Form Analysis by Craig Rail
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: KEAYANG WASABI (9) was resuming since December when he finished solidly and just failed to pick up the classy filly Sweet Ideal at Ballarat. He should strip fitter from that run and appears to have a promising future. GIVE ME A MINUTE (8) is a New South Wales trained pacer, which finished third at Menangle last outing. He was a dominant winner at Menangle after leading throughout on April 16 so he must be respected. IM SHADOW BOXER (4) didn’t have a great deal of luck at Bendigo last outing and was runner up at his two attempts prior so he is worth an investment. TALLARAS SHADOW (3) and KHANS CREED (5) could both show up without surprising.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely leader), 4
SELECTIONS: KEAYANG WASABI (9), GIVE ME A MINUTE (8), IM SHADOW BOXER (4), TALLARAS SHADOW (3)
RATINGS: 8,9/ 4/ 3/ 5,7
SUGGESTED BET: KEAYANG WASABI (9) to win
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: TIGER BAND WAGON (10) is racing in peak form and should take beating despite the poor draw. He worked forward to find the lead when he won at Melton two starts ago then ran a cracking race when third in the Swan Hill Cup. ROARFORROSCOE (8) worked very hard early from barrier seven before gaining a trail when a creditable fifth behind Cantfindabettorman in the open class event last week. He will appreciate a drop back in class for this assignment and should go well. SPIRIT OF ARION (6) settled in the second half of the field and did extremely well to finish second in a leader dominated race last week. He is racing consistently and looms as one of the leading chances again. There are many other chances including HES A MEISTER (2) and LAYDEN (4), which sprinted brilliantly to win last week.
EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely early leader), 3,7
SELECTIONS: TIGER BAND WAGON (10), ROARFORROSCOE (8), SPIRIT OF ARION (6), HES A MEISTER (2)
RATINGS: 10/ 6,8/ 2,4/ 7/ 3/ FIELD
SUGGESTED BET: TIGER BAND WAGON (10) each way
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: HELLUVA (2) is racing very consistently and deserves to break through for a win. He pushed forward to lead and was run down late when a close third behind Triple Eight at Melton last week. He is a fast beginner and is drawn to find the lead again so he should take catching. KOSIMO (1) is a genuine sprinter and places more often than he wins as evidenced by his season record of one win from forty attempts but he is perfectly drawn to suit his racing pattern here and will be dangerous via the sprint lane. ACT NOW (6) is clearly the class runner of the field having been a former Victoria Cup champion. He was resuming since November 2023 when he attempted to find the lead and endured a tough run in this years Victoria Cup so this assignment appears to be far more suitable. ABOUTTIME (9) produced two big efforts during the South Australian Cup series with a second behind Hector in his heat followed by a handy third in the Final. He is drawn to follow through behind HELLUVA (2) so he should receive an economical run just off the speed.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely leader), 6
SELECTIONS: HELLUVA (2), KOSIMO (1), ACT NOW (6), ABOUTTIME (9)
RATINGS: 2/ 1,6/ 9/ 5,7,8/ 4
SUGGESTED BET: HELLUVA (2) to win
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: PICKET WIRE (11) won three races in succession prior to a strong fourth behind Illawong Larajay. She galloped away and lost all chance at Maryborough last outing and should be competitive against this line up if she can get away cleanly. ALDEBARAN ACRUX (9) settled in the second half of the field and finished fast when second behind Avant Guard last week. She appears to be well placed against this line up and should be finishing off strongly again. MOJITO MADNESS (3) is stepping up in class but he has struck peak form and won comfortably after leading throughout in a mile rate of 1.57.2 at Geelong last week so he must be respected from his good draw. QUAKE PROOF (4) is capable of sprinting to the line quickly with the right trail forward and ran a nice race for fourth at Maryborough last outing. He is yet to win in ten starts for the season but this appears to be a suitable assignment.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (likely leader), 1,2,6
SELECTIONS: PICKET WIRE (11), ALDEBARAN ACRUX (9), MOJITO MADNESS (3), QUAKE PROOF (4)
RATINGS: 9,11/ 2,3,4/ 5,7/ FIELD
SUGGESTED BET: PICKET WIRE (11) to win
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: LOVEMETO (6) is a former New Zealand trotter, which joins trainer Chris Svanosio. He has been very lightly raced since finishing sixth in the 2023 Victoria Derby ($2-50 fav) but he has been performing extremely well at the trials so he must be rated highly. VIRGINIA CLOWERS (10) worked to the front and had her chance when third in the Swan Hill Cup after winning the Menangle Cup. She is dropping back from Cup class into competing against her own age group so she appears to be perfectly placed on assessments. IMPERIAL MONARCH (9) settled in the second half of the field and finished off well for third in a leader dominated race last outing. He boasts a good strike rate and looms as one of the leading chances. ALDEBARAN MILEY (7) and KEAYANG STUKA (8) are also very strong chances in a quality race.
