Bronte Nieuwenburg’s form for Ballarat on Thursday.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: This is a very competitive opener to the 10-race card, making it hard to narrow it down to just four horses. SPORTS WRACK (4) is an experienced performer who is racing better than his numerical form suggests. He’s had some really tough races recently and has still been performing well. If he maps better here, he finds a race to get back into the winner’s circle. THE BLAZINBOOTS (3) has been quite impressive at his last three starts, finishing second on each occasion. In one of those runs, he flashed home very well from the back of the field, while in the other two he raced in the breeze. All three starts were from barrier five, and he’s versatile enough to handle different scenarios. He gets a better barrier here. ARTIST (6) has been racing well and has the best sectional times in this event, but the barrier is sticky. IM THE REASON (1) is second-up and should improve from his first-up third at this track. The barrier is suitable.
SELECTIONS: SPORTS WRACK (4), THE BLAZINBOOTS (3), ARTIST (6), IM THE REASON (1)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: KIMCHI (4) has found the front and been narrowly beaten into second at his last two starts. He is racing well, and with the scratching of YANKEE RAIN (2), he is more likely to map positively here. REGAL ROCK (6) was very impressive last start. He raced tough, applying pressure in the breeze before racing clear to win by more than 10 metres. He can make his own luck. WINGATE GUY (10) has been great at his last two starts, using his good speed to flash home strongly for a win and a second. He seems to be racing back to his best, but the tricky barrier is a concern over the short trip. From the barrier, MALANI JOH (1) looks to map well and can’t be left out of the exotics.
SELECTIONS: KIMCHI (4), REGAL ROCK (6), WINGATE GUY (10), MALANI JOH (1)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: NIGHT FLIGHT (6) is third-up here. First-up, he was held up but ran home well into fourth at Melton behind Majaro Girl. Last start, he was OK but didn’t have the high speed to make up ground late. He does have good gate speed and could map well here. He should improve with fitness. AFRICAN GALA (9) is a nice horse when he gets things right. Two starts ago, he hit the line brilliantly to finish second, but last start he got it wrong with his manners. He needs to trot throughout here. MISS MUSCLE (11) ran a very brave fourth in the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series 2yo Trotting Fillies Final two starts ago. She got it wrong with her manners last start. She is an exciting prospect for the future, but she is only a two-year-old taking on the older horses here and will need to overcome a wide back-row barrier. AI SEDHAI (5) has good sectional times and is a good value first-four chance here if he gets some luck. Also respecting LIFE ON THE HILL (7) who was a winner last start but has a sticky barrier here.
SELECTIONS: NIGHT FLIGHT (6), AFRICAN GALA (9), MISS MUSCLE (11) AI SEDHAI (5).
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: This is a nice event with plenty of progressive performers. ALECTRONA (5) is a lightly raced trotter who is putting it all together nicely and has strung some strong performances together recently. She was a clear third last start behind the smart No Money No Honey in the Vicbred Super Series Silver. She’s getting better with each run and finds a suitable race here. TRUSCOTTS ELEGANCE (7) has been impressive with some nice performances in her recent Vicbred Super Series starts, including a solid fourth in the Group 1 Final last start. She is a high-speed trotter who can be competitive with the right run. PURPLE MOON (10) was outstanding last start. She galloped out of contention, caught the field and still managed to storm home into second. She faces a tough barrier here, but she’s racing well. JILLIBY RADIANCE (6) is a smart filly who is still figuring out what racing is all about. She raced well last start but got too keen when leading and still battled on well. With some luck and better manners, she’s a winning chance. I also have a lot of respect for CALLINAN (2), who is a tough horse and should map well here.
BACK: ALECTRONA (5) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: ALECTRONA (5), TRUSCOTTS ELEGANCE (7), PURPLE MOON (10), JILLIBY RADIANCE (6).
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: GLENLINE (9) has a great turn of foot and is a brilliant sit sprinter. From the barrier, he looks set to get the perfect trip to storm home late. BLUE OCEAN (1) has been racing OK if we forgive his last start, when he had broken gear. He gets a good barrier to secure a fence-line trip here. BELVU BANDIT (8) has been racing well recently without much luck. If he can find the gaps here, he can capitalise. ICANMOTOR (5) was held up last start but let down nicely once he found clear running. He’s a nice chance here if he gets the right trip. Also respecting ATOMIC GLORY (2) here.
