Tim O’Connor has done the form for tonight’s cup meeting at Mildura.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: Mildura Pacing Cup night kicks off with the final for the 0-49 pacers where G B BRAVE (2) and NEVS DREAM (3) progress through as the two heat winners. Both horses were able to lead their respective qualifiers and dash home too strongly for their rivals, with NEVS DREAM (3) running a quicker mile rate but slower last half than G B BRAVE (2). There doesn’t appear much between the two, but G B BRAVE (2) might just have the advantage given the inside gate. He was good closing off from well back for second in a race NEVS DREAM (3) won back on March 27. ROJENBYE (5) settled three fence and ran home hard for second behind NEVS DREAM (3) on Tuesday and is going well, DAYSIE BROWN (1) should get a nice trip on the fence to be thereabouts and INDIANAS SON (7), RUBBLEONTHEDOUBLE (6) and CALF PEN (9) are certainly worth consideration for the minor end of trifectas and First 4s despite awkward gates, particularly given the speed might well be on early.
SELECTIONS: G B BRAVE (2), NEVS DREAM (3), ROJENBYE (5), DAYSIE BROWN (1)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: THE ART OF SUCCESS (11) stamped her arrival in the Sunraysia with a dominant victory in her heat of this series and she looks like running the shortest-priced favourite of the evening. She stayed out of the early speed battle in the qualifier, moved up to sit parked and then powered clear for an easy win. That race was much quicker than the one taken out by RONZEL MICKY (3), who kept out the challenge of favourite CHEERS POVERTY (6) and landed an all-the-way victory. ROYAL SAXON (2) worked very hard to hold the front and battled away bravely to finish second to THE ART OF SUCCESS (11) and might find the front again here, while the quirky MAGGACIS (7) did things wrong in that same race but still finished fourth, and his prior form is strong.
BACK: ROYAL SAXON (2) – 2 units (place)
SELECTIONS: THE ART OF SUCCESS (11), ROYAL SAXON (2), MAGGACIS (7), RONZEL MICKEY (3)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: FULLY RECKLESS (1) has come up with the inside gate on debut for Shane Sanderson, and based off his two trial efforts, he looks tough to beat here. He was a good winner from last in the first of those trials at Shepparton in mid-March and just missed in a photo at the same track on April 2. Gate speed is the obvious query, but he goes on top from the strong stable. NOCOMMENT (2) showed speed to lead and beat home six rivals that reoppose here in a good effort at Mildura on March 27, and before that didn’t have a lot of luck when fifth to Bite The Ear Mike. If she finds the fence, she will be hard to beat. MELS NIGHT OUT (7) ran very well for third behind Xlendi Star on Tuesday night when coming from well back, with TARAJI (5) making the most of a soft peg-line draw to run second there. THE NINJA (8) has shown some ability, while the rest would surprise.
BACK: FULLY RECKLESS (1) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: FULLY RECKLESS (1), NOCOMMENT (2), MELS NIGHT OUT (7), THE NINJA (8)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: Just one heat led up to this final and it was DALLAS MIKI (9) that overcame the extreme draw to score in dominant fashion. Ros Rolfe powered forward, found the top and her charge was never headed thereafter on his way to a big 11.3m win. It’s hard to tip the result being reversed here, but I think TO THE NINES (2) is capable if he finds the fence. He ran a good second in the heat and never found the pegs there, and would be a genuine chance of beating DALLAS MIKI (9) if he got across the pole-marker in the final. WATCH THE ATTITUDE (1), WATCHTHECLOCK (5) and SHES POPPY (4) look the best of the chances to complete the trifecta.
