Tim O’Connor takes a look at the meeting from Beckley Park.
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: Carson Millar has a great record with tried horses new to his stable and IFYOULOVEMELETMEGO (1) draws well at her second start for the yard. She was well fancied first-up for the team at Ballarat on May 14 following a good trial, and while only fourth, still did a good job after getting caught in the breeze. There’s lots of speed on the front here, but she looks hard to beat if not too far back in the run. LAZENBY (9) was a brave second from the chair at Cranbourne last weekend and will benefit from any early burn, HOME AND DRY (3) was good through the line behind Allgood Vinnie at Melton last Friday, while MIDNITE DESIRE (2) had an unsuccessful dip for the front in his most recent start and dropped out late, but his prior form is solid and he could win with the right trip.
BACK: IFYOULOVEMELETMEGO (1) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: IFYOULOVEMELETMEGO (1), LAZENBY (9), HOME AND DRY (3), MIDNITE DESIRE (2)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: Difficult maiden to be confident in, but HANORA (6) looks handy enough from the trials and gets a suitable event to debut in. She chased home the smart Midnight Moth for second at her first trial in late March and was well beaten by Colosimo on May 13, but they did run a very slick last half. Not sure where she ends up from the gate, but I’d expect her to perform well. DIAMONTY QUEEN (2) was third on debut at Melton in February and ran a solid second at her most recent trial as she prepares for a return, SEASIDE LADY (4) has good gate speed and will be right in this if she leads, while TALKBABYTALK (1) has a good draw and shouldn’t be too far away.
SELECTIONS: HANORA (6), DIAMONTY QUEEN (2), SEASIDE LADY (4), TALKBABYTALK (1)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: David Miles brings a pair of two-year-old fillies to the races for their debut against the older horses, but they look very well placed in this maiden assignment. ALDEBARAN EMJAY (5) has had eight trials since March in readiness for this first career start and she certainly looks ready to run well given her past four have all been wins. Stablemate LOVE THAT BIRD (2) appears to have some good ability, but has made mistakes in her recent outings. Her latest effort was huge given she lost stacks of ground, chased to catch the field and still managed to run third, just a few metres from the winner. MISS HOLLY RED (6) brings two runner-up placings to the table and looks a key player, while the rest would surprise but are perhaps headed by LARAS DREAM (1) and THELMABELLA (6).
BACK: ALDEBARAN EMJAY (5) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: ALDEBARAN EMJAY (5), LOVE THAT BIRD (2), MISS HOLLY RED (6), LARAS DREAM (1)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: COLOSIMO (10) is a pretty good young pacer for the Lawlor family and he tuned up for this race with a dashing, front-running trial win at Terang when he ripped home in a 56.3 last half. All his recent form is strong in really good company for this grade, and he should be charging late from his back row draw. While COLOSIMO (10) goes on top, there’s a host of winning chances in this tricky NR 51-55 event. HELLOVASTORY (9) won his maiden in good style for new trainer Paul Tonkin and then rattled home for an eye-catching second last time out, TEST OF FIRE (1) is back in the care of former trainer Carson Millar, draws well and won a trial at Bacchus Marsh as a lead-up for this, while potential early leader CALEDONIAN RANGER (4), the consistent ALWAYS A SHOWGIRL (5), last-start victor LENARD ESS (3) and MUSELET (8) are other leading contenders.
BACK: COLOSIMO (10) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: COLOSIMO (10), HELLOVASTORY (9), TEST OF FIRE (1), CALEDONIAN RANGER (4)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: ALLGOOD VINNIE (3) has run some great races since being driven cold, including a big last-start win when he came from well back in the field to score running away. He shouldn’t land too far back here in the small field, and I expect him to go very close with even luck. LADY IN LINE (4) looks a key winning chance based on her strong victory at Ballarat and fourth placing at Maryborough last time out when she closed hard in the home straight to be beaten just 3.1m. TREACHEROUSTIMES (1) has led and won his past two at massive odds and looks capable of giving a great sight, while MISTER FONZI (8) might get that good run in behind the pole-marker and his effort last time when well fancied at Bendigo was sound.
SELECTIONS: ALLGOOD VINNIE (3), LADY IN LINE (4), TREACHEROUSTIMES (1), MISTER FONZI (8)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: Tricky race, but happy to be in the corner of BOND GIRL (9) for Sam Barker. She consistently hits the line hard in her races and ran well for fourth at Cranbourne on Sunday. Three starts ago at the same track, she was able to beat FREAK OUT (6) and REASON TO LAUGH (8), who are key chances in this race here. The tempo looks genuine with some fast beginners off the front and she should run well. FREAK OUT (6) is knocking on the door for victory after adding a fourth-straight placing to his resume last Friday at Melton, REASON TO LAUGH (8) ran well after doing some work to beat home BOND GIRL (9) and ELLI JOH (7) last weekend at Cranbourne, while LIVERMERE (4) heads a host of other chances who can win with the right trip.
BACK: BOND GIRL (9) – 1 unit (each-way)
SELECTIONS: BOND GIRL (9), FREAK OUT (6), REASON TO LAUGH (8), LIVERMERE (4)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: I’ve long been a fan of IJUSTCANTSEEIT (8) and this looks a very suitable assignment for the progressive three-year-old trotting filly to open her account for the campaign. After performing well in a number of feature races during her two-year-old season, Rebecca Morrissey’s charge returned with a super second to Jilliby Aura at Bendigo on April 18 and started in single figures for the Group 1 NSW Trotters Oaks at Menangle on May 2, but ruined her chances with gallops in the run. She might just be a bit too classy here. BUCKLES FOR BERRY (5) appears the key danger after a great win at Ballarat last time out and encouraging second at Geelong prior to that. If she leads, she will be hard to run down. LEANNE LEEANN (3) disappointed last time at Melton but her form prior is very strong, while JACK SPRAT (1) can improve sharply from the pole at a track he has won at three times prior.
BACK: IJUSTCANTSEEIT (8) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: IJUSTCANTSEEIT (8), BUCKLES FOR BERRY (5), LEANNE LEEANN (3), JACK SPRAT (1)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: Quite a few winning chances in the final event on the card, but let’s side with the likely early leader in KYORETSU (2). He found the front and won well at Melton on May 1, which followed a sound effort at Ballarat prior when he was only grabbed late by the in-form Huxham Chubb. He should give a good sight here over the sprint trip. SHEER VITALITY (6) has chased home the smart The Art Of Success in two of her past three starts and this appears a drop in grade, ANOTHER WOODS (3) is flying for Michael Barry and comes here on the back of a cracking third despite limited room in the straight at Ballarat, while HAPPENSTBABEACHBOY (7) is definitely going much better than his poor figure form reads and wouldn’t shock despite the wide gate.
SELECTIONS: KYORETSU (2), SHEER VITALITY (6), ANOTHER WOODS (3), HAPPENSTBABEACHBOY (7)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R1 #1 IFYOULOVEMELETMEGO – 2 units (win)
R3 #5 ALDEBARAN EMJAY – 2 units (win)
R4 #10 COLOSIMO – 1 unit (each-way)
R6 #9 BOND GIRL – 1 unit (each-way)
R7 #8 IJUSTCANTSEEIT – 2 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
1,2,3,9/2,4,6/1,2,5,6/1,4,9,10
QUADDIE
1,3,4/4,6,8,9/5,8/2,3,6,7
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 $10
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