We've given Jason Bonnington, Adam Hamilton, Dan Mielicki and Josh Jenkins $200 a pop to have their best crack at tonight's terrific Vicbred Super Series finals card at Tabcorp Park Melton.
And the form analyst's dug deep in an attempt to dial up some winners.
Here are their $200 Game Plans:
JASON BONNINGTON (SEN TRACK)
BEST BET ($40 WIN)
Race 12 No 3 KEAYANG LIVANA
This mare will be tackling Group 1 open class races next season and looks pitchforked into another feature event opposing her own gender and generation tonight. Sleepee (10) is a serious talent and will provide resistance, but from the draw this looks an old-fashioned lead-and-win job for mine.
BEST VALUE ($10 EACH WAY)
Race 5 No 10 SHES A HOVERCRAFT
They may live side-by-side but Maajida (8) is almost duty-bound to turn the heat up on Amelia Rose (7) a fair way out tonight and if they soften each other up this underrated filly can storm home over them at massive odds. Even if she doesn’t, the place price will buy New Year’s Day brunch.
MONEY RACE ($40 FLEXI TRIFECTA)
Race 6: 9 / 2 / 3, 11, 12, 13 ($40 gets 1500%)
Their respective draws have evened this match-race up, but Major Moth (9) looks more than a little bit special and should find a way to roll his stablemate Idyllic (2). The next task is finding who can run third and, in that respect, if we play four-wide we should find the treasure we are seeking.
MONEY RACE ($50 FLEXI TRIFECTA)
Race 8: 8 / 2 / 1, 4, 7, 9, 11
We’re going back to the future here with a near replication of the scenario we saw in the Breeders Crown between Ladies In Red (8) and Tough Tilly (2), where the former filly confirmed her juvenile greatness. They will finish one-two again and if Eva Mateo (1) runs third we’re in business.
EARLY QUADDIE
Races 1-4: 7, 11 / 1, 2, 8, 11 / 1, 2, 5, 8, 10 / 9 ($20 gets 50%)
Three of the first four races are for trotters, so trading carefully is advised. Pacifico Dream (9) should win leg four but be prepared to cash out or lay off if things are going well, because he is not gilt-edged from the draw.
THE QUADDIE
Races 5-8: 7, 8, 10 / 9 / 10 / 8 ($30 gets 1000%)
This type of aggression is contradictory to my punting character, but tonight’s quad requires a firm hand. That being said, it’s well worth considering your ongoing options if Shes A Hovercraft (10) lands the opening leg at giant odds.
ADAM HAMILTON (TAB.COM.AU)
BEST BET ($50 WIN)
Race 6 No 9 MAJOR MOTH
Didn’t let us down Breeders Crown night and has only got better since. Not even the back row draw and his improving stablemate, Idyllic, will stop this budding superstar adding another Group 1 tonight.
BEST VALUE ($20 EACH WAY)
Race 4 No 3 KOWALSKI ANALYSIS
Emerging at the right time. Gave Pacifico Dream a scare in the semi, drawn to use his gate speed and can’t believe the odds. Ripper each-way play.
ALL-UP ($55 WIN)
Race 6 No 9 MAJOR MOTH
Could be the next big thing. Fast, tough and still untapped.
Race 8 No 8 LADIES IN RED
Tricky draw, but think David Moran will find a way around and that the best 2YO filly Australia’s seen in 19 years will win again.
Race 10 No 2 OUR PRINCESS TIFFANY
Back to something like her elite best in the semi. Drawn better, should be too classy again.
MONEY RACE ($25 TRIFECTA)
Race 9: 1 / 3, 6, 8, 11, 12 / 2, 3, 6, 8, 11, 12 ($25 for 100%)
Lochinvar Art wins, but query on Hurricane Harley opens up the trifecta. Out To Play, Always Fast and Western Sonador were enormous in the semis.
EARLY QUADDIE
Races 1-4: 7, 8, 11 / 1, 2, 6, 8, 11 / 2, 8, 10 / 3, 9 ($15 gets 16.65%)
Going wide for a small slice (hopefully). Don’t think any of the early favourites are absolute locks from their barriers.
