Form Analysis by Tim O'Connor

Race 1:

OVERVIEW: Like they did last week, the open class trotters kick-start the night at Melton where LOVEMETO (7) gets back onto the front line. He has really emerged as a top-line squaregaiter in recent months and ran well despite being defeated as favourite on May 30. Before that, he sat parked to win while defeating five rivals that reoppose here. It was a top performance and leads me to think he can overcome the barrier seven draw. KEAYANG STUKA (4) will likely fly across in a bid for the lead and could prove hard to catch based on his form this campaign. He led and won first-up at Bendigo and was the best horse off the pegs in a frantic 2240m contest here last week behind I AM WILMA (1). The latter sprint-laned to victory from the same gate she gets in this race and will be very hard to hold out once again, while IM BOBBY (8) was only nailed in the shadows of the post by that aforementioned rival and is sure to run another good race.

SELECTIONS: LOVEMETO (7), KEAYANG STUKA (4), I AM WILMA (1), IM BOBBY (8)

Race 2:

OVERVIEW: ARTIGAS (3) can be hard to trust given his wayward manners, but his best appears pretty good when he strings it together as he did on May 31 at Maryborough. He trotted throughout there and was a dominant winner third-up from a break. If he trots, he looks very hard to beat here. KAMARAN (4) has put in a great campaign to date and again caught the eye when flashing home from back in the field for third behind Johns Boy at Melton on May 30. He backed it up with a front-running second to Wallis last weekend and looms as one of the key chances. FARROKH (10) is first-up from a break, but heads here on the back of two good wins before a spell and a couple of wins at the trials, while CARLA PIXIE (11) is another looking for three victories in succession after triumphing at Globe Derby and dead-heating with the in-form With Aplomb at Geelong last Friday night.

BACK: ARTIGAS (3) – 2 units (win)

SELECTIONS: ARTIGAS (3), KAMARAN (4), FARROKH (10), CARLA PIXIE (11)

Race 3:

OVERVIEW: Great to see the return of Group 1 winner VYTIS (3) in what is a high-quality trotting contest between some handy types. Emmett and Richard Brosnan’s star squaregaiter ran some great races last preparation and closed it off with a gallant fourth from the chair in a hot Delvin Dancer at Ballarat on Cup night. He has trialled nicely for this – including a close-up effort behind Inter Dominion champion Arcee Phoenix recently – and I like his chances. QUIRKY CHARATCER (8) has struggled to match it in free-for-all grade his last three starts, but is a definite winning hope back a notch here. He rounded up a field including three rivals that reoppose on May 2 and will be a huge threat if pole-marker IRON WOMEN (1) holds the front. MORE WANTED (9) hasn’t won since the Ararat Trotters Cup in February, but has been running some good races in strong company and certainly wouldn’t shock, while SEBASTIANS BOY (10) is hard to catch but oozes ability and shouldn’t be discounted along with MUSKEE (4), BENNIE AND THE JETS (5), IRON WOMEN (1) and New Zealand import CRACKERJACK (7).

BACK: VYTIS (3) – 2 units (win)

SELECTIONS: VYTIS (3), QUIRKY CHARATCER (8), MORE WANTED (9), SEBASTIANS BOY (10)

Race 4:

OVERVIEW: MOUNT BARKER BOY (1) was a little disappointing when a well beaten favourite in his first look at Saturday night Melton grade, but did have to work hard for the front and they ran solid time. His prior three wins from the front were pretty good, he looks the early leader here and I’m not sure there will be a great deal of pressure. Given all that he goes on top, but without a great deal of confidence. CLYMENUS (9) is going really well of late and might drop three back the fence from barrier nine, THESTATESMAN (8) should trail through behind the favourite and would be a danger from there, FIRE MARSHALL (2) is certainly capable but it will be hard if he doesn’t find the fence, while Scott Ewen’s handy mare TARA VICTORY (11) was in good form before a break and will be closing hard.

SELECTIONS: MOUNT BARKER BOY (1), CLYMENUS (9), THESTATESMAN (8), FIRE MARSHALL (2)

Race 5:

OVERVIEW: Wide-open event to start the Quaddie where it’s easy to make a case for most of the runners in the field. That said, SAM NIEN (4) looks primed to run a big race third-up from a spell. He was a very good three-year-old last season and has been impressive in defeat in both starts in 2026. Where he lands in transit is up in the air, but fancy he goes close. KYVALLEY MICHAEL (3) is another horse knocking on the door for a win and was fourth in the race SAM NIEN (4) ran second in at Maryborough on May 31 with a tougher trip. CLAUDYS HERO (1) went back to last and galloped at the turn in his first run back from a little freshen last weekend but is a major player from the pole draw, while RINGER WELLS (8), WALLIS (10) and JUST AS I AM (6) look other key players.

