Form Analysis by Craig Rail

 

Race 1:

OVERVIEW: KRAKEY (1) has the lowest National Rating in the race but he is still a big winning chance. He raced without cover throughout and went down fighting when a brave second in his heat performance. BLACKJACK WHACKO (3) has always shown promise but is still learning. He finished off best to record a game win in his heat performance and will appreciate his best draw for a long time so he must be considered as a winning chance again. SUMTHIN ELSE (8) won her heat after gaining the perfect trip. She follows out behind the fast beginner KRAKEY (1) so she should be finishing off strongly again. SHAQ (7) is a versatile pacer, which overcame a tough trip to win in a mile rate of 1.56.3 at Maryborough on January 28. He finished well for second his heat performance at Kilmore and is worth a ticket each way.

BACK: KRAKEY (1) – 1 unit (each way)

SELECTIONS: KRAKEY (1), BLACKJACK WHACKO (3), SUMTHIN ELSE (8), SHAQ (7)

Race 2:

OVERVIEW: MISS JOPLIN (13) settled on the markers, angled out wide on the track from the 300m and produced a big finish to win her heat of this series on Tuesday night. She has a tough draw to overcome but is worth thought again. LINE UP JACQUIE (12) left a trailing position to move up without cover when fourth ($2-50 fav) in her heat performance. She enjoyed a nice trail and finished off best to win at Shepparton prior and is racing well enough to figure in the finish. MY BELLA (10) raced without cover early, gained a one out and one back trail mid-race and was held up for a run at a vital stage when she ran to the line nicely at her latest second. This is a field of similar quality and she is worth thought again. JANIEBQUICK (9) came from last and produced a big finish when an eye-catching third in her heat. She is backing up quickly from her effort at Melton on Friday but is worth an investment. OUTA THE BLUE (4) bounced back into winning form after trailing the leader in her heat. She is a fast beginner and looms as one of the leading chances again.

SELECTIONS: MISS JOPLIN (13), LINE UP JACQUIE (12), MY BELLA (10), JANIEBQUICK (9)

Race 3:

OVERVIEW:  CATIES SON (1) has been racing well in New South Wales and is drawn to gain the perfect trip behind the free running pacer CALEDONIAN RANGER (2) so he should prove hard to beat. He recorded a handy mile rate of 1.57.9 when he scored at Albury on February 13. CALENDONIAN RANGER (2) has run along at a rapid rate and has performed extremely well at his past two attempts, which yielded a victory in a mile of 1.57.3 at Cranbourne followed by a second at Ararat. In both of those performances however, the last quarter has been his slowest, so he might be vulnerable in the final 100m. SCHERGER THAT (7) appeared to have his chance after trailing the leader at Kilmore last outing but he is a smart horse when racing at his peak and he should be getting fitter after having two starts back from a spell. SPARTAN SHIELD (6) scored at Temora after setting up a genuine speed and should make his presence felt.

BACK: CATIES SON (1) – 3 units (win)

SELECTIONS: CATIES SON (1), CALEDONIAN RANGER (2), SCHERGER THAT (7), SPARTAN SHIELD (6)

Race 4:

OVERVIEW: CAPTAINS RUSH (3) is resuming since a ninth in the Nutrien Classic in April 2025 but he appeared to be very sharp at his latest Bendigo trial victory and he strikes a suitable assignment first up. ILLAWONG PHOENIX (2) is a consistent mare, which is drawn to be prominent throughout. She trailed the leader throughout and finished second behind Ima Charma at Terang last outing. UNCLE TREV (6) is resuming since being runner up three times in succession back in October and November. He is a fast beginner and should be competitive again if he is somewhere near his peak. RETURN SERVE (7) continues to race well in New South Wales and is worth thought along with RANDOM MAHONEY (8).

SELECTIONS: CAPTAINS RUSH (3), ILLAWONG PHOENIX (2), UNCLE TREV (6), RETURN SERVE (7)

Race 5:

OVERVIEW: THE DARK THUNDER (8) led throughout at his first run since an eighth in the Breeders Crown then followed with a victory in the Boort Cup, where he didn’t appear to handle the track but was still able to get the job done in style. He is awkwardly drawn but will be suited to competing on the bigger track at Shepparton and is a chance of completing a hat trick. WALLIS (9) was driven aggressively from the outside of the front line to find the lead and scored nicely at Maryborough. This race is harder but he is worth thought again. COCONUT MICKEY (1) won from behind the leader at Melton last week and is drawn to obtain a similar trip so he warrants respect. IM ABOVE THE LAW (4) is a bold front running trotter, which won at Kilmore three starts ago. He finished a close up fifth in the Ararat Cup last outing and should make his presence felt under these conditions. ABBIE (2) and CALL ME JACK (6) are both capable of showing up without surprising.

