Tim O'Connor's Friday best at Melton (10/07)

By Tim O'Connor

Tim O’Connor has done the form for tonight’s meeting at Melton Entertainment Park.

Race 1

OVERVIEW: Formlines galore to sort out here in the opener where ROCKY PACIFIC (9) shapes as a key runner. He was first-up from New Zealand when a really brave second in fast time at Cranbourne on June 28 and he never found the fence. I thought it was a very promising run, and while he is only a horse with seven career starts up against some more seasoned rivals, he should go well from the nice back row draw. WHERE IS WOODY (6) will be back in the field but can win a race of this calibre, DRESSED IN GOLD (10) chased home My Ultimate Barney for third in a slick last half at Bendigo last week and must be a factor, while MASS BETTING AGAIN (3) looms as a likely early leader and did go all the way from the front at Cranbourne last time out.

SELECTIONS: ROCKY PACIFIC (9), WHERE IS WOODY (6), DRESSED IN GOLD (10), MASS BETTING AGAIN (3)

Race 2

OVERVIEW: DOSSIER (6) has some pretty ordinary figure form, but I feel she’s going much better than that and this appears a slight drop down in class on some of her recent efforts. She actually wasn’t too bad off the fence in a slick last half when sixth behind Ijustcalledtosay last weekend, and has some other sound efforts behind handy ones like Karbine, Artigas and With Aplomb before that. She should be an each-way quote in a wide-open event. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT (9) is sliding back into a grade where she will be dangerous and did win a stronger race than this at Ballarat in May, KISS AT MIDNIGHT (3) led and won over the sprint trip at Geelong two back and might try adopt those tactics again, while AMOUR MATERNAL (7) has a sticky gate but is a horse who often runs home strongly and looks a key player with luck along with the in-form CHAMPAGNE GEMMA (5), who is shooting for three-straight wins.

BACK: DOSSIER (6) – 1 unit (each-way)

SELECTIONS: DOSSIER (6), THE SKY IS THE LIMIT (9), KISS AT MIDNIGHT (3), AMOUR MATERNAL (7)

Race 3

OVERVIEW: JANIEBQUICK (1) has been knocking on the door to win a race for some time and this looks a wonderful opportunity from the good gate. She showed early speed last Friday, but was unable to cross from wide on the front row and then took a trail in the 1x1. She did really well to finish hard into second and all her recent form is strong in this type of grade. Keen on her chances. ALL THINGS SPICY (11) ran well for third first-up from a break in good time at Cranbourne recently, BETTORSWEETVICTORY (2) would be a huge chance if she could cross the pole-marker and rarely runs a poor race, while LENARD ESS (5) gains a start as emergency and did perform well from a hopeless position when fifth behind JANIEBQUICK (1) in that aforementioned race at Geelong.

BACK: JANIEBQUICK (1) – 3 units (win)

SELECTIONS: JANIEBQUICK (1), ALL THINGS SPICY (11), BETTORSWEETVICTORY (2), LENARD ESS (5)

Race 4

OVERVIEW: AVEIRO (9) has the extreme draw in the small field, but this does look a very suitable drop back in class for the 10-year-old 13-time winner. He led, handed up and was only beaten 4.7m in a much stronger race than this last time at Geelong, and was able to win an up-to-47 ratings event at Melton back in April. He should give this up-to-40 clash a really good shake. TOMMYS LOOKOUT (8) sat parked and beat three rivals that reoppose here when scoring in the wet at Bendigo on June 1, ATOMIC GLORY (4) led that race and was only worn down late, while the grey SPUN SILVER (6) is third-up from a break and does slide back in class like AVEIRO (9), but it is harder to get excited on her two runs back so far. DOT BALL (7) looks the other key chance despite the awkward barrier.

BACK: AVEIRO (9) – 1 unit (win)

SELECTIONS: AVEIRO (9), TOMMYS LOOKOUT (8), ATOMIC GLORY (4), SPUN SILVER (6)

Race 5

OVERVIEW: Interesting race to start the Quaddie, where I’m going to side with the in-form SHIFFRIN (8). She’s come from behind and also sat parked to win her last two races at Geelong, and this looks suitable again in the small field where Kate Gath has options. On her last two efforts, it’s hard to see her not going close. The lightly-raced BETTOR PUNTER (1) gets the best barrier draw of his career and it will be intriguing to see what gate speed he has. He came from a mile back to just miss EXOTIC CHESTER (2) at Ballarat two back and then won well at Cranbourne in a maiden on June 28. This is harder, but he looks to have ability. SUMTHIN ELSE (3) appears the speed influence and led when a close-up third here on May 29, while JET TO HEAVEN (4) is first-up from a spell but brings strong form to the table from last preparation.

