Tim O’Connor is back from a holiday and ready to tackle eight races at Melton Entertainment Park on Friday, November 6.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: First heat of the Bacchus Marsh Pacing Cup here where plenty can win, but I’ll side with ANAKIN (2) for Team Shinn. He has been caught parked his last two at Kilmore, but boxed on bravely to not be beaten far. If he can find the fence, he should be fighting out the finish as his best is pretty good in this grade. TED BEAR (3) was a good winner at Melton last time out and all his recent form is sound, GENERAL ROCKER (6) ran well first-up for trainer Glenn Beale to only be beaten 10.8m in a fast race at Kilmore on October 22 and might be one to consider at likely good odds, while COOL STORY (10) dug deep to win as favourite from the chair at Ballarat back on October 7 and is certainly a winning chance with the right trip and tempo from wide on the back line.
SELECTIONS: ANAKIN (2), TED BEAR (3), GENERAL ROCKER (6), COOL STORY (10)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: RIDE HIGH CAPTIN (4) has been very close to breaking his maiden on a number of occasions and is presented with another great chance here. He has done things wrong in recent starts but has still managed close-up minor placings his last four outings and certainly looks capable of taking a race like this on his best behaviour. COGNAC COWBOY (1) produced a big finale from back in the field to just miss last start at Kilmore and draws for a lovely trip here, DIAMOND CHIPP (3) finished alongside RIDE HIGH CAPTIN (4) at Geelong two back and wasn’t too bad when fourth last start at Kilmore, while HILLCROFT HUSTLER (7) was good on debut when second to a handy one in Winchester Boy at Cranbourne and is among the winning chances alongside BAD GRANDMA (6) and perhaps BANIA (9), who trialled well and started odds-on on debut at Geelong but dropped out sharply after a tough trip last time at Melton.
SELECTIONS: RIDE HIGH CAPTIN (4), COGNAC COWBOY (1), DIAMOND CHIPP (3), HILLCROFT HUSTLER (7)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: OUR TINKA BELLE (6) is a five-year-old who only made her debut back in July, but has shown loads of ability despite plenty of issues with her manners. Two back at Geelong, she looked home in the straight at massive odds before galloping in the shadows of the post. And last time at Kilmore, she was held up in the last lap but unleashed a big finale to round up her rivals and win softly on the line under minimal driving from Jack Laugher. She’s taking on much more experienced rivals in this Bacchus Marsh Trotters Cup heat, but I think there’s some good ability there. DOSSIER (9) drops back slightly in grade and brings in some strong formlines, stablemate JOE LOU (7) has loads of talent but has broken his last two and is a risky trotter, while JAKARTA (10) has been competitive of late and is the highest rated trotter in the field at 55 so must be respected.
BACK: OUR TINKA BELLE (6) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: OUR TINKA BELLE (6), DOSSIER (9), JOE LOU (7), JAKARTA (10)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: WEONA OUR RIGHTS (8) has been in good form for Adam Shaw in recent weeks with a string of close-up efforts at Cranbourne and Melton. Last time, he was only beaten 5.7m into second by the handy Kosimo and had chased home in-form rivals such as Quick Crunch, Cyclone Jenni and Blazin By before that. Just needs the right trip to be going close, and he might get it if ANIMADO (1) kicks up and holds the top. ANIMADO (1) settled at the rear of the field from a wide barrier and charged late to be beaten just a head at Shepparton last time out. It was a good effort, and from the pole draw he’s a chance at start 150. ROSBERG (2) seems to often end up racing in the chair, but did win from that position in good style at Melton back in late September, while MIDNIGHT MOJO (5) is racing consistently well of late and is another of the key winning chances alongside FLIGHT LOUTENANT (7).
