Tim O’Connor has done the form for Friday night at Melton.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: KOSIMO (10) and ZENARIO (9) are the two runners that appeal in the opening event at Melton on Friday night. The two clashed at the same track last week, with KOSIMO (10) held up briefly at the turn before sprouting wings late to finish third behind ZENARIO (9), who chased hard for second behind winner Talern Lofty. Both were great runs, but I’ll lean to KOSIMO (10) given he was able to beat ZENARIO (9) two starts prior and he looks to be back to somewhere near his best. This might be a chance for SERGEANT LOU (5) to work forward and try wrest the lead off fast beginner JUST AS WELL (1), and he could be a sharp improver at odds if he found the top. He’s working into form after four starts back from a spell. South Australian SPRINGFIELD AFFAIR (7) has chased home the flying Dhaulagiri his last two and lands a poor gate, but has some class on his side with 27 career wins to his name.
BACK: KOSIMO (10) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: KOSIMO (10), ZENARIO (9), SERGEANT LOU (5), SPRINGFIELD AFFAIR (7)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: JACWILL KID (8) steps out here following his Group 1 victory in the Bathurst Gold Crown back on March 28. While he is a winner at the elite level, that was in two-year-old company and he meets the older horses here from the sticky inside draw. Yes he can win, but it won’t be easy against much more seasoned rivals. INSIDER TRADING (2) is currently racing in great form for Team McNaulty and this sets up as a nice race for him from barrier two. He has good gate speed and looks likely to find the fence, and from there will take plenty of catching. His runner-up placing to Sanchez at Ballarat and third to that same rival and rising star Keayang Renegade at Bendigo read sensationally for this. ALWAYS A SHOWGIRL (9) charged home from four back the fence to just miss at Melton last week in what was another good run, while BINALONG NIGHT (3) won in unconvincing style at Geelong as a short-priced favourite latest, but the runner-up Another Woods has come out and won since to frank the form.
BACK: INSIDER TRADING (2) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: INSIDER TRADING (2), ALWAYS A SHOWGIRL (9), JACWILL KID (8), BINALONG NIGHT (3)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: Wide-open maiden event with two horses stepping out on debut in TEERDEE (10) and LETITRIDELUV (8). Both head here on the back of good trial wins, with TEERDEE (10) impressive when making up a heap of ground in the straight to score on the line at Melton on April 21 and LETITRIDELUV (8) too good at Geelong the night before. They both look to have ability and can win on debut. LA CANTATRICE (1) is back from a two-start New South Wales campaign that concluded with a fifth placing in the Group 1 Gold Tiara at Bathurst. From the good gate, she should be fighting out the finish. SEW HOPEFULL (3) probably has the speed to lead but hasn’t been able to finish off her races just yet, with CAPTAINS RUSH (6), STERLING GIGI (7) and GOODLOOKINGDEAL (9) the other key winning candidates.
SELECTIONS: TEERDEE (10), LA CANTATRICE (1), LETITRIDELUV (8), CAPTAINS RUSH (6)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: MAJESTIC TOOTH (3) looks to have found a good race to land her first win since August 2025. She has been competitive in some races above or around this level in recent starts and gets the chance to use her gate speed to find the front. If she can lead, I think she will give a great sight. PROHIBITED GRACE (7) is flying with a win and photo-finish second her past couple but has a really awkward gate, PARIS KAY (1) draws well and is going okay in easier grade, while DELS DESTINY (4) often gets back but will be hitting the line hard as he usually does.
BACK: MAJESTIC TOOTH (3) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: MAJESTIC TOOTH (3), PROHIBITED GRACE (7), PARIS KAY (1), DELS DESTINY (4)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: OUR BELLA LUCIA (1) produced a surprise when she blew her rivals away by a huge margin at Melton two back, and while she was perhaps a little plain in the race won by Aveiro last Friday, she did plenty of work there and draws for a much better trip in this event. I love the way PRECIOUS BELLE (3) keeps hitting the line of late. She has run great races for many weeks now, and if she finds a nice spot in transit, she will give this a shake. GLENLINE (6) is another that finds the post in his races and will be one of the closers, while SHIRALEE (5) has won only one of her last five when starting favourite on each occasion, but is usually thereabouts.
SELECTIONS: OUR BELLA LUCIA (1), PRECIOUS BELLE (3), GLENLINE (6), SHIRALEE (5)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: TAURAS (1) started in the market on debut during September in a heat of the Nutrien series and was only beaten 8.3m by the very handy Munny The Munster, who we saw win impressively at Shepparton on Tuesday night. He hasn’t been seen at the trials this time in, but from the draw he can go on top in a difficult race to assess. KING OF NORMANDY (7) was bred and is owned by the powerful Yabby Dam Farms operation, and has trialled up nicely with two wins ahead of his debut. In his latest hit-out, he beat FREMARKSMARVEL (2) into second and that horse also steps out here for her debut. MISS HOLLY RED (3) and MOONLIGHT BILLY (6) might be next best in a race where none of the runners would really surprise.
SELECTIONS: TAURAS (1), KING OF NORMANDY (7), MISS HOLLY RED (3), MOONLIGHT BILLY (6)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: Great little race where there looks to be a bit of speed off the front line, headlined by IM WESLEY (5). He led, handed up and chased home Most Exciting at Cranbourne latest and before that was a brave fifth in a hot race behind the very talented Keayang Renegade. If he finds the front, he will be hard to beat based on recent form. DELIGHTFUL CHARM (3) is another that will likely be punching forward at the start and has run a couple of very good runner-up placings in better grade since joining the Basil Dooley stable. HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (6) hasn’t been far away behind some handy rivals of late, while ADMIRALOFTHEFLEET (4) has run well at the Bacchus Marsh trials following his latest victory at Terang when he came from well back to score against easier company.
BACK: IM WESLEY (5) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: IM WESLEY (5), DELIGHTFUL CHARM (3), HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (6), ADMIRALOFTHEFLEET (4)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: Tough way to end the night with a race where all seven have claims. SHAZZA LOVE (5) looks hard to beat based off recent form where she’s been thereabouts for the last few months. Last start, she closed off nicely for third at Ballarat and the couple of runs prior in defeat were also full of merit. KYORETSU (2) found the front and was only grabbed late by Huxham Chubb at Ballarat last week and might be able to lead again here, while AVEIRO (7) and WOODLEA DIEGO (4) both flashed home from three back the fence to score at Melton last Friday and can prevail with the right trip. Good luck!
BACK: SHAZZA LOVE (5) – 1 unit (win)
SELECTIONS: SHAZZA LOVE (5), KYORETSU (2), AVEIRO (7), WOODLEA DIEGO (4)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R1 #10 KOSIMO – 1 unit (each-way)
R2 #2 INSIDER TRADING – 3 units (win)
R4 #3 MAJESTIC TOOTH – 1 unit (each-way)
R7 #5 IM WESLEY – 1 unit (each-way)
R8 #5 SHAZZA LOVE – 1 unit (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
5,7,9,10/2,8,9/1,3,6,7,8,9,10/1,3,4,7
QUADDIE
1,3,6/1,3,6,7/3,4,5,6/2,4,5,7
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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