Melton, Saturday 2 November
Form Analysis by Craig Rail
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: CANTFINDABETTORMAN (11) is racing in fine form and should be very competitive again. He couldn’t find a forward position early, restrained to last and tried to sustain a long run when a game fourth behind Triple Eight last week. CATCH A WAVE (12) is clearly the class runner of the field having won three Group 1 races this season including the Len Smith Mile in September. He didn’t enjoy the best of luck in the Victoria Cup last outing and this race is much easier so he should make his presence felt. PERFECT CLASS (10) was also unplaced in the Victoria Cup at his latest attempt and is likely to find this assignment to be more suitable. He ran a top race for fourth (5.5m) behind Australia’s champion pacer Leap To Fame two starts ago and was placed at his previous six attempts. EXOTIC BUSHRANGER (8) is awkwardly drawn but he copped plenty of pressure in the leading role at his latest second in the Argent FFA and he has too much ability to dismiss.
EARLY SPEED: 4 (possible early leader), 5,6,7
SELECTIONS: CANTFINDABETTORMAN (11), CATCH A WAVE (12), PERFECT CLASS (10), EXOTIC BUSHRANGER (8)
RATINGS: 11,12/ 10/ 8/ 7/ 4,5,9
SUGGESTED BET: CANTFINDABETTORMAN (11) each way
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: TRIPLE EIGHT (9) worked forward in the early stages to get up without cover, gained a one out and one back trail and finished off best to impressively win the Argent FFA last week. This race is of similar standard and he should prove hard to beat again. HELLUVA (6) is racing in good form and deserves to break through for a win. He moved up without cover and finished second behind Cantfindabettorman in a mile rate of 1.51.4 at his latest attempt. BETTOR ISOLATE (3) is working back into some form and didn’t have much room in the straight when a handy third behind Triple Eight last week. He possesses early speed and is worth a ticket each way. FIDES (5) is resuming since March but he is a very fast pacer and has been performing well at the Terang trials so he cannot be underestimated. SERG BLANCO (7) will strip fitter after his unlucky first up fourth and has the ability to figure in the finish.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (possible early leader), 5,6,7
SELECTIONS: TRIPLE EIGHT (9), HELLUVA (6), BETTOR ISOLATE (3), FIDES (5)
RATINGS: 9/ 3,6/ 5/ 7/ 8,10
SUGGESTED BET: TRIPLE EIGHT (9) to win
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: It is a very open race with many winning chances. BLAKE BOLAC (9) prefers to race close to the pace but his overall form in the last six weeks has been extremely good and he looms as one of the leading chances again. WENDYS WISH (6) is a fast beginner and was able to lead throughout in a slick mile rate of 1.54.0 at Wagga last outing. She is a chance of finding the lead again so she cannot be left out of calculations. JILLIBY SELWOOD (8) is awkwardly drawn but continues to build on his consistent record and is not without a chance. He worked forward to find the lead and finished second in fast time behind Young Bluey last week. GIPSY PRINCESS (13) faces a negative swing in the barrier draw but she posted career best mile rate of 1.52.5 when she scored at Melton last outing so she must be respected. HES A MEISTER (12) missed out after using energy at the start last time but he ran a top race when a fast finishing fourth at Kilmore prior so he is worth another chance.
EARLY SPEED: 6 (likely leader), 1,5
SELECTIONS: BLAKE BOLAC (9), WENDYS WISH (6), JILLIBY SELWOOD (8), GIPSY PRINCESS (13)
RATINGS: 9/ 6,8/ 13/ 12/ 1,3,5
SUGGESTED BET: BLAKE BOLAC (9) each way
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: AVANT GUARD (6) was placed behind The Locomotive in the Super Series Final then followed with a victory at Cranbourne and a strong second behind DESTRIER (1) at Melton. He is versatile and in peak form so he must be included amongst the leading chances. KINGS GUARD (11) produced a big finish when an eye-catching third in the race won DESTRIER (1) at his latest attempt. He defeated Call Me Jack (won since) at Kilmore prior and he should run his usual honest race. DESTRIER (1) is racing in career best form and is a winning chance again. He led out then took cover and used the sprint lane when he got up to score last outing and he is likely to adopt similar tactics here. HES A HAMMER (8) struck trouble and lost his chance last outing but his form prior was sound so he is worth thought. WHOS THE MAN (9) and ALDEBARAN ACRUX (10) are both capable of showing up without surprising.
EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely early leader), 2,6,7
SELECTIONS: AVANT GUARD (6), DESTRIER (1), KINGS GUARD (11), HES A HAMMER (8)
RATINGS: 6/ 1,11/ 8/ 9,10
SUGGESTED BET: AVANT GUARD (6) to win
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: ANOTHER NIEN (10) was held up for a run at a vital stage and finished off solidly when fifth behind Heavenly Gipsy at Melton last week. He won nicely at Charlton prior and he should be competitive again under these conditions. CITY ROCKSTAR (2) is a slick beginner and is likely to try and lead throughout. She led out then took cover and finished third behind Ozzie Punta at her latest attempt. SEVE (9) is resuming since May but he is a smart pacer when at his peak form and he must be considered as one of the leading chances. He recorded handy time at a recent Melton trial victory. PABLO ROCKS (8) is awkwardly drawn but he used the sprint lane to defeat a strong field at Melton last outing and he is worth thought again.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely leader), 6
SELECTIONS: ANOTHER NIEN (10), CITY ROCKSTAR (2), SEVE (9), PABLO ROCKS (8)
RATINGS: 2,10/ 9/ 6,8/ 3,4
SUGGESTED BET: ANOTHER NIEN (10) each way
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: OLLIVICI (7) led and gave Australia’s champion trotter Just Believe a bit of a fright when a big second in the Bill Collins Sprint. He got home best to down Queen Elida at his previous attempt so he should prove hard to beat. KEAYANG CHUCKY (6) had little luck after commencing from a wide draw in the Bill Collins Sprint then followed with a big victory at Melton last time out. He boasts a very good strike rate and he is versatile so he must be rated highly. IM READY JET (3) is an outstanding mare that should make her presence felt from her good draw. She worked hard and finished third behind KEAYANG CHUCKY (6) at her latest attempt and she was beaten by a very narrow margin behind that trotter on September 21. The interesting runner is the former outstanding juvenile trotter PLYMOUTH CHUBB (5). He hasn’t started since a fourth behind Just Believe in the Knight Pistol in January after a successful Inter Dominion campaign, where he had a win and two seconds throughout the heats then followed with a sixth in Final. He has the class to test this field if he is somewhere near his peak.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (possible leader), 5,6,7
SELECTIONS: OLLIVICI (7), KEAYANG CHUCKY (6), IM READY JET (3), PLYMOUTH CHUBB (5)
RATINGS: 7/ 3,5,6/ 4/ 2/ 1
SUGGESTED BET: OLLIVICI (7) to win
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: SPYGLASS (8) settled midfield and couldn’t make ground in a leader dominated race at Melton last week. He came from off the speed in a sizzling final quarter of 26.4 seconds when he scored at Wagga prior and he has the perfect trailing draw behind the likely leader in WOTDIDUSAAAY (1) so he is worth another chance. WOTDIDUSAAAY (1) is a bold front running pacer that will appreciate his best draw for a long time. He made a mid-race move to park without cover when a brave third at Melton last outing so he appears to be hard to beat from the pole position. VEE EM GEE MACRAY (2) appreciated a drop back in class when she endured a tough run and went down fighting in a slick mile rate of 1.52.5 at her latest attempt. She is nicely drawn and should make her presence felt. SPIRIT OF ARION (5) and ARGGGHHH (6) are both capable of showing up without surprising.
EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely leader), 2
SELECTIONS: SPYGLASS (8), WOTDIDUSAAAY (1), VEE EM GEE MACRAY (2), SPIRIT OF ARION (5)
RATINGS: 1,8/ 2/ 5,6/ 4/ 3,7
SUGGESTED BET: SPYGLASS (8) to win
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: ALDEBARAN VERA (7) broke at the start and lost many lengths when a huge seventh (10m) behind Rockinwithattitude at Melton then struck trouble and lost her chance behind Just Believe in the Maryborough Cup. She is a top mare and will appreciate a massive drop back in class so she must be rated highly. IMPERIAL MONARCH (8) also did well to finish as close as he did after a poor beginning last outing. He put together four straight victories prior to his past two performances and he gets into this race well with a concession claim so he should be competitive. EL RESAMO (5) is a fast beginner and dominated his rivals after finding the leading role at Maryborough on Sunday. He might not be able to find the lead here but he is very strong and is not without a chance. I DREAM OF MILLIE (3) is facing a steep rise in class but she produced a top performance to win easily at Maryborough on Sunday so she cannot be left out of calculations.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (possible leader), 2,5
SELECTIONS: ALDEBARAN VERA (7), IMPERIAL MONARCH (8), EL RESAMO (5), I DREAM OF MILLIE (3)
RATINGS: 7/ 8/ 3,5/ 1,2,4,6
SUGGESTED BET: ALDEBARAN VERA (7) to win
