Good Form Preview - Special Saturday Edition

The Game Plan for Melton

Jason Bonnington (@jasonbonnington)

Best Bet

Mister Zion (Race 5 no. 7) ($3.20)
Horses simply don’t go any better than this guy went in the Kilmore Trotters Cup last start. This is as good a trotting race as we’ll see in Victoria until I Can Doosit turns up next year but this one-time Group 1-winning pacer is Australia’s best squaregaiter and I’ll be smashing him at anything better than flip-of-the-coin odds.

Next Best Bets

Mark Dennis (Race 4 no. 5) ($1.90)
The only issue for this bloke tonight is if Chanels Charm (1) holds the top and makes him work too hard. Put simply, if he finds the front or gets a soft run in the breeze then his class will show out and he too looks a worthwhile bet if you’re getting even money.

Alchemy (Race 8 no. 2) ($3.70)
A fantastic frontrunner, this guy looks very likely to lead from the polemarking draw tonight and based on several excellent recent runs he should win if everything goes to plan. You may have to hold your breath at the start as he can do things wrong but he deserves favouritism regardless and is well worth backing tonight.

Mach Ruler (Race 9 no. 2) ($3)
If you’re prepared to put a line through his ignominious performance on Kilmore Cup day then this bloke’s got everything in his favour here. He was flying prior to that unexplained effort, loves the standing start (11 wins) and looks likely to lead for most of the 2240m trip.

Best Trifectas

Race 4
5/ 1/ 6,7,8,9. $40 gets 1000%.
5/ 6,7,8,9/ 1. $20 gets 500%.

Race 8
2,7/ 2,3,7,8,9/ 2,3,4,7,8,9,11,13. $96 gets 200%.

Quaddies (x4)
5/ 7/ 1,2,3,4,5,9,10/ 6,7,11. $42 gets 200%.
1,6,8,9/ 7/ 1,2,3,4,5,9,10/ 6,7,11. $58 gets 69.05%.

Michael Polster (@MickPolster)

The Money Race (Race 8)
Taking on Royal Verdict from the wide draw and I’m playing leader/behind leader with Alchemy bowling along in front and Well Hello Dolly hard on his back. They look a great base for your exotics and below is the game plan with a $100 total spend.  Should be some decent dividends should they come off too.

Quinella: 2,8.  $20

Trifectas: 2,8/ 2,8/ 3,4,7,9,13  and  2,8/ 3,4,7,9,13/ 2,8.  $20 on each gets you 200%

First Fours: 2,8/ 2,8/ 3,4,7,9,13/ Field  and  2,8/ 3,4,7,9,13/ 2,8/ Field.  $20 on each gets you 22.22%

Value Bets

Chanels Charm (Race 4 no. 1) ($8)
Led them up at Geelong last time and was just nabbed on the stick by Vesper Lynd who had the cold sit on his back in fast final fractions. He has the option of leading from the ace alley or taking a trail on Mark Dennis and either way he is sure to be a threat at nice each way odds.

Pete Of Pan (Race 6 no. 9) ($9)
Has been flying of late and was rewarded with a Ballarat victory last start where he ran past the talented Keayang Hanover in a slippery last quarter of 27.7. He is really thriving on the sit and sprint style of racing and with some pace expected early watch for him to be charging at them in the stretch.

Well Hello Dolly (Race 8 no. 8) ($13)
Wasn’t disgraced behind Chancellor Cullen in a strong M0/M1 series before sitting wide the last circuit and battling on well for fifth to Royal Verdict last week. She isn’t suited to that sort of trip and tonight she will get a sweet run on the back of Alchemy and looks a great gamble on a 1 x 3 basis.

Quaddies (x2)
1,4,5,6,9/ 7,9/ 1,2,3,9,10/ 6,7.  $70 gets you 70%
1,4,5,6,9/ 7,9/ 1,2,3,9,10/ 1,9,11.  $30 gets you 20%

Len Baker's Full Melton Selections

To access all of respected harness media identity Len Baker's tips tonight just click here.


Tabcorp Park Trainer Talk

Geoff Webster

Best Chance

Mister Zion (Race 5 no. 7)
“That was his best run ever last start, he was amazing, so based on that he’s got to be a great winning chance. We’ll be going forward from outside of the front line there and he’s come through his last run great so there’s no reason he won’t go just as well again. He and I Didnt Do It just seem to be a little bit better than the others so even if we have to sit parked he still looks s great chance.”

Others

Me An Kel (Race 1 no. 10)
“He’s going very well, he’s going just as well as any of his rivals tonight. The barrier draw’s probably against him but if they go quick in the run he’ll get home strong at the finish.”

Our Arlington (Race 6 no. 4)
“The only ordinary run he’s had was at Kilmore and his effort last start was more indicative of what he can do. We’re quite happy with him at the moment. If the breaks go his way he’s a really nice horse and I think he can measure up to Country Cup (standard) no problem so that should hold him in good stead.”

Washmepockets (Race 7 no. 1)
“I could have put this bloke in the M1 with a claim but I left him in this because I knew he was going to draw well and every week he just keeps buttering up and doing his job so they’ll know he’s there again.”

BLACK BOOKERS – (Racing Tonight)

Nowitzki (Race 2 no. 7) ($2.50)
Was simply awesome winning at Cobram first up from a break last Monday where he appreciated a hectic early speed to score running away in fast time. He will be better for that outing and although he has the wide alley plus Mister Livan to contend with he will still take a power of beating. Click here to view the run.

Claire Jasper (Race 3 no. 2) ($4.20)
She is a more than handy mare who flashed home in an unsuitably run race three back then made her own luck when racing tough and sticking on strongly behind Our Crime Of Passion last Friday night. She is racing in terrific heart and gets the right draw to be dangerous tonight. Click here to view her most recent run.

Alchemy (Race 8 no. 2) ($3.70)
This bloke can be a little hard to follow but when he gets it all right he’s a very good horse. A terrific leader when on his A Game, he draws to hold the top tonight and after catching the eye in his heat of this race last weekend expect a huge performance from him here tonight. Click here to view the run.

STAR TRIALLERS – (Racing Tonight)

Abettorpunt (Race 7 no. 6) ($3.20)
Great to see this star 5YO back at the track tonight and he looks ready for a first up kill going on his dominant trial success at Terang 13 days ago. He has the barrier draw advantage over his main rivals, looks like making a play for the lead and will be extremely hard to get past should he get it.

Mach Ruler (Race 9 no. 2) ($3)
His run at Kilmore behind Cosmic Under Fire last start was just too bad to be true and he has since won a Geelong standing start trial to get back on track. He was impressive winning a similar race to what he contests tonight at Kilmore two back and will be mighty hard to beat if he repeats that performance. 

BLACK BOOKERS – (Melton Last Night)

Im Corzin Terror
He is a former Kiwi now under the care of Dean Braun who looked ultra-impressive at his Aussie debut last night where he ripped home in 27.1 from the breeze. He didn’t look totally comfortable last night either and is sure to improve leaps and bounds as he goes through the grades this campaign. Click here to view the run.

Mister Sheedy
Tough Emma Stewart 5YO who resumed from a break in a heat C4/C5 series and did a super job to run second to Kotare Roland in smart time. He will benefit greatly from that run and although next week’s final will be class-laden he is sure to be a major player. Click here to view the run.

Zurbaran
Was shuffled back to near last at the 400m but sprouted wings out 5 and 6 wide on the turn to run a terrific second to Algeepee in a slippery last quarter of 28.2. He is no star but should win a low-grade claimer with the right luck in running in the not too distant future. Click here to view the run.

Click here to bet on tonight's meeting