Form Analysis by Tim O'Connor

 

Race 1:

OVERVIEW: BIG BAD OSSIE (9) has been very good in his two runs back from a spell where he has charged home from back in the field to run second. The most recent of those was on Shepparton Gold Cup night when he chased the smart Franco Novelist while three-wide for the last lap. This is a very suitable assignment, he’s the class runner with an NR of 70 and I fancy he will be too slick for a field of rivals without any real form to get excited about. TORQUE POWER (4) is probably going a bit better than his figures suggest and he can run well here, POPCORNFRIDAY (3) is another in good touch at the moment and might be one of the horses that battles for the early lead, while ISOLATION (7) won well from the front two starts back and toughed it out hard when a handy second at Melton last Friday night.

BACK: BIG BAD OSSIE (9) – 3 units (win)

SELECTIONS: BIG BAD OSSIE (9), TORQUE POWER (4), POPCORNFRIDAY (3), ISOLATION (7)

Race 2:

OVERVIEW: Like the first, this is a race for horses that haven’t yet won a $15,000 event in their careers and it shapes as a wide-open affair. KEAYANG SANTIAGO (2) is expected to put some speed into the clash with his free-running style, so I’m happy to take a chance on ROYAL APPOINTMENT (6) despite the tricky gate in a small field. He was too far back last time out behind Followtheace, but a string of his efforts prior have been very good. He feels ready to win. INTRUSION (8) is flying of late for Team Turnbull and will be rattling home in the straight, CELESTIAL ZODIAC (3) ran a couple of crackers at Kilmore and Melton before being a bit unlucky last time at Ballarat and is a great chance, while VINCENZO (7) started favourite in a race like this last weekend and just couldn’t wear down the leader. The run prior was awfully unlucky and he’s another of the winning hopes despite the bad barrier.

SELECTIONS: ROYAL APPOINTMENT (6), INTRUSION (8), CELESTIAL ZODIAC (3), VINCENZO (7)

Race 3:

OVERVIEW: SOHO DARKNSTORMY (5) showed blistering gate speed to lead here at Melton last time and was only run down in the shadows of the post by the handy Always Be Blakey. He beat home three rivals that reoppose on Saturday night, and his first-up win and subsequent second from the chair were also very good efforts. He’s the one to beat, particularly if he can get to the front without too much hassle. KOSIMO (7) was an eye-catcher and clearly the best horse off the fence in that race won by Always Be Blakey, but is a genuine opportunist who needs the tempo on and the breaks at the right time. Not easy for him from gate seven, but he’s one of the class runners. SON OF MAC (8) hasn’t shown anything in his two runs back from a break in much harder company, but did trial well behind Loucasso and Captain Perfect in a slick last half during the week and might improve sharply, while the rest of the runners will probably struggle to win but could fill minor placings without surprising.

SELECTIONS: SOHO DARKNSTORMY (5), KOSIMO (7), SON OF MAC (8), HUGO ROCKS (3)

Race 4:

OVERVIEW: MAXIMEZ (6) appeals as a nice bet here in the fourth event on the card. Michelle Wight’s charge is racing in super form of late, with a brave effort for fourth – beaten just 1.4m – in the Ararat Trotters Cup last time out and a narrow second to the very smart Crusher Clyde before that. Those runs were from in behind the leader on the pegs, and while he might not get that type of trip here, I’m still keen to be with him from a class perspective. SIX NATIONS (5) was too far back but did hit the line okay first-up from a break in a race NOBLE COUNT (7) and OX KNOX (2) contested and can improve, ALDEBARAN BROOKE (3) is among the fast beginners on the front and was brave when fourth to Crusher Clyde last weekend, while GEE CEE CALDER (8) is back from a break and heads here following a Bacchus Marsh trial victory. His best might nearly be too good for this lot, but he can be hard to trust.

BACK: MAXIMEZ (6) – 2 units (win)

SELECTIONS: MAXIMEZ (6), SIX NATIONS (5), ALDEBARAN BROOKE (3), GEE CEE CALDER (8)

Race 5:

OVERVIEW: Very tricky race to assess this one, where most of the runners have good claims. Noting a small ownership share in TIMBIMBOO (7), and while he was perhaps a touch disappointing last time out, he did finish midfield and beat home a couple of rivals that reoppose here in MONTANA PRIDE (5) and DRESSED IN GOLD (3). He was a strong winner in both of his starts prior and narrowly goes on top despite the wide gate. MONTANA PRIDE (5) was a dominant Kilmore winner from the front in early February and was good again when third last weekend behind Wild Card, DO IT (4) is a lightly-raced customer who has some close-up efforts behind handy rivals Twisting By and Shadow Celt to his name, while GOOD TOBE LOCKSLEY (1) and quick beginner GALAXY LASS (2) should get lovely trips and can figure in the placings along with CLYMENUS (8).

SELECTIONS: TIMBIMBOO (7), MONTANA PRIDE (5), DO IT (4), GALAXY LASS (2)

Race 6:

OVERVIEW: Great little clash between the mares here where I’m taking a bit of a chance on JAZZY MELEA (6) first-up from a break without a public trial. She showed great gate speed in a number of her runs last preparation and was very competitive with some of the good mares. She was able to lead and win this race last year over the 1720m, with the 2026 edition over the 2240m. LE BELLE BIJOUX (8) has hit the line really nicely in her last two runs and might benefit from a bit of early speed at the top end, UNIQUELY IDEAL (7) is very smart on her day but can be a bit inconsistent and heads back to Melton after an early gallop in last Sunday’s Birchip Pacing Cup, while BRINGSUSJOY (1) was poor last time out, however will appreciate the draw and can be hitting the line hard late into the placings.

BACK: JAZZY MELEA (6) – 1 unit (win)

SELECTIONS: JAZZY MELEA (6), LE BELLE BIJOUX (8), UNIQUELY IDEAL (7), BRINGSUSJOY (1)

Race 7:

OVERVIEW: NEW SHUFFLE (6) proved he was one of the smarter three-year-olds in Victoria last season and just a shade below the absolute elite with some great efforts through the Vicbred and Breeders Crown series. He ventured north for a two-start campaign with trainer David Aiken at Menangle and is now back in the care of Phillip Chircop. He’s the class runner here and I fancy he can win from any position in running. KOMODO (4) came with a big finale to run second in Sunday’s Birchip Pacing Cup and did something similar two runs before that in a good race at Ballarat. He’s going well for Aaron Dunn and can certainly figure. In-form pair HES ALL TORQUE (2) and MY LITTLE BO (7), as well as EARL OF PEMBROKE (3), are the other key contenders.

BACK: NEW SHUFFFLE (6) – 4 units (win)

SELECTIONS: NEW SHUFFLE (6), KOMODO (4), HES ALL TORQUE (2), MY LITTLE BO (7)

 

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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.