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 Pace
1/9 Miss Ari – Chris Alford/Gary & Debbie Quinlan
Miss Ari comes through the Vicbred Series where she was terrific, finishing runner-up in the final and only missing by a head. Her form prior was also impressive, winning at Menangle five back and finding the line well every other time, not finishing any further back than fourth in her eight runs this season. It’s a quality field, but there should be enough early tempo for her to finish strongly late.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $2.00
Race 2 – 1609m – Trot
2/3 Jack Sprat – Emmett Brosnan/Emmett & Richard Brosnan
Jack Sprat has excelled this season when racing under mobile conditions, where he’s been able to use his gate speed and race in a forward position. He was a winner at Melton four runs back doing just that and was a gallant 2nd last time when nabbed late. This is a tougher race than those, but his racing pattern and the short trip play in his favour as a value play.
Confidence: Low Rated Place Price: $2.00
Race 3 – 2100m NMW Pace
3/9 Sea Fury – Liam Older/Luke Tabone
Sea Fury hasn’t covered himself in glory in his two runs back from a spell, following a campaign which yielded some terrific results and form earlier in the year, but he may have excuses to be optimistic of bouncing back here. He had to work too hard first up in good time and was well out of his ground last time, but sectionally was good. There looks to be good speed here early for him to do his best work late.
Confidence: Low Rated Win Price: $3.60
Race 4 – 2100m – Vicbred Voucher Trot
4/7 Muscle Valley – Hannah Lewis/Matthew Horsnell
Muscle Valley looks to have found a very suitable race here to improve dramatically on his numerical form and potentially represent good value in the process. He comes through the Vicbred Series where he ran well, but when in similar class earlier this year he was showing strong ability at this level. He’s shown versatility with his racing pattern, so if he’s safely away, he will be hard to hold out.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $3.80
Race 5 – 1609m – Pace
5/3 Maas Betting Again – Chris Alford/Alision Alford
Maas Betting Again is a very quick beginner, and her winning strike rate almost exclusively comes when she can find the top, which she appears likely to do here. Her run last week off the back row at Melton was very good sectionally, and back to this track with a positive map, she will take plenty of running down.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $3.80
Race 6 – 2570m – APCO Geelong Pacing Cup
6/5 Minos – Lochie Cook/Jason Grimson
When it comes to big races, Jason Grimson is near-unstoppable, and his two-pronged attack on the Geelong Cup elevates the race and makes his pair the ones to beat with both Minos and Swayzee. Minos went from strength to strength during the Inter Dominion carnival in Brisbane and showed both strength and speed to finish 4th in the final. He can run the gate hard, get an advantage on his rivals and prove the one to beat.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $1.90
Race 7 – 2570m – Evolution Lodge McNamara Memorial Trotting Cup
7/7 Rockinwithattitude – David Miles/David Miles
You must go back to her 2yo season to find standing-start form, but superstar trotter Rockinwithattitude dealt well with it then, and she’s had no trouble in recent trials handling her 30m handicap. She came back in terrific fashion to win under mobile conditions last time over the short trip, and although this distance may not be her sweet spot, her class can shine through.
Confidence: High Rated Win Price: $1.20
Race 8 – 2100m – Pace
8/4 A Special Occasion – Michael Stanley/Michael Stanley
An interesting race with several horses and stables regularly earning market attention. The Stanley stable certainly is one of those, and 3yo A Special Occasion was heavily backed on his Aussie debut and stamped himself as a very smart horse in his age group. This is a step up from what he faced last time, but he looks to be a horse going places.
Confidence: Medium Rated Win Price: $3.00
For all your harness form in one place go to goodform.thetrots.com.au
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