Bronte Nieuwenburg has done the form for Wednesday’s meeting at Bendigo.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: This is an even contest to start the night’s meeting. CATIES SON (5) is currently in career-best form, finishing in the top two in four of his last five starts. He was a good winner last start when leading at Kilmore. All of his wins have come from in front, so this will be a different map for him as he’s unlikely to find the top spot easily. Regardless, he is racing well but will need luck. SIR SONNY MAGUIRE (1) looks to map well here with the ace barrier and brilliant gate speed. He is first up after 240 days, so he should improve on whatever he does here. He did trial recently in slow time at Shepparton, so it’s hard to take too much from that. Fitness will be the defining factor. SAVON DE ROCHE (4) has been performing very well this campaign, with two wins, a second and a third from four starts. She doesn’t have great gate speed, so she will need to find a position early. However, she is a strong swooper, so if she’s close enough she will be flashing home. STARZINHEREYES (7) doesn’t have the strongest numerical form, but some of his recent sectionals have been good. He will need luck from barrier seven.
SELECTIONS: CATIES SON (5), SIR SONNY MAGUIRE (1), SAVON DE ROCHE (4), STARZINHEREYES (7)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: ORION ART (7) is a first starter here. He was third at a recent trial where the winner was the Alex Ashwood-trained Boystrous, who the stable has a very strong opinion of. Orion Art was flat out in that trial, but they did run home in 27.7 with a mile rate of 1:57.4, a time that is more than competitive in a maiden like this. Barrier seven is awkward, but he will at least have time and space to settle early. JUST LIKE NUGGET (4), on exposed form, has the best sectional times in this field, although his numerical form doesn’t look great. His last start was better than it reads on paper, as he was last at the 600m and had to make a big run but still hit the line well, just too far back. He should be able to get forward into a good position here. LA SMOOCH (12) was first up last start when fifth at Shepparton and battled on okay in that run. His start prior, before his spell, was good when he had to do it tough at Kilmore and still finished third. He can make his own luck but will need to from barrier 12 over the short trip. BETTING ATTACK (9) has had one career start where he raced erratically, so it’s hard to assess his ability off that run. He has since had a spell and has won two trials on his return, including one at this track earlier this month. James Herbertson drove him there and although he looked a little green, he did everything right, hitting the line nicely with more to give. If he does everything right, he is a big winning chance, but manners are a query under race conditions.
BACK: ORION ART (7) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: ORION ART (7), JUST LIKE NUGGET (4), LA SMOOCH (12), BETTING ATTACK (9)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: This race looks like a super competitive trot with plenty of chances. DOSSIER (5) was a good winner last start when she had to sustain a long run at Kilmore. She doesn’t have gate speed, so she will need to make her own luck again here. DISTANT SUN (6) was brilliant two starts back at Melton when he made a run from last to finish second behind the talented Bennie And The Jets. If he can replicate that effort, he’s a big winning chance here. WALLIS (8) has the best sectional times in this event but will be relying on luck from barrier eight. He is a great swooper with a sharp turn of foot, so if he gets gaps he will be flying home. IM ABOVE THE LAW (10) has been good in his last two runs. He won last start at Maryborough understand start conditions, defeating a few horses who line up here. He does have an awkward barrier. There is also a lot of respect for MUSKEE (9), who raced against the best trotters in his age group last year. He’s first up here with a winning trial and will improve off whatever he does in this.
BACK: DOSSIER (5) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: DOSSIER (5), DISTANT SUN (6), WALLIS (8), IM ABOVE THE LAW (10)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: This is another event with plenty of chances. OUTA THE BLUE (6) used the sprint lane to win two starts back at Kilmore and looked good on that occasion. However, she did struggle a bit last start under similar conditions. She is a bit hit and miss. She often relies on her gate speed to find the front, but that looks unlikely here. A change in race pattern may suit, as she has the best quarter speed in this event if saved for one run. KIMCHI (7) is often competitive in races like this. He got back into the winners’ circle last start after a suitable fence trip and now has that winning confidence again. James Herbertson gets back on, having driven him in six of his 10 career wins. Tricky barrier. ALCATRAZ GIRL (4) has great gate speed and is likely to map forward from barrier four. If she finds the front, she should get a good run. PARISIAN BANDIT (5) is in great form, finishing in the top three in his last four starts. He was a good winner two starts ago at Echuca and rattled home well last start for second at Shepparton. He maps awkwardly here, but with luck he is a winning chance.
