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 Mimosa Homes FFA
1/10 Sir Jimmy – Jodi Quinlan/Emma Stewart
Sir Jimmy comes through much stronger FFA company this campaign, and there’s a case to be made that he’s going better than his form suggests. His first two runs back from a break were great, then he had to work up solo subsequently, which isn’t his best pattern, and was never clear here last week. There looks to be excellent tempo early this time and a highly likely scenario where he gets a better cart into the race, allowing him to unleash his powerful sprint.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $3.50
Race 2 – 2240m – Hip Pocket Castlemaine Pace
2/6 Gunforhire – Ewa Justice/Rory Coverdale
Gunforhire is a tricky horse to follow due to his racing pattern, where he gets back and runs on. He’s barely turned in a below-par run this entire campaign, and his last three runs have been excellent, producing fast sectionals each time. He will need things to go his way as usual, but his form is hard to ignore.
Confidence: Low Rated Win Price: $3.80
Race 3 – 2240m Melton City Council Trot
3/8 Kyvalley Michael – Michael Stanley/Brent Lilley
Kyvalley Michael was a winner that this track and distance from the same draw two runs back where he was driven like the best horse in the race and won convincingly. That was a similar opposition to what he meets here. He narrowly missed last start from another tricky back row draw, and his form overall at this track this preparation has been solid. This looks a suitable race for him.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $3.60
Race 4 – 2240m – APG VICBRED Super Series (4yo Mares) Final (G2)
4/11 The Art Of Success – Mark Pitt/Emma Stewart
The Art Of Success is a high-quality mare who’s won 10/12 and two seconds in her career, unbeaten at the track and distance. More surprisingly six of those victories have all come from the backrow, which may challenge the thinking she needs to lead and dominate in her races. She was very good in her heat defeating the pre-post favourite Wicked Confession and although she will have to work to overcome the barrier discrepancy her class can shine through.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $2.40
Race 5 – 2240m – APG VICBRED Super Series (4yo Entires & Geldings) Final (G2)
5/9 The Last Trip – Taylor Ford/Emma Stewart
The rise of The Last Trip this campaign has been extraordinary, winning 5 from 5, and developing a great affinity with Taylor Ford delivering her biggest opportunity as a driver. The horse has proven his versatility in leading and coming off the speed and has made a knack of winning races by a sizeable margin. This is his biggest test to date without question, but with a slick front row sorting themselves out he can work into the race at the right time.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $4.00
Race 6 – 2240m – APG VICBRED Super Series (4yo Trotting Entires & Geldings) Final (G1)
6/10 Alrighty – Kate Gath/Andy Gath
Alrighty is starting to bear the fruit of the training genius of Andy Gath this preparation undefeated in four starts winning by big margins and looking the furnished product. Whilst most of his career wins have come from when he’s been able to lead, he’s clearly strengthened up so the back row draw isn’t the concern it once was. Furthermore, his record at this track over main rival I Am Hellbound is a consideration to give him the edge.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $1.90
Race 7 – 2240m – APG VICBRED Super Series (4yo Trotting Mares) Final (G1)
7/11 I Am Wilma – Chris Alford/Chris Lang & Sonia Mahar
I Am Wilma was the standout 3yo filly of last season, and there’s no reason to suggest she isn’t as dominant as a 4yo. I love that last campaign, she took on Inter Dominion horses and beat them at this track, and since she’s been freshened has come back for two very dominant wins. She will give away a tactical advantage from the draw, but you’ve got one of the best in Chris Alford to overcome that.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $2.50
Race 8 – 1720m – Waste Sense Trot
8/8 Quirky Character – James Herbertson/Ross Graham
The majority of these horses clashed last start at Geelong, where Thunda Struck was able to win after getting a gun run from a favourable draw, sprinting down the fresh-up Rubys Dream, who led and had her chance, with Quirky Character coming from last to finish third in a sprint home. Quirky Character’s sectional times were superior to the others, and although the map will be similar again, he’s looking back to the form we saw earlier in the season.
Confidence: Low Rated Win Price: $3.80
Race 9 – 2240m – Benstud Standardbreds Pace
9/7 Good Tobe Locksley – Jordan Leedham/Adam Kelly
This looks to be a suitable race for Good Tobe Locksley to bounce back to winning form. The 2240m adjustment elevates him, having four wins from 17 at Melton and six from 23 in the distance range and was runner-up here in August before running third in stronger company at Geelong. The small field helps with his strong finish.
Confidence: Low Rated Win Price: $4.80
Race 10 – 1720m – Prydes Easifeed Trotters FFA
10/4 Rockinwithattitude – David Miles/David Miles
The one guarantee here is that Rockinwithattitude will find the lead, as she is one of the quickest beginners in the trotting ranks. She’s had three trials leading into this, so with the likely pattern and her class as a multiple G1 winner, she can be too good. This is a kick-off point to bigger races this campaign.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.10
For all your harness form in one place go to goodform.thetrots.com.au
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