Form Analysis by Tim O'Connor

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Race 1

OVERVIEW: JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (7) is surging through the grades and contests another very suitable event in the opener on Ballarat cup night. She has led and beaten a large portion of these horses in recent starts, and has the draw to work forward and control the race again here. She looks very progressive and goes on top. GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW (8) ran a nice second to the aforementioned rival at Cranbourne on January 3, and has placings behind Im Bobby and Jilliby Ballerini in his recent form, so gets the nod for second. PINNIE (9) was unable to beat a runner home last time out but was in crowded room up the straight and her best is good, while MORE WANTED (6) has gate speed and can run a forward race from the pegs.

BACK: JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (7) – 3 units (win)

SELECTIONS: JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (7), GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW (8), PINNIE (9), MORE WANTED (6)

Race 2

OVERVIEW: UNIQUELY IDEAL (9) finished fourth behind the very smart Kiss in the Group 2 Vicbred Super Series Final at her latest effort and has tuned up really nicely with a good win at the trials for this. She’s a very handy mare on her day and probably brings in the best formlines, so looks well suited. JILLIBY ILLUMINATE (8) is first-up since August and has had three hit-outs at the trials, so should be forward enough to run really well. Like UNIQUELY IDEAL (9), she’s lightly raced and has shown good ability, so is definitely a key player. KOMODO (5) absolutely savaged the line from well back in the field last time at Swan Hill behind Hot Deal, while EASTBRO CHRISSY (6) was outclassed in the recent Hamilton Pacing Cup, but did lead and win in good style at Melton before that. They look the key chances, with HEZ ALL ROCK (7) next best.

SELECTIONS: UNIQUELY IDEAL (9), KOMODO (5), JILLIBY ILLUMINATE (8), EASTBRO CHRISSY (6)

Race 3

OVERVIEW: Great edition of the Colin and Heather Holloway 3YO Classic where Emma Stewart brings in two key chances. SIGNATURE LOOK (5) was very, very good winning on debut at Maryborough as he had to sit parked from the back row draw in a 55.1 last half to score. It was a great effort and there’s good wraps on his ability. KNIGHT FURY DAN (7) returns to the races after four starts as a two-year-old, including a dominant win in a heat of the Nutrien series and a fast-finishing fourth in the 2YO Rising Star at Ballarat behind the smart Cardigan Dan and Loucasso. The trial was only fair, but he has a good chance here. LE GASTON (2) is knocking on the door after four-straight runner-up efforts to start his career, while ZANDA MAN (8) has been winning very impressively at Horsham this campaign, but meets tougher opposition here.

BACK: SIGNATURE LOOK (5) – 3 units (win)

SELECTIONS: SIGNATURE LOOK (5), KNIGHT FURY DAN (7), LE GASTON (2), ZANDA MAN (8)

Race 4

OVERVIEW: JILLIBY BALLERINI (7) is a genuine superstar and would have likely started second favourite in the Group 2 Ballarat Trotters Cup behind stablemate Keayang Zahara if connections had have decided to head that way. But she’s here and she’s a short price to win despite the outside front row draw. She will likely let the dust settle and then press forward to take control from the early leader, who I suspect might be MYSTERY FRED (3). From there, she’d need to make a mistake to be beaten. VYTIS (5) is a very promising four-year-old who led and won at Shepparton on Saturday night. His prior form around Mecarno was sensational and he will run well. I was genuinely stunned to see REMUS PHOENIX (6) beaten at his last start when he had every possible chance in front, but he was then sent for a break. I liked his trial behind the pacers last week. ALRIGHTY (8) is a handy trotter who has also run well at the trials recently and can certainly figure in the placings, as can KYVALLEY MAVEN (4) and MYSTERY FRED (3).

