Form Analysis by Tim O'Connor

 

Race 1:

OVERVIEW: Noting a small ownership share in TIMBIMBOO (3) here and he really does look to have a great winning chance in this 0W/15.0K stake event. He was very good prevailing last time out at Melton when he worked hard in a fast lead time and first quarter before holding off the talented Odin, who has come out and won since. He looks a likely leader here, and if he does get the top, will be extremely hard to run down. If it’s not TIMBIMBOO (3), there’s a stack of other winning chances in this great start to the Hunter Cup card. ROYAL APPOINTMENT (12) is banging the door down to win a race and will be rocketing home if the tempo is on, HEZ ALL ROCK (1) can improve sharply from the draw and did hold the front last time he drew the pole, while HOORAH PHILTRA (9) was very brave three-wide for the last lap when only beaten 7.9m at Kilmore last weekend and heads a host of others that can certainly win with the right luck.

BACK: TIMBIMBOO (3) – 2 units (win)

SELECTIONS: TIMBIMBOO (3), ROYAL APPOINTMENT (12), HEZ ALL ROCK (1), HOORAH PHILTRA (9)

Race 2:

OVERVIEW: Cracking first heat of the Great Southern Star where we get to see the megastar of Australasian trotting KEAYANG ZAHARA (5) in action as a short-priced favourite. It’s impossible to see her being beaten at present, and she should find the top and cruise to win 24 at start 25. From there, she will attempt to claim the final and lock away an incredible $500,000 Summer of Glory bonus a couple of hours later. Stablemate JILLIBY BALLERINI (10) put herself out of the draw by causing a false start in the Kilmore Trotters Cup, which she then led and won in super fashion last weekend. She is one of the few horses in this country capable of beating KEAYANG ZAHARA (5) and is fancied to fill the quinella spot from ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (4), who will probably lead and take a trail on the hot pot. She’s racing well in her comeback from serious injury. Defending GSS champ WATTS UP PARTYTIME (9) won well back in the care of trainer Rickie Alchin at Menangle last weekend and is a must for the back end of trifectas and First 4s.

SELECTIONS: KEAYANG ZAHARA (5), JILLIBY BALLERINI (10), ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (4), WATTS UP PARTYTIME (9)

Race 3:

OVERVIEW: A flip in early betting has seen ARCEE PHOENIX (2) displace JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (5) as favourite and I can see why. There’s no doubt the Inter Dominion champ is racing below his best, but he has good gate speed and could sharply improve if he gets to the fence over the 1720m trip. He’s a multiple Group 1 winner with stacks of experience over the emerging JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (5), who looks a star on the rise after just 16 career starts. She trailed Jilliby Ballerini and ran second to her in last weekend’s Kilmore Trotters Cup on the back of five-straight wins. Very hard to beat wherever she lands in running, particularly the front. IM BOBBY (8) is right at the top echelon of trotters in this country and would be clear top pick had he drawn to lead, but barrier eight makes it tough. He was brave from the chair last weekend in the Kilmore Trotters Cup after eye-balling Jilliby Ballerini for much of the race and his Shepparton Trotters Cup win was special last month. OLLIVICI (6) was airborne before breaking at his last start and didn’t wow at the trials this week, but he’s a horse I have huge respect for.

SELECTIONS: ARCEE PHOENIX (2), JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (5), IM BOBBY (8), OLLIVICI (6)

Race 4:

OVERVIEW: The 4YO Bonanza is a special part of Hunter Cup night and this year’s edition is another ripper as a spot in the Group 1 Chariots of Fire goes up for grabs. MY ULTIMATE BARNEY (9) has come back in great form for the Andy Gath stable with a dynamic win at Melton followed by back-to-back runner-up placings. His latest effort at Cranbourne was very good when he got past FORTY LOVE (10) from the one-one to only be beaten 1.8m by War Dan Buddy. Gets a nice trailing draw to run well here and he’s just favoured in a wide-open event. FORTY LOVE (10) looks in career-best form with a Hamilton Pacing Cup victory in mid-January followed by a third placing to Leap To Fame in the Ballarat Pacing Cup then a tough death seat third to War Dan Buddy last weekend. He can win. I just love GOLDEN TRIBE (6) and he scored a dominant victory at Kilmore last Saturday on the back of two great runs to start the campaign. SOHO DARKNSTORMY (3) might be the early leader here and can perform well at odds. Other leading hopes include SEATHESTARS (7), who was super at the trials late last month in his first public appearance since running sixth in the Eureka, and the classy HESITATE (11), who has also performed well at the trials following a tough run and last placing in the Victoria Derby during October.

SELECTIONS: MY ULTIMATE BARNEY (9), FORTY LOVE (10), GOLDEN TRIBE (6), SOHO DARKNSTORMY (3)

Race 5:

OVERVIEW: Intriguing three-year-old contest where New Zealand juvenile Group 1 winner FUGITIVE (5) steps out for his first Victorian start. He was held up in his Aussie debut at Menangle, but got clear in time to score and looks a very handy addition to the Michael Stanley yard. He’s just fancied over the exciting-but-quirky QUATRO MOTH (3), who remains unbeaten from her first three career starts. First-up for the campaign at Shepparton on January 17, she showed good speed to lead but went very rough over the concluding stages to win by 4m. It is a concerning trait, however there’s a big hype on her and she can continue the picket fence, particularly if she works to the front. EYENEEDTHAT (2) is favoured of the two Aaron Dunn runners based off his draw, which could see him work to the fence and take cover. He was good through the Breeders Crown series, finishing sixth despite a tough run in the final. BROOKLYN DAN (9) is a stablemate of QUATRO MOTH (3) who won his maiden smartly in June but hasn’t raced since, while CO CAPTAIN (8) was super sitting parked in the last lap to beat KNIGHT FURY DAN (6) and MISTER AMERICANO (1) at Kilmore last weekend.

