Tim O’Connor has done the form for 10 races at Melton Entertainment Park.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: Wide open event to start the night at Melton, with most of these horses given a winning chance. I fancy there might be an each-way price around for DEEJAY DEX (9) and I’m happy to be in his corner from the nice back row draw. His last start was in a race six of these battled out at Bendigo on March 18 and he did a huge job to only be beaten 13.2m by FARROKH (8) after being knocked out of play by a galloping rival at the turn. He charged home from a hopeless position at Maryborough prior to finish fourth and I fancy he’s going well enough to figure here. PRETTYBOY HARRY (6) was a fast-finishing third in the Wangaratta Trotters Cup before galloping at a crucial stage in the straight when a factor in that aforementioned race, which saw CHARLIES TACTICS (2) sit parked and run second in. RAKERO WARRIOR (10) was given a peach of a drive to score at Melton on March 20 and is a super honest trotter who barely puts in a bad performance.
BACK: DEEJAY DEX (9) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: DEEJAY DEX (9), PRETTYBOY HARRY (6), RAKERO WARRIOR (10), CHARLIES TACTICS (2)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: Tricky race here with plenty of differing formlines, but I’m confident TARA VICTORY (1) will hold the front and try to go all the way for James Herbertson. She was a gutsy fourth behind some top-liners at Menangle last time out in a 1:50.6 mile rate and before that was grabbed late when leading at Melton over 2240m. The 1720m trip suits and she’s hard to beat. That said, I’m going to have an each-way play on ROYAL APPOINTMENT (8), who might just land in the perfect spot to get his chance up the sprint lane. He came with a big finale and best last quarter of 26.32 last time to finish third to Vincenzo in what was a super run. He’s good enough to win a race like this and should get a lovely trip behind the leader. CONISTON (9) is first-up here in Victoria following an SA Derby campaign and was impressive running second at the Bendigo trials recently, while BIZZNESS CLASS (11) has produced crackers at Birchip and Charlton and will be a big threat if the speed is on early.
BACK: ROYAL APPOINTMENT (8) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: ROYAL APPOINTMENT (8), TARA VICTORY (1), CONISTON (9), BIZZNESS CLASS (11)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: Yet another tough event to sort out with a big field over the mile and plenty of form to consider. KOMODO (11) has delivered a couple of great second placings at Birchip and Melton in recent weeks, and he’s fancied to run well again here. His latest effort was behind the very smart New Shuffle when he cut the margin to 2.7m on the line. That reads very well for a race like this and he just needs a genuine tempo to be figuring in the finish. DONMARO (9) suffered atrial fibrillation on Australian debut back in early March, but has since won a Geelong trial. He appears to have nice ability and should perform well. KOSIMO (13) is an opportunist who has raced at a much higher level than this but will need luck from that horror draw, while MOMENTUM SHIFT (6) heads a stack of other hopes in a race where not much would shock.
BACK: KOMODO (11) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: KOMODO (11), DONMARO (9), KOSIMO (13), MOMENTUM SHIFT (6)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: THE DARK THUNDER (8) made mistakes in the recent Charlton Trotters Cup where he was well fancied, but before that produced great runs to win at Bendigo and the cups at Boort and Wangaratta (held at Shepparton). He’s in great form and might just get the run of the race if likely early leader IM ABOVE THE LAW (1) holds the top. KYVALLEY JETSTREAM (2) went within a short half head of beating THE DARK THUNDER (8) at Bendigo before a huge win at Melton and great run for second at Geelong. He’s a top chance from the good gate. CLAUDYS HERO (9) was only run down by the smart Howdy Mate last weekend and that horse would likely be favourite here, while GEE CEE CALDER (11) heads the other chances after a solid return on March 14.
BACK: THE DARK THUNDER (8) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: THE DARK THUNDER (8), CLAUDYS HERO (9), KYVALLEY JETSTREAM (2), GEE CEE CALDER (11)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: Concerned about where he ends up from gate one, but siding with TO THE NINES (9) after a great run for second from back and wide in track record time at Charlton last time out. The winner there was Heatseeker and he’s won again since, so the form is strong. He reached the Breeders Crown final before going for a spell last year and his campaign has been very good so far. TORQUE POWER (2) is running consistently of late and draws well here, CELESTIAL ZODIAC (7) was unlucky not to finish much closer or even win last time at Melton behind Vincenzo, while BLACKINDEED (6) found the top and was too slick at Ballarat latest. He heads the other winning chances.
