OVERVIEW: Plenty of winning hopes in a difficult start to the night at Melton, but OX KNOX (5) does look to get another good chance second-up from a break. First-up last week at Kilmore, he led from gate five and stayed there until the closing stages when run down by Distant Sun. It was a good effort and there was a decent margin back to third, which I always like. If he finds the top here, which is expected, he will be hard to run down. Other hopes are headed by FLYIN TIME (9), who was badly held up last time at Melton a few weeks ago and looked the winner first-up at Melton on May 29 only to be grabbed in the shadows of the post, DEEJAY DEX (10), who often runs well but rarely wins, and BUSLIN BRODY (8), who has been very creditable his last two and is a chance in most races he contests, and the first-starter JETZ (2), who trialled okay at Melton in late July and gets a nice draw with the emergency in gate one.

OVERVIEW: SPIRITED LASS (1) was able to come from midfield to run down LITTLE MISS MORGAN (2) in a race at Melton last Friday, diving right on the line to score in a photo finish. It was a good effort considering the runner-up was able to lead and largely get her own way in front. Before that, she loomed to win on a Saturday night at Melton but made a late break. While she is hard to trust at times, from barrier one I’m just leaning her way over the lightly-raced LITTLE MISS MORGAN (2), who looks very talented and might have more scope. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT (9) won a stronger race on ratings than this when leading last Friday night and usually runs well, while FRITSCH (3) has started the campaign well and broke through second-up in dominant fashion at Shepparton on July 28. Last-start 30m handicap winner ACOOL INVESTMENT (8) is the other key chance from inside the back row.

OVERVIEW: FAMOUS CRIMES (3) led and blitzed his rivals to claim a maiden victory at Melton on July 18 with a slick last half of 55.3, and despite being caught parked at Ballarat last time, he boxed on well to finish fourth and just 9.5m from the winner Shazza Love. He looks like a nice horse for the Courtney Slater barn and his chances would be greatly amplified if Josh Duggan was able to find the front. Two-year-old HIGH RIDER (5) won his maiden at the second time of asking here on July 10, holding off stablemate Wottawizard who has won well since. He must be a good hope based off that. WEONA OUR RIGHTS (8) caught the eye when hitting the line well to grab second first-up from a break behind Janniebquick last Friday, and BUNGY (2) was outclassed by The Last Trip last weekend but ran well in a heat of that series after dominating his maiden at Kilmore prior.

OVERVIEW: JOE LOU (7) produced an incredible win after galloping early at Melton on July 15 and then blew his chances with another early mistake at Kilmore after that. Last week at the same track, James Herbertson positioned him three back the fence inside the last lap and he sprinted sharply to score in good style once again. He’s talented and a faultless display has him clearly on top of this field. THE FIERY SUNSET (5) won first-up at Geelong on July 3, ran well there again for third subsequent to that and then dropped out last time at Ballarat with a tough trip. She can bounce back. WHATS THE TEA (8) got home well for second at Maryborough on Monday and has the ability in this grade, while IMABOGANBOY (3) is working up to a win with some good efforts in recent weeks.

BACK: JOE LOU (7) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: Super clash this one where you can make a case for all seven runners. The McNaulty stable has two chances in the race and I’m leaning towards ZENARIO (5) despite the little break away from the track. His last effort was a game second to the in-form Good Tobe Locksley after doing plenty of work at Melton on June 13 and all his form prior was strong in good company. The map is difficult to predict, but you’d assume OLLIES THE BOSS (1) gets a great run from gate one and he’s knocking on the door with recent runner-up placings in easier grade, SPRINGFIELD AFFAIR (3) produced a super tough effort from the chair to win by a big margin at Cranbourne on Sunday and is one of the key chances, while IMA TERMINATOR (4) was good first-up at Melton last weekend buried away on the fence and did beat home Kiwi import WORDS (6) and GOODTIME LIBBY (2) in a recent Melton trial.

OVERVIEW: LAMBRO MACH (7) is in a great patch of form at present, with a couple of unlucky efforts at Melton following a dominant front-running success at Cranbourne. Last weekend, he settled four back the fence and was only beaten 7.9m in a strong race won by I Am The Storm and looks the pacer going the best of the seven runners here. He’s the widest off the front line, but might be good enough to overcome that in the small field. BULLETPROOF KID (3) looks to have the gate speed to lead initially and brings a good second to the handy Springfield Affair at Cranbourne on Sunday to the table, DRESSED IN GOLD (6) led his most recent race and was only beaten 3.3m in a 1:54.1 mile rate, while WILD CARD (2) was good from three back the pegs in a fence dominated race behind Emma Stewart pair Star Vision and Mount Barker Boy on Saturday night.

BACK: LAMBRO MACH (7) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: WOTTAWIZARD (7) is a two-year-old taking on older horses, but he looks well placed to make it back-to-back wins. He was a great run in defeat at Melton two back and then smashed his rivals with a good victory in handy time at Ballarat last week. He looks pretty progressive and this is a field devoid of stars. ROSBERG (4) was very brave from the chair when third last Friday night at Melton and got up to run second in that hectic race won by War Zone a week earlier, HIGHVIEW HAMMER (5) has the gate speed to lead and must be a factor from there, while TED BEAR (6) is first-up for the campaign and heads here on the back of a trial on Tuesday where he failed to beat a runner home.

BACK: WOTTAWIZARD (7) – 4 units (win)

OVERVIEW: QUEEN TRUSCOTT (2) was first-up since November 2024 when she stepped out at Ballarat last week and ran a nice race for fourth, beaten less than 10m. It was a good return back in the care of Team Angove in a quick enough last half and she’s narrowly favoured in this tricky event (before seeing what she does at Ballarat on Wednesday) to end the night. MI BOW (5) has had 30 goes at trying to break her maiden, and while she’s yet to land the killer blow, has run a stack of placings lately and should be breaking through soon. SPESHAL (7) has run five placings from 10 career starts and didn’t do a bad job to finish fifth, beaten 10.8m, last time at Maryborough after breaking early, ALECTRONA (6) showed a bit on debut before a mistake ruined her chances last Thursday at Kilmore, and LORD LOGAN (3) is on debut but is hard to tip based on his trial form at Menangle in NSW when in the care of Anton Golino. Worth monitoring betting moves now in the Brent Lilley stable.

10-UNIT GAME PLAN

R4 #7 JOE LOU – 3 units (win)

R6 #7 LAMBRO MACH – 3 units (win)

R7 #7 WOTTAWIZARD – 4 units (win)

EARLY QUADDIE

5,8,9,10/1,2,3,8,9/2,3,5,7,8,9/5,7,8

QUADDIE

1,2,3,4,5/2,3,6,7/4,7/2,5,6,7