Melton, Saturday 5 October
Form Analysis by Craig Rail
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: IM READY JET (3) is racing in outstanding form and will prove hard to beat. She moved forward to race without cover and went down fighting when a brave second behind Keayang Chucky at Melton last outing. She is drawn to run another big race. ARCEE PHOENIX (8) progressed forward from the handicap of 30m to find the lead when fourth in the Kilmore Cup. He defeated the champion trotter Just Believe in a super mile rate of 1.53.5 during his last preparation and he should be ready to strike his peak form after having three starts back from a break. ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (2) won The Great Square (Group 1) during her Queensland campaign and set up a genuine tempo when a close second in the Super Series at her latest attempt. She is a fast beginner and should be prominent throughout. QUEEN ELIDA (4) hasn’t been at her peak in three starts back from a break but she should be getting fitter and OLLIVICI (6) is always a threat under these conditions.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible leader), 1,4,6
SELECTIONS: IM READY JET (3), ARCEE PHOENIX (8), ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (2), OLLIVICI (6)
RATINGS: 3/ 2,8/ 4,6/ 1,5
SUGGESTED BET: IM READY JET (3) to win
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: Australia’s champion pacer LEAP TO FAME (7) returns to Victoria and looked very sharp at his first up victory in Queensland last week. His victory in the Blacks A Fake was simply breathtaking and his last Victorian trip yielded victories in the Cranbourne and A.G Hunter Cups. He is poorly drawn over the sprint distance but his class will take him a long way to winning. CATCH A WAVE (2) is a multiple Group 1 winning pacer this season and bounced back into his best form with a victory in the Len Smith Mile, where he recorded a mile of 1.49.8. He has an outstanding record over the sprint distance and is drawn to make his presence felt. CURLY JAMES (1) is stepping up in class from his latest Menangle victory but he came from last on the home turn and produced a brilliant finishing burst. He is drawn to receive an economical run on the markers and is a definite place hope. MACH DAN (5) possesses brilliant early pace and finished a close up fourth in the Len Smith Mile after successive Melton victories. He has claims along with CANTFINDABETTORMAN (3), CAPTAIN RAVISHING (6), PERFECT CLASS (8) and CAPTAIN HAMMERHEAD (10).
EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible leader), 5,6
SELECTIONS: LEAP TO FAME (7), CATCH A WAVE (2), CURLY JAMES (1), MACH DAN (5)
RATINGS: 7/ 2/ 1,5,6/ 8,10/ 3
SUGGESTED BET: LEAP TO FAME (7) to win
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: It is an outstanding race for the opening heat of the Victoria Derby with many winning chances. KINGMAN (10) circled around the field to park on the outside of the leader and produced an outstanding performance when third in the Super Series Final. He won a semi-final of that series prior and is very durable so he is worth following. SOME AMERICAN (4) began quickly to lead, ran along at a rapid rate and produced a career best performance when second in the Super Series Final. He is a good chance of finding the lead again so he must be respected. MIKI TO SUCCESS (3) finished off fast to become the Super Series champion. He is yet to miss a place in ten starts for the season and should prove hard to beat again. SAIFA (9) is resuming since a creditable fourth in the Queensland Derby and joins trainer Andy Gath. He is worth thought along with HES FROM HEAVEN (6), METEOR MOTH (7) and the speedy Queensland pacer THE JANITOR (8).
EARLY SPEED: 4 (possible leader), 2,3,5,7
SELECTIONS: KINGMAN (10), SOME AMERICAN (4), MIKI TO SUCCESS (3), SAIFA (9)
RATINGS: 3,4,10/ 9/ 6/ 7,8/ FIELD
SUGGESTED BET: KINGMAN (10) each way
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: BAY OF BISCAY (4) produced a brave performance when second in the Queensland Derby then returned to Victoria with an effortless victory at Melton. His latest effort was a fast finishing second in the Eureka at Menangle and he should give this a shake. BEST DEAL (6) looms as the logical danger. He dashed home in a sizzling final quarter of 25.8 seconds to win a semi-final of the Super Series then couldn’t work into the race after being drawn on the second line in the Final. He performs best when he is able to lead and will take catching if he can get across to the markers in the early stages of the event. NATHAN STREET (1) endured a tough run when third in a slick mile rate of 1.53.8 at Wagga when he was resuming. His trial form prior was sound and he should go well from the pole position. NO NOTTHEBUTTONS (2), KOMODO (3), SIR JIMMY (7), OUR LUCIANO (9) and STORMRYDER (11) are all minor place hopes.