SELECTIONS: TO THE NINES (1), TORQUE POWER (2), CELESTIAL ZODIAC (7), BLACKINDEED (6)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: THE SKY IS THE LIMIT (2) is racing in great form and comes here on the back of an all-the-way victory over handy rival Kyvalley Jetstream at Geelong. She might not have the class of some of her rivals, but I’m hoping she can get to the front and from there she will be hard to run down. NO MONEY NO HONEY (5) returns to the races for her first start as a four-year-old after showing great talent in 2025. She broke in a recent Melton trial, but must have a case based on her win in the Scotch Notch Mile and fourth to star Mecarno when making an early mistake at Melton before that. MITCHELL WRAP (9) and HEZA GUN (11) both ran well last weekend behind Howdy Mate and top the other chances in another open event.
SELECTIONS: THE SKY IS THE LIMIT (2), NO MONEY NO HONEY (5), MITCHELL WRAP (9), HEZA GUN (11)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: Australian two-year-old of the season LOUCASSO (9) returns to the races here and he looks awfully hard to beat despite the big field. He’s a star with seven wins from nine starts and has trialled up super for this assignment. He beat Captain Perfect and Smoken Ace at the trials recently and those two horses have since won. Keen. Plenty of options for the minor money, with JAZZY MELEA (8) super on resumption a fortnight ago, GALAXY LASS (2) going well and drawing nicely and TEN DA TOUCH (13) continuing to catch the eye as he looks for his first Australian win.
SELECTIONS: LOUCASSO (9), JAZZY MELEA (8), GALAXY LASS (2), TEN DA TOUCH (13)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: NEW SHUFFLE (9) didn’t let favourite punters down when he found the top and won first-up back in the care of Phil Chircop at Melton a fortnight ago, and he looks to have found another suitable event here. He’s a bit of a lazy customer, but has loads of ability and is only just a shade below the absolute best of his age group. He might be too classy. SOAP AND BUBBLES (6) showed her brilliant turn of foot when charging into third behind Soho Darknstormy last time at Melton and looms as a major threat with the right trip, VINCENZO (7) was fifth in that same race and won well from last at HQ prior, while NEW YORKER (2) is going well with a top Maryborough win in early February followed by a couple of good closing efforts at Melton and Wagga since.
SELECTIONS: NEW SHUFFLE (9), SOAP AND BUBBLES (6), NEW YORKER (2), VINCENZO (7)
Race 9:
OVERVIEW: Cracking little race where GHOST OF TIME (7) gets the nod despite the wide front row gate. The step up in distance is a little query, but his recent form against high-level opposition has been sensational, including a last-start third behind Fighter Command and Bulletproof Boy in a slick 1:51.4. He has blistering gate speed, so it will be interesting to see if he can clear his opposition from out wide. METEOR MOTH (5) appreciated getting back onto the wide-open spaces of Melton and rounded up his NR 80-89 rivals in good style to win last weekend. He’s a quality horse who just didn’t seem to like the tight Ararat and Birchip tracks before that. FORTY LOVE (8) is back from a Menangle campaign that didn’t quite go to plan, but he ran good races in the 4YO Bonanza and 4&5YO Championship prior to that, while DESSIE GEE (2) might have the speed to find the fence and can figure in the placings.
BACK: GHOST OF TIME (7) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: GHOST OF TIME (7), METEOR MOTH (5), FORTY LOVE (8), DESSIE GEE (2)
Race 10:
OVERVIEW: QUIRKY CHARACTER (7) looked as though he was going to run past all of his rivals last Saturday night, but locked wheels at a crucial stage and eventually fell into fourth behind El Resamo. His form prior was outstanding and he’s a horse on the rise, so happy to lean his way despite the sticky gate. PINNIE (4) returned from a serious atrial fibrillation issue with a good fourth behind Rockinwithattitude last weekend and she’s drawn to have a dip for the front, SEBASTIANS BOY (8) blundered the start in that El Resamo race and made up huge ground to be running into the placings before galloping again in the home straight, while basically all of the others could fill the back end of trifectas and First 4s without surprising.
SELECTIONS: QUIRKY CHARACTER (7), PINNIE (4), SEBASTIANS BOY (8), NEPHEW OF SONOKO (1)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R1 #9 DEEJAY DEX – 1 unit (each-way)
R2 #8 ROYAL APPOINTMENT – 1 unit (each-way)
R3 #11 KOMODO – 2 units (win)
R4 #8 THE DARK THUNDER – 1 unit (each-way)
R9 #7 GHOST OF TIME (7) – 2 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
2,5,6,8,9,10/1,8,9,11/6,9,11,12,13/2,8,9
QUADDIE
1,2,6,7/2,5,8,9,10,11/9/6,9
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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