Craig Rail has your tips, strategy and Quaddie for Ararat harness.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: STERLING GIGI (1) is a 2yo pacer taking on older horses but he continues to improve with the benefit of racing and finished second in a slick mile rate of 1.57.5 at his latest attempt so he should be competitive from the pole position. ISTHISTHEREALLIFE (2) is a debutante for the Margaret and Paddy Lee training combination that was placed in reasonable time at a Terang trial effort last week so she must be kept safe. ARUVAL (5) is resuming since a ninth in the Homegrown Classic in December. She is a tough filly and will be fitter after a recent Ballarat trial third so she rates as a value hope. BUBBLE OVER (10) has been placed at her past three attempts and is worth thought along with MATRIARCH DAISY (11), which gave a forward showing at her first run since September.
BACK: STERLING GIGI (1) – 1 unit (each way)
SELECTIONS: STERLING GIGI (1), ISTHISTHEREALLIFE (2), ARUVAL (5), MATRIARCH DAISY (11)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: SIR EROS (10) commences from the tough handicap of 50m but he is clearly the class runner of the field and he was a strong winner at the Maryborough trials on April 12. He was competing at Metropolitan and Country Cups level during his last preparation and should be highly competitive with a clean getaway. BOUTIKA (8) boasts a handy strike rate from the standing start and was placed behind the handy mare With Aplomb in a slick mile rate of 1.57.5 at Maryborough last week. She is a speedy mare and looms as one of the leading chances. LADY SUSPICIOUS (9) gained a nice trail, came out three horses wide on the home turn and just failed to peg back MY MOTHER SAID (4) at Mount Gambier last outing. She is trotting consistently and is not without a chance. MY MOTHER SAID (4) and MAGIC LAW (5) are both good beginners and are worth thought.
SELECTIONS: SIR EROS (10), BOUTIKA (8). LADY SUSPICIOUS (9), MAGIC LAW (5)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: OUTBACK QUEENIE (8) has won two of her past three starts and produced a brave performance when she raced on the outside leader throughout and proved to be too strong at Maryborough last week. She has the perfect trailing draw and looms as a strong winning chance again. SHE WILL WANTANO (1) is a strong mare that should go well from the pole position. She led throughout to win at Mount Gambier last outing and this race is no tougher. LINE UP JACQUIE (3) possesses a strong finishing burst and was able to defeat FAMOUS LABEL (4) at an Ararat victory on March 23. She came from last when an eye-catching third at Echuca two starts ago and should take holding out in the run to the finish. FAMOUS LABEL (4) finished well for second at Mount Gambier last outing and should run her usual honest race.
BACK: OUTBACK QUEENIE (8) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: OUTBACK QUEENIE (8), SHE WILL WANTANO (1), LINE UP JACQUIE (3), FAMOUS LABEL (4)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: DOCTOR GO JOH (7) failed to handle the track at Mildura but was still a winning chance before breaking stride on the home turn. He didn’t have much luck at Hamilton last outing and is a winning chance if he can find a reasonable position from the awkward draw. EL AWOMAN (2) is working into some form having been runner up at her past two attempts and she finished off well when a narrow second behind Ittakesluv at Hamilton last outing. She is ideally drawn and gets her chance to break through for her first win since April 2023. GOZO MAJOR (4) is backing up quickly from his effort at Ballarat on Thursday night and should strip fitter after his two runs back from a break. He possesses early speed and should be prominent throughout. WATCH IT HAPPEN (6) led throughout at a Terang victory on March 02 and has claims if he can find the lead again. LIVERMERE (8) missed out narrowly after leading out then taking cover at Mount Gambier and is a place chance again.
SELECTIONS: DOCTOR GO JOH (7), EL AWOMAN (2), GOZO MAJOR (4), WATCH IT HAPPEN (6)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: SISTER MOLLY (8) has had three wins and a third in four trials leading up to her debut performance. She strikes a suitable assignment for her debut and she obviously has ability so she must be respected. NO SHENANIGANZ (1) is a first starter for trainer Zac Steenhuis, which finished fifth at a recent Bendigo trial performance behind Just A Journey and is worth thought from the pole position. AMICA VALLIS (6) ran a reasonable race after beginning slowly at her debut fifth. She is still learning but she has some ability and is worth an investment under these conditions. ISLAND RUBEE (5) was beaten by a large margin when second behind SISTER MOLLY (8) at a recent Terang trial effort but she ran a handy race for third at Ballarat on April 09 and is not without a chance.
BACK: SISTER MOLLY (8) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: SISTER MOLLY (8), NO SHENANIGANZ (1), AMICA VALLIS (6), ISLAND RUBEE (5)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: BLACK OPAL JACK (3) is a handy 3yo pacer, which has been placed in all of his three starts for the season and has performed well at his home track of Ararat previously with a win and a second from two starts to his credit. He finished third behind Mount Barker Boy in the Graduation Final last outing and he is likely to find this to be a suitable assignment. COLOSIMO (5) finished strongly and got up to defeat BLACK OPAL JACK (3) at Maryborough then appeared to have his chance when fourth in the race won by Mount Barker Boy. He has shown plenty of promise at his five starts to date and is one of the leading chances again. AMERICAN ASSASSIN (4) lacks solid racing with only two starts since June 2025 but he is a speedy type and has the ability to show up prominently if he is somewhere near his peak. NAMELLA (1) was placed three times in succession against strong opposition then followed with an unplaced effort behind the handy mare Rocknroll Willow at Hamilton. She is perfectly drawn to suit her racing pattern and cannot be left out of calculations. FAMISHED (2) finished off okay via the sprint lane for third at Mount Gambier last outing and is worth thought in multiple combinations.
BACK: BLACK OPAL JACK (3) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: BLACK OPAL JACK (3), COLOSIMO (5), AMERICAN ASSASSIN (4), NAMELLA (1)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: VILLAGE VOICE (7) has been placed at her past five starts and deserves to break through for a win. She settled in the second half of the field and finished off well for second at Hamilton last outing. PRESIDENTIALCHANGE (6) was caught wide early, restrained to last and had little luck when a creditable fourth in a mile of 1.58.4 at Mount Gambier last week. He hasn’t had much luck recently and is worth a ticket each way. MIDNITE DESIRE (4) led out then took cover and obtained an inside run when a close second at Ballarat then led throughout at Cranbourne. He possesses early speed and looms as one of the leading chances again. DANCIN WITH ELVIS (1) got home best to win at Mount Gambier when resuming and he is perfectly drawn so he is not without a chance.
SELECTIONS: VILLAGE VOICE (7), PRESIDENTIALCHANGE (6), MIDNITE DESIRE (4), DANCIN WITH ELVIS (1)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
Race 1 No.1 Sterling Gigi – 1 unit (each way)
Race 3 No.8 Outback Queenie – 2 units (win)
Race 5 No.8 Sister Molly – 3 units (win)
Race 6 No.3 Black Opal Jack – 3 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE (Cost $45, gives 25%)
1,2,5/ 5,8,9,10/ 1,3,8/ 2,4,6,7,8
QUADDIE (Cost $30)
2,4,6,7,8/ 8/ 3,5/ 4,6,7
The odds quoted on the fields page are a Goodform computer generated price based on a range of key form factors and are not necessarily the odds that may be offered by a licenced bookmaker.
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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