SELECTIONS: JILLIBY BALLERINI (7), VYTIS (5), REMUS PHOENIX (6), ALRIGHTY (8)

Race 5

OVERVIEW: All eyes on the champ KEAYANG ZAHARA (6) here as she looks to lock away leg two in her pursuit of the $500,000 bonus for any trotter that can win four features across the Summer of Glory carnival, including the Great Southern Star Final. Really, only a mistake looks like seeing her beaten at the moment – she’s just that good. There might be a battle for the lead in a bid to hand up the front to her, and I suspect David Miles might try to spear across on comeback mare ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (4). She went back in the Maori Mile and looked to have plenty in the tank as she crossed the line. Noting a small ownership share in IMPERIAL COMMAND (7), and while it’s likely he will fly the gate, I’m not convinced he can cross the lot in this grade. His assignment looks very tough. Inter Dominion champ ARCEE PHOENIX (3) doesn’t appear at his best and was well beaten into second in last weekend’s Shepparton Trotters Cup by IM BOBBY (8), who reopposes here as the sole runner on the back row. He’s absolutely airborne and is fancied for second.

SELECTIONS: KEAYANG ZAHARA (6), IM BOBBY (8), ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (4), ARCEE PHOENIX (3)

Race 6

OVERVIEW: Battle four in the enthralling KINGMAN (8)-LEAP TO FAME (7) rivalry lands here in the Ballarat Pacing Cup, and what a contest it shapes to be thanks to an intriguing barrier draw. The ledger sits 3-0 in favour of Luke McCarthy’s brilliant five-year-old, who continued his dominance over Australasia’s richest ever pacer at Shepparton last weekend. Sure, he had the draw to lead and dictate in that race, but he came from behind and around LEAP TO FAME (7) to beat him in both the Victoria Cup and New Zealand Cup before that. He is the sole back row runner and will probably have to do the same again if he’s to defeat the Queensland hero, who despite being in gate seven, appears to have a map advantage on his key danger. Given he looks likely to work forward and lead, I’ll side with LEAP TO FAME (7) narrowly from KINGMAN (8), but without a great deal of confidence. BULLETPROOF BOY (5) is the defending champion and came off KINGMAN’s (8) back to beat him in the recent Bendigo Pacing Cup, so must not be overlooked. The old marvel is flying at the moment and could storm over the top of the favoured pair without surprising one little bit. The rest look place chances at best in what is sure to be another night to remember at the mighty Bray Raceway.

SELECTIONS: LEAP TO FAME (7), KINGMAN (8), BULLETPROOF BOY (5), CATCH A WAVE (2)

Race 7

OVERVIEW: Cracking field of pacing mares assembled here, and we see the return of the star EYE KEEP SMILING (7). A winner of two Group 1s last season, Luke McCarthy’s girl strung together an 11-race winning streak before it was ended with a barnstorming third in the Len Smith Mile. She has been to the trials back home in NSW and can start her 2026 campaign with a win. STENO (8) ran a stack of great races behind EYE KEEP SMILING (7) in 2025 and has now joined the McCarthy stable. She won a soft trial on January 14 and is sure to run well here. The Victorian hopes look to be headed by Aaron Dunn’s SWEETNIKKILOU (3), who recorded the best last quarter in the Bendigo Pacing Cup behind Bulletproof Boy last time out and draws to press forward for the front. LOOK LIKE DIAMONDS (5) beat SWEET IDEAL (2) and JILLIBY WILLOW (6) first-up for the year on January 10 when doing it tough from the chair. She’s a ripper and can run well.

SELECTIONS: EYE KEEP SMILING (7), SWEETNIKKILOU (3), STENO (8), LOOK LIKE DIAMONDS (5)

Race 8

OVERVIEW: SMOKEN ACE (6) has really clicked with James Herbertson, who has partnered Kyle Marshall’s charge on three occasions for two wins – including a track record at Geelong – and a second. And wasn’t he simply brilliant winning on Shepparton Gold Cup night after an unsuccessful burn for the lead?! He eventually settled in the one-one, then ducked back to the inside and finished powerfully to score. Have no idea where he lands in the run with some gate speed under him, but he goes on top in a small but quality field. SEBS CHOICE (1) was first-up for the Michelle Phillips stable in that same race and closed off really well from the back to be beaten just 4.4m. From the good draw, he should be thereabouts. JILLIBY NITRO (3) was third on resumption in the Hamilton Pacing Cup, beating home OPERATIVE LINE (5), who has won two of four runs this campaign. The other runner is ROCKNROLL HAMMER (2), who was only fair at the trials and looks the outsider of the field.

BACK: SMOKEN ACE (6) – 4 units (win)

SELECTIONS: SMOKEN ACE (6), JILLIBY NITRO (3), SEBS CHOICE (1), OPERATIVE LINE (5)

 

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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.