Maryborough, Wednesday 4 February

Form Analysis by Craig Rail

Race 1:

OVERVIEW: The fitness of BLAKE BOLAC (7) is the key to the result. He is the class runner of the field but hasn’t started since March 2025 and is poorly drawn. He did finish a close up fourth in a strong line up at a Melton trial performance last week after settling three back on the markers. NEW YORKER (4) will appreciate a significant drop back in class on his past two efforts in the Leeton and Shepparton Cups. He is versatile and should give a bold showing. CURYO GENTLEMAN (8) was driven aggressively and scored at Metropolitan level on December 06. He was placed in the Wedderburn Cup at his latest attempt and is capable of figuring in the finish. JET ROCK (3) and LE BELLE BIJOUX (5) are both resuming but have performed well enough at the trials to warrant respect.

SELECTIONS: BLAKE BOLAC (7), NEW YORKER (4), CURYO GENTLEMAN (8), LE BELLE BIJOUX (5)  

Race 2:

OVERVIEW: RUBYS DREAM (8) finished off well from a nice trail and just failed to defeat Romantic Nina when second at Maryborough last week. She boasts a good strike rate and should be competitive again. HEZA GUN (7) finished third in the same race and did very well after working hard in the run. He was runner up at Metropolitan level prior and is versatile so he looms as a genuine contender. WALLIS (2) is racing in peak form and must be considered as a winning chance again but he is rising in class on his past two efforts. CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY (4) finished fourth in the Wedderburn Cup last outing and boasts a consistent standing start record. He has been unplaced in all of his three starts since resuming but gets his chance to improve under these conditions.

BACK: RUBYS DREAM (8) – 1 unit (each-way)

SELECTIONS: RUBYS DREAM (8), HEZA GUN (7), WALLIS (2), CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY (4)  

Race 3:

OVERVIEW: CHRISTMAS BABE (6) attempted to lead throughout when third behind Van Doren two starts ago. She tired after setting the pace last outing but this is a much easier assignment so she is worth thought. GUNSEN ROSIE (4) hasn’t won a race since a victory at Kilmore in August 2024 but she strikes a suitable assignment and ace reinsman James Herbertson takes over the drive so she cannot be left out of calculations. AZALEA MAE (5) pushed forward to find the lead and dropped out at the end when fifth at Maryborough last outing. She beat a stronger field in a victory at the end of last season so she has the ability to run a good race against this class. PLAYA DEL CARMEN (3) possesses early speed and is a good chance of ending up being behind the leader so she is a definite place chance.

SELECTIONS: CHRISTMAS BABE (6), GUNSEN ROSIE (4), AZALEA MAE (5), PLAYA DEL CARMEN (3)

Race 4:

OVERVIEW: LOUIEVILLE LASS (2) led out then took cover and was held up for a run at a vital stage when a creditable second behind Manda Kyvalley at Maryborough. Her past two performances have been sound and she strikes a very suitable assignment now. MONTANA MUSCLE (4) possesses early speed and was runner up behind the in-form trotter Off Your Faceski at Charlton last outing. She has returned from a break in consistent form and should give another forward showing. ALDEBARAN MAVERICK (7) was last at the bell and did well to work into fifth (3.5m) behind What’s The Tea at Maryborough last week. He is poorly drawn again but he still rates as a value hope. CHARLIE WALKER (5) ran a sharper race last time out and is worth thought along with NEDZA THRILLER (3) and MAGIC LAW (6).  

SELECTIONS: LOUIEVILLE LASS (2), MONTANA MUSCLE (4), ALDEBARAN MAVERICK (7), CHARLIE WALKER (5)

Race 5:

OVERVIEW: PIESRIDINGSHOTGUN (7) is a very fast beginner and is a chance of finding the lead despite the wide draw. He led throughout at a Kilmore victory two starts ago and has been placed in six of his past eight attempts so he should make his presence felt. THE ITALIAN DREAM (8) is working up to a win against this class and finished off well for second behind Spirited Lass at Melton last outing. She is awkwardly drawn but should be hitting the line strongly. SETTLE THE BILL (2) hasn’t had a great deal of luck in her recent performances and is usually competitive against this class. She won three races in succession towards the end of last season. RASTAMON (9) broke stride at the start and lost his chance when unplaced at Charlton last outing. He performed very well at the trials prior and is capable of improving on his numerical form.

