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 VHRC Caduceus Classic Pace (G3)
1/3 Fighter Command – Kerryn Manning/Jess Tubbs
A strong G3 FFA to kick off proceedings, with several of these on their way to the Victoria Cup next month. Fighter Command could not have been more impressive coming from back in the field fresh-up last time and looked superb on the clock too. He has the tactical speed to settle further forward, and a repeat of that performance would be good enough despite this being slightly harder.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.60
Race 2 – 2240m APG VICBRED Super Series (3yo Colts & Geldings) Final (G1)
2/5 The Niteshift – Luke McCarthy/Luke McCarthy
The first of our VICBRED G1s, and you could argue this is the strongest crop, looking set for a bright future. The Niteshift couldn’t have been any more impressive through his heat and semi-final. He did plenty of work mid-race in the semi and was so brave in holding on for third. It’s worth noting there was a significant gap to the other horses in the race who worked, while the swoopers were entitled to get home. The stable has a huge wrap on him, and the trailing draw gives him options to work into the race at the right time.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $2.80
Race 3 – 2240m APG VICBRED Super Series (2yo Colts & Geldings) Final (G1)
3/2 Lake Como – James Herbertson/Jess Tubbs
Lake Como has a real sense of timing about him, having improved with each run and delivering a career-peak performance to win his semi-final last week from near last. He covered significantly more ground than his rivals in those qualifiers and still produced smart sectionals. He should lob into a soft run and can navigate the right passage, with his main dangers drawn off the back row.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $2.90
Race 4 – 2240m APG VICBRED Super Series (3yo Trotting Fillies) Final (G1)
4/1 Queen Of Sees – James Herbertson/Jess Tubbs
Queen Of Sees was excellent in winning her semi-final, where she showed speed, balanced up to take cover and sprinted strongly to the line with plenty in hand. The soft draw should see her get a good map here, likely behind the leader, with her main rivals all having to work into the race. She’s very well bred and can become even more valuable with a G1 on the CV, and she looks to have been well prepared to peak here.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $2.50
Race 5 – 2240m APG VICBRED Super Series (3yo Trotting Colts & Geldings) Final (G1)
5/9 Keayang Bazlenka– Jason Lee/Marg & Paddy Lee
Punters may have felt stung by Keayang Bazlenka going down as a $1.50 chance first-up, but sectionally he was outstanding and, on review, it was a very good performance. He will be better for that outing, and the trailing draw allowing him to balance up is also in his favour. His best performances and SP profile have seen him previously account for his main rivals here, so I’m expecting a big bounce back.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $2.80
Race 6 – 2240m APG VICBRED Super Series (2yo Trotting Colts & Geldings) Final (G1)
6/9 Verbici – Chris Lang/Chris Lang & Sonia Mahar
A high-quality group of 2yo trotters, and Verbici has been the benchmark all season. Phoenix Rex is now scratched and posed the only major threat to Verbici who has great manners and simply loves to win. Experience and manners will count for plenty here and Verbici will continue his winning ways.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.10
Race 7 – 2240m APG VICBRED Super Series (2yo Fillies) Final (G1)
7/5 Kahula – Mark Pitt/Emma Stewart
Of all the VICBRED Finals, Kahula is clearly the one who has been best advantaged by the barrier draws and is entitled to be a short-priced favourite on that score. Ideal Frankie deserves a tremendous amount of respect, however, with an unbeaten record at this track and an average winning margin of 19 metres. These two seem set to battle it out in a very exciting affair, with a leaning to Kahula given the map advantage and her better finishing position in the Protostar back in July.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $1.40
Race 8 – 2240m APG VICBRED Super Series (2yo Trotting Fillies) Final (G1)
8/2 Bumper Crop – Glen Craven/Antti Ruokonen
Bumper Crop continued her impressive unbeaten run when resuming in her heat first-up, where she overcame a second-row draw, did work in the run and still won with something in hand. She now gets a soft front-row draw to position herself where she needs to, with speed outside her suiting a potential retake move at some stage. On exposed form, she looks to have a bit on these, but we are talking about 2yo trotters, so it’s certainly not “chips in”.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $1.50
Race 9 – 2240m APG VICBRED Super Series (3yo Fillies) Final (G1)
9/1 Bettor Beach – Mark Pitt/Emma Stewart
There’s no doubt Bettor Beach will be the shortest-priced favourite of the night, and deservedly so after being so impressive in winning her semi-final from outside the back row. She now comes up with the ace draw, where she looks set to lead all the way. She wasn’t right health-wise when she went to Brisbane, and since returning she’s only reinforced why she’s one of the best 3yos in the country. She should be winning this.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.10
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