Geelong, Friday 13 March
Form Analysis by Tim O'Connor
Analyst: Tim O’Connor
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: JANIEBQUICK (11) broke through for a deserved victory last Friday night at Melton with a big finale from back in the field off a strong tempo. She had been knocking on the door before that with some good runs at Kilmore and Ballarat, and can win again here in a race where there looks good speed off the front line. Fancy she will be hitting the line hard and can go close with luck in transit. ADMIRALOFTHEFLEET (12) has been doing his recent racing at Ballarat and was too far back last time out. Before that, he beat home the aforementioned rival despite a tough run and surged late to score in a photo three runs ago. Key player. WOODLEA DIEGO (9) dropped back in grade and scored nicely thanks to a great drive last Friday night, while QUICK DECISION (7) is a factor despite a difficult front row draw.
SELECTIONS: JANIEBQUICK (11), ADMIRALOFTHEFLEET (12), WOODLEA DIEGO (9), QUICK DECISION (7)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: Was keen on KYVALLEY JETSTREAM (7) last Friday night after a number of brave runs in defeat and he delivered in fine style. It was a victory full of merit as he had to work hard through the early stages, was forced to sit parked and then still charged clear to beat three rivals that reoppose here. Keen he can win again despite the extreme draw in the small field. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT (5) was given a peach of a drive by John Caldow and closed late to run second in that event. She has run a string of good races of late and is ready to win. Will she be used early now she’s back off the front row? SHES SKY HIGH (6) is first-up from a break but did win a recent Bacchus Marsh trial and competed well through top three-year-old races last preparation, as did PROHIBITED GRACE (3) who was perhaps a touch disappointing when finding the front in that clash with KYVALLEY JETSTREAM (7) last week.
BACK: KYVALLEY JETSTREAM (7) – 2.5 units (win)
SELECTIONS: KYVALLEY JETSTREAM (7), THE SKY IS THE LIMIT (5), SHES SKY HIGH (6), PROHIBITED GRACE (3)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: A faultless trotting display should see METRO SWISH (3) break through for a long-awaited victory. She led and was run down at Maryborough two starts back and looked in a good position when finding the front at Ballarat last Thursday, but threw away her chances with a gallop down the back straight. She did a great job to pick herself up and finish fourth, albeit 31.6m off the winner. This appears a very suitable event and I fancy she can win. MILLY METER (2) had the speed to cross METRO SWISH (3) when they last clashed and might make things difficult for the top pick if she leads, I thought CALABASAS (6) showed enough at the trials recently to figure, while HEAR ME MAJOR TOM (7) won a Bacchus Marsh hit-out and started well in the market on debut at Birchip last weekend before ruining his chances with an early gallop.
BACK: METRO SWISH (3) – 2.5 units (win)
SELECTIONS: METRO SWISH (3), MILLY METER (2), CALABASAS (6), HEAR ME MAJOR TOM (7)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: Small field, but intriguing race where LORD VERDE (6) must go on top despite the awkward gate. He won at Charlton and Stawell before copping plenty of pressure at Kilmore and boxed on well to run third. He then tackled a race at Shepparton on Sunday and made a sustained run in slick time from back in the field to just miss. There was a good margin back to third and he looks the horse in the best form here. Not quite sure who will lead this event, but PERCESSION (4) draws off the front for the first time since joining the Lisa Miles stable and can improve sharply if he finds the fence, BAKERS BANDIT (5) led and was only grabbed late at Terang last time out, while WHISKEYDRINKINGBILL (2) found significant traffic last time at Ballarat and was strong through the line. He wouldn’t shock.
BACK: LORD VERDE (6) – 2.5 units (win)
SELECTIONS: LORD VERDE (6), PERCESSION (4), BAKERS BANDIT (5), WHISKEYDRINKINGBILL (2)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: Super field assembled here for the McNamara Memorial Geelong Trotters Cup where there’s a host of winning chances. GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW (6) hasn’t prevailed since the middle of last year, but he’s racing in great form and I’m leaning his way from the 10m handicap. He ran a cracking race for fourth from last in a heat of the Great Southern Star behind Keayang Zahara, and before that beat home plenty of handy rivals when fourth in the Kilmore Trotters Cup behind Jilliby Ballerini. A safe trotting display should see him driven aggressively and hard to beat. IMPERIAL MONARCH (8) ran well through the Great Southern Star series – reaching the final – and comes through a fourth placing in the Group 1 Just Believe Grand Prix. TWEEDLEDEE (4) has been battling the big guns for some time now and will be long odds, but a clean getaway could see him run a cheeky race from his front mark, while recent Ararat Trotters Cup champion MORE WANTED (7) and ALDEBARAN ACRUX (9) head the other chances.
SELECTIONS: GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW (6), IMPERIAL MONARCH (8), TWEEDLEDEE (4), MORE WANTED (7)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: Cracking edition of the Geelong Pacing Cup where MACH DAN (4) looks to claim his third win in the race. He ran really well for second last weekend behind stablemate Miki To Success – beating home SMOKEN ACE (1) in the process – and is out to better his second placing to Rakero Rebel from last year. His task looks difficult from the draw, however, with the speedy SMOKEN ACE (1) expected to lead and dictate. He has risen through the ranks this preparation with the services of James Herbertson and set a new Geelong sprint trip track record from the chair back in December. The query is the 2570m journey here and whether he can absorb pressure, but I want to be in his corner as the pegs is the place to be at Beckley Park. JILLIBY NITRO (5) was way back in that race won by Miki To Success, but sliced through the line despite limited room and is racing in super form, while the emerging OLIVER DAN (6) was very competitive through the Cranbourne, Kilmore and Hunter cups and can certainly win if the tempo is on.
SELECTIONS: SMOKEN ACE (1), JILLIBY NITRO (5), MACH DAN (4), OLIVER DAN (6)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: KEAYANG SWEETHEART (3) sprint-laned to victory as a red-hot favourite on debut at Terang last August and was then spelled. She put in a super display when winning by 20m in a slick last half at the trials in preparation for this first-up assignment and goes on top with the barrier advantage over other key fancy, THE ART OF SUCCESS (5). She hasn’t raced since March 2025, but was a dominant winner on debut then and looks a smart customer for the powerhouse Emma Stewart stable. She won a Ballarat trial late last month and must be respected. ANOTHER WOODS (2) made a big run from last and was only beaten 5.5m last time out at Terang in what was an encouraging performance, while IM THE REASON (1) draws well, has good gate speed and heads here on the back of an all-the-way maiden victory at Melton last Friday.
BACK: KEAYANG SWEETHEART (3) – 2.5 units (win)
SELECTIONS: KEAYANG SWEETHEART (3), THE ART OF SUCCESS (5), ANOTHER WOODS (2), IM THE REASON (1)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: Good race for ILLUMINATE ME (2) to try and break her maiden. She hasn’t had much luck in running of late with bad draws and tough trips, but will be hard to run down if she finds the front here. I’ve been following ROMAN CHARLIE (6) closely since a huge run at Ballarat back in January, but he hasn’t set the world on fire since. He looked to have every chance last week and only battled away into third, but his run prior when second to Decode was good. OUR PINUP GIRL (1) was gapped by the smart You Gotta Believe at the recent Melton trials, but it was still a good effort, and I didn’t mind the way HEZ NOTTHE MESSIAH (5) got through the line at the Maryborough hit-outs as well. Both can run well on debut.
SELECTIONS: ILLUMINATE ME (2), ROMAN CHARLIE (6), OUR PINUP GIRL (1), HEZ NOTTHE MESSIAH (5)
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