Tim O'Connor's Friday best at Geelong (18/06)

By Tim O'Connor

Tim O’Connor has done the form for Fridays’s meeting at Geelong.

Race 1

OVERVIEW: MASON JOLIE (11) is first-up since early February, but looks a pretty handy three-year-old who won twice last campaign. One of those was at Ballarat when he sprinted sharply in a slick last half before rounding out the preparation with a competitive effort as an outsider in the hot Reg Withers Classic at Kilmore. The son of American Ideal won a trial at Shepparton in preparation for this, and while it was a very soft victory against a stablemate trotter, he should run well in this grade. TALKBABYTALK (13) is flying for David Barbetti and was awfully brave in defeat last Friday at Melton when shooting for four-straight wins, TREACHEROUS DAN (12) was wayward winning first-up at this track a fortnight ago, but does look to have good ability and will be well fancied from the Emma Stewart barn, while PISTOL PEARCE (3) might be able to lead and would be a contender from there.

SELECTIONS: MASON JOLIE (11), TALKBABYTALK (13), TREACHEROUS DAN (12), PISTOL PEARCE (3)

Race 2

OVERVIEW: Plenty of hopes here, but SHIFFRIN (11) put in a great effort for second behind the in-form Talkbabytalk here at Geelong when parked on June 5 and Kate Gath might try similar on-speed tactics. She broke in the score-up, settled three fence and was well held last weekend, but can bounce back in this suitable up-to-49 assignment. Surprised if she didn’t run well. JANIEBQUICK (10) was one of the best closers when third in a race won by the ultra-impressive The Final Dance at Ballarat last Thursday, IFYOULOVEMELETMEGO (5) has won has won both starts at this circuit for new trainer Carson Millar and looks a great hope despite a sticky gate, while QUICK DECISION (1) has some ability and should relish the pegs which she hasn’t seen for some time.

BACK: SHIFFRIN (11) – 1 unit (win)

SELECTIONS: SHIFFRIN (11), JANIEBQUICK (10), IFYOULOVEMELETMEGO (5), QUICK DECISION (1)

Race 3

OVERVIEW: SOLS ME NAME (3) is a smart three-year-old from the Jayne Davies camp that won his first two starts this campaign in dominant fashion and was very game in a sizzling hot clash at Melton last time out. He worked to eventually find the front, took cover on Luvtobeuptome and was only beaten 3.4m into fourth. He looks a good chance of leading this contest and shapes as very hard to beat. LAMBRO MACH (6) tried for the front, was unsuccessful and sprinted again in a solid effort at Bendigo last time and most of his form over the last couple of months is strong, stablemate OLLIES THE BOSS (7) was unlucky not to win when checked at a vital stage while attempting to loop the field from last first-up at Bendigo last Wednesday, while STARZZZ DESTINY (8) hasn’t been far away in recent starts and might get a nice run three back the pegs.

BACK: SOLS ME NAME (3) – 3 units (win)

SELECTIONS: SOLS ME NAME (3), LAMBRO MACH (6), OLLIES THE BOSS (7), STARZZZ DESTINY (8)

Race 4

OVERVIEW: Good little race with some emerging types, and there appears three key chances. I’m a real fan of HAPPILY (4) for the Amy Day stable and loved the way she closed off from four back the pegs to be beaten just 4.8m at Melton last time out. Before that, she easily defeated rivals in a weaker race at Horsham. There is a chance she might work forward and find the front, particularly if SWEETHEART DIOR (3) continues her lead and hand-up tactics. She will run well. MIDNIGHT MOTH (9) produced an absolute cracker for second in a hot form race at Maryborough in late May and is a huge danger, TACTICALLY PERFECT (8) is unbeaten from two career starts and was super impressive winning first-up at Melton last Friday, while SWEETHEART DIOR (3) is probably only a place hope but is going well and will be winning an easier assignment soon.

BACK: HAPPILY (4) – 2 units (each-way)

SELECTIONS: HAPPILY (4), MIDNIGHT MOTH (9), TACTICALLY PERFECT (8), SWEETHEART DIOR (3)

Race 5

OVERVIEW: Can make a case for plenty here, but I fancy the best version of PARIS JAMILLA (7) will give this an almighty shake despite the wide gate. She won at Bendigo in mid-May with a slick 56.8 last half, beating Artigas who has won races at Maryborough and Melton on a Saturday night since. She made a mistake last time out, but the run prior when a close-up third from the breeze at Bendigo was also full of merit. KISS AT MIDNIGHT (3) has galloped her past two outings, but ran a good second at Kilmore prior and has the gate speed to lead, AI SEDHAI (5) was a dominant winner in a slightly easier race at Maryborough on May 11, while SPANISH RIZARDO (2) heads the other hopes in a bit of a raffle.

SELECTIONS: PARIS JAMILLA (7), KISS AT MIDNIGHT (3), AI SEDHAI (5), SPANISH RIZARDO (2)

Race 6

OVERVIEW: RIDETHELIGHTNING (4) and LOW LIE THE FIELDS (5) bring the best form to the table here and look to hold great winning chances. RIDETHELIGHTNING (4) gave the handy Coltrane a scare at Terang back in late March and ran a good fourth – beaten just 9m by Jack Sprat – here at Geelong on May 22 which reads really well for this assignment. LOW LIE THE FIELDS (5) chased Shezalover nicely into second at this track a fortnight ago and is a major winning chance, ALCOMBZ (1) was beaten just 8m when second to subsequent race winner Spirited Lass at the Melton trials recently and can figure on debut, while CHAMPAGNE GEMMA (6) has trialled quite well after making a mistake first-up from a spell.

BACK: RIDETHELIGHTNING (4) – 2 units (win)

SELECTIONS: RIDETHELIGHTNING (4), LOW LIE THE FIELDS (5), ALCOMBZ (1), CHAMPAGNE GEMMA (6)

Race 7

OVERVIEW: KEAYANG TWEETYBIRD (3) was first-up from a long break when she loomed to win before being run down by the handy Aldebaran Abel at Bendigo on June 10. Her form last preparation included a midfield finish behind megastar stablemate Keayang Zahara in the Vicbred Super Series Final and a 4.5m defeat to Group 1 winner Vytis. She really looks a bit too good for this lot at her best. ACOOL INVESTMENT (5) is a handy mare that ran really well in better grade at Melton behind Bennie And The Jets in late March, SPIRITED LASS (8) is awfully hard to trust but backed up a good trial with a first-up victory at Cranbourne on Sunday and OFF YOUR FACESKI (2) might work to the front initially and could figure in the placings from there.

SELECTIONS: KEAYANG TWEETYBIRD (3), ACOOL INVESTMENT (5), SPIRITED LASS (8), OFF YOUR FACESKI (2)

Race 8:

OVERVIEW: Tricky way to close the meeting, but KYVALLEY DIXON (3) might be the way to play from barrier three. She was third and just 6.6m behind the handy Bumper Crop in a heat of the Nutrien series on debut at Wagga on May 19 and then made a mistake in the final. She is one of three Brent Lilley runners, with KYVALLEY REEVA (7) looking another good winning chance. The daughter of Propulsion produced a nice effort when hitting the line hard for third at Kilmore on June 4, in a race where stablemate JUST ME AND YOU (4) was well fancied in betting but made two gallops. HES RUNAWAY BAY (5) hasn’t been far away in all three career runs, but did have every possible hope in a pedestrian last half at Horsham recently and couldn’t get the job done.

SELECTIONS: KYVALLEY DIXON (3), KYVALLEY REEVA (7), JUST ME AND YOU (4), HES RUNAWAY BAY (5)