SELECTIONS: THE DARK THUNDER (8), WALLIS (9), COCONUT MICKEY (1), IM ABOVE THE LAW (4)  

Race 6:

OVERVIEW: MOMENTUM SHIFT (11) is poorly drawn but his form at Metropolitan level has been sound and he is a strong chance against this line up. He finished off fast for a game second behind Timbimboo at Melton two starts ago. RUBY WINGATE (10) is a speedy mare and is better than her form reads. She finished off fairly well for fifth behind Intrusion at Shepparton on Tuesday night and rates as a value hope. SEA FURY (8) performed very well at the trials prior to a strong first up victory in a mile rate of 1.55.8. He made ground from a rearward position at his latest fourth and is racing well enough to figure in the finish. WITH IN REASON (3) is a fast beginner and has been placed in six of his past seven starts including a second in the Central Victorian Championship. He should make his presence felt in an open betting event.

BACK: MOMENTUM SHIFT (11) – 1.5 units (each way)

SELECTIONS: MOMENTUM SHIFT (11), RUBY WINGATE (10), SEA FURY (8), WITH IN REASON (3)

Race 7:

OVERVIEW: HOME AND DRY (6) gained a nice trail, switched back to the inner on the home turn and tried hard for second behind Miss Piggy Wiggy last week. He is versatile and is usually competitive against this class so he must be respected. OLLY ODD POTTS (5) began quickly and shot to the lead in the early stages when a fair fourth in the same race last week. He was runner up at Shepparton prior and is worth thought again in this similar grade. CRESCO THREEPEAT (4) is a strong type and strikes a suitable assignment. He raced without cover throughout when fourth at Charlton two starts ago and he is a good chance of ending up in the same position here. HIGHVIEW HAMMER (7) was able to score in a mile rate of 1.56.9 at Shepparton on January 20 and a repeat performance would see him being highly competitive against this class.

BACK: HOME AND DRY (6) – 2 units (win) 

SELECTIONS: HOME AND DRY (6), OLLY ODD POTTS (5), CRESCO THREEPEAT (4), HIGHVIEW HAMMER (7)

Race 8:

OVERVIEW: FRANCO NICKELBACK (2) is a New Zealand bred first starter for trainer Julie Douglas that finished off well for second at a recent Bendigo trial performance. He is ideally drawn and should be competitive against this line up. JUST MY LUCK (7) recorded handy time when he scored narrowly at a Cobram trial effort last week. He is a close relation to five winners including Boncel Benjamin (1.52.0, $487,330) and he appears to have ability so he warrants consideration. FANTASY FLIGHT (4) ran a sharper race at his second attempt when he finished in second at Ararat last outing. He should continue to improve with the benefit of experience and this race is no harder. LIFE ONA HIGHWAY (5) produced a career best effort last week and MADAM MARCHETE (6) performed well enough at her latest trial second to be worth thought in multiple combinations.

SELECTIONS: FRANCO NICKELBACK (2), JUST MY LUCK (7), FANTASY FLIGHT (4), LIFE ONA HIGHWAY (5)  

Race 9:

OVERVIEW: It is an open race for the Maiden trotters to end the program. WHAT A SERVE (6) is resuming since a fifth in the Homegrown Classic in December. She has been lightly raced recently but she also competed in the Abrahams Classic last season so she appears to be well placed against this line up. FARSTAR (8) has broken stride at his past two attempts but he was runner up three times in succession prior so he should be competitive if he delivers a fool proof display. SAMBEZIA (7) is resuming since April but he has been runner up at his past trial performances and might be able to go well when fresh. TWOTTER TAY (2) is a debutante for trainer Steven Duffy, which finished second after trailing the leader at a trial effort back in November. He is ideally drawn and strikes a suitable assignment so he must be kept safe.

SELECTIONS: WHAT A SERVE (6), FARSTAR (8), SAMBEZIA (7), TWOTTER TAY (2)

 

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.

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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