SELECTIONS: OUTA THE BLUE (6), KIMCHI (7), ALCATRAZ GIRL (4), PARISIAN BANDIT (5)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: MONTANA MUSCLE (5) is a consistent runner who has performed well all year. He will need luck to map well as he doesn’t have the best gate speed, but he is a good swooper and can flash home. Mark Pitt takes the reins here for the first time. POPPY POPSTAR (8) is in career best form, winning two of her last four starts and finishing second in the other two. She also has the best sectional times in this event. The barrier is the query, as she may get stuck in an awkward position. CHRISTMAS BABE (4) has known gate speed and will likely fly the gate and lead. That’s her usual race pattern and she’s likely to adopt those tactics again from barrier four. If she gets an easy run in front she’s a winning chance, but certainly a first four hope. MADGE EGAN (1) looks the likely beneficiary of the race map. If she can hold her position early, which she doesn’t always do, she should get a cosy fence-line run near the front. She is racing well enough to be a first four chance.
BACK: MONTANA MUSCLE (5) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: MONTANA MUSCLE (5), POPPY POPSTAR (8), CHRISTMAS BABE (4), MADGE EGAN (1)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: FRANKYTHEFRENCHMAN (4) is a good performer who is at his best when he can find the front, which looks likely here as he has more early speed than the two horses drawn to his inside. He maps well, is racing okay and finds an opportunity to get back into the winners’ circle. PROHIBITION (5) is an interesting runner and comes with some risk. Last start he was declared a non-runner, but his run prior in the breeze was solid. His manners can be poor, however when he does everything right, he shows promise. WAIKARE ADRIENNA (6) was very good last start, racing in the breeze throughout and only being narrowly beaten late by a swooper. She is racing well but will need to make her own luck again here. SAINT EYES (2) comes into barrier one with the scratching. He doesn’t have great gate speed but should get a fence-line run. He is a first four chance if he doesn’t get too far back.
BACK: FRANKYTHEFRENCHMAN (4) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: FRANKYTHEFRENCHMAN (4), PRO HIBITION (5), WAIKARE ADRIENNA (6), SAINT EYES (2)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: JILLIBY TOPGUN (3) is in career-best form, winning his last two starts. He doesn’t have great gate speed, so he will need to make his own luck here, but he is racing well enough to do that. JETAWAY SAINT (7) is first up in 183 days, however he was eye-catching in a recent trial win at Bendigo where he gapped his rivals. An awkward barrier means he will be relying on luck, but he’s a nice horse. FREMARKS PEGGY (8) has the best sectional times in this field and is the only horse on the second line, so she has options early. BUSLIN BRODY (6) was checked and broke last start but still managed to finish with the field. The start prior he also broke but still was only beaten three metres. He is performing better than his form suggests on paper.
BACK: JILLIBY TOPGUN (3) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: JILLIBY TOPGUN (3), JETAWAY SAINT (7), FREMARKS PEGGY (8), BUSLIN BRODY (6)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R2 #7 ORION ART – 2 units (win)
R3 #5 DOSSIER – 2 units (win)
R5 #5MONTANA MUSCLE – 2 units (win)
R6 #4 FRANKYTHEFRENCHMAN – 2 units (win)
R7 #3 JILLIBY TOPGUN – 2 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
1,4,5,7/4,7,9,12/5,6,8,9,10/4,6,5,7
QUADDIE
4,6,5,7/4,5,8/4,5,6/3,6,7,8
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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