BACK: EYENEEDTHAT (2) – 2 units (place)

SELECTIONS: FUGITIVE (5), QUATRO MOTH (3), EYENEEDTHAT (2), BROOKLYN DAN (9)

Race 6:

OVERVIEW: Well, what a race this is. The 2026 A. G. Hunter Cup has drawn a stunning field of pacing stars headlined by Australasia’s richest ever, LEAP TO FAME (6). The Queensland champ has won the Ballarat, Cranbourne and Kilmore features in brilliant fashion in recent weeks to set up a shot at a $1 million bonus should he claim a second Hunter Cup crown on Saturday night. I’d suggest he might have to sit parked to do so from gate six, but he’s the horse they all have to beat. The speed battle looks interesting, with WAR DAN BUDDY (4) crossing REPUBLICAN PARTY (1) at Kilmore last weekend. I’m not sure he can do that here with powerhouse stayer SWAYZEE (2) drawn inside him and I fancy the most likely scenario is that Jason Grimson’s defending champion assumes control at the top. He chased hard from the back in the Cranbourne Gold Cup from a difficult barrier and will prove awfully hard to run down should he lead. REPUBLICAN PARTY (1) draws the same gate he had when a slashing third in last year’s Hunter Cup, but might land a spot closer this time around. He tuned up for this with a brave second to LEAP TO FAME (6) at Kilmore and looks ready to fire. KINGMAN (10) is an emerging Grand Circuit gun and can win despite the tricky back row draw, while veteran MAX DELIGHT (9) might be worth considering for exotics at odds.

SELECTIONS: LEAP TO FAME (6), REPUBLICAN PARTY (1), SWAYZEE (2), KINGMAN (10)

Race 7:

OVERVIEW: A star-studded field of mares line up in the Group 1 Queen of the Pacific, where Jason Grimson has a marvellous hand with his pair of Kiwi imports. CAPTAINS MISTRESS (7) is a very, very exciting pacer that blew rivals away in two starts at Menangle after joining the stable and backed that up with a stunning track record obliteration at Cranbourne a fortnight ago where she beat five horses that reoppose here. She’s a star and goes on top of stablemate TOKYO ROSE (6), who has looked awfully impressive in her two runs for Grimson at Menangle. EYE KEEP SMILING (10) is likely to be crowned Australian open age mare of the year for 2025 and was very brave from the chair when second at Cranbourne, while SWEETNIKKILOU (3) was good through the line in that race and might be able to work across to the pegs. From there, she can figure in the First 4 numbers.

BACK: CAPTAINS MISTRESS (7) and HI MANAMEISJEFF (8) – 4 units (win multi)

SELECTIONS: CAPTAINS MISTRESS (7), TOKYO ROSE (6), EYE KEEP SMILING (10), SWEETNIKKILOU (3)

Race 8:

Great Southern Star final field to be known after heats as races two and three.

Race 9:

OVERVIEW: HI MANAMEISJEFF (8) would be one of the top horses in the market had connections decided to run in the A. G. Hunter Cup, but instead he lines up as the clear class runner in the 1200m Mercury80. While the wide front row gate is never easy over the one-lap dash, HI MANAMEISJEFF (8) just looks far superior to his rivals and should overcome the draw. He ran down Miracle Mile and Inter Dominion champ Don Hugo last time out at Menangle, won the Sunshine Sprint at Albion Park before that and was only grabbed late by Kingman – beating home Leap To Fame! - in last October’s Victoria Cup. That’s stunning form for this. The speedy GHOST OF TIME (4) looks like finding the pegs and might give plenty of cheek out in front, METEOR MOTH (5) was good first-up in the hot 4YO&5YO Championship at Cranbourne, while the consistent LOUIE LOU I (7) is another of the fast beginners and chased home Smoken Ace gallantly in a hot race at Kilmore last weekend.

BACK: CAPTAINS MISTRESS (7) and HI MANAMEISJEFF (8) – 4 units (win multi)

SELECTIONS: HI MANAMEISJEFF (8), GHOST OF TIME (4), METEOR MOTH (5), LOUIE LOU I (7)

Race 10:

OVERVIEW: Multiple Group 1-winning New Zealander CHASE A DREAM (6) has recently joined the Jason Grimson barn and appears here for his first-up Aussie assignment. His last couple of starts back home have just been fair, but they have been in strong company and this is a very suitable race to open his account on our shores if you consider he ran fourth, beaten just a handful of metres, to Kingman in the Group 1 Christian Cullen 4YO Classic in November last year. While he’s a short-priced favourite to score here, I’m leaning the way of veteran millionaire MACH DAN (7) who I think can lead this event. He was very brave doing a power of work in the chair when third to Smoken Ace last weekend at Kilmore and is always very hard to run down when he finds the top. They look the main chances, with the handy OPERATIVE LINE (5) and HOT DEAL (8) favoured to fill the third and fourth placings.

BACK: MACH DAN (7) – 2 units (win)

SELECTIONS: MACH DAN (7), CHASE A DREAM (6), OPERATIVE LINE (5), HOT DEAL (8)

 

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** 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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