SELECTIONS: PIESRIDINGSHOTGUN (7), THE ITALIAN DREAM (8), SETTLE THE BILL (2), RASTAMON (9)

Race 6:

OVERVIEW: MISSYS INTEREST (6) is resuming since a fifth in the 2024 Shepparton Oaks. She has performed extremely well at the trials with a second at Bendigo and a comfortable win at Shepparton and she has the class edge over her rivals. SNICKERS EXPRESS (3) contested the $30,000 Delvin Dancer at Ballarat last outing so this is a massive drop back in class. He was placed in two of his three starts prior and should be competitive again. OFF YOUR FACESKI (7) is racing in career best form having won at his past four attempts. This is a harder task but he won his last race by over forty metres so he is logically a chance again. COURAGES LAW (10) beat a handy type in Charlies Tactics at Maryborough on December 01 so he has claims if he can deliver a fool proof display.

BACK: MISSYS INTEREST (6) – 2 units win

SELECTIONS: MISSYS INTEREST (6), SNICKERS EXPRESS (3), OFF YOUR FACESKI (7), COURAGES LAW (10)  

Race 7:

OVERVIEW: BYRNESIDE BOOM (5) holds the key to this event. He is a very smart pacer when at his peak but his manners have let him down recently. He was given a break after being stood down to trial from his race at Shepparton on November 25 and will be fitter after a recent Shepparton trial fourth. MUSELET (4) finished off quickly when an eye-catching second behind Wingate Guy at Terang last outing. He was narrowly beaten at Geelong prior and is capable of going one better now. DOUBLE THE HUNTER (8) returns from a New South Wales campaign, where he performed consistently at a high level. He gets into this race with the aid of a concession claim and is worth thought. KIMCHI (2) continues to perform consistently against this class and is one of the leading chances again.

SELECTIONS: BYRNESIDE BOOM (5), MUSELET (4), DOUBLE THE HUNTER (8), KIMCHI (2)

Race 8:

OVERVIEW: RAKERO WARRIOR (9) broke stride at the start and lost his chance when resuming. He was in outstanding form at the end of his last preparation and he possesses a powerful finishing burst so he is worth another chance. FREMARKS PEGGY (7) was headed off at the start from the pole position and was shuffled back on the markers when a fast finishing and unlucky second behind Black and Gold last week. This race is no harder and she looms as a strong winning chance again. POPPY POPSTAR (6) made an error in the early stages and lost her chance when seventh at Maryborough last week. She was runner up and beaten narrowly in her two attempts prior so she must be respected. KYVALLEY MISTY (11) has made a few errors recently but she has performed extremely well at the trials so she warrants consideration.

BACK: RAKERO WARRIOR (9) – 1.5 units (each way)

SELECTIONS: RAKERO WARRIOR (9), FREMARKS PEGGY (7), POPPY POPSTAR (6), KYVALLEY MISTY (11)

Race 9:

OVERVIEW: JUST AS I AM (11) was resuming since July when a big winner over the smart trotter Bennie And The Jets at Shepparton then followed with a second behind the same horse last outing. He is a handy 4yo with a strong record and should prove very hard to beat against this line up. KYVALLEY JETSTREAM (10) was caught wide early, restrained to last and finished solidly for a game second behind Quirky Character at Kilmore last outing. He is building up a consistent record and is worth thought again. BULLAPARK BENO (12) was shuffled back on the markers and didn’t have much luck in the straight when fourth at Bendigo last outing. He is a versatile trotter and should be finding the line nicely. ANTONOV (9) made a mid-race move and produced a good performance when third behind Wallis last week. He is worth a ticket each way from his trailing draw.

BACK: JUST AS I AM (11) – 3 units win

SELECTIONS: JUST AS I AM (11), KYVALLEY JETSTREAM (10), BULLAPARK BENO (12), ANTONOV (9) 

The odds quoted on the fields page are a GoodForm generated price estimate based on a range of key form factors and are not necessarily the odds that may be offered by a licensed bookmaker.

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** A betting unit is typically a percentage of the total bankroll or the amount of money you are willing to risk on a particular bet – for example 1 unit is 10% of your bankroll, therefore a $100 bankroll 1 unit equals $10

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