Tim O’Connor has done the form for Melton Entertainment Park on July 25.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: HITCH TO HIS STAR (9) is flying for team Turnbull and looks well placed to give this 0W/15.0K clash a real shake. Last time, he made up big ground from last in an on-pace dominated race at Kilmore and before that chased home Fairplay for second at Melton, with a quicker closing half than the winner and big margin back to third. Fairplay has since won dominantly, so the form reads really well. Keen he goes close from the nice back row draw. ENJOY LIFE (12) is set to start favourite and looks hard to beat now back in the care of trainer Emma Stewart. The three-year-old colt is unbeaten from five career runs in Tasmania and was really good cutting Group 1 winner Arrythmia to a narrow margin at the trials in preparation for this. ROYAL APPOINTMENT (1) lands the lovely gate and is bound to win one of these races eventually, while HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (2) draws well in gate two and might be some chance of crossing to the fence, where he’d be a key player.
BACK: HITCH TO HIS STAR (9) – 2 units (each-way)
SELECTIONS: HITCH TO HIS STAR (9), ENJOY LIFE (12), ROYAL APPOINTMENT (1), HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (2)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: Two-million-dollar pacer CATCH A WAVE (9) was just too far back last weekend when first-up in a race that just didn’t suit backmarkers whatsoever. He still unleashed a big finale to run fourth, but was never a winning factor when Sir Jimmy found the lead and controlled the tempo. If there’s some speed up top this time, he will be storming late and looks a good each-way bet in early markets. He’s very hard to catch, but his best is scintillating and he’s set to go around at a backable quote. SOME AMERICAN (2) has led and won two of his three starts this campaign, and looks the likely early leader again here. He was perhaps a little plain late despite prevailing last time at Melton, but he’s the obvious given his gate speed, good draw and likely position in running. GOOD TOBE LOCKSLEY (1) looks well and truly capable of being competitive in this grade from barrier one, with his last two starts resulting in impressive wins in easier grade, while JACKS ULTIMATE FURY (3) hasn’t had much luck in recent Melton starts and can improve on his figure form with a better trip.
BACK: CATCH A WAVE (9) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: CATCH A WAVE (9), SOME AMERICAN (2), GOOD TOBE LOCKSLEY (1), JACKS ULTIMATE FURY (3)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: ALDEBARAN ABEL (4) was just too far back last weekend in a race won by Paris Kay, but his run when second to UNCLAD (7) in the wet prior was very good from the chair. James Herbertson might elect to try for the front here, and he’d be awfully hard to beat if he was able to get there. Ready to win! SEBASTIANS WAITING (2) ruined his chances with a late gallop in a $50,000 race at Menangle earlier this month, but the first-up win was dominant at Bendigo and a recent trial at Melton was very impressive. You’re taking a chance with his manners, but he looks to have come back this campaign in good style. FARROKH (9) closed nicely from the one-one to score at Kilmore last week and is a contender, while KEAYANG GYPSY (6) didn’t do anything amazing at the trials early this month, but has good ability and hails from the state’s premier trotting stable so must be a factor first-up from a break.
SELECTIONS: ALDEBARAN ABEL (4), SEBASTIANS WAITING (2), FARROKH (9), KEAYANG GYPSY (6)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: FOUROUTOFFIVE (8) has been really impressive in his two starts back from a spell and looks poised to run another good race despite the slightly awkward inside back row draw. Nicholas O’Connor’s charge was only beaten 2.9m by the very handy Hoppy first-up and chased well for third, beaten 13.8m, in a hot free-for-all behind that same rival and winner Gatesys Gem. This is easier than that most recent assignment and I fancy he will run well. IJUSTCALLEDTOSAY (9) had nothing go right last weekend in his bid for three-straight wins. He made an early break, got back down, went to the breeze for the last lap and also sustained a late flat tyre. Despite all this, he only dropped out late to be beaten 12.9m. He can win. FREIGHT SHAKER (4) has good gate speed, is running really well this campaign and is another key player, while MUSKEE (7) has plenty of ability but the draw makes his winning chances a little tough.
