Melton, Saturday 28 February
Form Analysis by Tim O'Connor
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: Quality fast class event to start a wonderful night of racing at Melton and it’s with some trepidation I side with CATCH A WAVE (2). He’s a horse who has been awfully hard for punters to follow, but did have plenty of excuses when running last in a race that looked his for the taking at Kilmore a few weeks ago. He was trapped wide for the last lap and dropped out. Given LOUIE LOU I (1) tends to take cover in his races, it looks as though CATCH A WAVE (2) might be able to glide across and control this from the front. Something near his best will be winning, but will we see it? JILLIBY NITRO (7) drops back from very competitive efforts behind Leap to Fame and Swayzee in the Cranbourne, Kilmore and Hunter cups. He can win for sure. LOUIE LOU I (1) is a very honest customer who always finishes his races off well so has to be a factor from the gate, while ALOT LIKE LOUIE (3) ran a cracker in that aforementioned race at Kilmore and backed it up with a brave death seat second to Ghost Of Time last weekend.
SELECTIONS: CATCH A WAVE (2), LOUIE LOU I (1), ALOT LIKE LOUIE (3), JILLIBY NITRO (7)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: THE PRIESTESS (6) has been in splendid form since joining the powerhouse Lee stable and gets her chance to win another race here for a prominent ownership group including football star David Rhys-Jones and media personality Andy Maher. Her last two wins have been by mammoth margins at Terang and Mt Gambier, preceded by a big effort for second at Ballarat when she galloped away. She’s a horse on the rise and should take a power of beating, particularly if she can find the top. MEADOW VALLEY STAR (10) beat a good field on debut for trainer Matt Horsnell in the Hamilton Trotters Cup in January and was very brave when second to Johns Boy in the Wedderburn feature latest, SIX NATIONS (9) returns to the races for the first time this year and brings strong form to the table from last campaign, while JUST AS I AM (3) has good gate speed and might be able to take a trail on THE PRIESTESS (6). The consistent CLAUDYS HERO (5) shapes as the other key winning hope as one of the speed horses off the front line.
BACK: THE PRIESTESS (6) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: THE PRIESTESS (6), SIX NATIONS (9), MEADOW VALLEY STAR (10), JUST AS I AM (3)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: A race for the female drivers here where Tayla French looks to have a great chance with new stable acquisition RUN FOREST RUN (4). The former Kiwi trotter has raced in NSW and Queensland since arriving on our shores, and while he hasn’t shown a great deal yet, an 18.7m defeat to top trotter Parisian Artiste in October reads well for this 0-54 event. He was an eye-catcher in a recent trial at Bendigo and this is a very suitable assignment. The horse to beat. IM EDDIE (7) has been boxing on well despite tough trips of late and will run well again, JAKARTA (6) was only grabbed in the shadows by the handy Crusher Clyde at Terang recently and that horse has won again since, while GOLDEN SKIES (3) showed good speed to lead all the way at Ballarat last time out and is next best ahead of EL BRAVO (9), who was possibly going to win last time out when he galloped near the line, and SETTLE THE BILL (10).
BACK: RUN FOREST RUN (4) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: RUN FOREST RUN (4), IM EDDIE (7), JAKARTA (6), GOLDEN SKIES (3)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: We got a good look at these horses in the sole heat of the Lyn McPherson Bronze series at Bendigo last week, with all 11 starters coming through that event. And while SKY LINDY (5) was a very impressive winner from the chair, there was a stunning performance from LITTLE MISS MORGAN (10) that must have her as the one to beat in the final. Juanita Breen’s exciting mare came from last with an incredible 55.9sec last half while wide on the track to miss by 2.2m. It was close to a second quicker than any other runner in the race and she just needs to be a shade closer this time to be rounding her rivals up. She’s lightly raced and a real talent. SKY LINDY (5) is the obvious danger after her all-honours heat win where she sat parked throughout, surged clear at the corner and held on to score. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT (8) had the second best last half in the heat while coming wide on the track and looks to get a great trip in behind likely leader CHRISTMAS BABE (1), while SUZYS DREAM (2), BLACK AND GOLD (3) and MANDA KYVALLEY (4) – who galloped in the qualifier - are musts for wider exotics.
