Form Analysis by Craig Rail
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: It is an outstanding open class event to commence the program with many winning chances. TRIPLE EIGHT (9) has been extremely consistent at this level for a long period of time and possesses a powerful finishing burst so he gets the nod. LIKE A WILDFIRE (11) settled midfield and finished fifth in a leader dominated Italian Cup won by Tango Tara. He was in impressive form prior and is worth another chance. RAKERO REBEL (12) has been placed behind the champion mare Ladies In Red at her past two attempts and is worth thought, particularly considering it is a fast front line and a hectic early tempo may suit the horses coming from the back. BULLETPROOF BOY (3) will appreciate his best draw for some time and rates as a knockout chance.
EARLY SPEED: 6 (possible early leader), 1,2,3,4,5,7
SELECTIONS: TRIPLE EIGHT (9), LIKE A WILDFIRE (11), RAKERO REBEL (12), BULLETPROOF BOY (3)
RATINGS: 9/ 11/ 3,8,12/ 5,6,7,13/ field
SUGGESTED BET: TRIPLE EIGHT (9) each way
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: LITTLE LOUIE (1) is resuming since a second in the Mildura Cup back in April but he ran a game second behind Petracca in slick time at a recent Melton trial performance so he must be rated highly. FIAMMA (8) possesses high speed and will be dangerous if LITTLE LOUIE (1) can muster enough early pace to hold the lead. She was returning from New South Wales when unplaced behind Captain Hammerhead last week and she should be sharper from that run. JILLIBYJACKSPARROW (9) is the emergency for the open class event so he appears to be well placed against this line up. He led and ran a brave second behind Captain Hammerhead last week. VANQUISH STRIDE (11) possesses a powerful finishing burst and ran an eye-catching third last outing so he cannot be left out of calculations.
EARLY SPEED: 1 (possible leader), 2,5,6
SELECTIONS: LITTLE LOUIE (1), FIAMMA (8), JILLIBYJACKSPARROW (9), VANQUISH STRIDE (11)
RATINGS: 1/ 8,9/ 11/ 4,5
SUGGESTED BET: LITTLE LOUIE (1) to win
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: HOT DEAL (7) has been able to work back into strong form at Mildura and should be competitive here despite the wide draw. He circled around the field in the early stages to park without cover when a strong second over the staying trip of 2600m last week. SON OF MAC (9) was driven aggressively from a wide draw to find the front and was too strong for his rivals at Melton last outing. He drops back to the second line now but he must be considered as a winning chance. DUKES CHOICE (1) was heavily supported and was able to land the prize after trailing the leader last week. He is drawn to trail the leader again so he must be respected. THE BEACH FANTASY (4) is a fast beginner and has been racing well enough to figure in the finish. JACCKA CONNOR (8) is likely to be shuffled back on the markers from his awkward draw but he is racing in career best form.
EARLY SPEED: 4 (likely leader), 1,2,5
SELECTIONS: HOT DEAL (7), SON OF MAC (9), DUKES CHOICE (1), THE BEACH FANTASY (4)
SUGGESTED BET: 7/ 1,9/ 4,8/ 2,10,11
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: EXOTIC BUSHRANGER (3) is racing in fine form and looms as one of the leading chances again. He recorded a mile rate of 1.53.2 when he won a heat of the Metropolitan Pace series then followed with a second behind the smart pacer Roadmaster in the Final. YOUNGGIFTEDANDBLACK (1) is an underrated mare, which possesses early speed and should go well from the pole position. He worked hard early before gaining a trail and ran home nicely for second behind Fighter Command last week. CLASSIC MISSION (8) has been freshened since his latest third behind Radius in May and has the perfect trailing draw behind YOUNGGIFTEDANDBLACK (1) so he is not without a chance. MAJOR MANBAR (4) is a tough pacer and should be getting fitter after his two starts back from a break. He tried to sustain a long run at his latest fourth behind Fighter Command and is a good chance of moving up without cover shortly after the start in this event.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (possible leader), 1,4,7
SELECTIONS: EXOTIC BUSHRANGER (3), YOUNGGIFTEDANDBLACK (1), CLASSIC MISSION (8), MAJOR MANBAR (4)
RATINGS: 3/ 1,8/ 4/ 2,6/ 11
SUGGESTED BET: EXOTIC BUSHRANGER (3) to win