THE QUADDIE
Races 5-8: 8 / 9 / 5, 6, 10 / 8 ($15 gets 500%)
In contrast to the Early Quaddie, I see standouts galore in this. Judging by the semis, only bad luck will beat Maajida, Major Moth and Ladies In Red, so taking them all one-out. In the third leg, I can’t split Utopia, Keayang Ninja and Dont Care, so taking those three.
DAN MIELICKI (RACE CALLER)
BEST BET ($70 ALL-UP)
Race 6 No 9 MAJOR MOTH
I am following the same game plan as Breeders Crown night. The best colt all-up into the best filly. Major Moth’s an exciting youngster and goes into tonight’s final ranked the best colt, but has drawn awkwardly inside the back row and follows out a 100/1 shot.
Race 8 No 8 LADIES IN RED
Trying to make it 10 out of 10. Unbeaten, untapped. So far so good and she is likely to be perfect after this race. Like Major Moth she has drawn inside the back row and has worthy opposition, but she is something special.
BEST VALUE ($15 WIN x $30 PLACE)
Race 4 No 3 KOWALSKI ANALYSIS
Improving all the time. Quick beginner who can lead and possibly take a trail. He is a good sit-sprinter and is way over the odds.
BEST LONGSHOT ($5 WIN x $20 PLACE)
Race 1 No 3 NEPHEW OF SONOKO
Was driven quietly first-up at Shepparton and will derive a lot from that run. He’s drawn better and has mixed it with good horses last prep. While Always Ready is the deserved favourite, the small play $1 win x $4 place ratio might be the way to go here.
EARLY QUADDIE
Races 1-4: 3, 7, 8, 11 / 2, 6, 8, 11 / 2, 5, 8, 10 / 3, 9 ($32 gets 25%).
Trying to get some value in each of the first three legs, however, Always Ready (Race 1), Illawong Stardust (Race 2) and Cover Of Darkness (Race 3) could all be taken one-out in varying combinations.
THE QUADDIE
Races 5-8: 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 / 2, 9 / 3, 5, 10, 13 / 2, 8 ($28 gets 25%)
The wide draw for Amelia Rose and inside back row draw for Maajida opens up the first leg of the quaddie and therefore may be the best leg for value. You could also take a secondary quad with just 7 and 8 in Leg 1.
JOSH JENKINS (TROTS VISION)
BEST BET 1 ($30 WIN)
Race 3 No 10 COVER OF DARKNESS
This unbeaten trotter from eight starts is from a champion stable and they’re offering us close to even money. That’ll do me.
BEST BET 2 ($50 WIN)
Race 8 No 8 LADIES IN RED
For some strange reason this unbeaten juvenile is not $1.20, but she may be by the time the arms fold back. She’s tough, fast and downright brilliant. Could be a generationally great filly. Get on!
BEST VALUE ($25 PLACE)
Race 5 No 1 ALICE KAY
A filly who has competed with the best right throughout her career. She’s assured of getting a sweet trip either behind the leader or three back on the pegs. I doubt she can win though, so take the juicy place price. Being on the pegs at Melton in big races is where you want to be.
MONEY RACE ($50 QUINELLA)
Race 6 No 9 Major Moth and No 2 Idyllic
Two quality babies from the Clayton Tonkin yard. Will either be lead and breeze and control the tempo of the race, or lead and trail and both will sprint away from the pack. Should be the easiest bet of the night.
MONEY RACE ($25 TRIFECTA)
Race 9: 1 / 3, 6 / 3, 6
Such was Lochinvar Art’s dominant victory in the semi, where he obliterated Hurricane Harley, I expect there to be few issues for him tonight. Harley can bounce back and run second, but stablemate Out To Play was impressive winning his semi, so he could also pinch the silver.
THE QUADDIE
Races 5-8: 7, 8 / 2, 9 / 5, 10 / 8 ($20 gets 250%)
Sure, it’s Group 1 racing, so there’s every chance we see a blowout, but I’m confident we can take a skinny quaddie and be supremely confident the nation’s best two-year-old filly will bring home the bacon. Leg three may be the query, but I’m happy to have a throw at the stumps.
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