Shepparton, Wednesday 30 October
Form Analysis by Craig Rail
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: BANDIT EYES (10) settled midfield and was doing his best work at the end when third behind the smart pacer Leniu at Shepparton last outing. He is poorly drawn but is ready to break through for a win against this class. ART ON FIRE (3) will appreciate a significant drop back in class for this assignment and should improve on his numerical form. He was runner up at Albury three starts ago and finished unplaced behind Ozzie Punta in a strong race last week. OZZIE JOYBELL (1) produced a big finish to win at Bendigo two starts ago then worked hard from a wide draw at her latest fifth. She will appreciate her best draw for some time and should be competitive again. HONEST HARRIETTE (2) is capable of sprinting to the line quickly with the right trail forward and has won two of her past three starts. She had little luck when fourth at Wagga last outing and is worth thought under these conditions.
EARLY SPEED: 1 (possible leader), 3,4,6
SELECTIONS: BANDIT EYES (10), ART ON FIRE (3), OZZIE JOYBELL (1), HONEST HARRIETTE (2)
RATINGS: 10/ 1,3/ 2/ 5,8
SUGGESTED BET: BANDIT EYES (10) to win
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: It is an open race with many chances. FAVOURITEHIGHLIGHT (11) missed out narrowly behind Indi Air Tonight in a strong race two starts ago and was runner up again at Kilmore last week so he is worth an investment. TEX GOES BANG (8) progressed forward to race without cover and went down fighting when a narrow second at Shepparton last week. He is usually competitive against this class and is worth thought again. JERSEY SAM (7) is a fast beginner and races best when he is close to the lead. He was narrowly beaten after racing without cover throughout at Kilmore three starts ago and he had excuses when he locked wheels on the home turn last week. JOEYS HANGOVER (5) progressed forward to race without cover and battled on well for third at Yarra Valley last outing. He is a fast beginner and should be prominent throughout against this class.
EARLY SPEED: 5 (possible leader), 1,7
SELECTIONS: FAVOURITEHIGHLIGHT (11), TEX GOES BANG (8), JERSEY SAM (7), JOEYS HANGOVER (5)
RATINGS: 11/ 8/ 5,7/ 1,2,3
SUGGESTED BET: FAVOURITEHIGHLIGHT (11) each way
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: EPIC ORION (9) led throughout to win against similar opposition at Kilmore last outing and is worth thought again. CHANSU (1) has been racing below her peak form recently but she races best when she is able to lead and is perfectly drawn over the sprint distance. She finished unplaced behind Ooh Ah Listah in a slightly stronger race at Melton last outing. STREETS OF MADRID (6) battled on well after beginning swiftly at his latest second and LORIMERMAJOR (7) has been racing consistently against similar opposition.
EARLY SPEED: 9/ 1,3/ 6,7/ 5
SELECTIONS: EPIC ORION (9), CHANSU (1), STREETS OF MADRID (6), LORIMERMAJOR (7)
RATINGS: 9/ 1/ 6,7/ 4,5
SUGGESTED BET: EPIC ORION (9) each way
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: VICTORTHEINFLICTOR (4) settled in the second half of the field and was held up for a run at a vital stage before finishing fast when an eye-catching fourth behind APIECEOFLOU (7). He is capable of sprinting to the line quickly with the right trail forward and is working up to a win against this class. APIECEOFLOU (7) appreciated a drop back in class when he dashed home from midfield to win at Shepparton last week. This is no harder compared to his latest victory so he must be considered as a winning chance again. THE MAJORS GIRL (3) is resuming since May and hasn’t been to the trials but she has ability when at her peak form so she cannot be left out of calculations. ELYSIAN PALACE (8) is also resuming from a break without going to the trials but he has too much ability to dismiss.
EARLY SPEED: 5 (likely early leader), 6
SELECTIONS: VICTORTHEINFLICTOR (4), APIECEOFLOU (7), THE MAJORS GIRL (3), ELYSIAN PALACE (8)
RATINGS: 4,7/ 3/ 8,9/ 5,6
SUGGESTED BET: VICTORTHEINFLICTOR (4) each way
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: HOORAH PHILTRA (4) settled midfield and finished off solidly for second behind the handy pacer Ozzie Punta at Shepparton last outing. He continues to build on his consistent record and looms as one of the leading chances again. THEROCKGOD (6) broke through for a deserved victory when he powered down the outside to defeat Eye See Philtra last outing. He lacks early pace but he possesses a powerful finishing burst and will be hard to hold out in the run to the finish. SUNSET STRIDE (8) raced without cover throughout and produced a big performance to win at Wagga then worked home nicely at his latest fourth. ROCCO AMERICANO (5) was resuming since January 2022 when he pushed forward to find the lead and was run down late by Ozzie Punta at Kilmore. He should be fitter from that run and is worth following.