EARLY SPEED: 4 (possible leader), 3,6
SELECTIONS: LOVEMETO (6), VIRGINIA CLOWERS (10), IMPERIAL MONARCH (9), KEAYANG STUKA (8)
RATINGS: 6,10/ 9/ 8/ 4,5,7
SUGGESTED BET: LOVEMETO (6) each way
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: THE BIGBOSS (1) was resuming since a third in the Breeders Crown when he led throughout at West Wyalong. He wasn’t overly impressive first up but he got the job done and he should strip fitter so he must be respected. ALBY TWO CHAINS (8) scored impressively at Bendigo last week and has the perfect trailing draw behind the likely leader in THE BIGBOSS (1) so there is no reason why he can’t be competitive again. LOUIE LOU I (4) was very heavily supported last week when a game second behind Layden, where he switched back to the inside on the home turn and finished fast via the sprint lane. This race is of similar standard and he is worth thought again. GIPSY PRINCESS (9) has been racing in good form and HES CHARLIES ANGEL (11) gets into this race nicely with the aid of a concession claim.
EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely leader), 4,7
SELECTIONS: THE BIGBOSS (1), ALBY TWO CHAINS (8), LOUIE LOU I (4), GIPSY PRINCESS (9)
RATINGS: 1,8/ 4/ 9,11/ 7/ 6,10
SUGGESTED BET: ALBY TWO CHAINS (8) each way
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: It is a tough race to assess with most of the major players being badly drawn. ANOTHER NIEN (7) was impressive last week when he sustained a long run and drew clear at the end to win comfortably so he gets the nod. ROCKNALLOVERTHEWORLD (8) was a big winner at Geelong, where he made a rapid mid-race move to find the lead at the bell then followed with another game performance behind Heavenly Gipsy. He would have been the top selection if he had drawn out in the open but he will need luck from the inside of the second line. WATTLEBANK ARNIE (9) has returned from a spell in dashing form having won four of his five attempts. He sprinted sharply via the sprint lane to get the prize at Swan Hill last week and he should be finishing off strongly again. ASMILEANDAWINX (3) will take catching if she can find the lead, BANKSONTHEMURRAY (5) contested the open class event won by Cantfindabettorman last week and THEROCKGOD (6) possesses a powerful finishing burst so they must be included amongst the leading chances.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (likely leader), 1,2,7
SELECTIONS: ANOTHER NIEN (7), ROCKNALLOVERTHEWORLD (8), WATTLEBANK ARNIE (9), BANKSONTHEMURRAY (5)
RATINGS: 7,8/ 9/ 3,5/ 6
SUGGESTED BET: ANOTHER NIEN (7) each way
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: JILLIBY WILLOW (4) worked forward to find the lead and dashed home in a sizzling final half of 54.2 seconds to win the Angelique at her latest attempt. She has the barrier draw advantage over her main rivals SWEET BELLA (5) and RAKERO REBEL (7) so she is going to prove hard to beat again. RAKERO REBEL (7) settled three back on the markers and sprinted brilliantly to win the Queen of the Pacific. She endured a tough run in fast time when third in the Angelique last outing so she is worth another chance. SWEET BELLA (5) is a classy mare that has won eleven of her eighteen starts to date. She settled in the second half of the field and made ground out wide on the track so she ran a very respectable race when fifth in the Queen of the Pacific at her latest attempt. Most of her efforts have been against her own age group and she is relatively new to competing against the open class mares but she has too much ability to dismiss. SEW WHAT (6) ran a top race in the Angelique after she led out then took cover and went down narrowly. She is a speedy mare and is worth a ticket each way.
EARLY SPEED: 4 (likely leader), 2,6
SELECTIONS: JILLIBY WILLOW (4), RAKERO REBEL (7), SWEET BELLA (5), SEW WHAT (6)
RATINGS: 4,7/ 5/ 6/ 3
SUGGESTED BET: JILLIBY WILLOW (4) to win
Race 9:
OVERVIEW: MUFASA METRO (3) has performed admirably in his nine starts during his current campaign and with the absence of Just Believe, he gets his chance to break through for a deserved victory. PLYMOUTH CHUBB (6) led out then took cover and tried hard for third behind Keayang Chucky last week. He went into that race being first up since January and without going to the trials so he should have benefited from the outing. QUEEN ELIDA (7) uncharacteristically missed the start when eighth in the Maryborough Cup. She hasn’t been at her brilliant best since resuming but this race is slightly easier so she gets her chance to bounce back. JAZSPUR (2) won the South Australian Cup last week and SEBASTIANS BOY (5) performed well at his latest fourth so they must be included in multiple combinations.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (likely leader), 6,7
SELECTIONS: MUFASA METRO (3), PLYMOUTH CHUBB (6), QUEEN ELIDA (7), SEBASTIANS BOY (5)
RATINGS: 3/ 6,7/ 2,5/ 4/ 1
SUGGESTED BET: MUFASA METRO (3) to win
Race 10:
OVERVIEW: ALDEBARAN VERA (4) couldn’t peg back EL RESAMO (8) last week but she can turn the tables with the positive swing in the barrier draw this evening. She has performed strongly without having any luck in her three starts back from a spell. EL RESAMO (8) has struck peak form having won at his past two attempts and he dominated his rivals from the front running role last week. He does race best when in the premier position and he drops back to the second line now but he was very impressive last week. ILLAWONG LARAJAY (5) contested the open class event last week and will find this assignment to be more suitable. I DREAM OF MILLIE (2) galloped away last week but she won the Matchmaker Mile with ease at her previous attempt so she is worth another chance.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely early leader), 4,5
SELECTIONS: ALDEBARAN VERA (4), EL RESAMO (8), ILLAWONG LARAJAY (5), I DREAM OF MILLIE (2)
RATINGS: 4/ 5,8/ 2/ 6
SUGGESTED BET: ALDEBARAN VERA (4) to win