BACK: SHIFFRIN (8) – 1 unit (win)

SELECTIONS: SHIFFRIN (8), BETTOR PUNTER (1), SUMTHIN ELSE (3), JET TO HEAVEN (4)

Race 6

OVERVIEW: Tricky low-grade trotting event here where not much would surprise, but the grey KALARNEY PRINCE (1) gets the good draw and has the early speed to race prominently throughout. He hasn’t been too far away in recent starts and should be there fighting out the finish. Perhaps he’s the safest play from the barrier one draw? WHATS THE TEA (7) chased home nicely in a messy race at Cranbourne last time out and is a 12-time winner like ALLWATFUNJINGLES (4), while LOW LIE THE FIELDS (6) has a couple of handy runner-up placings to his name this campaign and can bounce back after dropping out sharply in a stronger race last time. As mentioned, not much would surprise and they can probably all win with the right trip.

SELECTIONS: KALARNEY PRINCE (1), WHATS THE TEA (7), LOW LIE THE FIELDS (6), ALLWATFUNJINGLES (4)

Race 7

OVERVIEW: LE BELLE BIJOUX (6) has been running so bravely in defeat behind some smart customers of late and this looks a wonderful chance for her to score a much-deserved win. She chased nicely from three fence to be second behind the very smart The Art Of Success on June 6 and has another gutsy runner-up placing to Keayang Renegade in her recent formlines. This appears a drop back in grade on most of her recent outings and she’s a great chance. LEAVEMEOUT (1) has the gate speed to lead or be leader’s back and is a key danger, RACKEMUP TIGERPIE (7) hasn’t raced since 2024 but has been to the trials a couple of times and is clearly the highest rated horse here at 112, while HITTHEROADJACK (4) would be a good chance at his best and must be respected.

BACK: LE BELLE BIJOUX (6) – 3 units (win)

SELECTIONS: LE BELLE BIJOUX (6), LEAVEMEOUT (1), RACKEMUP TIGERPIE (7), HITTHEROADJACK (4)

Race 8

OVERVIEW: The two-year-olds step out here and SOHO MCLUCKIE (2) makes the trip down from New South Wales for Michael Stanley. He was well fancied on debut at Newcastle on June 19, but galloped his way out of contention there. He has been back to the trials since, performed well and hails from a proven stable of juvenile horses. Happy his way. GATSBY (1) chased hard to win a recent trial at Shepparton and draws well, HIGH RIDER (3) trialled well before a debut third last Friday at Geelong in what was a pretty sound effort, while GRANDIOSA (5) ran second and third behind top filly Ideal Frankie through the APG series and looks a genuine hope.

SELECTIONS: SOHO MCLUCKIE (2), GATSBY (1), HIGH RIDER (3), GRANDIOSA (5)

Race 9

OVERVIEW: A ROCKN NIGHTMARE (1) draws in one, ran really well for second on debut and then looked like she might have something to give before galloping out of play last time at Bendigo. She’s worth another chance from this gate in a race where there doesn’t appear any major standout. TOUCH OF REALITY (2) wasn’t far away from a win at the back end of her two-year-old season, and while just fair first-up at Shepparton June 16, she does appear to have some ability. MISTY ALWAYS (5) got home nicely from three pegs in an eye-catching runner-up effort at Kilmore latest and is a chance along with TARZINA (3), who would give Kaitlin Beale her first career winner if successful third-up from a break.

SELECTIONS: A ROCKN NIGHTMARE (1), TOUCH OF REALITY (2), MISTY ALWAYS (5), TARZINA (3)

Race 10

OVERVIEW: Tricky way to end the night, but MAJESTIC YANKEE (5) looks to have some ability off the trials and can go on top here. She started $1.90 on debut in January and finished last after making an early break, but the two recent trials have seen a win at Geelong on June 22 and a second to the handy Unclad at Bacchus Marsh on June 27. BIG RAIN (3) looks close to a victory based off three recent placings. She has been runner-up her past two when finding the pegs and looks a good chance of crossing down to the fence here. BIG RAIN (3) easily beat home WAR DAN PHOENIX (1) at her latest start, but that horse ran well for second at Cranbourne on Sunday and lands a nice draw for this assignment. MYRNIONG SKYE (4) is on debut here and it’s worth keeping an eye on betting markets after two runner-up trial efforts.

SELECTIONS: MAJESTIC YANKEE (5), BIG RAIN (3), WAR DAN PHOENIX (1), MYRNIONG SKYE (4)