Form Analysis by Craig Rail
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: MAORI TATTOO (7) is a first starter for trainer Brent Lilley, which has been runner up in two recent trial performances, with the latest being at Melton last week. He strikes a suitable assignment for his debut so he must be respected. MADGE EGAN (5) settled three back on the markers and ran home well for second behind Hillside at Echuca last outing. She has been runner up against similar grade in two of her past four starts and is worth thought again. HEART OF GRACELAND (2) has shown improvement at his past two attempts and tried hard for second behind Attracted at Shepparton last outing. He is ideally drawn and is not without a chance. POCKETOFLOLLIES (3), MISS AVENGER (6) and RASENGAN (10) are all capable of showing up without surprising.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (possible leader), 2,6
SELECTIONS: MAORI TATTOO (7), MADGE EGAN (5), HEART OF GRACELAND (2), POCKETOFLOLLIES (3)
RATINGS: 7/ 5/ 2,3/ 6,10/ FIELD
SUGGESTED BET: MAORI TATTOO (7) to win
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: REIGN EM IN (8) is awkwardly drawn but he has been able to win in three of his past six starts against similar opposition and he should be hard to beat again if he gains normal luck in running. FOUR STARZZZ RUBY (9) is racing in career best form having won at her past two attempts, the latest in a personal best mile rate of 1.56.4 at Bendigo. She drops back to the second line now but she must be considered as a winning chance again. SELF EXCLUSION (4) settled well back on the markers and made ground via the sprint lane when a handy third behind Hair Razor at Melton on Friday. He is usually competitive against this class and is worth a ticket each way. KIMCHI (5) was placed under similar conditions at Bendigo two starts ago and is not without a chance.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible early leader), 4,5
SELECTIONS: REIGN EM IN (8), FOUR STARZZZ RUBY (9), SELF EXCLUSION (4), KIMCHI (5)
RATINGS: 8,9/ 4/ 5/ 1,2,3
SUGGESTED BET: REIGN EM IN (8) to win
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: SOHO AMERICANO (6) was resuming since a third in the Super Series Final when she attempted to lead throughout and was gunned down by the very smart pacer Metro Assassin in a mile rate of 1.54.6 at Hamilton. She should be fitter from that performance and is capable of going one better here. JAZZY MELEA (5) appreciated a drop back in class from the Homegrown Classic series when she trailed the leader and finished quickly via the sprint lane to win in a slick mile rate of 1.54.0 at Bendigo last outing. She is building up a consistent record and is worth thought again. SOHO MARGARITA (4) was aggressively driven from the second line to find the lead and was too strong at Hamilton last outing. This is a field of more depth but she is worth thought again. MARTHA LAVINIA (1) and SPORTS CHARM (2) both have place claims from their good draw on the front line.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible leader), 1,3,4,6
SELECTIONS: SOHO AMERICANO (6), JAZZY MELEA (5), SOHO MARGARITA (4), SPORTS CHARM (2)
RATINGS: 6/ 4,5/ 1,2/ 3,7
SUGGESTED BET: SOHO AMERICANO (6) each way
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: ALDEBARAN DEMI (6) has been promising a win for some time and should be competitive under these conditions. She worked forward and eventually found the lead when a close second at Bendigo last week. TICTOK (8) is a very smart mare when she can put it altogether and produced a strong performance to defeat Sista Evarista at Melton two starts ago. Unfortunately, errors have crept back into her recent performances considering she has galloped away in two of her past three attempts but she will take beating if she delivers a fool proof display. EVERYBODYLOVESME (7) produced her best performance for some time when she stormed home from last to defeat ALDEBARAN DEMI (6) last outing. That was her first victory since May 2024 but a repeat performance will see her going close to winning again. DESIGNS (1) and IZARRA (2) both have the ability to show up prominently from their good draw.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible leader), 5,6,7
SELECTIONS: ALDEBARAN DEMI (6), TICTOK (8), EVERYBODYLOVESME (7), DESIGNS (1)
RATINGS: 6/ 7,8/ 1,2/ 4
SUGGESTED BET: ALDEBARAN DEMI (6) each way
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: WICKED HANGOVER (7) led out then took cover and finished third behind Soho Margarita at Hamilton last outing. This race is slightly easier and she should be ready to strike her peak form after having three starts back from a break so she is worth an investment. FULLOFFIGHT (8) settled three back on the markers and finished a distant third at Melton on Friday night but the mile rate was very quick (1.54.9) and this race might be more suitable. He is an experienced maiden but he is working up to a win. MISS JOPLIN (4) led out then took cover when second behind Imperial Night at Kilmore last outing. She is likely to try and adopt a similar tactic now so she is not without a chance. DO IT (2) is resuming since a debut fifth in July but he has performed well at the Bendigo trials so he is worth thought.
EARLY SPEED: 4 (likely early leader), 7
SELECTIONS: WICKED HANGOVER (7), FULLOFFIGHT (8), MISS JOPLIN (4), DO IT (2)
RATINGS: 7,8/ 4/ 2/ 1,6
SUGGESTED BET: WICKED HANGOVER (7) each way
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: MARKLEIGH CAZ (5) was a winner at Charlton four starts ago and just missed out when a narrow second behind Celestial Zodiac on that track last week. She is a speedy mare and will take holding out in the run to the finish. I OF THE HURRIKANE (7) was heavily supported in a race of similar standard when she tried to lead throughout and finished second at Bendigo on December 04. She was headed off at the start and didn’t have the best of luck in securing a run in the straight and had excuses last week so she cannot be left out of calculations. IFYOULOVEMELETMEGO (3) has the early speed to gain a prominent position in the early stages and is worth thought along with DANCINGONSTARLIGHT (4).
EARLY SPEED: 3 (possible leader), 1
SELECTIONS: MARKLEIGH CAZ (5), I OF THE HURRIKANE (7), IFYOULOVEMELETMEGO (3), DANCINGONSTARLIGHT (4)
RATINGS: 5/ 7/ 3/ 4/ 1
SUGGESTED BET: MARKLEIGH CAZ (5) each way
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: STICK WITH ME (5) was driven more aggressively at the start and eventually found the lead before taking cover when a handy third behind Majestic Ga Ga at Bendigo last outing. She was hitting the line strongly in her efforts prior and is worth a ticket each way in this very evenly balanced field. WITH APLOMB (3) will appreciate a decent drop back in class on her recent performances and she is capable of sprinting to the line quickly with the right trail forward so she must be respected. VELVETNLACE (1) made several errors and lost her chance ($2-20 fav) at her latest fifth. She won three of her four starts prior and is worth another chance. THE NIGHT QUEEN (2) joins trainer Bill Milner after a win at Terang on December 30. She possesses early speed and is drawn to receive every chance so there is no reason why she can’t be competitive again.
EARLY SPEED: 1 (possible leader), 2,4
SELECTIONS: STICK WITH ME (5), WITH APLOMB (3), VELVETNLACE (1), THE NIGHT QUEEN (2)
RATINGS: 5/ 1,3/ 2,4/ 6
SUGGESTED BET: STICK WITH ME (5) each way
