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 – 2240m Prydes Easifeed Free For All Trot
1/6 Im Bobby – Tasmyn Potter/Eddie Tappe
A high-quality trotting affair opens the program, with several runners on a path towards bigger Group 1 targets. Im Bobby is one of those horses. After a disappointing first-up effort, he returned to his best with an impressive victory last start. With added fitness and likely to press forward, he’s the type of horse that can build momentum once he finds form.
Confidence: Low Rated Place Price: $1.50
Race 2 – 1720m Garrards Horse & Hound Pace
2/2 All Blazing Guns – Matthew Craven/Matthew Craven
All Blazing Guns has had little luck with barrier draws in his three runs back from a spell but has been outstanding in each of them, including a fast-finishing victory. He was forced to do too much work last time and still fought on bravely. From this draw he should find the right cover and prove strong late.
Confidence: Medium Rated Place Price: $2.00
Race 3 – 1720m Mimosa Homes Trot
3/9 Nakedtruth – Chris Alford/Alison Alford
Nakedtruth won’t know himself in this company. This is the most suitable opposition he’s faced for some time. While he’s drawn the back row and generally prefers to race on speed, he follows out a quick beginner and shouldn’t settle too far from the action. The market may gravitate to the front-row runners, which could see him represent excellent value.
Confidence: High Rated Place Price: $1.50
Race 4 – 2240m Hip Pocket Castlemaine Pace
4/9 Sweet Ideal – Darryl Lawlor/Gary Lawlor
The Art Of Success will likely start a short-priced favourite and is racing well, but she rises in class, may have to work early to hold the front and has never raced beyond a mile. Under these conditions, Sweet Ideal is well placed on her ratings and, although she’ll likely give away a start, she can finish strongly if the tempo suits.
Confidence: High Rated Place Price: $1.20
Race 5 – 2240m Breeders Crown 3yo Noms Now Open FFA
5/1 Fox Dan – Ryan Sanderson/Emma Stewart
Fox Dan is a star on the rise. His brilliant juvenile season has carried through to open company with two excellent performances in the Mildura Cup heat and final. He’s had a month between runs with the Brisbane Carnival on the horizon, but the barrier advantage should allow him to map perfectly.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $1.70
Race 6 – 2240m IRT Trot
6/8 Iron Women – Kate Gath/Andy Gath
Iron Women looks very well placed here, finding a much more suitable assignment after drawing poorly and working hard in a fast-run race last time. She won twice prior in races of a similar rating range and although she will have to navigate the tricky draw, looks capable of proving too strong for this field.
Confidence: High Rated Place Price: $1.40
Race 7 – 2240m Swift Signs 3yo Pace
7/3 Sols Me Name – James Herbertson/Jayne Davies
This is a quality three-year-old event and while Sols Me Name has won his past two starts in easier provincial company, the manner in which he’s done it suggests he’s well above average. He possesses good gate speed, has shown the strength to run out a strong 2240m and should be highly competitive third-up from a favourable draw.
Confidence: Low Rated Place Price: $2.50
Race 8 – 1720m Benstud Standarbreds Pace
8/1 I Am The Storm – Mark Pitt/Emma Stewart
Although I Am The Storm gives away both experience and a ratings advantage, the barrier draw over the sprint trip and his ability to run time make him the horse to beat. There will be pressure early from the outside, but he should be able to hold the front and, with second-up fitness, prove difficult to run down.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.40
Race 9 – 2240m Hyland Racing Colours Pace
9/2 Dynamitedan – James Herbertson/Emma Stewart
A tricky race to finish the program. Dynamitedan and Miss Ari will attract plenty of market attention, but both resume in a solid race over 2240m where a favourable map will need to be earned. Dynamitedan can be driven positively and, throughout his career, most of his defeats have come when luck deserted him. If either of the favourites are below their best, Keayang Sweetheart wouldn’t surprise.
Confidence: Low Rated Win Price: $2.00
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