTED BET: SILVER PISTOL (5) to win

OVERVIEW: STORMS COLLIDE (4) won a heat of the New South Wales Derby during his last campaign and is resuming since a fifth in the Nutrien Classic in April. He finished off in a slick final half of 55.9 seconds to win a trial at Terang last week so a bold showing is expected. PICK UP ELVIS (5) is stepping up in class but he couldn’t have been more impressive at his past four successes and is capable of taking the next step forward. He was giving the leaders a huge start and sustained a long run out wide on the track when he scored in a mile rate of 1.54.5 at Bendigo last outing. IN AN IDEAL WORLD (10) battled on strongly after being parked on the outside of the leader throughout at his latest fourth. He does appear to perform best over a short trip so the drop back in distance for this assignment is a definite advantage. DANCE AFFAIR (3) is racing in peak form and missed out narrowly at Melton last time out so he is worth thought from the good draw.

SELECTIONS: STORMS COLLIDE (4), PICK UP ELVIS (5), IN AN IDEAL WORLD (10), DANCE AFFAIR (3)

SUGGESTED BET: STORMS COLLIDE (4) to win

OVERVIEW: GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW (3) is resuming since September but he has been performing superbly at the trials and is likely to give a bold showing first up. EBONYS AVENGER (1) attempted to lead throughout when third behind Destrier at Melton last week. She is perfectly drawn to match her racing pattern and she will be suited over the sprint distance so she must be respected. RAPID RETURN (2) settled three back on the markers and was held up for a run at a vital stage when a fast finishing second last week. This is a race of similar standard and she is worth thought again. REMUS PHOENIX (6) has improved with each run this preparation and looms as a winning chance again. SEBASTIANS BOY (8) has the ability to test this field but he has had a few issues in the score up over the past few weeks. He is a winning chance if he can begin safely.

SELECTIONS: GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW (3), EBONYS AVENGER (1), RAPID RETURN (2), REMUS PHOENIX (6)

SUGGESTED BET: GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW (3) to win

OVERVIEW: DICHOTOMY (6) probably defeated a slightly stronger field last week when she trailed the leader and recorded a slick mile rate of 1.56.2 so she looms as the horse to beat again. She has been placed in three of her four starts (2 wins) since competing in the MacArthur Mile at Group 1 level in Sydney. MISS YO (8) is a former New Zealander, which joins trainer Andy Gath. She finished second behind Gotfeelingsyouknow at a recent Melton trial effort and she has the speed to figure in the finish. OUR MARVELLA (5) settled three back on the markers and held her ground over the final stages when fifth behind DICHOTOMY (6) last week. She finished off quickly when second behind Little Yankee three starts ago so she is a definite place chance. PICKET WIRE (7) will be fitter after her first up performance and won a trial prior so she is a possible improver.

SELECTIONS: DICHOTOMY (6), MISS YO (8), OUR MARVELLA (5), PICKET WIRE (7)

SUGGESTED BET: DICHOTOMY (6) to win

OVERVIEW: CALLMETHEBREEZE (3) is resuming since being unplaced in the Bill Collins Sprint back in October. He has been outstanding since coming from Europe including victories in the 2024 Great Southern Star and the MacArthur Mile so he should prove very hard to beat. He will be fitter after three recent trial performances and beat the pacers at his latest trial victory in a mile rate of 1.57.2. IM BOBBY (4) was resuming since April when he trailed the leader and was held up for a run at a vital stage behind Arcee Phoenix last week. He is a very good front running trotter and should be fitter from that performance so he warrants respect. ALDEBARAN VERA (1) attempted to lead throughout when second behind Aldebaran Acrux last outing. She is an honest mare and is drawn to go well. IMPERIAL MONARCH (5) and ALDEBARAN ZEUS (6) are both capable of showing up without surprising.

SELECTIONS: CALLMETHEBREEZE (3), IM BOBBY (4), ALDEBARAN VERA (1), IMPERIAL MONARCH (5)

SUGGESTED BET: CALLMETHEBREEZE (3) to win

OVERVIEW: ELLE PERFECTO (6) has been very consistent at her five starts to date with her only unplaced effort coming when she was severely checked with 900m remaining. She pushed forward to find the lead and defeated a very similar field at her latest victory so she should prove hard to beat again. MYSTICAL TRUSCOTT (1) finished second behind ELLE PERFECTO (6) two starts ago after she led out then took cover so she must be considered as a winning chance from the pole position. KEAYANG BAZLENKA (2) was performing nicely at the trials prior to making his debut at Terang on Wednesday. He has ability and is worth an investment. VANCE LANE (7) was a good winner at Melton on May 17 and he worked hard when third behind ELLE PERFECTO (6) last outing so he is not without a chance.

SELECTIONS: ELLE PERFECTO (6), MYSTICAL TRUSCOTT (1), KEAYANG BAZLENKA (2), VANCE LANE (7)

SUGGESTED BET: Boxed Trifecta 1,2,6,7 (Cost $24)

OVERVIEW: BROOKLYN DAN (2) ran a cracking race at his first run since a fifth in the Nutrien Classic when third in the Rising Star at Ballarat. The last quarter was run in a sizzling 26.7 seconds and he finished off strongly from midfield so he should prove hard to beat from the good draw. SHOWMETHETANLINES (1) was sent out for a spell after leading throughout in the New South Wales Sapling Stakes at his Australian debut. He has had a win and two seconds in three trials since and he should be in front for a long way from the pole position. KNIGHT FURY DAN (5) was resuming since April when a handy fourth in the Rising Star. He should be fitter from that run and is not without a chance. MAXO MIGHTY (3) was extremely good in his first two starts in the early juvenile season then followed with an eighth in the Rising Star. He is a tough type and is capable of improving on his first up run.

SELECTIONS: BROOKLYN DAN (2), SHOWMETHETANLINES (1), KNIGHT FURY DAN (5), MAXO MIGHTY (3)

SUGGESTED BET: BROOKLYN DAN (2) to win