Tim O’Connor has done the form for the big meeting tonight at Melton Entertainment Park.
Race 1
OVERVIEW: Great start to the night of racing at Melton, with a wide-open event for the trotters. Not a lot of confidence here, but ABBIE (1) is racing in super form of late and comes up with the good gate. She won the GV Regional Cup Final at Shepparton and was solid to the line from back in the field in the race a handful of these contested last week behind Keayang Gypsy. Might be a nice each-way play. QUIRKY CHARACTER (11) is a lightly-raced customer who is showing good ability. He was unlucky not to beat CHARLESTON AVENUE (9) two starts ago at Bendigo and then returned to winning ways last time out at Kilmore. CHARLESTON AVENUE (9) was nailed in the shadows of the post last week following his previous back-to-back wins and is a great chance here, while ALDEBARAN SUSANNE (5) made a mistake last time out but has gate speed and might be able to lead this race. Just about every runner could win without surprising, so go wide in the Early Quaddie I say!
SELECTIONS: ABBIE (1), QUIRKY CHARACTER (11), CHARLESTON AVENUE (9), ALDEBARAN SUSANNE (5)
Race 2
OVERVIEW: Another extremely difficult race to pick apart, where plenty of horses could win without shocking. In a complete raffle, I’ll go with PRINCESS ARNA (11). She had to work hard for the front and was given no peace on Monday at Terang, but did well to only be beaten 6.9m. She has been knocking on the door for a win and should run well if the tempo is on up front. FEEL THE BUZZ (3) chased home Shiralee for second in a stronger race on paper than this two back at Melton and draws off the front line, the fast-starting FOUR LONELY NIGHTS (7) hasn’t done much this preparation but the form late last campaign was good enough for a race like this, while THE LADYBIRD (10), ZU HOFFEN (8), ALCATRAZ GIRL (9), FREAK OUT (2) and PICKLE IT (12) are the other leading hopes.
SELECTIONS: PRINCESS ARNA (11), FEEL THE BUZZ (3), FOUR LONELY NIGHTS (7), THE LADYBIRD (10)
Race 3
OVERVIEW: ILLUMINATE ME (9) brings the best race form and looks to have found a very suitable event to shake her maiden tag. She led until the concluding stages at Cranbourne last time out before being beaten into second and has some other strong efforts to her name. She goes on top. DOWN AND DAZED (5) has shown enough ability at the trials to win this race – perhaps at a decent price – on debut for trainer-driver Danny Simpson. He made a good run at his rivals to finish third at Maryborough late last year and then chased home the smart Emma Stewart runner Brooklyn Dan at Ballarat last week to only be beaten 8m. LIKE A GAZELLE (11) was a little plain last time in that race ILLUMINATE ME (9) ran second in but the form prior is okay, while AMERICAN MICHI (3) ran second to Bringsusjoy at the Bacchus Marsh trials on January 10 and that horse has won a much stronger race since.
SELECTIONS: ILLUMINATE ME (9), DOWN AND DAZED (5), LIKE A GAZELLE (11), AMERICAN MICHI (3)
Race 4
OVERVIEW: Good little race this, where lightly-raced five-year-old DO IT (1) gets a nice chance from the inside draw. Tayla Fellows’ charge competed really well through the Vicbred Super Series late last year and was very brave in running second to the smart Twisting By in the Elmore Pacing Cup at Bendigo last time when he followed the winner from the back of the field. If he can do enough to hold a prominent spot on the fence, he looks hard to beat. SOHO DARKNSTORMY (6) received a great drive from Kate Gath and won impressively first-up from a break at Melton last week, SHADOW CELT (8) surged late after being held up to be only beaten 8.7m in the Elmore feature, while the consistent HUGO ROCKS (9) and impressive last-start Charlton winner BIZZNESS CLASS (10) head the other chances.
BACK: DO IT (1) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: DO IT (1), SOHO DARKNSTORMY (6), SHADOW CELT (8), HUGO ROCKS (9)
Race 5
OVERVIEW: Keen on the chances of OUR ROKU (10), who has been in great form of late for trainer Charlene Gusman. She won in good style on New Year’s Eve in the Young Guns Series and has run great races in stronger company than this at Shepparton and Melton since. Last time out, she led and boxed on bravely before being grabbed late in the straight. She looks the class runner here and I’d be surprised if she didn’t go very close. MAXY BOMBER (3) sustained a three-wide run when third at Melton last time and his form is solid, HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (5) was wide for the last lap from a tough barrier first-up but only got tired late and has ability, while WAZOWSKI (9) is consistent and wouldn’t surprise.
