Bronte Nieuwenburg has done the form for tonight’s competitive 10-race card at Melton.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: SENNA STORM (9) follows through WICHITA KANSAS (2) at the start, who has excellent gate speed. He will therefore get into a good position early without using too much petrol. He isn’t in his career-best form, but the race map suits him here. MAXBECA (3) got back in the winner’s circle last start when hitting the line well at Bendigo. That was Ryan Sanderson’s first drive on him and he gets Ryan back here. This also looks like a similar race map. ANIMADO (12) has notably the best sectional times in this field. He just has a tricky barrier over the short trip. WICHITA KANSAS (2) will find the front here and the map will suit over the short trip. Leilani Justice’s team are performing well.
SELECTIONS: SENNA STORM (9), MAXBECA (3), ANIMADO (12), WICHITA KANSAS (2)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: STAR RULER (5) got keen last start at Cranbourne when leading but battled on well to finish second. He does have fantastic gate speed, but he is also better when saved for one run, so the barrier is a bit awkward for him as he is naturally inclined to run the gate. He is a fast horse though, and if he finds some luck, he is a great winning chance. OUR BELLA LUCIA (8) has had some tough races recently. She has had to make her own luck. A tricky barrier here as she may get caught back on the fence. She does have the best sectional times in this field though. FREAK OUT (4) led almost all the way at Ballarat last start but just got unpaced late with the swoopers to finish third. He does have better gate speed than the horses drawn inside him, so he’s likely to find a forward position again here. If they run consistent solid quarters, he is a winning chance. He just doesn’t suit a slow pace with a fast final split. ARE WEASLEY (12) got caught wide last start and got tired late. He was backing up from two solid runs at Stawell on the same day the week before. He will need luck here, but he is racing OK.
SELECTIONS: STAR RULER (5), OUR BELLA LUCIA (8), FREAK OUT (4), ARE WEASLEY (12)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: WOMAN TO LOVE (7) has had three starts and performed well in each. She has shown she is tough and can likely make her own luck. She has also trotted well in each of her starts and looks safe. On the other hand, SHINELIKETHESUN (11) has shown it has a good amount of ability, it just isn’t safe or hasn’t found luck yet in its career. It keeps galloping, so it’s hard to tip on top, but once it puts it all together, it could be quite a nice horse. SAMMY HALLER (2) was good last start when racing tough and holding on to second at Bendigo. It did look like an improved run from him. He has the barrier to get forward here. MAORI TATTOO (3) was checked his last two starts, but his starts prior at Bendigo were good enough to be quite competitive in this race. He will need luck, but he’s racing better than his form looks on paper.
BACK: WOMAN TO LOVE (7) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: WOMAN TO LOVE (7), SHINELIKETHESUN (11), SAMMY HALLER (2), MAORI TATTOO (3)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: KENNYS SON (4) is first up in Victoria since starting its career for Robbie and KerryAnn Morris at Menangle. His times there were better than this field, and he may appreciate the change in scenery. If he trots throughout, he will be well placed here. MISS KOMMUNICATION (3) is a well-bred What The Hill first starter. She was fourth at a recent Bendigo trial, and it’s hard to determine her ability, but I always respect a first starter in a trotting maiden. THELMABELLA (2) got it wrong last start when first up at Bendigo. After getting it wrong at the start, she still hit the line well and it looked like a promising run.
BACK: KENNYS SON (4) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: KENNYS SON (4), MISS KOMMUNICATION (3), THELMABELLA (2)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (1) has gate speed and the ace barrier to use to his advantage here. This is quite an even race, so the map is very important and it suits this performer. ISOLATION (5) is racing better than his form looks on paper, whether it be bad luck or manners, a few things have gone wrong for him recently. He has the gate speed to get into a forward position and if he has some luck, he could be flashing home late. MANINKY MOONSHINE (10) led in fast time for the track (Ararat) last start and was only beaten a head late. Different race map here, but the stable is flying and he looks like a nice horse. CELESTIAL ZODIAC (8) gets a perfect race map here, following HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA early. He can be saved for one run on the fence.
BACK: HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (1) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (1), ISOLATION (5), MANINKY MOONSHINE (10), CELESTIAL ZODIAC (8)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: PISTOL PEARCE (3) was a winner last start at Cranbourne. He does have great gate speed, but it may be tricky for him to find the front here with the speed inside him. He’s racing well, he’s in form, has confidence, he will just need a bit of luck. MISTER JIMARINGLE (1) maps well here from barrier one. He is a versatile horse who hasn’t had a good barrier in some time. MONA MIA (6) is second up here and will improve from her first-up performance when sixth, beaten 6.5 metres at Bendigo. This is a drop in class from that race and she will have the added fitness. She just has an awkward barrier. KATUNGA EXPRESS (5) was eye-catching, flashing home into second two starts ago at Shepparton. Last start he had no luck. He is a great swooper if saved for one run.