BACK: TO THE NINES (2) – 1 unit (win)/3 units (place)
SELECTIONS: DALLAS MIKI (9), TO THE NINES (2), WATCH THE ATTITUDE (1), WATCHTHECLOCK (5)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: Cracking edition of the Mildura Pacing Cup Final where at least half a dozen could win without surprising. Heat one winner MY ULTIMATE JIMMY (4) looks the likely early leader after an all-the-way success on Tuesday night, but does he have the class and toughness to see off all challengers with the step-up from 2190m to 2600m? He’s arguably the best horse to come out of Mildura in many years and it would be a huge result for the region if he could win, but it looks hard given so much class around him. FORTY LOVE (6) held the chair in the MY ULTIMATE JIMMY (4) heat and Aaron Dunn might be inclined to do the same here, but what if one of the Emma Stewart duo in CAPTAIN PERFECT (9) and FOX DAN (8) come looking? CAPTAIN PERFECT (9) sat parked and narrowly went down to FOX DAN (8) in the other of the qualifiers, and did the same when they met in the Victoria Derby back in October last year. There doesn’t look a lot between the two, but I’ll side with the former in a real flip of the coin. Geelong and Terang Cup hero JILLIBY NITRO (10) loves the long trip and will be storming home late, so he’s certainly not one to neglect.
SELECTIONS: CAPTAIN PERFECT (9), FOX DAN (8), MY ULTIMATE JIMMY (4), JILLIBY NITRO (10)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: Just the one heat for this final on Tuesday night and it was BIZZNESS CLASS (1) who proved too good. He was crossed by OUR ART WORK (5) early, with that horse ruining his chances by galloping down the back in the final lap. Luke Dunne had to find a gap to give BIZZNESS CLASS (1) clear air approaching the straight, and when he got it the horse was quickly able to run past JAXON BEACH (4), who had worked hard from the back row before charging to the front when the leader broke. The random barrier draw gives JAXON BEACH (4) a chance to cross at the start, with OUR ART WORK (5) likely to spear forward again. This could be problematic for BIZZNESS CLASS (1), who is in great form but might just need the breaks to go his way to secure back-to-back wins. Hard to see any of the others prevailing, but also difficult to rule them out of trifecta and First 4 calculations.
SELECTIONS: BIZZNESS CLASS (1), JAXON BEACH (4), OUR ART WORK (5), IM BLINGIN IT (8)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: Very tricky 0-49 event here where an interesting speed battle looms. DIAMOND CRUSHER (5) has led and won a couple of 0-50 races recently and that reads well for this if she can get to the fence. IM ALRIGHT JACK (6) crossed her on Tuesday night but couldn’t get to the pegs and eventually dropped out in a hot race won by The Art Of Success, with the pair running last and second last. I fancy Luke Dunne will try again here and based off his all-the-way wins in a 0-45 heat and final recently, IM ALRIGHT JACK (6) can go narrowly on top. ROCKINGWROXTON (2) led and won a 0-39 race on Tuesday and is a key player despite this being harder, while STONEBRIDGE STAR (1) can figure from the good draw.
SELECTIONS: IM ALRIGHT JACK (6), DIAMOND CRUSHER (5), ROCKINGWROXTON (2), STONEBRIDGE STAR (1)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: GRENADE (8) hit the line nicely from a bad draw when fifth in a race five of these horses contested on Tuesday, won by Rocking Wroxton. He’s been beaten into second by in-form pair Maggacis and Ronzel Micky his previous three and this looks a very suitable assignment to land a first win since June 2025. TOPZAVSKI (2) led and was run down in a winnable race when well supported last time out but is worth considering again in this grade from the good draw, CORNELIA (4) was held up badly when seventh behind Rocking Wroxton and is one of the gate speed horses, while PUNTO CALIENTE (7) is first-up from a little break but is certainly up to this class.
BACK: GRENADE (8) – 1 unit (win)
SELECTIONS: GRENADE (8), TOPZAVSKI (2), CORNELIA (4), PUNTO CALIENTE (7)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R2 #2 ROYAL SAXON – 2 units (place)
R3 #1 FULLY RECKLESS – 3 units (win)
R4 #2 TO THE NINES – 1 unit (win)/3 units (place)
R8 #8 GRENADE – 1 unit (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
2,3/11/1,2/2,9
QUADDIE
4,8,9,10/1,4,5/1,2,5,6/2,4,7,8
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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