Craig Rail has the strategy, selections and Quaddie for St Arnaud Cup Day on Sunday
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: STORMS (7) is resuming since a debut third but he has appeared to be very sharp at the trials having remained undefeated in three attempts. He zipped home his last quarter in 27.4 seconds at his latest trial success so he is worth following. CRYPTO CROOK (2) commenced from the pole position, was headed off at the start and settled three back on the markers when a fast finishing second at Charlton on debut. She created a good impression first up and should prove hard to beat. ITS HYDROMATIC (1) gained a nice trail and tried hard over the latter stages when third in the same race at Charlton. He possesses early speed and is ideally drawn so he warrants respect. BANGBANG BOBBIE (3) was runner up behind the smart juvenile pacer Lambro Louella at Mount Gambier last outing. He has been runner up twice recently and should be competitive again. HALF AS TOUGH (6) produced a game performance when a fast finishing second at Hamilton then couldn’t work into the race from a poor draw at Charlton. He is worth another chance despite the poor draw.
SELECTIONS: STORMS (7), CRYPTO CROOK (2), ITS HYDROMATIC (1), BANGBANG BOBBIE (3)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: EMILY VINCENT (2) set up a very genuine tempo in the lead and battled on okay for fourth in a slick mile rate of 1.54.5 at Kilmore last outing. She has only been placed once in 20 starts for the season but her efforts since resuming have been encouraging and she is drawn to go well. WICKED MITZI (1) is a fast beginner and is drawn to suit her racing pattern. She was shuffled back on the markers after commencing from the inside of the second row and didn’t have much room in the straight when sixth at Shepparton last outing. WILD CARD (3) has been racing at Metropolitan level and will appreciate a drop back in class for this assignment. He was a winner at Cranbourne on September 06 and is worth thought again. EL LAZZAR (5) is stepping up in class on his latest performances but he racing in career best form. He led throughout from the pole position and recorded a mile rate of 1.55.0 at Swan Hill last week so he can take the next step forward.
SELECTIONS: EMILY VINCENT (2), WICKED MITZI (1), WILD CARD (3), EL LAZZAR (5)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: LOUS MAMBO (5) settled four back on the markers, moved into the death seat at the 1100m and battled on strongly for third behind Ozzie Tart in the Tatlow Stakes last outing. This race is much easier and he should prove hard to beat again. SWIM SUIT (2) also competed in the Tatlow Stakes and battled at the end, finishing in seventh. His form prior was sound and he led throughout at a Terang victory on October 19 so he is worth another chance. SURETHING (3) began quickly but couldn’t get across to the markers and ended up restraining to find a position on the inside mid-race when a creditable first up second. She should be fitter from that performance and is worth thought. PHILS BOY (4) and XLENDI STAR (6) are both capable of showing up without surprising.
BACK: LOUS MAMBO (5) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: LOUS MAMBO (5), SWIM SUIT (2), SURETHING (3), XLENDI STAR (6)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: TALKNPLAY (5) is stepping up in class from his past three successes but he has been dominating his rivals and is capable of taking the next step forward. He worked to the front and recorded a slick mile rate of 1.55.5 last time out. YANKEE RAIN (7) has also been in winning form and overcame a tough run to score comfortably at Ballarat last week. She is likely to endure a wide trip from the poor draw but she is racing too well to dismiss. JAMES GARNER (3) drew on the inside of the second line, was shuffled to three back on the markers and worked home nicely late for third at Charlton. He should have benefited from that performance and is better drawn so he must be respected. VILLAGE VOICE (6) was caught behind tiring horses before working home well once finding a clear passage at her latest second. She is capable of running into a place again.
SELECTIONS: TALKNPLAY (5), YANKEE RAIN (7), JAMES GARNER (3), VILLAGE VOICE (6)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: BETTOR DOO (1) recorded victories at Shepparton and Melton prior to enduring a tough run and finishing in fourth behind the in-form pacer Talknplay at Swan Hill. He is ideally drawn for this assignment and is capable of returning to winning form. PRESIDENTIALCHANGE (2) is a fast beginner and is a good chance of trying to lead throughout. He burst across from a wide draw to find the lead at Charlton and was only run down over the latter stages at his latest second. ONYX (8) missed away, settled last on the markers and finished off nicely via an inside run when fourth (4m) at Ballarat last week. He is likely to gain an economical trip from his trailing draw and is worth an investment. BOND GIRL (7) is terribly drawn and hasn’t raced since July but she was racing well enough last preparation to be competitive against this field.
BACK: BETTOR DOO (1) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: BETTOR DOO (1), PRESIDENTIALCHANGE (2), ONYX (8), BOND GIRL (7)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: MUSCLE VALLEY (10) finished off strongly and ran a great race for second in the Victoria Derby. He was also runner up in the Need for Speed Prince Final and this is a massive drop back in class so he is clearly the horse to beat. HAPPY ESCAPE (5) was runner up twice behind the handy mare Keayang Minnesota before a Maryborough victory, where he set up a slow tempo in the lead. He is racing at his peak form and looms as one of the leading chances again. WHY NOW (11) faces the tough handicap of 40m but he was placed off the same mark at Hamilton last outing so he cannot be dismissed. WHISKEY DAWN (9) continues to race consistently from the standing start and is capable of filling a place.