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: LE BELLE BIJOUX (7) produced a massive performance when second in the Mares Sprint Championship Final last week and must be rated highly. She settled down in a rearward position and sustained a long run to finish less than a length from the winner Surfingmakescents in a sizzling mile rate of 1.52.6! CAPTAINS CATCH (2) was held up for a run at a vital stage but was able to weave a passage into the clear on the home turn and stormed home late to score in a mile rate of 1.52.5 at Wagga last week. He moves to the front line and possesses early speed so he should be prominent throughout. HUGO MAGUIRE (1) performed below expectations at Cranbourne last outing but he won nicely when resuming and is likely to end up trailing the leader from the pole position so he is worth another chance. CLEAR LEFT (8) stormed home from last at the 400m when he got up to win at Ballarat last week. He should receive an economical run from his trailing draw and will be finishing off strongly again.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely leader), 1,5
SELECTIONS: LE BELLE BIJOUX (7), CAPTAINS CATCH (2), HUGO MAGUIRE (1), CLEAR LEFT (8)
RATINGS: 2,7/ 1/ 5,8/ 4,10
SUGGESTED BET: Boxed Trifecta 1,2,7,8 (Cost $24)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: MUFASA METRO (7) settled in a rearward position and made a move in the back straight on the final occasion when a creditable fourth at his first run since winning the Cranbourne Cup in February. He should strip fitter from that run and is the class runner of the field so he must be respected. ALDEBARAN ZEUS (2) hasn’t performed to his best form at his three starts since coming from America but he is a fast beginner and prefers to lead, particularly over the sprint distance, so he has the conditions to suit him here. HARRY STAMPER (3) is working back to his best form with placed efforts behind Hesallmuscle and Hatchback at his past two attempts. He boasts a very good strike rate and should be competitive under these conditions. PARISIAN ARTISTE (4) is resuming since an unplaced effort in the Swan Hill Cup back in November but he has looked very sharp at the trials and must be considered as one of the leading chances.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely leader), 3,4,5,6,7
SELECTIONS: MUFASA METRO (7), ALDEBARAN ZEUS (2), HARRY STAMPER (3), PARISIAN ARTISTE (4)
RATINGS: 7/ 2,3/ 4/ 5/ 1,6
SUGGESTED BET: MUFASA METRO (7) to win
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: ALDEBARAN VERA (5) was heavily supported when taking on the open class trotters last week and lost no admirers when a brave third after leaving a trailing position to move up without cover. She is a classy mare and is clearly the horse to beat. HEPHAESTUS PHOENIX (4) performed below his best form when tenth behind Hatchback at Melton last outing but his form prior was extremely strong and he is very versatile so he is worth another chance. HATCHBACK (6) trailed the leader and was able to secure victory when Watts Up Partytime galloped in the final 100m at Melton on June 22. He was able to post a slick mile rate of 1.55.3 in that success so he looms as one of the leading chances again. ZAREM (8) is capable of sprinting to the line quickly with the right trail forward and is worth a ticket each way in this small field of eight runners.
EARLY SPEED: 6 (possible leader), 1,2,4
SELECTIONS: ALDEBARAN VERA (5), HEPHAESTUS PHOENIX (4), HATCHBACK (6), ZAREM (8)
RATINGS: 5/ 4,6/ 8/ 2
SUGGESTED BET: ALDEBARAN VERA (5) to win
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: WATTS UP PARTYTIME (7) began quickly to lead, kicked well clear on the home turn and was set for victory when he broke stride over the final stages at his latest sixth. His overall form is strong and he should have won last time out so he must be respected. LADY ADELIA (6) began well to trail the leader but broke stride on the first turn and ended up being four back on the markers when a fast finishing second behind the in-form mare Virginia Clowers last outing. She also probably should have won had it not been for her gait issues last start so she will be competitive if she delivers a fool proof display. EL RESAMO (4) is taking on a field of more depth this evening but he is racing in career best form and has dominated his rivals from the front at his past two Ballarat victories so a bold showing is expected. KEAYANG XENA (2) led and was outstayed by EL RESAMO (4) when a close second two starts ago then had little luck from a wide draw last time out. She is a consistent mare and should be competitive under these conditions.
EARLY SPEED: 7 (possible leader), 2,4
SELECTIONS: WATTS UP PARTYTIME (7), LADY ADELIA (6), EL RESAMO (4), KEAYANG XENA (2)
RATINGS: 6,7/ 4/ 2/ 8
SUGGESTED BET: LADY ADELIA (6) each way