EARLY SPEED: 5 (likely leader), 1
SELECTIONS: HOORAH PHILTRA (4), THEROCKGOD (6), SUNSET STRIDE (8), ROCCO AMERICANO (5)
RATINGS: 4/ 6,8/ 5/ 7
SUGGESTED BET: HOORAH PHILTRA (4) each way
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: PRETTYBOY HARRY (5) was resuming since July when he pushed forward to find the lead and won easily over Call Me Jack (won impressively since). He is backing up quickly from his effort on Redwood Day, where he broke strike, but he will be hard to beat if he repeats his first up victory. MISS FRANCENE (6) led out then took cover when she finished second at Yarra Valley last outing. She is trotting consistently and deserves to break through for a win. PARTYTIME (8) gained a one out and one back trail and finished off best to win at Shepparton last outing. He gets into this race with a concession claim and should be finishing strongly again. ITS DIAMOND CREEK (1) and AT THE DISTANCE (3) are both worth thought in multiple combinations.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible leader), 4,5,6
SELECTIONS: PRETTYBOY HARRY (5), MISS FRANCENE (6), PARTYTIME (8), AT THE DISTANCE (3)
RATINGS: 5/ 6,8/ 3/ 1
SUGGESTED BET: PRETTYBOY HARRY (5) to win
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: JANSU (2) is racing in peak form and is drawn to find her favourite role as being the pacemaker. She led throughout to win at Shepparton last outing and this race is of similar class. DOSSIER (7) has had a win and two seconds out of his past three starts and looms as the logical danger. He worked hard in the run and fought on strongly for second at Cranbourne last outing. THE VICARS GIRL (6) settled four back on the markers and finished off well for fourth behind Romantic Nina last outing. She was a winner under similar conditions three starts ago and is worth a ticket each way. IVAR (1) and HURRICANE JANE (3) are both minor place hopes in the event.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely leader), 5,6
SELECTIONS: JANSU (2), DOSSIER (7), THE VICARS GIRL (6), IVAR (1)
RATINGS: 2,7/ 6/ 1/ 3
SUGGESTED BET: JANSU (2) to win
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: KATUNGA EXPRESS (6) worked hard to find the lead and battled on well for third in a mile rate of 1.55.0 at Bendigo when he was resuming since May. He should be fitter from that performance and his trial form prior was sound so he must be rated highly. RACING WRITER (5) began quickly to find the lead and was run down in the latter stages when second behind Blackindeed at Melton. He has been placed at his past four starts and looms as one of the leading chances again. VINCHESKA (2) has been runner up at his past two Wagga attempts and was placed at her only start at Shepparton previously. She is ideally drawn for this assignment and should go well again. THAT MAJ YA LOOK (4) ran a sharper race at her latest third and is a minor place possibility.
EARLY SPEED: 6 (likely leader), 5
SELECTIONS: KATUNGA EXPRESS (6), RACING WRITER (5), VINCHESKA (2), THAT MAJ YA LOOK (4)
RATINGS: 6/ 2,5/ 4/ 7,8
SUGGESTED BET: KATUNGA EXPRESS (6) to win
Race 9:
OVERVIEW: VINCENT GRANGE (7) came to grief at his first run for the season and has been freshened since that performance. He was placed in the Homegrown Classic Final in December so he is a quality horse when racing at his peak form and must be respected. LEONARD (1) finished off nicely when a close second behind Rowdy Christian at Shepparton last outing. He continues to improve with the benefit of racing and is drawn to go well. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (3) ran into a distant second behind Into The Harkness at Bendigo last week. She lacks early speed but has finished off well in her two starts to date so she is not without a chance. WATCHING OVER US (2) had little luck when fifth behind Yankee Babe at Kilmore at his latest attempt. He hasn’t been far away in any of his four starts to date and is worth thought.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible leader), 1,3,7
SELECTIONS: VINCENT GRANGE (7), LEONARD (1), THE AFRICAN QUEEN (3), WATCHING OVER US (2)
RATINGS: 7/ 1,3/ 2/ 5
SUGGESTED BET: VINCENT GRANGE (7) to win
