Form Analysis by Craig Rail
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: SHONNY LOU (1) will appreciate a massive drop back in class on his first two Australian starts and will take beating from the pole position. He was heavily supported when sixth behind She Really Matters in a mile rate of 1.54.3 at Melton last outing. EAGLE MAJOR (2) worked very hard to find the lead and went down fighting when second behind La Frank at Shepparton last outing. He has ability and is drawn to give another forward showing. FLEXI BET (8) is awkwardly drawn but is racing well enough to figure in the finish. He just failed to pick up The Naked Art when a narrow second at Charlton last outing and was a winner at Cobram on December 29. ALOOK TO LIKE (7) is a minor place chance from his trailing draw behind SHONNY LOU (1).
EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely leader), 2
SELECTIONS: SHONNY LOU (1), EAGLE MAJOR (2), FLEXI BET (8), ALOOK TO LIKE (7)
RATINGS: 1/ 2,8/ 7/ 3,5
SUGGESTED BET: SHONNY LOU (1) to win
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: FULLOFFIGHT (8) has been nearing his maiden success for some time and gets his chance to break through for a win under these conditions. He was placed behind Alfredjohncrusader in a mile rate of 1.54.9 at Melton two starts ago. SKADI (1) settled three back on the markers and worked through into second position at Charlton last outing. She missed out by a narrow margin at Bendigo prior so she must be respected from the pole position. KALKADOON DREAMING (7) broke stride on the first turn and lost his chance at Mildura last outing. He is racing better than his form reads and is capable of showing up against this class. The debutantes FLAMING MEL (5), IMPEACHED (6) and PIEDRA (9) have all shown some promise at the Maryborough trials and cannot be left out of calculations.
EARLY SPEED: 1 (possible leader), 6
SELECTIONS: FULLOFFIGHT (8), SKADI (1), KALKADOON DREAMING (7), IMPEACHED (6)
RATINGS: 8/ 1,7/ 6/ 5,9/ FIELD
SUGGESTED BET: FULLOFFIGHT (8) to win
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: KALARNEY PRINCE (4) finished off well from sixth when second behind Lots of Change at Shepparton on Tuesday. He is a speedy trotter and is nearing a win against this class. ZINGARA LASS (3) secured her first win in 29 starts when she led throughout at Melton on January 10. She is a good chance of finding the lead again so she is not without a chance. KYVALLEY PAINT (5) has performed below expectations at his past three attempts but he defeated Christmas Babe at Melton on November 29 and looms as one of the leading chances if he can bounce back into his peak form. KYVALLEY PICASSO (10) gets into this race nicely with the aid of a concession claim and is a possible improver.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (possible leader), 5,6
SELECTIONS: KALARNEY PRINCE (4), ZINGARA LASS (3), KYVALLEY PAINT (5), KYVALLEY PICASSO (10)
RATINGS: 4/ 3,5/ 10/ 6,7/ 8
SUGGESTED BET: KALARNEY PRINCE (4) to win
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: ALIZA HILL (5) is a bold front running pacer, which won five races last season and is a good chance of finding her favourite role as being the pacemaker here. She led throughout in a mile rate of 1.57.6 at Shepparton two starts ago then endured a tough run and had excuses at her latest attempt. WYATTFLYNN (3) led out then took cover and was held up behind the tiring leader when an unlucky fifth at Swan Hill last week. He has been placed in two of his past four starts against similar opposition and should be competitive again. THE REGULATOR (4) sustained a strong run from the back when a big winner in a mile rate of 1.56.1 at Swan Hill last week. He is meeting a field of more depth here but is worth thought again. COBALT BLUES (9) showed a glimpse of his best form when a handy finishing third at Charlton last outing and is not without a chance.
