Maryborough, Monday 12 January
Form Analysis by Craig Rail
R1: 1.22pm Redpath Tyre & Battery Service Trot
5 – Please Layla
6 – Van Doren
3 – Christmas Babe
1 – Louieville Lass
Overview:
It is an open race for the trotters to commence the program. PLEASE LAYLA (5) has been placed at her past three attempts and has the early speed to gain a prominent position early so she should be competitive. VAN DOREN (6) finished quickly from a rearward position when third at Shepparton on Tuesday night. LOUIEVILLE LASS (1), JESSICAS STORY (2) and CHRISTMAS BABE (3) all possess early speed but more often than not CHRISTMAS BABE (3) finds the lead, particularly over the sprint distance. OUTSIDE WIRE (8) has ability but made an error at her first run back from a long spell.
R2: 2.03pm Join Your Local Carisbrook Lions Club Trotters Handicap
6 – Ataboy Charlie
8 – Frosty Girl NZ
7 - Wallis
1 – Montana Muscle
ATABOY CHARLIE (6) is a fast beginner and continues to race in great form having been placed in nine of his past ten starts. He was able to work to the front from the handicap of 20m when second behind the smart trotter Sky Spirit at Horsham last outing and is capable of going one better.
Back: 6 Ataboy Charlie – 2 units (win)
Overview:
FROSTY GIRL NZ (8) galloped away and lost her chance in the Cobram Cup. She overcame the handicap of 30m when she scored at Maryborough prior and is the class runner of the field. WALLIS (7) has only raced once from behind the tapes and that was back in May 2024, where he galloped away. He is racing well enough if he can step away safely. MONTANA MUSCLE (1) and DANCES (5) have place claims.
R3: 2.37pm AB Paint Trot
7 – Off Your Faceski
4 – Poppy Popstar
5 – Tella Shes Dreamin
8 – Hurricane Katie
Overview:
OFF YOUR FACESKI (7) was aggressively driven from the outside of the second line to push forward and find the lead when he scored easily at Maryborough. This race is only slightly tougher and he should make his presence felt. POPPY POPSTAR (4) battled on fairly well after enduring a tough trip at her latest fourth. She scored comfortably after leading the last time she was driven by leading reinsman James Herbertson and should be competitive again. TELLA SHES DREAMIN (5) showed good gate speed to lead at her latest Maryborough third and is likely to be driven in a forward manner again. HURRICANE KATIE (8) has the ability to win a race of this standard but has broken stride in both of her starts since resuming.
R4: 3.12pm Bartlett Manufacturing Mares Trot
3 – Golden Skies
7 – The Priestess
9 – Manda Kyvalley
8 - Champagnes
Overview:
GOLDEN SKIES (3) is meeting a field of more depth but she continues to improve with experience and she has race fitness to her advantage. THE PRIESTESS (7) is very lightly raced having only performed once in 2025 and that was back in May. She has always shown some talent and she finished a close second at a Terang trial effort on Tuesday night so she must be kept safe. MANDA KYVALLEY (9) hasn’t had much luck recently and strikes a suitable assignment. She produced a brave performance when second behind the in-form trotter Keayang Brandy on October 21. CHAMPAGNES (8) finished quickly at her latest eye-catching fifth and is not without a chance.
R5: 3.47pm Vital Signs 3yo Maiden Pace
2 – Signature Look
10 – Co Captain
1 – De Beau Rock
3 – Steel Miki
SIGNATURE LOOK (2) is undefeated from three trials and demolished his rivals by over 30m in a mile rate of 1.58.3 at his latest Melton trial victory so he is clearly the horse to beat.
BACK: 2 Signature Look – 3 units (win)
Overview:
CO CAPTAIN (10) performed very well at the trials prior to a brave second when on debut at Maryborough. He should win a race at short notice but the barrier draw is against him here. DE BEAU ROCK (1) showed brilliant gate speed to lead from the outside of the front line and did well at his latest third. He is drawn to receive every chance over the short trip. STEEL MIKI (3) and THE TRAWLER (6) are both worth thought in multiple combinations.
R6: 4.25pm Aldebaran Park Maiden Trot
9 – Acacia Stride
8 – In High Places
5 – Muscle Valley
2 – So Much Swagger
ACACIA STRIDE (9) was resuming since June when she worked home well for second behind Spirited Gigi at Maryborough. She should be fitter from that performance and strikes a very suitable assignment so she is capable of going one better.
BACK: 9 Acacia Stride – 2 Units (win)
Overview:
IN HIGH PLACES (8) has been placed in three of his past five starts and finished off well at his latest Melton third. SO MUCH SWAGGER (2) and MUSCLE VALLEY (5) are both first starters that have been placed in recent trial performances and must be kept safe. METRO SWISH NZ ran a nice race for second when on debut at Ararat. She has had a couple of chances since and broke stride at Ballarat on Thursday night but might be able to run into a place if she delivers a fool proof display.
R7: 5.03pm Benstud Standardbreds Pace
2 – Where Is Woody
6 – Direct Command
7 – Bakers Bandit
5 – Dallas Miki
WHERE IS WOODY (2) has ordinary numerical form on paper but he will appreciate a significant drop back in class from his three efforts in the Super Series and his latest tenth at Metropolitan level. He scored at Bendigo in a mile rate of 1.57.6 on October 28.
BACK: 2 Where is Woody – 1 unit (win)
Overview:
DIRECT COMMAND NZ (6) is a tough competitor and was placed behind the in-form pacer Platinum Jive NZ at Kilmore four starts ago. He has been unplaced at his past two starts in New South Wales and might find this assignment to be more suitable. BAKERS BANDIT (7) produced a strong performance to win at Terang, where he commenced from the second line and circled around the field to race without cover. This race is a little harder but he was impressive last time out. DALLAS MIKI (5) races best when he is close to the speed and did well after enduring a tough trip at his latest Mildura second.
R8: 5.40pm McPhersons Printing Group Pace
2 - Shezabluechip
1 – Alcatraz Girl
9 - Vincheska
5 – Shiralee
SHEZABLUECHIP (2) attempted to lead throughout and went down narrowly at Maryborough last week. She is a good chance of finding the lead again and is capable of going one better.
BACK: 2 Shezabluechip – 2 units (win)
Overview:
ALCATRAZ GIRL (1) performs best over the short distance and she is ideally drawn. She was runner up from behind the leader at Kilmore on December 18. SHIRALEE (5) has steadily improved with each run since coming from New South Wales and wasn’t far away at Ballarat on Thursday night. She won a race of similar standard at Melton on January 02. VINCHESKA (9) is resuming since March but was competitive at a higher level during her last preparation and WICHITA KANSAS (6) is not without a chance against this class.