BACK: OUR ROKU (10) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: OUR ROKU (10), MAXY BOMBER (3), HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (5), WAZOWSKI (9)
Race 6
OVERVIEW: Another race with plenty of chances, where EYE SEE AMOUR (10) looks perhaps the best of them. Jodi Quinlan’s seven-year-old has been running very consistently of late and caught the eye with a fast-finishing fifth from a hopeless position at the corner last week at Melton. The run prior at Ballarat was also impressive and he strikes a very winnable assignment here. Suspect WOODLEA DIEGO (1) might have the pace to hold up in front and that would give TEX GOES BANG (8) a great chance should Chris Alford elect to stay on the fence. He’s been doing it tough in the chair of late and still boxing on well following a tough win at Ballarat. YANKEE GAMBLER (2) charged late up the inside last week at Melton and is another of the horses that can win with the right trip.
SELECTIONS: EYE SEE AMOUR (10), TEX GOES BANG (8), WOODLEA DIEGO (1), YANKEE GAMBLER (2)
Race 7
OVERVIEW: Noting a small ownership share in TIMBIMBOO (5), who backs up after a very encouraging first-up display at Melton last Friday. He showed speed to lead and gave a good kick into the straight, only to be grabbed late by the smart Browniesatmidnight. They ran a slick last half of 55.7 and there was a good margin back to third. Tipping Kate Gath will work forward and try wrest the lead off JUST AS WELL (1), who has gate speed and boxed on well behind Soho Darknstormy last week to be beaten just 4m. If she holds the front, the quick JACCKA CONNOR (8) also gets a great chance. He sprinted from last to grab third in that Soho Darknstormy race and might get the perfect run. ODIN (9) is first-up on the back of a trial win and brings some strong formlines against good horses into this event. He can also prevail.
SELECTIONS: TIMBIMBOO (5), ODIN (9), JACCKA CONNOR (8), JUST AS WELL (1)
Race 8
OVERVIEW: Taking a little chance on GUNFORHIRE (2) here for Rory Coverdale. He is a horse who often doesn’t get a lot of luck in his races, but could give this a big shake if he’s able to get across pole-marker NORMS LADY (1) and find the pegs. He did work early and sprinted again to just miss at Terang three starts ago and has had excuses in the subsequent runs. He’s good enough to take a race like this. CLYMENUS (9) did it tough from the chair in the Elmore Pacing Cup at Bendigo but only got tired late, and this shapes as a much more suitable assignment from the soft back row draw. He should run well. THE STEEL DRAGON (4) has been thereabouts of late and did beat home GUNFORHIRE (2) two starts back, while the lightly-raced MEDINA (8) is the interesting runner first-up from the SA Derby Final without a public trial. He’s worth keeping safe as a winner of five of eight career starts.
BACK: GUNFORHIRE (2) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: GUNFORHIRE (2), CLYMENUS (9), THE STEEL DRAGON (4), MEDINA (8)
Race 9
OVERVIEW: BENNIE AND THE JETS (2) is absolutely flying at the moment for Adam Rudd and heads into this on the back of an extremely tough victory over the handy Charleston Avenue when forced to sit parked at Bendigo last week. Before that, he made an early mistake, went back to last and charged home out wide to grab third behind Jilliby Ballerini in the Bendigo Trotters Cup at Melton. That’s just brilliant form for a race like this. Keen. THUNDA STRUCK (3) chased home the aforementioned rival last time for third and has good gate speed, so it’ll be interesting to see if they cross to the fence. He’s racing well. MISTER BLINDSIDE (5) hasn’t been seen since mid-December, but is another runner with good early toe and nice ability, while FREIGHT SHAKER (7) was only beaten 6.5m in a strong race behind Vytis at Shepparton and had been in super form prior to that. Tough gate, but he’s a contender.
BACK: BENNIE AND THE JETS (2) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: BENNIE AND THE JETS (2), THUNDA STRUCK (3), MISTER BLINDSIDE (5), FREIGHT SHAKER (7)
Race 10
OVERVIEW: Plenty of gate speed on the front line here, but fancy EARS THE BOSS (1) will have enough toe to hold the front if Riley Pace desires. If that’s the case, I think LORD VERDE (8) has a great chance of sprinting to victory from in behind. He has been in good form since joining the Michael Laugher stable with wins at Swan Hill and Bendigo recently. There’s a stack of chances, however. MISS PIGGY WIGGY (4) found the top two back at Bendigo and won well before being held up three fence at Kilmore latest, MIDNIGHT MOJO (3) got a deserved victory at Melton on January 2 and got caught parked last time out, while BREATHE EASY (5) disappointed at Terang but had been really good prior for new trainer Basil Dooley.
SELECTIONS: LORD VERDE (8), MISS PIGGY WIGGY (4), MIDNIGHT MOJO (3), BREATHE EASY (5)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R4 #1 DO IT – 1 unit (each-way)
R5 #10 OUR ROKU – 3 units (win)
R8 #1 GUNFORHIRE – 1 unit (each-way)
R9 #2 BENNIE AND THE JETS – 3 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
1,4,5,6,9,11/3,7,10,11/3,5,9,11/1,6,8,9
QUADDIE
3,5,10/1,2,8,10/1,5,8,9/2,4,8,9
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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