BACK: WEONA OUR RIGHTS (8) – 1.5 units (each-way)
SELECTIONS: WEONA OUR RIGHTS (8), ANIMADO (1), ROSBERG (2), MIDNIGHT MOJO (5)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: Second heat of the Bacchus Marsh Pacing Cup and it’s another wide-open event where most of the runners have claims. QUICK CRUNCH (8) brings in the winning form following back-to-back triumphs at Cranbourne and Ballarat, and looks a good chance of making it three on end despite the inside back row draw. She has run solid last halves in both those victories from the fence and should be fighting out the finish. SPORTS NARRATOR (9) was probably only fair first-up from a break at Ballarat on October 29 when fifth to Master Louey but ran some good races late last campaign and looks capable in this grade, FOREGONE CONCLUSION (2) just missed at Kilmore last time when coming from back in the field and is a very honest customer who has won 26 career races, while CORNISHTOWN KID (5) has been going okay of late in perhaps slightly stronger company and can figure with the right trip.
SELECTIONS: QUICK CRUNCH (8), SPORTS NARRATOR (9), FOREGONE CONCLUSION (2), CORNISHTOWN KID (5)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: WHIRLY MAURZ (3) has a runner-up placing and dominant victory to her name since joining the Andy Gath stable, and will likely go around as a warm favourite in this clash. Last week at Ballarat, she settled in the one-one and bolted away from her rivals – including IMAGUNNARESTNGO (1) and THE MOUNTAIN (5) – to break her maiden by a huge margin at start 34. She can win again in this company. RIDDLEMETHIS (7) looks the key danger to her chances after a good three-start campaign so far. He managed two placings at Kilmore and a tough Ballarat win through October and should run well despite the wide gate. FREAK OUT (4) and IMAGUNNARESTNGO (1) are next best, but a result outside the top two fancies would surprise.
SELECTIONS: WHIRLY MAURZ (3), RIDDLEMETHIS (7), FREAK OUT (4), IMAGUNNARESTNGO (1)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE (2) has started her latest campaign with back-to-back victories at Geelong and Melton, and this shapes as another very winnable assignment. She was a tad lucky to score at Geelong when the leader galloped in the shadows of the post, but her latest effort when parked at Melton was outstanding. She charged clear there and won softly by 18.2m in a dominant performance. Happy her way. KISS AT MIDNIGHT (4) probably has the speed to lead this race, but her manners have been awful in recent times with gallops in the past four outings. Her best is good enough, but she’s very hard to trust at the moment. MAJESTIC CHARMA (6) led and faded late in what was just a fair effort last time at Maryborough but has won seven career races and two this campaign, while AI SEDHAI (3) and AHUNDREDPLUS (5) might be best of the rest, but victory would probably surprise.
BACK: BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE (2) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE (2), KISS AT MIDNIGHT (4), MAJESTIC CHARMA (6), AI SEDHAI (3)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: Tough way to end the night at Melton, but REASON TO LAUGH (7) gets the nod despite the wide front row draw. Last start at Ballarat, he was trapped three wide for the last lap but actually did a great job to soldier on and only be beaten 7.5m in a slick enough last half for this grade of 57.7sec. The run before that was a well-beaten second to handy rival Talknplay, and there are good wins earlier in the month at Cranbourne and Kilmore through his recent form. ARE WEASLEY (5) is another of the leading contenders after finding the winner’s stall at his last outing at Kilmore when closing off nicely from the one-one for Connor Clarke, there’s a big watch on MAMMALS BLAZE (6) who is now in the care of trainer Joe Pace and won his first trial for the stable at Bacchus Marsh in preparation for this, while GOZO MAJOR (4) and OUR TRUE COLOURS (3) are other hopes in an even contest to close the meeting.
BACK: REASON TO LAUGH (7) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: REASON TO LAUGH (7), ARE WEASLEY (5), MAMMALS BLAZE (6), GOZO MAJOR (4)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R3 #6 OUR TINKA BELLE – 2 units (win)
R4 #8 WEONA OUR RIGHTS – 1.5 units (each-way)
R7 #2 BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE – 3 units (win)
R8 #7 REASON TO LAUGH – 2 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
2,3,5,6,7,8,10/1,3,4,6,7/6,7,9/1,2,5,8
QUADDIE
2,5,8,9/3,7/2,4,6/4,5,6,7
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 $101
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