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 – 1609m Cranbourne Fencing Pace
1/5 Vincheska – Jordan Leedham/Mitchell Frost
Vincheska is having her third run for the new stable and her performances to date indicate a win isn’t far away. She has very good early gate speed to lead here, and with that map, the short trip, and natural improvement, she will be hard to beat.
Confidence: High Rated Place Price: $2.00
Race 2 – 1609m Woodlands Stud Pam Hockham Memorial Pace
2/6 Katunga Express – Ellen Tormey/John Tormey
Katunga Express turned in a career-best performance last time, leading all the way in blistering time. His best runs have come when there’s speed on, so a repeat of last time will give plenty of cheek.
Confidence: Low Rated Place Price: $3.00
Race 3 – 2080m NZB Standardbred Vin Knight Memorial Pace (1st heat)
3/1 Major Art – Cameron Hart/Jason Grimson
There’s guesswork tipping Major Art first-up from New Zealand with no trial, but what is certain is the training prowess of Jason Grimson, particularly with well-graded horses fresh. Expect the draw to be used to full advantage and to see a strong, speedy Grimson prototype.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $2.50
Race 4 – 2080m The Angelique (G3)
4/7 Eye Keep Smiling – Luke McCarthy/Luke McCarthy
What a stunning edition of the Angelique for the mares. Eye Keep Smiling has been the dominant force against her own sex over the past few seasons. Now she faces elite former Kiwi Captains Mistress for Grimson, along with stablemate Steno who lowered her colours last week. She’ll need to be at her best, but she’s fitter here and suited stepping out over the longer trip.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $2.70
Race 5 – 2080m Blue Hills Rise 4yo & 5yo Championship (G3)
5/10 War Dan Buddy – Ryan Sanderson/Emma Stewart
Another high-quality contest where War Dan Buddy resumes following a terrific four-year-old season that saw him place in the Eureka and compete against open-grade performers in the Victoria Cup. His trial win into this was very good. He has a tough setup to overcome, but his class will carry him a long way.
Confidence: Low Rated Win Price: $3.50
Race 6 – 2555m Decron Cranbourne Pacing Gold Cup (G1)
6/4 Leap To Fame – Grant Dixon/Grant Dixon
An exceptional edition of the Cranbourne Pacing Cup, adding another chapter to the gripping rivalry between champion Leap To Fame, his older brother Swayzee and emerging superstar Kingman. The draw again looks favourable for “Larry” to have options depending on the tactics of his main rivals drawn in and outside of him.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $2.00
Race 7 – 2080m Ladbrokes Cranbourne Trotters Cup (G1)
7/4 Keayang Zahara – Jason Lee/Marg & Paddy Lee
Keayang Zahara is chasing win number 23 from 24 starts and her 12th Group 1 victory. Furthermore, a win here puts her in the box seat for the $500,000 HRV-insured bonus should she go on to win the Great Southern Star. She’s a champion, and the only real question is the margin.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.04
Race 8 – 1609m Aidan Graham Memorial NMW Pace
8/1 Montana Pride – James Herbertson/Ashleigh Herbertson
The draw is perfect for Montana Pride to control this race based on his gate speed and early acceleration to lead. That’s exactly what he did two starts back when winning in good time against similar opposition, and a repeat effort will be more than good enough.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $3.20
Race 9 – 1609m Aldebaran Park Trot
8/2 Jilliby Dreamlover – Jason Lee/Marg & Paddy Lee
Jilliby Dreamlover is flying, brilliant out of the gate, and looks set to lead and win this with authority. With no disrespect to the opposition, she is airborne and trending towards elite grade alongside her talented stablemates Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.30
For all your harness form in one place go to goodform.thetrots.com.au
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