BACK: MUSCLE VALLEY (10) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: MUSCLE VALLEY (10), HAPPY ESCAPE (5), WHY NOW (11), WHISKEY DAWN
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: AVANT GUARD (9) commenced from the handicap of 20m, settled sixth on the outside and came out three horses wide from the 500m when he got home best to score at Maryborough last outing. He commences from the front tape here and should be competitive again. I DREAM OF MILLIE (10) is racing in great form and will prove hard to beat if she can step away safely but she does have an ordinary standing start record. She used plenty of energy early, took cover and battled on well for second in the Matchmaker Mile during the Redwood Carnival. CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY (7) has returned from a spell in terrific form and looms as one of the leading chances again. He left a trailing position to move up without cover from the 1100m when third at Maryborough last outing. ROMANTIC NINA (3) made an error in the Maryborough Cup last outing and finished in sixth. She appears to be well placed from the front row and will take beating if she can deliver a fool proof display.
SELECTIONS: AVANT GUARD (9), I DREAM OF MILLIE (10), CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY (7), ROMANTIC NINA (3)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: ZENARIO (5) is a versatile pacer, which has been freshened since a close second behind Places You Don’t in a heat of the Australian Drivers Championship at Globe Derby, where he attempted to lead throughout. He recorded slick time at a Maryborough trial victory last week and should well. ROCKIN GEMMA (4) is racing in career best form having won four of her past five starts with her only miss being in a heat of the South Australian Cup. She broke the track record at Port Pirie three starts ago so she warrants respect. ROADMASTER (10) was placed in a heat of the South Australian Cup before drawing awkwardly and being in the second half of the field throughout in the Final. He is a speedy pacer and should be hitting the line strongly. TELEMACHUS (1) is ideally drawn and won the 2023 St Arnaud Cup at his only attempt on the track. He is worth thought along with PESCI (8) and SHADOW CELT (11).
SELECTIONS: ZENARIO (5), ROCKIN GEMMA (4), ROADMASTER (10), TELEMACHUS (1)
Race 9:
OVERVIEW: BLACK OPAL JACK (2) is a tough type, which should be getting fitter after his two starts back from a spell and will appreciate his best draw for a long time so a forward showing is expected. DELIGHTFUL CHARM (8) is resuming from a spell and hasn’t been to the trials but she was competitive at a much higher level when she was last in work. She has the perfect trailing draw so she cannot be dismissed. HUXHAM CHUBB (9) delivered a career best performance when she sustained a long run from last at the 800m to score at Hamilton. This race is no harder and she looms as a strong winning chance again. MISTER JIMARINGLE (7) pushed forward to race without cover and produced a strong performance when he scored at Kilmore last outing. He gets into this race nicely with a concession claim and is worth thought again. The stable mates IMAGINATION ORO (3) and YNOBE NOVA (4) are both fast beginners and have claims in an open race.
SELECTIONS: BLACK OPAL JACK (2), DELIGHTFUL CHARM (8), HUXHAM CHUBB (9), MISTER JIMARINGLE (7)
Race 10:
OVERVIEW: BETA THAN LOVE (1) trailed the leader and used the sprint lane when second behind Bettor Doo at Melton last outing. He was narrowly beaten at his two starts prior and he strikes a very suitable assignment now. THE REGULATOR (8) finished off well when a close second behind Wichita Kansas at Ballarat last outing. He has the perfect trailing draw behind BETA THAN LOVE (1) and is one of the leading chances again. ARRAPS (5) possesses early speed and attempted to lead throughout when fourth behind Reason To Laugh at Kilmore last outing. He has been placed in three of his past five starts so he is worth a ticket each way. DULCIE MAUREEN (2) produced a career best performance when she was held up for a run at a vital stage and finished off well at her latest second. She is nicely drawn and a repeat performance could see her filling a place again.
BACK: BETA THAN LOVE (1) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: BETA THAN LOVE (1), THE REGULATOR (8), ARRAPS (5), DULCIE MAUREEN (2)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
Race 3 No.5 Lous Mambo – 3 units (win)
Race 5 No.1 Bettor Doo – 2 units (win)
Race 6 No.10 Muscle Valley – 3 units (win)
Race 10 No.1 Beta Than Love – 2 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE (Cost $45, gives 20%)
1,2,3,6,7/ 1,2,3,5,6/ 2,3,5/ 3,5,7
QUADDIE (Cost $40, gives 25%)
1,2,7,8/ 10/ 2,3,4,5,7,9,10,11/ 1,4,5,8,10
The odds quoted on the fields page are a GoodForm generated price estimate based on a range of key form factors and are not necessarily the odds that may be offered by a licensed 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
Chances are you’re about to lose. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit
