Form Analysis by Craig Rail
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: Trainer Isabel Walsh holds the key to the opening event with the two former New Zealand pacers HEZASWEETIE (5) and DAWSON (9). HEZASWEETIE (5) has been racing in great form on the North Island and was heavily supported when second in a mile rate of 1.55.1 at Alexandra Park two starts ago so he should prove hard to beat. DAWSON (9) has a similar form line to HEZASWEETIE (5) but is awkwardly drawn and might need some luck to find a prominent position in the early stages. TELEMACHUS (3) is a fast beginner and is drawn to give a forward showing. He led out then took cover when placed behind the smart pacer Raging Whitebait at Bendigo last outing and should go well. RUDY GEE (6) is a fast beginner and led throughout in fast time at Melton three starts ago. He missed out last outing but is worth another chance. JAZZY MELEA (8) and SNOW HUNTER (11) are both racing well enough to figure in the finish despite drawing awkwardly on the second line.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (likely leader), 1,5,6,7
SELECTIONS: HEZASWEETIE (5), TELEMACHUS (3), DAWSON (9), RUDY GEE (6)
RATINGS: 5/ 3,6,9/ 8,11
SUGGESTED BET: HEZASWEETIE (5) to win
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: THE LOCOMOTIVE (1) has recorded eight victories in succession including the Inter Dominion Final, where he led throughout and defeated last week’s impressive winner Keayang Chucky. He is perfectly drawn to find the lead again and is clearly the horse to beat. ARCEE PHOENIX (3) sprinted quickly to win the Maori Mile then worked forward to find the lead when he scored in the Knight Pistol. He has returned from New Zealand in outstanding form and looms as the logical danger. OSCAR BONAVENA (5) is a millionaire New Zealand trotter, which defeated the champion Just Believe in the New Zealand FFA during the Cup Carnival. He possesses a brilliant turn of speed and is not to be underestimated. ALDEBARAN ZEUS (8) is a short course specialist that has the perfect trailing draw behind THE LOCOMOTIVE (1) so he is a definite place chance. Other place hopes include AARDIEBYTHEILL (2) and LOVEMETO (4).
EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely leader), 2,6
SELECTIONS: THE LOCOMOTIVE (1), ARCEE PHOENIX (3), OSCAR BONAVENA (5), ALDEBARAN ZEUS (8)
RATINGS: 1/ 3,5/ 8/ 2,4
SUGGESTED BET: THE LOCOMOTIVE (1) to win
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: KEAYANG CHUCKY (10) produced a phenomenal performance to win the Dullard Cup after he galloped away and gave away a big start. He will need to get away better over the sprint distance but he is racing in outstanding form and will take holding out in the run to the finish. The great mare QUEEN ELIDA (6) continues to build on her consistent record with a second in the Maori Mile followed by a close second in the Dullard Cup. She is likely to progress forward at the start and will take beating over the short course. MUFASA METRO (4) hasn’t quite been at his best form recently but the drop back in distance will suit and he has the early speed to be prominent throughout. NEPHEW OF SONOKO (1), ALDEBARAN ACRUX (7) and AROHA KOE (9) are all worth thought in multiple combinations.
EARLY SPEED: 4 (possible leader), 1,3,5,6
SELECTIONS: KEAYANG CHUCKY (10), QUEEN ELIDA (6), MUFASA METRO (4), AROHA KOE (9)
RATINGS: 6,10/ 4/ 1,7,9/ 3
SUGGESTED BET: KEAYANG CHUCKY (10) to win
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: It is a terrific field of 4yo pacers with many winning chances. SOME AMERICAN (7) is widely drawn but is a brilliant beginner and had an outstanding 3yo season culminating in a victory in the Breeders Crown. He will be suited to competing over the sprint distance and will prove hard to beat again. DEE ROE (9) is racing in career best form having won three of his past four starts including his latest big victory in the Hamilton Cup. He should receive an economical run from his trailing draw and is worth following. BAY OF BISCAY (4) is resuming since finishing second in the Breeders Crown. He finished second in the Eureka at Menangle in September and he is very strong so he must be respected. MIKI TO SUCCESS (1) is likely to be headed off at the start but he won the Super Series Final in September so he has the class to feature prominently. WAR DAN BUDDY (2), THE BIGBOSS (3) and KINGMAN (8) appear to be the next best in a great race.
EARLY SPEED: 7 (possible leader), 2,3,4,5
SELECTIONS: SOME AMERICAN (7), DEE ROE (9), BAY OF BISCAY (4), MIKI TO SUCCESS (1)
RATINGS: 7/ 4,9/ 1,3,8/ 2
SUGGESTED BET: SOME AMERICAN (7) each way
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: CAPTAIN HAMMERHEAD (8) produced an outstanding performance to be first past the post in the Shepparton Cup but was subsequently disqualified. He will need luck from the inside of the second line but he is the class runner of the field. HECTOR (10) is the emergency for the Hunter Cup and he finished off fast when a game second in the Ballarat Cup last outing. He possesses a powerful finishing burst and looms as one of the leading chances again. ROCK N ROLL DOO (11) has been safely held in his two starts since returning from New Zealand but he recorded fast time when he won a trial at Maryborough on Sunday and is tough enough to figure in the finish. EXOTIC BUSHRANGER (5) is stepping up in class from his latest victory but he broke the track record and he is a good chance of finding the lead again. TRIPLE EIGHT (12) and TANGO TARA (13) continue to perform well at open class level and are worth thought.
EARLY SPEED: 5 (possible leader), 2,3,4
SELECTIONS: CAPTAIN HAMMERHEAD (8), HECTOR (10), ROCK N ROLL DOO (11), EXOTIC BUSHRANGER (5)
RATINGS: 8/ 10,11/ 5,12/ 13/ 4
SUGGESTED BET: CAPTAIN HAMMERHEAD (8) each way
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: Australasia’s best pacer LEAP TO FAME (8) is very awkwardly drawn on the inside of the second row but he is extremely strong and has scored effortlessly at his two starts since returning from a spell. He won this race last year and is capable of defending his crown. REPUBLICAN PARTY (1) won the Auckland Cup and created a big impression at his local debut last week when he was parked without cover and fought hard for third behind LEAP TO FAME (8) in the Casey Classic. He is ideally drawn and should take beating. SWAYZEE (11) was brilliant in winning the New Zealand Cup over DON’T STOP DREAMING (7) and REPUBLICAN PARTY (1) in November and was successful in the Victoria Cup last season. He is likely to be driven aggressively and will make his presence felt. DON HUGO (4) won the Inter Dominion Championship and the Eureka last season and he endured a tough run when a brave third behind MAX DELIGHT (13) last week. He is worth thought along with DON’T STOP DREAMING (7), which was runner up in this race last year.
EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely early leader), 2,4,7
SELECTIONS: LEAP TO FAME (8), REPUBLICAN PARTY (1), SWAYZEE (11), DON HUGO (4)
RATINGS: 8/ 1,11/ 4/ 2,7/ 10
SUGGESTED BET: REPUBLICAN PARTY (1) each way
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: AARDIES EXPRESS (7) is poorly drawn but is an outstanding mare that boasts the record of 19 wins from just 30 starts. She was resuming since a second in the Queen of the Pacific when a brave third in the Adore Me Stakes (1.50.3) so she must be included amongst the leading chances. MY MOONLITE DREAM (5) is a very fast mare and is likely to find the lead shortly after the start. She made it through to the Inter Dominion Final last season and she had no luck in the Adore Me Stakes last outing so she is worth a ticket each way. SWEETNIKKILOU (3) led out then took cover when she scored comfortably over SWEET BELLA (4) last week and is in career best form. SWEET BELLA (4) was resuming since November when she worked to the front and was run down over the latter stages on Saturday night. She should be fitter from that run so she is worth thought. EYE KEEP SMILING (2) is a smart New South Wales trained mare that boasts a strong strike rate and is capable of showing up prominently.
EARLY SPEED: 5 (likely leader), 1,2,3,4
SELECTIONS: AARDIES EXPRESS (7), MY MOONLITE DREAM (5), SWEETNIKKILOU (3), SWEET BELLA (4)
RATINGS: 7/ 3,5/ 2,4/ 1
SUGGESTED BET: AARDIES EXPRESS (7) to win
Race 8:
OVERVIEW:
EARLY SPEED:
SELECTIONS:
RATINGS:
SUGGESTED BET:
Race 9:
OVERVIEW: CATCH A WAVE (10) is returning from a New Zealand campaign, where he performed well during New Zealand Cup week and he has been extremely good at the trials recently. He is clearly the class runner of the field and will take beating despite the wide draw over the short trip of 1200m. GHOST OF TIME (7) is a bold front running pacer and will be suited over the sprint distance. He finished fifth behind Leap To Fame in the Casey Classic last week and should make his presence felt under these conditions. ROCKNROLL HAMMER (6) and JILLIBY NITRO (9) also competed against Leap To Fame last week and should be competitive against this line up. DIAMOND ECLIPSE (4) is a short course specialist and is racing in career best form so he is not without a chance.
EARLY SPEED: 4 (possible leader), 1,7
SELECTIONS: CATCH A WAVE (10), GHOST OF TIME (7), ROCKNROLL HAMMER (6), DIAMOND ECLIPSE (4)
RATINGS: 10/ 7/ 4,6/ 9/ 3
SUGGESTED BET: CATCH A WAVE (10) to win
Race 10:
OVERVIEW: ILL BE GONE (4) finished second in the Sapling Stakes and also in the Homegrown Classic last season so she is a quality filly. She is a fast beginner and should make her presence felt. GALAXY LASS (7) trailed the leader and gained a late inside run when she got up to win at Ballarat last outing. She followed with a fourth in the Caduceus Classic last week and she is racing against her own sex this evening so she must be respected. SOHO AMERICANO (6) was resuming since a third in the Super Series Final when second behind the smart pacer Metro Assassin at Hamilton then followed with a victory at Bendigo. She has only missed a place once in ten starts to date and should run her usual honest race. SAMKERR (2) is a former New Zealander, which joins leading trainer Emma Stewart and her stable mate MILLI ME (5) won impressively at her debut.
EARLY SPEED: 4 (possible leader), 1,6,7
SELECTIONS: ILL BE GONE (4), GALAXY LASS (7), SOHO AMERICANO (6), MILLI ME (5)
RATINGS: 4/ 6,7/ 5/ 1,2
SUGGESTED BET: ILL BE GONE (4) to win