BACK: SAM NIEN (4) – 2 units (win)

SELECTIONS: SAM NIEN (4), KYVALLEY MICHAEL (3), CLAUDYS HERO (1), RINGER WELLS (8)

Race 6:

OVERVIEW: SOME AMERICAN (4) trialled the house down ahead of his return on May 23, and was impressive leading and beating a good field that included boom up-and-comer Keayang Renegade. He steps up significantly in grade from that assignment, but the front appears his and from there he looks very hard to beat over 1720m. ITS CONFIDENTIAL (9) is a Vicbred Super Series Final winner at three and is third-up into the campaign here. He was well held behind Oliver Dan in free-for-all company last weekend, but draws nicely on the back row and should be storming late. FORTY LOVE (5) is a tough customer who is rarely far away and is becoming quite seasoned at this level, while CALEXICO (8) ran as well as expected in the Maryborough Pacing Cup given his position three back the fence and is an emerging type who would give this a shake with the right breaks.

SELECTIONS: SOME AMERICAN (4), ITS CONFIDENTIAL (9), FORTY LOVE (5), CALEXICO (8)

Race 7:

OVERVIEW: I AM THE STORM (9) is two from two this campaign and looks hard to beat in his bid for three-straight victories. He has led and won both starts since resuming from a spell, and while that scenario looks unlikely from the back row, he appears pretty classy and can handle this type of field. OZZIE CORKA (6) is ready to win and I expect Daryl Douglas will use his gate speed in a bid to find the top. He has been runner-up from a spot behind the leader in his most recent starts and is a danger. GOOD TOBE LOCKSLEY (8) has been in good form since joining the Adam Kelly yard and closed nicely for fourth behind I AM THE STORM (9) last week when buried away four back the fence, and ISOLATION (1) can prove a factor from this draw.

SELECTIONS: I AM THE STORM (9), OZZIE CORKA (6), GOOD TOBE LOCKSLEY (8), ISOLATION (1)

Race 8:

OVERVIEW: DAY TWO (1) ran a cracker for second behind Some American two starts back at Melton and was good again bringing up the running line when fourth to SOAP AND BUBBLES (7) last time. He gets a good gate and I think he’s got a great hope if not buried away early. CIGANO (5) is another smart Emma Stewart-trained pacer who returns for his first start as a four-year-old. He produced a slick last quarter to win his tune-up trial and has great form through his three-year-old season. Huge danger. MAXNJAX (6) is a slick beginner who led, handed up and won a strong race last time, while KEAYANG WASABI (4) is another of the fast beginners who is hard to knock based on recent form. Good race!

BACK: DAY TWO (1) – 2 units (each-way)

SELECTIONS: DAY TWO (1), CIGANO (5), MAXNJAX (6), KEAYANG WASABI (4)

Race 9:

OVERVIEW: APOLLOSTORM (3) is a lightly-raced but smart pacer from the Emma Stewart stable that returns to the races for the first time since August last year. He only ran twice in his most recent preparation for a big win at Geelong and midfield finish at Melton when parked in a fast 1720m event won by Always Be Blakey. He stepped out recently at the trials and closed hard for second behind Luvtobeuptome, who we have seen come out and win a good three-year-old race since. He looks like the leader, and from there the likely winner. I’ve got a lot of time for ROCKNROLL WISH (6) and would have tipped him on top had he drawn inside APOLLOSTORM (3). Craig Demmler’s charge was a brilliant first-up victor at Bendigo and took out the final of that series with a similarly good performance in fast time at Maryborough. He’s come from off speed in both his wins this campaign and looks a serious horse. The rest of these would surprise, but THE GOLDEN HOOK (5) has been hitting the line well in recent starts and OUR BELLA LUCIA (1) is shooting for three in-a-row and gets the nice gate.

SELECTIONS: APOLLOSTORM (3), ROCKNROLL WISH (6), THE GOLDEN HOOK (5), OUR BELLA LUCIA (1)