BACK: LITTLE MISS MORGAN (10) – 3 units (win)
SELECTIONS: LITTLE MISS MORGAN (10), SKY LINDY (5), THE SKY IS THE LIMIT (8), SUZYS DREAM (2)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: Like the Lyn McPherson Bronze series, we had a great sighter last week with a single heat ahead of the Silver final here. The winner there was KEAYANG GYPSY (5), who was able to lead and power home in a slick last half of 56.2sec to score. She looks very hard to beat, but I’m siding with ALDEBARAN SUSANNE (2) given she’s now back in the draw and looks the likely early leader. She was off the back row, hit the line nicely for third in the heat and can turn the tables I fancy. RUBYS DREAM (8) was super coming wide and closing hard for second in the qualifier but has a sticky gate, while the other horses appear mostly place chances and are headed by FONDA RHONDA (1), MAJESTIC TOOTH (4) and MAC FLICK (7).
SELECTIONS: ALDEBARAN SUSANNE (2), KEAYANG GYPSY (5), RUBYS DREAM (8), MAC FLICK (7)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: KEAYANG ZAHARA (1) looks almost a certainty to claim her 26th win and 14th Group 1 in the night’s feature, the Just Believe Grand Prix. The random barrier has been very kind with gate one and she’s expected to lead, dictate and power clear for an easy success. But how do we make money given her short quote? I can see a single file scenario given just the seven horses here and LOVEMETO (2) looks the likely horse to drop onto the champ’s back. He was very impressive running home hard in his heat of the Great Southern Star on February 14 and is fancied to do enough to hold second. JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (3) led and won that aforementioned GSS heat and finished third in the final, while REMUS PHOENIX (4) was super impressive last weekend when snagging back to last then sitting parked to beat the very talented I Am Wilma. They look the clear picks to fill the First 4 spots, but it wouldn’t surprise to see any of the other runners fill the minor end of the prize.
SELECTIONS: KEAYANG ZAHARA (1), LOVEMETO (2), JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (3), REMUS PHOENIX (4)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: She might live in the shadow of her champion stablemate, but JILLIBY BALLERINI (6) is a star in her own right and gets the chance to win another big feature for her large group of connections. She was very good through the recent Great Southern Star series with runner-up placings in both the heat and final, and must go on top here. I’ve got a sense that Michael Bellman might try his luck from the front here with ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (5), who has blistering gate speed and top-end ability herself. She finished fourth in the GSS final despite not finding the pegs and could prove hard to run down over the sprint trip. ALDEBARAN ACRUX (4) is a very nice mare who is third-up from a long break and was good from back in the field behind the aforementioned rivals in a GSS heat, while I AM WILMA (3) led and was run down last weekend in a weaker race than this but can certainly fill the back end of trifectas and First 4s.
SELECTIONS: JILLIBY BALLERINI (6), ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (5), ALDEBARAN ACRUX (4), I AM WILMA (3)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: Quality race this with a few up-and-coming types engaged, including New Zealand import CRUSHER CLYDE (8). He’s been a super addition to the powerful Lee stable and continued his great form with a brilliant last-to-first win at Melton on Saturday night. He has good wraps from within the camp and it’s easy to see why. Keen. Last weekend, KYVALLEY MAVEN (4) got a lovely one-one trip and thrashed three rivals that reoppose here, including QUIRKY CHARACTER (3) who darted home from four fence to run second. He regains the services of James Herbertson, who had won with him during his previous three starts. He’s a handy trotter and is certainly on the rise. MCGEE (5) is now back in the care of Phil Chircop and heads the other chances after reaching the Great Southern Star Final to start his preparation.
BACK: CRUSHER CLYDE (8) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: CRUSHER CLYDE (8), KYVALLEY MAVEN (4), QUIRKY CHARACTER (3), MCGEE (5)
Race 9:
OVERVIEW: Very tricky race to end the card, but I’m in the corner of DOSSIER (6) for Ross Graham and Ellen Tormey. She was unlucky not to go close at big odds three starts back behind Thunda Struck when held up to the line, then sat parked at Cranbourne when beaten 11.7m by RARITY ROCK (2). Last weekend, in a race five of these horses contested, she was held up on the fence, but I loved her efforts through the line. RARITY ROCK (2) is going well for Phil Ellery and can certainly win with the right trip, TICTOK (7) finished the furthest forward of these horses last weekend when fifth after coming wide in the last lap but can be hard to trust, while KYVALLEY MICHAEL (5) is a talented type out of form and a return to something like his best would have him right in this. All that said, none of the eight runners would surprise in a raffle to end the card!
SELECTIONS: DOSSIER (6), RARITY ROCK (2), TICTOK (7), KYVALLEY MICHAEL (5)
For all your harness form in one place go to goodform.thetrots.com.au
** 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
Chances are you’re about to lose. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit
The odds quoted on the fields page are a Goodform computer generated price based on a range of key form factors and are not necessarily the odds that may be offered by a licenced bookmaker.
