Form Analysis by Craig Rail
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: ROYAL CHARLOTTE (10) will appreciate a massive drop back in class for this assignment and should prove hard to beat. She was runner up behind El Resamo two starts ago then worked hard in the run when fourth behind the same horse last outing. MIDNIGHT EAGLE (8) won twice in succession before working home nicely for third behind Ikigai in a Metropolitan 3yo event at Melton. He has struck peak form and is one of the leading chances again. FOCUS (7) is resuming since a Cobram victory in January and hasn’t been to the trials but she is a very smart mare that cannot be underestimated. LARR DEES SON (2), MONTANA CHEVELLE (4) and PRETTYBOY HARRY (5) are all capable of showing up without surprising.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible leader), 3,4
SELECTIONS: ROYAL CHARLOTTE (10), MIDNIGHT EAGLE (8), FOCUS (7), PRETTYBOY HARRY (5)
RATINGS: 10/ 7,8/ 4,5/ 2/ 1
SUGGESTED BET: ROYAL CHARLOTTE (10) to win
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: MY BABYGIRL (2) finished third ($1-35 fav) at Mildura when on debut in November then was spelled. She looked very sharp at her easy Bendigo trial victory on Monday night and is drawn to go well. SIRLOU (7) is a first starter for trainer Craig Turnbull, which comfortably won a trial at Shepparton and has the ability to show up prominently. FELLINI (6) is resuming since January but she showed ability at her first campaign of racing and she has been runner up in several recent trial performances so she must be included amongst the leading chances. BETATHANABOUGHTONE (8) is making her debut for trainer Rebecca Bartley and finished off well at her latest Shepparton trial performance so she is not without a chance.
EARLY SPEED: 1 (possible leader), 2,4,5
SELECTIONS: MY BABYGIRL (2), SIRLOU (7), FELLINI (6), BETATHANABOUGHTONE (8)
RATINGS: 2,7/ 6/ 4/ 1,5,8
SUGGESTED BET: MY BABYGIRL (2) each way
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: FANTASY BEACH (3) settled in the second half of the field and couldn’t work into the race when sixth last week. He raced without cover and scored at Shepparton on June 14 and he is much better drawn for this assignment so he must be respected. ARRAPS (6) dashed across to find the lead from a similar draw and dominated his rivals last week. He is meeting a field of similar quality here so there is no reason why he can’t win again. OUR MYSTERY BET (5) settled down in last position and finished off well when a creditable sixth behind ARRAPS (6) last week so he has claims. ICANMOTOR (1), FAVOURITEHIGHLIGHT (4) and MARAKO SHARK (9) are all capable of showing up without surprising.
EARLY SPEED: 6 (possible leader), 3,4
SELECTIONS: FANTASY BEACH (3), ARRAPS (6), OUR MYSTERY BET (5), ICANMOTOR (1)
SUGGESTED BET: FANTASY BEACH (3) each way
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: CROCODILE SOCKS (3) was performing extremely well at the trials prior to a debut third, where he worked hard in a strong race. He is a talented pacer and is worth following. NORMY (2) finished a distant third at his debut but should have improved by the experience. He led out then took a trail behind NEON TIGER (4) when a narrow second behind that pacer at the trials prior. SANDSTING (1) came from four back on the markers and was finishing well for a close third in the same trial so there doesn’t seem to be much separating the trio on ability. NORMANS GIRL (9) has had a win and a fourth in two recent trial performances and can improve on her debut fifth.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (likely leader), 2,4
SELECTIONS: CROCODILE SOCKS (3), NORMY (2), NEON TIGER (4), SANDSTING (1)
RATINGS: 3/ 2,4/ 1/ 9/ FIELD
SUGGESTED BET: CROCODILE SOCKS (3) to win
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: MONGIANA (3) finished off solidly for second behind Ghost of Time at Shepparton two starts ago then had little luck at his latest effort in a sizzling mile rate of 1.52.8. He is a versatile pacer and is worth thought under these conditions. WENDYS WISH (6) made an early move and battled on strongly for third in the Mares Sprint Championship last outing. She is working back to her best form and has claims despite her awkward draw. RORYVILLE (4) will appreciate a drop back in class for this assignment and is much better drawn than his latest sixth at Melton so he warrants consideration. STARZZZ DESTINY (1) led throughout last outing and is perfectly drawn so he has claims along with DIAMOND ECLIPSE (7) and CEMETERY BAY (8).
EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely leader), 2,4,6,7
SELECTIONS: MONGIANA (3), WENDYS WISH (6), RORYVILLE (4), STARZZZ DESTINY (1)
RATINGS: 3/ 4,6/ 1/ 7,8
SUGGESTED BET: MONGIANA (3) each way
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: SASSINESS (9) finished off well from a rearward position when resuming then appreciated the move to the front line when she led throughout last week. This is a slightly stronger field but she was impressive last week and is worth thought again. DELIGHTFUL CHARM (8) has been placed in all of her four starts at Shepparton (2 wins) and will appreciate a drop back in class for this assignment so she must be respected. OUT OF EDEN (7) performed very nicely at the trials prior to being unplaced three times at Wagga. She is better than her form reads and looms as a knockout chance. KIMCANDO (2), SHE HAUNTS EM (3) and IVANA BYTHESEASIDE (4) are all capable of showing up without surprising.
EARLY SPEED: 4 (likely early leader), 2,5,6
SELECTIONS: SASSINESS (9), DELIGHTFUL CHARM (8), OUT OF EDEN (7), KIMCANDO (2)
RATINGS: 8,9/ 7/ 2,3/ 4/ 5
SUGGESTED BET: SASSINESS (9) each way
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: EYE SEE PHILTRA (10) finished off quickly to beat a field of similar quality at Shepparton last week and should prove hard to beat again. HIDALGO (11) is resuming since a second at Shepparton May and hasn’t been to the trials but he is a smart horse when racing at his peak form. His last win was over the Classic winning 3yo pacer Sergeant Lou so he must be respected. I LIKE WHAT I SEE (1) has been placed at her last two starts against similar opposition and is a minor place chance again from the pole position. LETHAL LOVER (4) has been freshened since a ninth at Wagga in May. She was able to build up some confidence by winning a trial at Echuca on Sunday so she is worth an investment.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible leader), 1,4
SELECTIONS: EYE SEE PHILTRA (10), HIDALGO (11), I LIKE WHAT I SEE (1), LETHAL LOVER (4)
RATINGS: 10,11/ 1,4/ 2,5,8
SUGGESTED BET: EYE SEE PHILTRA (10) to win
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: CHART TOPPER (9) is a very smart 3yo pacer that will prove hard to beat against this line up. He trailed the leader and hit the lead on the home turn before holding off the challenge of Bittersweet to post a sizzling mile of 1.52.6 when he scored at Wagga last week. NOMORELYING (4) settled three back on the markers and didn’t have much room in the straight when sixth behind Starzzz Destiny last week. He hasn’t won a race since June 2022 but he is racing well enough to give a bold showing from his good draw. WINGATE GUY (5) has been finishing off strongly at his recent appearances and is worth a place ticket. LILS NIGHTMARE (6) and CAESAR NERO (7) are both worth thought in multiple combinations.
EARLY SPEED: 7 (possible leader), 4,6
SELECTIONS: CHART TOPPER (9), NOMORELYING (4), WINGATE GUY (5), LILS NIGHTMARE (6)
RATINGS: 9/ 4,5/ 6/ 7/ 3,8
SUGGESTED BET: CHART TOPPER (9) to win
Race 9:
OVERVIEW: OLLY ODDS POTTS (9) struck trouble and lost his chance last outing. He is better than his form reads and strikes a suitable assignment now so he is a possible improver. AMBER ALERT (1) was headed off at the start and was shuffled back on the markers when unplaced at Shepparton last week. This is her easiest assignment for some time and she has claims at her one hundredth career start. GLENS OF TEKOA (8) will be relying on AMBER ALERT (1) holding a forward position at the start but he won a race of similar standard at Bendigo on May 28 so he must be respected. PLAYNICE (11) was stood down to trial after failing to finish at his latest Cranbourne appearance and he performed nicely after trying to lead throughout at a Bendigo trial on Monday night so he could show improvement.
EARLY SPEED: 4 (possible leader), 1,6
SELECTIONS: OLLY ODD POTTS (9), AMBER ALERT (1), GLENS OF TEKOA (8), PLAYNICE (11)
RATINGS: 9/ 1,8/ 11/ 6,7/ FIELD
SUGGESTED BET: OLLY ODD POTTS (9) each way
Race 10:
OVERVIEW: SKY LINDY (4) struck trouble and had excuses at Kilmore on Thursday. She was runner up at her three starts prior and is worth another chance. STARTEDASWHISPER (6) has finished fourth in both of her starts to date and performed nicely at the trials prior so she is worth a ticket each way. LOTS OF CHANGE (1) broke stride at the start and lost his chance at Shepparton last outing. He has performed well at the trials since and is drawn to go well. I AM HARRO (3) has ability but is still learning. He raced very fiercely at Kilmore on Thursday night so he might be suited over the sprint distance.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (possible leader), 1,5,
SELECTIONS: SKY LINDY (4), STARTEDASAWHISPER (6), LOTS OF CHANGE (1), I AM HARRO (3)
RATINGS: 4/ 1,6/ 3,5/ 2/ 7
SUGGESTED BET: SKY LINDY (4) to win