EARLY SPEED: 6 (possible leader), 1,2
SELECTIONS: BAY OF BISCAY (4), BEST DEAL (6), NATHAN STREET (1), NO NOTTHEBUTTONS (2)
RATINGS: 4/ 6/ 1/ 2,7/ 3,7,11
SUGGESTED BET: Trifecta 4,6/ 1,4,6/ 1,2,3,4,6,7,9,11 (Cost $24)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: AARDIE B MIKI (5) produced a big finish to win the Queensland Oaks three starts ago and was far from disgraced when second in a super mile rate of 1.51.1 at Albion Park last outing. She is very versatile and should run a big race. EUREKA JO (2) performed extremely well throughout the Super Series and missed out narrowly in the Final after leading out then taking cover. She is a good chance of finding the markers again and appears to be one of the leading chances. KISS (1) isn’t a brilliant beginner and is likely to be headed off at the start but her effort after enduring a tough trip in the Super Series was fantastic so she must be respected. DRAW A DREAM (7) settled in a rearward position and couldn’t work into the race when unplaced in the Super Series Final. She has won eight of her eleven starts and is a very classy filly so she cannot be discarded. LOOK LIKE DIAMONDS (8) was runner up in the Queensland Oaks during her Winter campaign and has performed successfully at the trials since her latest unplaced performance so she is worth another chance.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely early leader), 5,7
SELECTIONS: AARDIE B MIKI (5), EUREKA JO (2), KISS (1), DRAW A DREAM (7)
RATINGS: 5/ 1,2/ 7/ 8/ 3,4/ 6
SUGGESTED BET: AARDIE B MIKI (5) each way
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: SHOWSOMEJOY (1) has won six races in succession including the Super Series Grand Final and will take beating from the pole position. She progressed forward to find the lead from a wide draw in her Super Series success. COASTAL BABE (2) has won three Group 1 races in New Zealand including several victories over Kiss, which has done very well in Australia and is one of the leading chances in heat one. She hasn’t raced since July but should be primed for a big first up performance. MILLWOOD BLISS (7) set up a hectic tempo and was run down late when a game third in the Queensland Oaks. She has won nine of her fifteen starts to date and looms as one of the leading chances again. STITCHED UP DAN (6) produced a big finishing burst when second in the Super Series Final and rates as a knockout chance. TILLY JAYNE (8) is a value place hope from her perfect trailing draw behind SHOWSOMEJOY (1).
EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely leader), 2,7
SELECTIONS: SHOWSOMEJOY (1), COASTAL BABE (2), MILLWOOD BLISS (7), STITCHED UP DAN (6)
RATINGS: 1/ 2,7/ 6/ 8/ 3/ 4,5
SUGGESTED BET: SHOWSOMEJOY (1) to win
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: KEAYANG ZAHARA (2) is an outstanding filly that remains undefeated in seven starts and it would be a major upset if she is to be beaten here. She progressed forward to find the lead and won with plenty in reserve in the Prelude of this series last week. JILLIBY BALLERINI (5) led out then took cover when second in the Prelude. She possesses high speed and has been placed in all of her six starts to date so she looms as a strong Quinella chance again. MAORIS MAC (4) did very well after racing without cover in her Prelude performance. There wasn’t much separating her and JILLIBY BALLERINI (5) at the end and the barrier draw is reversed this evening so she is capable of turning the tables. DREAMS OF LOVE (1) and WE CAN HAVE IT ALL (8) are both minor place hopes from their inside alleys.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely leader), 3,4,5
SELECTIONS: KEAYANG ZAHARA (2), JILLIBY BALLERINI (5), MAORIS MAC (4), DREAMS OF LOVE (1)
RATINGS: 2/ 4,5/ 1,8
SUGGESTED BET: First Four 2/ 4,5/ 4,5/ 1,8 (Cost $4)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: DEREK THE JET (3) continues to build on his outstanding record and is shooting for nine straight victories. He began quickly to lead and easily won his Prelude of this series so he is clearly the horse to beat again. KYVALLEY MICHAEL (4) was the run of the race outside of DEREK THE JET (3) in his Prelude performance and is a good chance of finishing second again. He settled four back on the markers and chased hard in the latter stages, working past both REMUS PHOENIX (2) and THUNDA STRUCK (6). REMUS PHOENIX (2) won the Super Series Bronze event two starts ago and is a place hope along with THUNDA STRUCK (6), which was placed from the pole position in the Prelude last week.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (likely leader), 2
SELECTIONS: DEREK THE JET (3), KYVALLEY MICHAEL (4), REMUS PHOENIX (2), THUNDA STRUCK (6)
RATINGS: 3/ 4/ 2,6/ 1,5
SUGGESTED BET: First Four 3/ 4/ 2,6/ 2,6 (Cost $2)
