Form Analysis by Craig Rail
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: PIESRIDINGSHOTGUN (2) is a fast beginner and led throughout to comfortably win his heat of this series. He is drawn to lead again and should take catching. WITH APLOMB (6) has returned from Queensland in peak form with a win at Maryborough followed by a second last week, where she finished off nicely from midfield. She is widely drawn but is racing too well to dismiss. MIELICKI (13) produced the eye-catching run out of the heats. He settled in the second half of the field, angled to the outside on the home turn and motored to the line to finish in fifth. NIGHT SKY (3) comes into this race well being a heat winner. She was able to find the lead in her heat victory and it is unlikely she will be able to head off PIESRIDINGSHOTGUN (2) at the start here but she is still worth thought.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely leader), 3,5
SELECTIONS: PIESRIDINGSHOTGUN (2), WITH APLOMB (6), MIELICKI (13), NIGHT SKY (3)
RATINGS: 2/ 6,13/ 3/ 8,10
SUGGESTED BET: PIESRIDINGSHOTGUN (2) to win
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: LOU EASYANA (4) is backing up quickly from her effort at Maryborough on Monday but she is racing in career best form and should give another forward showing. She won the Super Series Silver event in fast time at Ballarat two starts ago, where she sprinted sharply from behind the leader. DELIGHTFUL MIKI (7) was an emergency for the Breeders Crown Final at Melton on Saturday night so she appears to be well placed against this line up. She has progressed from the Victoria Oaks to the Super Series then into the Breeders Crown so this is her easiest assignment for a long time. LILSTREPO (1) hasn’t finished further back than fourth at her past nine starts and she is drawn to be prominent throughout. She settled at the tail of the field from a bad draw and made a lot of ground when fourth behind LOU EASYANA (4) last outing. BLACKINDEED (2) led out then took cover with a lap remaining when second behind Nosweetsforyou at Maryborough last outing. She continues to race in good form and is worth thought again.
EARLY SPEED: 1 (possible leader), 2,4
SELECTIONS: LOU EASYANA (4), DELIGHTFUL MIKI (7), LILSTREPO (1), BLACKINDEED (2)
RATINGS: 4/ 1,7/ 2/ 5,6
SUGGESTED BET: LOU EASYANA (4) to win
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: WICKED MITZI (6) led throughout and posted a brilliant mile rate of 1.53.0 at Bendigo three starts ago, competed in the Super Series Silver event at her next attempt then sustained a long run to win at Charlton. She is racing in career best form and should prove hard to beat again. REIGN EM IN (3) performs best over the sprint distance but he is a fast beginner and will appreciate his best draw for some time so he is not without a chance. DIRECT COMMAND (10) is a versatile pacer and gets into the race nicely with a concession claim so he is not without a chance. DAVOLAS LEGACY (9) broke stride at the start and lost her winning chance last outing. She is better than her numerical form suggests and is capable of showing up prominently if she is able to get away safely. SWISS LIGHTNING (2) recorded a personal best time of 1.55.5 when he blitzed his rivals at Horsham last outing. This is a harder race but he is drawn to go well.
EARLY SPEED: 6 (likely leader), 1,2,3,4,7
SELECTIONS: WICKED MITZI (6), REIGN EM IN (3), DIRECT COMMAND (10), DAVOLAS LEGACY (9)
RATINGS: 6/ 3,10/ 2,9/ 8/ FIELD
SUGGESTED BET: WICKED MITZI (6) to win
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: THEROCKGOD (10) has had a lot of chances and is yet to be placed this season but he possesses a strong finishing burst and this is his easiest assignment for a very long time so he gets his chance to improve. ANAKIN (8) is the class runner of the field but he does prefer to race close to the speed so the barrier draw is a disadvantage. He defeated the handy type Ollies The Boss at a Kilmore victory three starts ago and he worked home well for second in a slick mile rate of 1.54.3 last time out. KATUNGA EXPRESS (6) finished off quickly for second behind Chirripo at Shepparton on November 25 and his overall form has been consistent. This appears to be a suitable assignment and he is worth an investment. MAJOR BERT (3) produced a big performance after racing without cover throughout at his latest second and he is drawn to give another bold showing.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible leader), 3
SELECTIONS: THEROCKGOD (10), ANAKIN (8), KATUNGA EXPRESS (6), MAJOR BERT (3)
RATINGS: 8,10/ 3,6/ 2/ 1
SUGGESTED BET: THEROCKGOD (10) each way
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: LORIMERMAJOR (2) won a race of similar quality by a comfortable margin two starts ago then followed with a ninth in a stronger race won by Olivia Rose last week. He will appreciate this grade better than his latest performance and he has won nine races for the season so he is worth an investment. TEX GOES BANG (5) raced without cover throughout and proved too strong for his rivals at Melton last outing. He circled around the field to race without cover after commencing from the inside of the second line last week when a creditable fourth and he should be competitive again. REGAL ROCK (7) appeared to have his chance after setting the speed when fourth at Kilmore on Thursday but he led throughout at his previous victory and should give another forward showing under these conditions. SALSBOY (10) possesses a powerful finishing burst and will be suited if there is a genuine tempo throughout so he is worth an investment.
EARLY SPEED: 7 (possible leader), 1,2,6
SELECTIONS: LORIMERMAJOR (2), TEX GOES BANG (5), REGAL ROCK (7), SALSBOY (10)
RATINGS: 2/ 5,7/ 10/ 1,8,9
SUGGESTED BET: LORIMERMAJOR (2) each way
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: CROCODILE BLOOD (9) has only been placed once in seventeen starts for the season to date but he produced a big effort to beat a few runners home last week. He galloped in the score up and was completely tailed off early so he warrants consideration. ROCKNROLL COWBOY (3) recorded a handy mile rate of 1.59.9 when he defeated Tap To Pay at a Maryborough trial victory last week so he must be respected. ZAPPA (2) worked hard early then gained a trail and just failed to pick up Indiana’s Son when second at Mildura last week. He continues to improve with the benefit of racing and is worth an investment. FIVE CENT (1) should be reaching his peak form after having two starts back from a spell and is worth thought from the pole position.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (possible leader), 2,7
SELECTIONS: CROCODILE BLOOD (9), ROCKNROLL COWBOY (3), ZAPPA (2), FIVE CENT (1)
RATINGS: 3,9/ 2/ 1/ 6,7
SUGGESTED BET: CROCODILE BLOOD (9) each way
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: DONA AMALIA (8) was resuming since August when third behind Kyvalley Jetstream at Charlton, where he pushed forward to find a forward position then took cover. He should be fitter from that run and his overall form is sound so he must be considered as one of the leading chances. MONTANA CHEVELLE (7) broke stride when behind the leader on the home turn at her latest fifth. She scored at Maryborough on November 17 and she appears to be well graded in this event so she must be considered as a winning chance. MAGIC LAW (2) performs best when she is able to lead out then take cover so she is perfectly drawn to suit her racing pattern. She has been runner up in two of her past three starts against similar grade and should be competitive again. CHRISTMAS BABE (3) is drawn to find her favourite front running role over the sprint distance so she should take catching.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (likely leader), 2,6,7
SELECTIONS: DONA AMALIA (8), MONTANA CHEVELLE (7), MAGIC LAW (2), CHRISTMAS BABE (3)
RATINGS: 7,8/ 2/ 3/ 6/ 5
SUGGESTED BET: DONA AMALIA (8) to win
