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A ten-race program has been assembled for Tabcorp Park in Melton on Saturday night, headlined by the Group 1 Australian Trotting Championship. Below is a preview of the meeting.
Race 1
His recent form says no, but I like the inside gate for Young Rooster. I can back him each way. This horse hasn’t really had a gate to use in several recent runs but from the pole, he possesses enough gate speed to be prominent throughout and at nearly double figures, I can have something on him 1×3.
Suggested bet: 1×3 Young Rooster
Race 2
This horse lacks the class of some of these, but I can have something small each way on Guptas Cullen. He burned the candle at both ends when winning at Cobram last time out, clocking a 1.56 mile rate in the process, which is sizzling for that track. This horse has good gate speed and he’ll be leading and giving a sight.
Suggested bet: 1×3 Guptas Cullen
Race 3
Swiss Miss is short but should be winning. She’s done a very good job in three Australian runs since arriving from New Zealand and has gate speed to offset barrier seven. The form around her win four weeks ago reads very well and she looks to have a touch of class and quality about her. This horse should be winning.
Suggested bet: No bet, too short
Race 4
Go Dancing looks to have a bit of a class edge on these so I am happy to be in his corner. This horse comes through the Breeders Crown two-year-old C&G Final last Saturday night when he was eased back to near last in the run and was never a factor behind Major Moth. This horse has gate one, so should hold the front and prove hard to get past.
Suggested bet: Go Dancing to win
Race 5
Culture King looks the one to beat. His run last Saturday behind Hurricane Harley and Lochinvar Art was absolutely enormous. This horse did work to get on speed before getting cover. He then got shuffled back and lost all winning hope but I loved the way he found the line when third. If this horse runs up to that here, he wins.
Suggested bet: Culture King to win
Race 6
Mongiana is one of the better each-way gambles of the night. There was a lot of merit in his effort last Saturday here when making a three-wide run and sticking on well to run fourth. This horse draws to follow out the likely leader and at nearly double figures, he only runs well here.
Suggested bet: Each Way Mongiana
Race 7
The class of 13 Tough Monarch just about gets him home. He went to NZ during cup week and was good in three runs, especially the final run in the Group 1 Dominion over two miles, so the 2760 metres here should be fine for him and this horse only has a ten-metre handicap to deal with it. He’s one of the better bets on the card.
Suggested bet: Tough Monarch to win
Race 8
If this becomes a sit/sprint, and Mister Wickham is within range on the turn, he has the turn of foot to get the job done. Forget he went around two weeks ago when back near last in the run and never really in the hunt behind Lochinvar Art. I hope he can land the 1/1 and if that eventuates, he has the turn of foot to beat these.
Suggested bet: Mister Wickham each way
Race 9
Keayang Shady rises significantly in grade/depth from recent efforts at Mildura. But overall, this isn’t a strong race, and she possesses good gate speed, so from the pole she should hold a forward spot, whether it be in front or leaders back. At $13-plus, I could have something on her via a 1×3 play.
Suggested bet: 1×3 Keayang Shady
Race 10
Here is a good test for Can’t Top This but he looks capable of measuring up. His last-start win at Ballarat was brilliant, leading throughout to win by 50 metres in a fast-run mile rate. He’s heading in the right direction, has the Emma Stewart polish, should find the front and prove hard to run down.
Suggested bet: Can’t Top This to win
Harness racing. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
Eight races will be run and won at Tabcorp Park in Menangle on Saturday night, the first getting underway at 6.18pm Sydney time. Below is a preview of the meeting.
Race 1
With respect to recent drivers of Zahven Banner, it’s well and truly a driver upgrade for this guy on Saturday night with Luke McCarthy taking over. This horse has been good in strong races recently. There is a significant drop in depth for him, and has gate speed. I expect him to find the front and prove hard to run down.
Suggested bet: Zahven Banner to win
Race 2
Rinse and repeat with Zahven Banner, except this race it is Mister Donald. Luke McCarthy takes over and has drawn the pole. That should land a plum spot. This horse was good in defeat two weeks ago and looks to find a very winnable race.
Suggested bet: Mister Donald to win
Race 3
It is hard to get away from Snuggles Banyula. This horse resumed at Bathurst where he led comfortably from the inside gate and didn’t give his rivals a look in, recording an impressive win in a strong return. This was his first run since August. This horse should hold up well enough from the pole and clearly looks the one to beat against these.
Suggested bet: Snuggles Banyula to win
Race 4
It is not really a race I want to get involved in from a betting perspective but for the sake of a tip, Major Currency can bounce back. He was disappointing from the front last time out. He can come out finding the front early, then potentially opting for cover, and that might bring a return to positive form.
Suggested bet: No bet
Race 5
Better Enforce is short but should be winning. This horse looked a good thing when she raced here two weeks ago and duly saluted from the front. Despite the wide draw, this horse should find the front once again and she has a fair bit on these in terms of class. Anything $1.70 and above is more than acceptable as a bet.
Suggested bet: Better Enforce to win
Race 6
Odds of $1.35 Alta Orlando to win versus Replaced Eye at $1.45 to run top three. If I had to have a bet on the race, it would be the latter given he is such a brilliant beginner from the mobile and should lead these up comfortably despite the wide gate. This horse has class, and will ensure a strong tempo and keep finding. He’s a good thing to run top three.
Suggested bet: Replaced Eye to place
Race 7
I had something small on My Chachingchaching last Saturday and the breaks didn’t go his way after getting a suck run on the pegs. This race, as a whole, isn’t strong, and this horse draws well once again. This horse does no work in the run and if the breaks do go his way, he can run a much improved race at odds.
Suggested bet: 1×3 My Chachingchaching
Race 8
Majestic Courtney is hit and miss, but if he can do everything right, he should find the front and run a very cheeky race. This horse was an impressive winner four back but in three runs since, he hasn’t really set the world on fire. This horse looks to find the front here with an in-form Jack Trainor to steer and provided he does everything right, only runs well.
Suggested bet: Each way Majestic Courtney
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