BACK: GLENLINE (9) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: GLENLINE (9), BLUE OCEAN (1), BELVU BANDIT (8), ICANMOTOR (5)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: SNICKERS EXPRESS (9) is a nice trotter who has been ultra-consistent recently. He flashed home nicely into third last start. Barrier nine should allow him to settle and be saved for one run. LOUIEVILLE LASS (4) did it tough in the breeze last start, tiring a little late. Her start prior was a nice third at Geelong. She is a 10-time winner and has the experience to be competitive here. CHILLHUNNYBUNNY (5) is third-up here and should be near peak fitness. Her first-up second was good, and last start she finished sixth after a tough run but still hit the line well. NEDZA THRILLER (6) was a solid second last start at Charlton when he was able to find the fence from the stand start. He returns to mobile conditions here, and the barrier looks awkward for him.
BACK: SNICKERS EXPRESS (9) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: SNICKERS EXPRESS (9), LOUIEVILLE LASS (4), CHILLHUNNYBUNNY (5), NEDZA THRILLER (6)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: NATHANS DREAMER (1) is having her third career start here, but she has had plenty of trials to gain experience. Last start, she got well back at Cranbourne but hit the line well for third. She should get a good fence trip here if she stays trotting. KYVALLEY JOYRIDE (7) is a very well-bred gelding having his third start this preparation. He has the best sectional times on exposed form in this race. He is racing well and still looks to be developing his point-to-point speed late in his races. INTHE NORTY CORNER (2) is a first starter here for Kyle Marshall. She was well beaten in a recent trial at Geelong, so we will learn more about her here. BILLYSOPHIA (6) will need some luck from the barrier but finds a suitable race here.
BACK: NATHANS DREAMER (1) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: NATHANS DREAMER (1), KYVALLEY JOYRIDE (7), INTHE NORTY CORNER (2), BILLYSOPHIA (6)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: SNOWIN (8) is an Andy Gath-trained runner who was third on debut last start after leading at Melton. She’s bred to be a nice horse, sired by Bold Eagle out of Aldebaran Shakira. Barrier eight is a little awkward, but she should improve from her first start with race experience. ASONGOFTHEHEART (9) is a first starter here for Katrina Fitzpatrick. She let down nicely in a recent Ballarat trial. We will learn more about her here, but she appears to have some promise. LEZAMA (6) has been racing well and consistently recently. With the right run, she’s a threat here. ALCOMBZ (3) is first-up here and only having his fifth career start. In his first preparation, he was slow to begin in his races. He should improve with experience, and Courtney Slater’s team are flying. Two other horses to note in this event are first starter GULBAHAR (7) and HENRYS HORSE (1), who is first-up for John Douglas and trialled well.
BACK: SNOWIN (8) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: ASONGOFTHEHEART (9), SNOWIN (8), LEZAMA (6), ALCOMBZ (3)
Race 9:
OVERVIEW: DREAMS FOREVER (1) had a wide and unlucky run last start in the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series Final won by Kahula. She is a smart individual who’s perhaps been overshadowed by her superstar stablemate Ideal Frankie. However, she’s a talented filly in her own right and gets the ideal barrier here to show her class and break through for her maiden victory. BELLA LOUISE (5) is a tough mare first-up in the care of John Justice. From the awkward barrier, she may have to make her own luck, but she has the ability to be competitive. BRAVE ART (6) is first-up here for new trainer Carson Millar, who has a good record with new horses in his team. She does have a tricky barrier to overcome. MIDNIGHT MOJO (2) is a good sit sprinter and, with the right run, will be flashing home late.
SELECTIONS: DREAMS FOREVER (1), BELLA LOUISE (5), BRAVE ART (6), MIDNIGHT MOJO (2)
Race 10:
OVERVIEW: HOUSE PARTY (6) had two brilliant wins in 2025 before going to the sidelines, returning recently in the Vicbred Super Series. She was good, but it was always going to be a challenging ask fresh off such a long break. She finds a suitable race here to build her confidence and is likely to be quite short in the market. KING BALDWIN (4) has had only two career starts. He was eye-catching when winning on debut at Cranbourne, flashing home strongly, before finishing seventh last start in a race won by the talented Zanda Man. He looks like a progressive type, but it will be hard to beat HOUSE PARTY (6) here. EXOTIC CHESTER (2) ran home nicely into fourth at Melton last start. That was in July, and he is first-up here after a winning trial at Geelong. RYTA (3) is second-up here for John Douglas. He was good when leading first-up, only to be run down late by some swoopers. He should improve with fitness, as that first-up performance was his first start since October last year.
SELECTIONS: HOUSE PARTY (6), KING BALDWIN (4), EXOTIC CHESTER (2), RYTA (3)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R4 #5 ALECTRONA – 2 units (win)
R5 #9 GLENLINE – 2 units (win)
R6 #9 SNICKERS EXPRESS – 2 units (win)
R7 #1 NATHANS DREAMER – 2 units (win)
R8 #8 SNOWIN – 2 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
1,2,3,4,6/4,6,10/5,6,7,9,11/5,6,7,10
QUADDIE
1,8,9/4,5,6,9/1,7/6,8,9
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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