SELECTIONS: FOUROUTOFFIVE (8), IJUSTCALLEDTOSAY (9), FREIGHT SHAKER (4), MUSKEE (7)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: SKYBELLA (2) worked early, successfully gained the retake and led deep into the straight when a good second on resumption as a four-year-old last week at Kilmore. She was only grabbed late by the handy Farrokh and the drop back from the middle trip to 1720m might be telling if she is able to control things up top. She’s a handy mare who last season won a heat of the Vicbred Super Series and competed in both the Vicbred and Breeders Crown Group 1 finals. KEAYANG TWEETYBIRD (8) is the main danger, but she can be hard to trust at times with her manners. She did everything right last time out at Terang and won by a huge margin, so her best is clearly very good. The in-form OFF YOUR FACESKI (3) and well-drawn LEANNE LEEANN (1) look best of the rest, ahead of last-start winner KYVALLEY ANTHONY (4).
BACK: SKYBELLA (2) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: SKYBELLA (2), KEAYANG TWEETYBIRD (8), OFF YOUR FACESKI (3), LEANNE LEEANN (1)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: MOST EXCITING (1) is set to run a short-priced favourite from barrier one, with the three-year-old in outstanding form this campaign. He won his first two starts of the season, and has been very brave in subsequent placings behind top-end rivals such as Luvtobeuptome, Miss Ari and Le Cardinal since. The only concern is if he’s crossed early, but he goes clearly on top. KEAYANG SWEETHEART (6) has been trapped outside the leader in her last five starts, but has a win and four good efforts next to her name, KISS ME MINI (2) has been ripping home from three fence her last few and is going well, while BUBBA SCRUB (8) is battling a bit but should get a lovely trip on the fence in behind the favourite and is a must for trifecta and First 4 players along with SPRINGFIELD AFFAIR (7).
SELECTIONS: MOST EXCITING (1), KEAYANG SWEETHEART (6), KISS ME MINI (2), BUBBA SCRUB (8)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: EVILEYE (1) comes up with a good draw here under random conditions, and gets a great chance as a result. He was trapped parked and dropped out last time, but his run prior in a similar grade event was impressive when an unlucky fourth to The Steel Dragon. You could make a case he should have won that clash with more clear air, and his effort when fourth to the flying Fairplay before that was also encouraging. KEAYANG PAYTON (3) is a handy customer from the Lee stable who has major claims, UBETTA KNOT (4) hasn’t been too far away in both runs this campaign, and DRESSED IN GOLD (6) has some nice recent efforts next to his name and heads the other chances in a tricky race to sort out.
BACK: EVILEYE (1) – 1 unit (win)
SELECTIONS: EVILEYE (1), KEAYANG PAYTON (3), UBETTA KNOT (4), DRESSED IN GOLD (6)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: Few hopes in the closer of the night, headlined by Group 1 winner ADELAIDE RED (2). She is first-up without a trial, but brings strong form to the table and has good gate speed, which should allow her to cross down to the pegs where Amy Day can decide what to do. Her runs last campaign included a close-up third in the Group 1 NSW Oaks and a nice win at Maryborough, and she certainly appears up to her rivals here. KEAYANG KURKI (6) is also an elite-level winner and is really working up to a victory this time in. Her last two starts have been good, with last weekend’s gutsy third from the chair a sign that she is going well. Key chance. PARIS KAY (4) won a race that three of these contested after finding the front last weekend and chases a three-peat here, while NO MONEY NO HONEY (7) looked like challenging for victory there but continued her trend of galloping under pressure, which is a concern. A faultless display will have her hard to beat.
SELECTIONS: ADELAIDE RED (2), KEAYANG KURKI (6), PARIS KAY (4), NO MONEY NO HONEY (7)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R1 #9 HITCH TO HIS STAR – 2 units (each-way)
R2 #9 CATCH A WAVE – 1 unit (each-way)
R5 #2 SKYBELLA – 3 units (win)
R7 #1 EVILEYE – 1 unit (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
1,2,6,7,9,12/2,9/2,4,6,7,8,9/4,7,8,9
QUADDIE
2,8/1/1,3,4,5,6/2,4,6,7
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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