Every Saturday, Ryan Phelan hunts for the most reliable locks to strengthen your multi bets. By analysing race maps, sectional times, and key trainer/driver combinations, he delivers sharp insights to add confidence - and a touch of excitement - to your harness racing, thoroughbred, or sports multis.
Each selection is rated with low, medium, or high confidence and includes a suggested place or win price. The goal? Minimise risk, maximise consistency, and stack the odds in your favour for a strong overall return.
Race 1 – 1720m Downunder Sulky Company Pace
1/1 El Boston – Chris Alford/Ken Tippet
El Boston on ratings has fared well under the random barrier conditions in this 60-69 grade. He’s a horse with early gate speed and has options over the mile to hold or hand up to Hugo Rocks who has speed; this is his most suitable race for a while.
Confidence: Medium Rated Place Price: $1.90
Race 2 – 2240m Beraldo Coffee Pace
2/8 Steel The Moment – Jack Laugher/Ashley Herbertson
In such an evenly matched contest, conserving energy for the final stages of the 2240m trip could prove decisive. Steel The Moment maps for a soft run and showed a powerful finishing burst to score last start. With the right breaks, expect him to be charging late.
Confidence: Low Rated Place Price: $2.50
Race 3 – 1720m APG Trot
3/10 Watts Up Partytime – Jordan Leedham/Andy Gath
Watts Up Partytime is the standout runner, having claimed victory in the prestigious Great Southern Star against open-class competition. He’s also dropping back from a strong performance in a Group 1 race in Sydney, where he was solid despite a tough draw. This is his preferred trip, and with Jordan Leedham’s claim I expect class to prevail.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.60
Race 4 – 2240m Mimosa Homes Trot
4/10 Susan Is Her Name – Kerryn Manning/Emma Stewart
Susan Is Her Name is one of Victoria’s most exciting young trotters, with Group 1 wins at both two and three years of age despite an injury-interrupted 13-start career. However, returning from a seven-month layoff with just one inconclusive trial raises some doubts about labelling her a certainty first-up.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $1.60
Race 5 – 2240m Prydes Easifeed Pace
5/2 Repelling – Chris Alford/Isabel Walsh
Repelling looks to cross the inside, then has options to hand over to either Dukes Choice, Jaccka Connor or Meteor Moth, two of which are first-up from a break. Happy to have a map bet with a rock-hard fit Repelling.
Confidence: Low Rated Place Price: $1.65
Race 6 – 2760m Aldebaran Park Trotters Handicap
6/11 Harry Stamper – Anthony Butt/Joe Pace
Harry Stamper is the clear class runner off the 30m handicap, but in these races, standing start manners are crucial - and he has them. He was runner-up to the outstanding Keayang Chucky in the Australasian Trotters Championship, and while he now moves from the front to a 30m handicap, his strength over the longer trip should help him overcome it.
Confidence: Medium Rated Place Price: $1.75
Race 7 – 1720m Hyland Harness Colours Pace
7/5 Apollostorm – Ryan Duffy/Emma Stewart
On paper, Apollostorm concedes both age and experience to more seasoned rivals, but he compensates with speed, upside, and raw talent. He’s emerged from elite two-year-old company, and while he made mistakes when resuming as a three-year-old, I’m willing to treat that as an outlier. He's the best on the program.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.50
Race 8 – 2240m Colina & Co.Pace
8/3 Raging Whitebait – Jordan Leedham/Andy Gath
Raging Whitebait showed tremendous grit when winning first-up from a spell. He’ll take further improvement from that run, and this race shapes up to be of similar quality. The main query is the map, with strong speed drawn to his outside, making him a runner you'd want to see at black odds.
Confidence: Low Rated Win Price: $2.20
For all your harness form in one place go to goodform.thetrots.com.au
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