Form Analysis by Craig Rail

Race 1:

 

OVERVIEW: TIGER BAND WAGON (8) had no clear run and was unlucky when unplaced behind Young Bluey last week. His form prior was sound including a third in the Swan Hill Cup and he has the perfect trailing draw behind the fast beginner GHOST OF TIME (1) so he should prove hard to hold out in the run to the finish. GHOST OF TIME (1) is a bold front running pacer, which is resuming since a Melton victory in August. He finished second behind the former Victoria Cup winner Act Now in fast time at the trials on Tuesday so he appears to be ready for a big performance first up. SKINNYDIP (2) bounced back to his best form when he trailed behind the leader The Bigboss and was able to sprint home quickly to score in a mile rate of 1.52.1 last week. He is drawn to gain a nice trail just off the pace again so he must be rated highly. HEAVENLY GIPSY (4) had little luck last week and is worth thought along with RUBINS PLIGHT (6) and ARGGGHHH (10).  

 

EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely leader), 2,4,7

SELECTIONS: TIGER BAND WAGON (8), GHOST OF TIME (1), SKINNYDIP (2), HEAVENLY GIPSY (4)

RATINGS: 1,8/ 2/ 4,10/ 6,7

SUGGESTED BET: TIGER BAND WAGON (8) each way

 

Race 2:

 

OVERVIEW: TRIPLE EIGHT (10) is poorly drawn but has excelled this season having won six races. He had little luck in the Caduceus Classic last outing and he won under very similar conditions at his two starts prior so he must be rated highly. SERG BLANCO (8) finished third in the Young Cup behind the subsequent New Zealand Cup winner Swayze then ran into a dead-end in the home straight and had little luck in the Caduceus Classic. He has a trailing draw behind the fast beginner YOUNG BLUEY (1) so he must be considered as a winning chance. YOUNG BLUEY (1) faces a steep rise in class but he has been in excellent form and he broke the track record in the St Arnaud Cup two starts ago so he can take the next step forward. BULLETPROOF BOY (9) was a brilliant winner under similar conditions two starts ago then endured a tough run early when fifth in the Caduceus Classic. He is approaching his 200th career start and has been a terrific campaigner having won 42 races so he must be rated highly.

 

 

EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely leader), 2,3,4

SELECTIONS: TRIPLE EIGHT (10), SERG BLANCO (8), YOUNG BLUEY (1), BULLETPROOF BOY (9)

RATINGS: 8,10/ 1/ 9/ 3

SUGGESTED BET: TRIPLE EIGHT (10) each way

 

Race 3:

 

OVERVIEW: WE BETTOR BELIEVE IT (7) led out then took cover when he sprinted fast to win at Geelong then didn’t have the best of luck at his latest fourth. He is poorly drawn but he should be reaching his peak form after having two starts from a very long spell so he must be respected. DEE ROE (8) will be relying on HUGO ROCKS (1) holding a forward position at the start but he is a very classy 3yo pacer, which will find this assignment to be easier than his latest ninth in the Breeders Crown Final so he cannot be left out of calculations. LOUIE LOU I (3) ended up being three back on the markers and finished off well when third behind Skinnydip last week. He is racing well and looms as one of the leading chances again. NEW YORKER (4) has been racing well but without luck and is capable of showing up without surprising.

 

EARLY SPEED: 3 (possible early leader), 6,7

SELECTIONS: WE BETTOR BELIEVE IT (7), DEE ROE (8), LOUIE LOU I (3), NEW YORKER (4)

RATINGS: 7/ 3,8/ 4/ 1,6,10/ 9,11

SUGGESTED BET: WE BETTOR BELIEVE IT (7) each way

 

Race 4:

 

OVERVIEW: STORMRYDER (2) has been racing in the aged classics and has secured his best draw of the season so he must be rated highly. He competed in the Super Series, the Victoria Derby, the Graduate and the Breeders Crown recently so he gets his chance to bounce back into winning form here. THE BIGBOSS (3) is a fast beginner and led throughout at his first two runs back from a break before being run down on the line at his latest close second. He might not be able to head off STORMRYDER (2) at the start here but he looms as one of the leading chances again. ANGUS INDIANA (9) returned to his peak form with a brave second behind Tango Tara in a slick mile rate of 1.52.9 at Bendigo last week. He won five races in quick succession towards the end of his last campaign so he is worth an investment. LINCOLN RIVER (6) is resuming since a second behind the classy pacer Keayang Tokyo in June. He was placed in the Tontine Championship prior and he has the ability to figure in the finish if he is somewhere near his peak form.

 

EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible leader), 3,4

SELECTIONS: STORMRYDER (2), THE BIGBOSS (3), ANGUS INDIANA (9), LINCOLN RIVER (6)

RATINGS: 2,3/ 9/ 6/ 1,8,12

SUGGESTED BET: STORMRYDER (2) to win

 

Race 5:

 

OVERVIEW: SIR JIMMY (7) is a classy 3yo pacer, which has been competing in Super Series and Breeders Crown events so he appears to be well placed against this line up. He dashed home in a sizzling final quarter of 26.9 seconds when he won a heat of the Super Series in August so he has the speed to be in the finish. HEZ ALL ROCK (1) appeared to have every chance when second at Ararat last outing but the winner Franco Novelist broke the track record so his effort was sound. He is ideally drawn and he cannot be underestimated. DRESSED IN GOLD (3) endured a tough run when second in the Yarra Valley Cup then followed with a close second behind Kitsune last week. He is much better drawn for this assignment and must be considered as a winning chance. STARZZZ DESTINY (11) is a versatile pacer, which scored nicely over SEVE (6) last week and should run his usual honest race.

 

EARLY SPEED: 7 (possible leader), 1,4,6

SELECTIONS: SIR JIMMY (7), HEZ ALL ROCK (1), DRESSED IN GOLD (3), STARZZZ DESTINY (11)

RATINGS: 7/ 1,3/ 11/ 6/ 10

SUGGESTED BET: SIR JIMMY (7) to win

 

Race 6:

 

OVERVIEW: ALDEBARAN ACRUX (9) competed in the Mares FFA last week and finished nicely for fourth. This race is easier and she was a big winner at Melton prior so she must be respected. PERFIDIOUS SUE (6) began quickly and pushed forward to find the lead when she won impressively at Maryborough last week. She is a very good mare when trotting at her best form and is worth thought again. AVANT GUARD (7) was a strong winner over ALDEBARAN ACRUX (9) at Melton on November 02 and he finished solidly for a game fourth behind Berriesandcherries last week. He is awkwardly drawn but he looms as one of the leading chances. HIGHPOINT (1), QUAKE PROOF (3) and ALDEBARAN BOYD (8) are all worth thought in multiple combinations.

 

EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible early leader), 6

SELECTIONS: ALDEBARAN ACRUX (9), PERFIDIOUS SUE (6), AVANT GUARD (7), ALDEBARAN BOYD (8)

RATINGS: 9/ 6,7/ 8/ 1,3

SUGGESTED BET: ALDEBARAN ACRUX (9) to win

 

Race 7:

 

OVERVIEW: HESITATE (8) was on his worst behaviour and was stood down to trial after his eleventh ($2-70 fav) in the Breeders Crown Final. He won a trial last week and recorded a sizzling final last half and quarter so he is worth another chance. FAIRPLAY (1) was resuming since June when he comfortably won a heat of the Breeders Crown then endured a tough run and tired in the Final. He is perfectly drawn and should make his presence felt. LAMBRO MACH (7) has been in outstanding form in South Australia with his past two strong victories being in the Golden Nursery Pace Final and in the Lordship Stakes. He is widely drawn but cannot be underestimated. IN AN IDEAL WORLD (5) finished third in the Breeders Crown Final on November 16 and has claims along with OKANUI BEACH (6), which took out the Dandy Patch Final in Tasmania at his latest attempt.

 

EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely leader), 4,6

SELECTIONS: HESITATE (8), FAIRPLAY (1), LAMBRO MACH (7), IN AN IDEAL WORLD (5)

RATINGS: 8/ 1/ 5,7/ 6/ 2,4/ 3

SUGGESTED BET: HESITATE (8) to win

 

Race 8:

 

OVERVIEW: LOVEMETO (3) followed several strong trial performances with a comfortable first up victory over Rapid Return. He is a very smart New Zealand trotter and appears to be hard to beat again. SHES RUBY ROO (8) ran a much sharper race at her second attempt back from a spell, where she finished solidly in fast time. She is a proven Group 1 winner and should be very competitive again. EBONYS AVENGER (1) has been safely held at her two starts back from a spell but she performs best when she is able to lead out then take cover so she rates as a knockout chance from the pole position. JAZSPUR (7) is terribly drawn but is racing in career best form and finished solidly for fifth in the Grand Prix last outing so she is not without a chance.

 

 

EARLY SPEED: 3 (possible leader), 1,4,6,7

SELECTIONS: LOVEMETO (3), SHES RUBY ROO (8), EBONYS AVENGER (1), JAZSPUR (7)

RATINGS: 3,8/ 1,7/ 4

SUGGESTED BET: LOVEMETO (3) to win