SELECTIONS: PISTOL PEARCE (3), MISTER JIMARINGLE (1), MONA MIA (6), KATUNGA EXPRESS (5)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: MISTER WALKER (5) hit the line well when making a move from near last two starts back at Kilmore. He hit the line well again into second last start at Cranbourne when getting a fence trip. It does often surprise me he’s only won one race in his career, as he often races quite well. He’s placed 16 times. Tricky barrier, but he looks well placed here. CHARLIE WALKER (9) has got it wrong early in his last two starts. However, his runs prior were great, often running good placings. He is an 18-time winner, so on his day he can perform well. If he trots early and can follow through into a suitable position, he looks well placed. ALLWATFUNJINGLES (4) was looking for runs late last start at Bendigo but hit the line very well. If he can get forward and have one crack at them late, he could finish over the top. CHRISTMAS BABE (6) has brilliant gate speed and will likely find the front again here. The race map will suit her over the short trip, and she looks to have some confidence back after recent good performances.
BACK: MISTER WALKER (5) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: MISTER WALKER (5), CHARLIE WALKER (9), ALLWATFUNJINGLES (4), CHRISTMAS BABE (6)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: There are a few lightly raced performers and first starters in this field, so there’s not a lot of exposed form. WALKWITHME (8) is an Art Major who looked good at a recent Melton trial. She sat behind the leader and made a backstraight move to find the front and win clearly. It was a promising run and she looks well placed here. Whatever she does here, she will improve from it. MAJOR ORION (4) has had two career starts for a second and a third. Last start when second, they ran good times at Bendigo. On exposed form in this field, he has the best sectional times. He also showed good gate speed and could find a forward position here. DARLINGTON (5) is another first starter in this field, this time a well-bred Sweet Lou filly for Jess Tubbs. James Herbertson takes the reins. It’s hard to determine her ability from recent trials, so we will learn a lot more in this race. ZEALYN (9) is another horse that’s hard to place ability-wise. He has had one career start, where he settled last and hit the line OK. He has had quite a few trials this year. He will have improved from his first start and has an ideal barrier here to follow through early and get into a good position.
SELECTIONS: WALKWITHME (8), MAJOR ORION (4), DARLINGTON (5), ZEALYN (9)
Race 9:
OVERVIEW: Much like the last race, this is another maiden event with first starters, so it can be hard to line up the form. THE FINAL DANCE (2) is one of the more experienced runners in this event. It was an eye-catching run from him last start when wide and at the back of the field. He had to make a long run and still hit the line well for second. He is well placed from barrier two here. DANNARIE (4) is a first starter who won a trial well recently at Melton. He led from barrier six, ran along and hit the line strong. He should perform well here. BEAU BECA (3) is another first starter with winning trial form at this track. We will learn more from this run, but he could map well here. DUSTY PHILTRA (6) is first up here and is one of the more experienced runners in this field. He has had two recent Shepparton trials where he has finished second. He has a turn of foot if saved for one run and has some luck. Also respecting GOODLOOKINGDEAL (1). It doesn’t have the best trial form, but respecting how well bred he is and his good barrier.
SELECTIONS: THE FINAL DANCE (2), DANNARIE (4), BEAU BECA (3), DUSTY PHILTRA (6)
Race 10:
OVERVIEW: KALARNEY PRINCE (2) should be able to find the fence here. He was good his last two starts when getting a fence run, finishing second in both. He is racing well. He will need a bit of luck here, but it’s not the toughest race. JUNGLE SPIDER (3) hit the line really well last start at Maryborough. It looked like an improved performance. If he gets into a good position with cover, he will be flashing home. LITTLE TEDDY (8) is the only horse on the back row here, so he has options with the race map. He is coming back from a short spell, but he did hit the line really well in his last start. NUCLEAR ATTITUDE (5) has the second-best sectional times in this field, even though he’s been out of the winner’s circle for some time. This is not the toughest contest, so he’s a first four hope. He will need some luck though to win.
BACK: KALARNEY PRINCE (2) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: KALARNEY PRINCE (2), JUNGLE SPIDER (3), LITTLE TEDDY (8), NUCLEAR ATTITUDE (5)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R3 #7 WOMAN TO LOVE – 2 units (win)
R4 #4 KENNYS SON – 2 units (win)
R5 #1 HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA – 2 units (win)
R7 #5 MISTER WALKER – 2 units (win)
R10 #2 KALARNEY PRINCE – 2 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
2,3,9,12/4,5,8,12/2,3,7,1/2,3,4,10
QUADDIE
1,5,8,10/1,3,5,6,/4,5,6,9/4,5,8,9
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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