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 Swift Signs FFA
1/11 Fighter Command – Kerryn Manning/Jess Tubbs
Fighter Command returns to Victoria after a terrific Brisbane Inter Dominion campaign last month, which included a heat win and a fantastic fifth in the epic final won by Captains Mistress. He’s only had the one week off, so fitness won’t be a problem, and he’s a horse who likes room to run home, which he should get from the backrow draw. There’s plenty of classy opposition, but he’s a horse on the way up.
Confidence: Medium Rated Place Price: $1.50
Race 2 – 1720m The VHRC Holmfield 3yo Trot (G3)
2/9 Pastor Dunbar – Damian Wilson/Damian Wilson
A high-quality 3yo feature, with several runners already proven at Group level. We see the return of the exciting Pastor Dunbar, who took out the G1 NSW Derby last preparation and subsequently turned in perhaps an even better run at Melton. He’s had a break with one trial at Cobram, where he went to the line untested. There are some quality opponents here, but if he brings to the table what he did last preparation, this is well within his wheelhouse.
Confidence: Low Rated Place Price: $1.50
Race 3 – 1720m Vale Ian Caruana Trot
3/4 Keayang Gypsy – Glen Craven/Marg & Paddy Lee
Keayang Gypsy returns to the front row after having to work hard here last week to sit parked, and she was brave, only being swamped in the last 100m. Prior to that, over this distance, she was able to lead and proved too fast and strong. Although she faces a slightly stronger field, her likely map to lead and record over this distance are hard to resist.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $2.60
Race 4 – 2240m Melton City Council Pace
4/9 Pesci – James Herbertson/Shaun & Jason McNaulty
Pesci is having his fifth run this preparation and strikes by far the most suitable line-up he’s faced after taking on largely fast-class performers. He’s a horse who needs a genuine tempo up front, as he regularly likes to come with one run late and swoop them, but his closing sectionals do appear much stronger than those of the front-row runners.
Confidence: Medium Rated Place Price: $1.60
Race 5 – 2240m Nevele R Stud Pace
5/9 I Am The Storm – Taylor Youl/Emma Stewart
I Am The Storm failed as an odds-on favourite last start, but nothing went right in the first lap, where he burned out to be crossed and then had to work very hard to find the front, only to be swamped late. I’m happy to forgive that run. He drops dramatically in class with the concession claim, and I’m happy to trust his previous form, where he won three in a row, and back him to bounce back here.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.60
Race 6 – 2240m IRT Pace Final
6/1 Lougle – Connor Clarke/Stephen Clarke
Heats into a final, and this looks to be the play of the night, with the upwardly mobile The Last Trip set to continue his winning way as he aims towards the rich TAB Eureka, and Lougle, who was brilliant second-up, the logical exacta horse. Lougle goes from the outside backrow to the pole and will look to lead and hand over to The Last Trip, allowing them to sprint away along the peg line. Lougle may pay better for the place than The Last Trip will for the win.
Confidence: High Rated Place Price: $1.30
Race 7 – 2240m Bob Conroy 2yo Trotters Classic
7/6 Verbici – Chris Lang/Chris Lang & Sonia Mahar
Verbici has been the benchmark 2yo trotter this season and is looking every bit the next superstar for master trotting conditioners Chris Lang and Sonia Mahar. He’s won all four starts, two of which have been features, and was still able to win last time with a flat tyre. He will be driven to command respect from the opposition, and the longer distance is in his favour.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.10
Race 8 – 2240m Prydes Easifeed Mares FFA Trot
8/5 I Am Wilma – Chris Alford/Chris Lang & Sonia Mahar
I Am Wilma raced against the very best trotters last time in, having her first preparation stepping up from 3yo company, and she acquitted herself well, winning twice and beating horses who have since competed in an Inter Dominion series. She’s won two trials into this, has good gate speed and, most importantly, races against her own sex here and looks extremely well placed.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.04
For all your harness form in one place go to goodform.thetrots.com.au
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