Want to know how to play the final two nights of the TAB Summer of Glory carnival?
Experts Jason Bonnington, Brittany Graham, Gareth Hall and Dan Mielicki take you through how they'd spend $200 across the Friday and Saturday meetings at Tabcorp Park Melton.
JASON BONNINGTON
TROTSVISION
TONIGHT
BEST BET ($20 WIN)
R8 MAJESTUOSO
Amazingly, I’m not actually tipping the trotter I regard as being Australia’s best in his Great Southern Star heat. Still, I think he’s value to dominate the final. At heat level, Majestuoso will have his major series threat Im Ready Jet stalking
him throughout. If he overcomes the challenge and wins his qualifier, he’ll start short odds in the final. If he narrowly goes under, with his versatility he’s still best placed at 10.03pm.
BEST VALUE ($10 EACH-WAY)
R3 N3 SUNDONS COURAGE
The top quote of $31 is now gone, but even now at $12 this guy seems well over his odds. Remove a few luckless – or mistake-ridden – runs from his recent resume and he could not be in a finer vein of form. He’s found the easier GSS heat and draws
to have options, which also makes him seductive.
TOMORROW NIGHT
BEST BET ($40 ALL-UP WIN)
R4 N8 CASH N FLOW
R6 N6 BONDI LOCKDOWN
Both Cash N Flow and Bondi Lockdown find themselves in similar positions tonight. Given the rich and rewarding natures of the races they’ll contest, there’s some hope here that one or both will be denied the front. Cash N Flow lives in a different world to his rivals and Bondi Lockdown still draws better than his major threats.
BEST VALUE ($10 WIN)
R3 N2 FYNN FROST
From his draw this fellow should drop straight behind likely leader Franco Jolto in transit. From there, I’m expecting a race of minimal pressure.
BEST VALUE ($10 WIN)
R10 N3 BELITTLED
Since teaming with Greg Sugars, Belittled has been crying out to win and on face value here, he should get his chance to shine.
THE QUADDIE
RACES 1-4: 1,2,8,10 / 6 / 1,2,4,6,8 / 1,3,4,7,10
$100 gets 100%
We’re placing all the weight in Bondi Lockdown to take out the 4YO Bonanza. If he does his job and King Of Swing goes under in the Hunter Cup, as expected, we will make a tidy profit.
BRITTANY GRAHAM
SKY RACING
TONIGHT
BEST BET ($40 WIN)
R3 N3 TORNADO VALLEY
Can he do it again? The first step towards a Great Southern Star title defence will be getting safely through the first heat and he looks a great chance to win again. Andy Gath has kept him fresh for this, he has been targeted towards this and he
looks the likely leader without enormous pressure on him. He can set up shop in front and again give the young bucks a run for their money.
BEST BET ($20 QUINELLA)
R4 N1 IM READY JET & N2 MAJESTUOSO
The two form trotters in Victoria, and probably Australia, clash in the second of the Great Southern Star heats and have drawn perfectly. I am siding with Im Ready Jet but am wary of the speedster Majestuoso, whose performance last week showed he was spot on. I have mapped them to be leader and leader’s back, which sets up a perfect scenario for a quinella.
TOMORROW NIGHT
BEST VALUE ($25 EACH-WAY)
R6 N4 ROCK N ROLL DOO
The 4YO Bonanza has always been an excellent pointer towards the Chariots Of Fire in a fortnight and this year’s edition is extra strong. Many of the major players are first-up into the Group 1 but I hope to have found a bit of value. Rock N Roll
Doo contested all the major features towards the back end of last year, drew poorly in all of them and raced extremely well.
He has drawn to advantage over his main rivals, trialled well in preparation and I think he can run a great race.
BEST BET ($40 WIN)
R7 N8 AMAZING DREAM
The year’s Hunter Cup should be a wonderful contest but everything points towards Amazing Dream. She looks to have drawn perfectly on the back of King Of Swing, loves the staying trip and her Ballarat Cup effort looks to have her spot on.
BEST VALUE ($50 WIN)
R9 N5 JUST HOPE
Amore Vita did the right thing by me on Vicbred Super Series night but I am hoping Just Hope can upset her. A Group 1 Gold Tiara winner at two, she returned from a break with a sharp, first-up mile win. She has good gate speed, loves to lead and looks to control the tempo in a small field.