EARLY SPEED: 5 (likely leader), 1,3
SELECTIONS: ALIZA HILL (5), WYATTFLYNN (3), THE REGULATOR (4), COBALT BLUES (9)
RATINGS: 3,5/ 4/ 6,8,10
SUGGESTED BET: ALIZA HILL (5) to win
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: WISH UPONA DREAM (8) is a strong mare and is a fast beginner from the standing start so she is worth following despite commencing from the handicap of 10m. She established a big lead mid-race and brilliantly won the Stawell Cup three starts ago. BERRIESANDCHERRIES (9) faces a tough task from the handicap of 20m but she will appreciate a drop back in class for this assignment and was placed off a big handicap in the Cobram Cup so she cannot be left out of calculations. BLUE COMAN (5) appears to be nicely placed off the front line and has been competitive in the Country Cups events previously so he is worth a ticket each way. ARGYLE ROCKS (2) is rising in class but he did make it into the Victoria Derby Final last season and he boasts a handy standing start record. He is worth thought along with the consistent performer YANKEE LOVER (3).
EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible leader), 3, 8 (10m)
SELECTIONS: WISH UPONA DREAM (8), BERRIESANDCHERRIES (9), BLUE COMAN (5), ARGYLE ROCKS (2)
RATINGS: 8,9/ 5/ 2,3/ 7
SUGGESTED BET: WISH UPONA DREAM (8) each way
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: JOHNS BOY (5) was driven aggressively to find the lead and comfortably won the Echuca Cup at his Australian debut. He is a brilliant beginner from the standing start and he should take beating again. DANCES (2) is a fast beginner and is a good chance of finding the markers before the home turn. She commenced from the handicap of 30m when she finished second at Cobram last outing and she scored on that track two starts ago after working forward to find the front. ALDEBARAN DEMI (8) has been placed at her past five starts and broke through for a deserved victory at Bendigo on Wednesday night. She is a versatile mare and is capable of being competitive again. NIGHT WHISPERER (4) scored at Maryborough two starts ago and endured a tough run at his latest fifth. He has won four races from the standing start and should go well again.
EARLY SPEED: 5 (likely leader), 2
SELECTIONS: JOHNS BOY (5), DANCES (2), ALDEBARAN DEMI (8), NIGHT WHISPERER (4)
RATINGS: 5/ 2,8/ 4/ 7,9
SUGGESTED BET: JOHNS BOY (5) to win
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: WESTERN SONADOR (8) brilliantly won the Gunbower Cup at his first run since April 2024 then followed with unplaced efforts in the Bendigo and Shepparton Cups. He has the perfect trailing draw and this race is much easier than his past two attempts so he must be considered as a winning chance. RAGING WHITEBAIT (6) remains undefeated in four Australian starts and recorded a slick mile rate of 1.55.8 when he scored at Ballarat last week. He is poorly drawn but is very versatile and must be considered as a winning chance again. RAKERO SLAMMER (7) began quickly and ended up being behind the leader when he finished second behind Exotic Bushranger in record time at Ballarat last week. He is likely to be shuffled back on the markers from his awkward draw but he is racing well enough to break through for a win. GO AWAY AGAIN (2) is a genuine front runner that is perfectly drawn to suit his racing pattern and led throughout at his latest victory so he must be respected.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely leader), 6
SELECTIONS: WESTERN SONADOR (8), RAGING WHITEBAIT (6), RAKERO SLAMMER (7), GO AWAY AGAIN (2)
RATINGS: 8/ 6,7/ 2,3/ 5
SUGGESTED BET: WESTERN SONADOR (8) to win
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: VALIENTE (5) made ground from last when fifth behind Le Twist in the Maryborough Cup Final last week and appears to be well graded against this line up. He possesses high speed and this is a drop back in class from his recent performances. PESCI (11) was resuming since April 2024 when he finished off quickly to down El Boston at Cranbourne. He should be fitter from that performance and he gets into this race nicely with the aid of a concession claim so he must be considered as a winning chance. CHEERSTOLOU (10) met very strong opposition on Shepparton Cup night and battled on well for fourth behind Roarforroscoe. He was a winner at Bendigo prior and appears to be better placed against this line up. SIR VINCENT (2) and TERROR THE CHRISTIAN (3) have both been in winning form and are worth thought from their good draw.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible leader), 1,3,4,6
SELECTIONS: VALIENTE (5), PESCI (11), CHEERSTOLOU (10), TERROR THE CHRISTIAN (3)
RATINGS: 5/ 10,11/ 3/ 2/ 6
SUGGESTED BET: VALIENTE (5) each way
