Shepparton – Tuesday, 17 March 2026
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: MAORI TATTOO (7) may afford to be driven aggressively from the outside here with not a great deal of speed to his inside. He’s been good this season and this presents as a winnable race.
I AM HARRO (6) returns to the front row for the first time in quite some time and although he’s been risky in the past, he can be an improver. CHANTILLY LASS (10) had a crack at the Breeders Crown late last year, and proved it wasn’t a throw at the stumps with three solid performances since. The back row draw and lack of experience are a challenge. SAMMY HALLER (8) is a winner at this track; he’s been a little hit and miss since, but the soft draw helps.
SELECTIONS: MAORI TATTOO (7), I AM HARRO (6), CHANTILLY LASS (10), SAMMY HALLER (8)
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: CHIRRIPO (3) is a consistent mare that seems more favoured when she’s able to map positively. There’s speed around her, but she can use her gate to get in front of key rivals, and the times she’s been running lately will see her hard to beat.
SOHO PLAYGIRL (4) looks suited drawn alongside her to either get the top or be up in speed, where she ran another great race last start. WITH IN REASON (10) is so honest and consistent; he often finds one better due to the amount of work he often does, but he’s full of heart. HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (8) comes from an astute stable and is going well but will need luck from the draw over the short trip.
SELECTIONS: CHIRRIPO (3), SOHO PLAYGIRL (4), WITH IN REASON (10), HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (8)
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: MAURLEN GRACE (1) was well supported on debut in a race where they ran good time and she was forced to do a lot of work from the back row. The form out of that race has proved solid since, and with a better draw and freshen up she’s a strong winning chance.
CAPTAINS RUSH (8) draws to get a soft run and was quite good last time out when 2nd at this track. LA SMOOCH (9) is first up from a break and did show strong improvement to the end of his last prep. OUR SWEET JEANNIE (3) was a trial winner here recently and looked to have ability and is worth keeping safe.
BACK: MAURLEN GRACE (1) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: MAURLEN GRACE (1), CAPTAINS RUSH (8), LA SMOOCH (9), OUR SWEET JEANNIE (3)
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: MUSSEL SHOALS (5) is a lightning-fast beginner who looks to lead here over the short trip. This looks to be her most suitable race for a while, and if she can tap the brakes for a quarter, she’ll be very hard to run down.
KRAKEY (1) is also a quick beginner and will be looking to catch the leader’s back; he’s just finding it hard to win. MISS JOPLIN (3) potentially races better over a bit longer than a mile, but she’s honest and will be in the finish with the right map. WINGATE GUY (8) draws softly to come with one run if they happen to overdo things up front.
BACK: MUSSEL SHOALS (5) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: MUSSEL SHOALS (5), KRAKEY (1), MISS JOPLIN (3), WINGATE GUY (8)
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: IAMAWINGATE (2) strikes very well when drawn from inside and with Herbertson aboard you can expect an aggressive, map-positive drive. He’s a veteran who doesn’t win out of turn, but this presents as a winnable option.
MAJOR MAURIE (4) could be open to improvement from a more favourable draw; he was a non-metro Melton winner late last year. CLIVES GIRL (3) has been consistent from similar draws lately; it’s just starting to be a while between wins. OUR MYSTERY BET (8) has been going well from better draws and will need the breaks but is suited to this grade.
BACK: IAMAWINGATE (2) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: IAMAWINGATE (2), MAJOR MAURIE (4), CLIVES GIRL (3), OUR MYSTERY BET (8)
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: ATTRACTED (5) got things wrong last week at Echuca, but he was travelling up to win at that point on the tighter circuit. His three runs prior from the new stable were good, including a strong win two back, so he’s worth sticking with.
STRAIGHT TO THETOP (4) dropped in class last time and produced a solid performance to win from the same draw; a repeat has her right in it. SETTLE THE BILL (6) if she were to bring her best, would be extremely hard to beat, but if she can balance and trot confidently, she can be in the finish. SUZYS DREAM (3) can slide across with the speed to her inside and run her usual honest race.
SELECTIONS: ATTRACTED (5), STRAIGHT TO THETOP (4), SETTLE THE BILL (6), SUZYS DREAM (3)
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: SASSCILLIAN (1) improved sharply last start when able to lead in decent time. Expect Leedham, who drove there, to adopt similar tactics to give the veteran a chance to win for the first time since May.
LITTLE WHIPPET (3) hasn’t had a lot of luck with barrier draws and could improve with the right map. KARDESLER (2) can get a soft run from this draw, which he didn’t get last start, to be a minor hope. THE ACCIDENTAL ONE (7) broke through for a win last week but had the map favours to do so; this draw is tricky.
BACK: SASSCILLIAN (1) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: SASSCILLIAN (1), LITTLE WHIPPET (3), KARDESLER (2), THE ACCIDENTAL ONE (7)
Race 8:
OVERVIEW: ZU HOFFEN (7) has been flying this season showing good speed and strength from tough draws against similar company. There’s no guarantee he can find the top, but the short trip can work in his favour based on the times he’s been running.
HOME AND DRY (8) has been threatening to win a race and even though she is drawn on the back row, he can map reasonably well with some room to get off the pegs. ALCATRAZ GIRL (6) is a quick beginner and will look to roll forward and does race better over the short trips. OLLY ODD POTTS (4) disappointed last time out after a couple of good runs, so can bounce back if he doesn’t overrace.
BACK: ZU HOFFEN (7) – 2 units (win)
SELECTIONS: ZU HOFFEN (7), HOME AND DRY (8), ALCATRAZ GIRL (6), OLLY ODD POTTS (4)
10-UNIT GAME PLAN
R3 #1 MAURLEN GRACE – 2 units (win)
R4 #6 MUSSEL SHOALS – 2 units (win)
R5 #2 IAMAWINGATE – 2 units (win)
R7 #1 SASSCILLIAN – 2 units (win)
R8 #7 ZU HOFFEN – 2 units (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
6,7,8,10/2,3,4,8,10/1,8/1,3,5
QUADDIE
1,3,4/3,4,5,6,7/1,3/7,8
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
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