.jpg)
GARETH HALL
RSN 927
TONIGHT
BEST VALUE ($25 WIN)
R3 N3 SUNDONS COURAGE
He needs luck in his races but the first heat of the Great Southern Star sets up well for him. I have him three back the moving line without doing too much work early and if he finishes like he did in the Shepparton Cup, he won’t be far away.
BEST VALUE ($25 WIN)
R4 N9 MAJESTIC MAN
I am taking Majestic Man on trust but predicting plenty of speed up front and he might just get the perfect run from the second row. If he’s close to his best, this race is a dream set-up for him.
TOMORROW NIGHT
BEST BET ($50 WIN)
R2 N2 HES UNDER WRAPS
He is a different horse in front (like most standardbreds) and has the draw to lead tomorrow night. If he goes like he did last start, he will take some catching.
BEST BET ($50 WIN)
R4 N1 LA PUDDIE
The 1200m is the perfect trip for La Puddie. He has gait speed, he can run time and tomorrow night I expect him to hold out Cash N Flow at the start and lead all the way.
BEST VALUE ($50 WIN)
R8 N4 ROGUE WAVE
I think the four-year-olds will be the stars this season in the open-class mares races. Rogue Wave is the second-best four-year-old mare behind Ladies In Red and you’re getting a great price. Clearly the best value of the night.
DAN MIELICKI
TONIGHT
BEST VALUE ($15 WIN x $25 PLACE)
R1 N3 ME PAT MALONE
I like two runners at good value in the opening two races at Melton on Friday night. Both are not without risk but they are worth a weighted each-way bet. Me Pat Malone is a capable trotter who looks suited in this class. If he trots throughout, he’s tough enough to be fighting out the finish.
BEST VALUE ($15 WIN X $25 PLACE)
R2 N3 MAJESTICAL BELLE
She is a Group 1 winner and drops slightly in grade from some of her recent mobile runs. Her last couple have been off 20m handicaps in standing[1]start events, so she will appreciate getting back to the mobile conditions tonight.
THE EARLY QUADDIE
RACES 1-4: 1,3,4,7,8 / 3,5,6,7 / 1,5 / 1,2
$20 for 25%
There could be some value in the opening two legs but I am happy to narrow the final two legs, both heats of the Great Southern Star, down to two winning chances.
TOMORROW NIGHT
BEST BET ($70 ALL-UP WIN)
R1 N10 YOUAREMY SUNSHINE
R9 N6 AMORE VITA
Former topline three-year-old back from injury who was terrific winning last week and I believe he will improve further. This race is no stronger and he won’t be favourite because Hi Manameisjeff heads the market and will be the hardest to beat, particularly if he leads. Youaremy Sunshine will have to do it tough but I am confident he can. Amore Vita is an outstanding filly who has been freshened after her dominant Group 1 Vicbred win on New Year’s Eve. She is special and has progressed to be the best in her age group. She will dominate with her class in race nine.
THE EARLY QUADDIE
RACES 1-4: 2,10 / 2,6,7 / 1,2,3,4,6 / 1,9
$30 for 50%
The trick could be the third leg. Even though it’s a small field of seven, they all have claims. The Mercury80 Final should be a ripper and, while Cash N Flow is the one to beat even from the widest barrier, La Puddie might get the right run on speed or behind the leader.
Join Sky Racing’s harness team of Brittany Graham and Gareth Hall, alongside trots form expert Steve Cleave for live and extended coverage from Tabcorp Park Melton this Friday and Saturday night. Featuring interviews with the key players, detailed pre-race analysis along with all the colour and excitement of the Great Southern Star and A.G. Hunter Cup nights. Download the Sky Racing Active App from the App or Play Store today.
READ MORE:
> Your Great Southern Star runners chasing glory tonight
> Lock in for the thrills of the Great Southern Star finals draw
> Ready to go big as trotters step into international spotlight
> Brownless Rules again with talented squaregaiter
> Amazing plunge on Hunter Cup hope changes market
> Guerin: Hunter Cup night to reach new audience on Racing.com
> They're coming from everywhere in search of Mercury80 glory
> Burning Questions: Nathan joins the crew for SOG double-header
> Aiken aiming at elusive features with trio of stable stars