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

Race 1:

OVERVIEW: Plenty of chances in this clash to start the night at Beckley Park, but ARZALI ROCKSTAR (7) looks ready to break through after back-to-back second placings in recent weeks. Two ago, she was trapped parked, did a power of work and was only nailed late, and then last Friday led before being out-sprinted by the handy Sandelton in a slick enough last half. The gate isn’t ideal, but she’s narrowly favoured. VIVA STORM (6) made the Group 2 final of the Vicbred Super Series for four-year-old mares before closing off nicely from last when sixth at Kilmore last week, YANKEE RAIN (10) has won her last two after recently joining the Tom Rundle barn and is an obvious threat, while Alex Hurley’s lovely grey SPUN SILVER (5) probably has the early toe to lead and should run well from there over the sprint trip. Hard race where plenty of others can win!

SELECTIONS: ARZALI ROCKSTAR (7), VIVA STORM (6), YANKEE RAIN (10), SPUN SILVER (5)

Race 2:

OVERVIEW: MISS MUSCLE (9) is the two-year-old up against older horses, but she brings in some nice formlines for this 0/1-win event. Tom Rundle’s filly finished fourth despite a tough run in the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series final last month, before making a mistake in the Tatlow Stakes. She then ran a really good race from well back in transit for second to Night Flight at Ballarat. Good draw here and she looks the one to beat. Always had time for SHINELIKETHESUN (10), who did some very impressive things at stages last campaign but just struggled to put it all together. Freshened and back to the races, there’s a big watch on her. I think she’s above average. They look the main winning hopes, but respect is given to others such as THE PASO DOBLE (1), NO REPENTANCE (2), ALECTRONA (3) and DESERT ROYALE (6), who might have the speed to cross first-up from a break.

SELECTIONS: MISS MUSCLE (9), SHINELIKETHESUN (10), ALECTRONA (3), THE PASO DOBLE (1)

Race 3:

OVERVIEW: Another wide-open race where a case can be made for plenty, including the consistent ALLWATFUNJINGLES (1). He’s certainly no superstar, but is very capable in this type of grade and importantly draws to settle closer to the speed than he has in recent starts. He’s been hitting the line nicely from well back in transit, including on October 2 at Melton when he was held up and flashed late to be narrowly beaten behind Met With A Shrug and CHINSKI (2). If he can settle behind the likely leader in CHINSKI (2), he should be able to give this a shake. CHINSKI (2) was caught parked last time at Kilmore and dropped out, but all his recent form is strong and he’s likely to run from the front, the first-up BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE (5) hasn’t raced since March and heads to Geelong without a trial, but possesses a good finishing burst when her manners are in check, while LOVE WHO (4) was a good winner at Shepparton in mid-August, then ran well for second at Maryborough before a tough trip and down-the-track finish at Horsham last time out.

BACK: ALLWATFUNJINGLES (1) – 1.5 units (each-way)

SELECTIONS: ALLWATFUNJINGLES (1), CHINSKI (2), BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE (5), LOVE WHO (4)

Race 4:

OVERVIEW: BANIA (2) steps out on debut here for David Barbetti and Mick Stanley, and I suspect he can make a winning start in this maiden event. He beat the handy Magellan in a trial at Maryborough back in July and then ran really well in a subsequent hit-out at Melton when closing off nicely from last to be beaten 5.6m in a 57.3 last half. He then won his most recent effort back at Maryborough on October 4. Happy his way. RIDE HIGH CAPTIN (8) brings clearly the best form into this maiden assignment, with runner-up placings from his last two outings. Two back, he led and was run down by the smart King Baldwin with a big margin back to third, and then wobbled around the corner at Ballarat, regained the lead and was nailed late by Ultimate Grange. He has won a Bacchus Marsh trial since and looks sure to go close in this. The others would surprise.

BACK: BANIA (2) – 2 units (win)

SELECTIONS: BANIA (2), RIDE HIGH CAPTIN (8), KATUNTI (7), SONOFPLATINUM (1)

Race 5:

OVERVIEW: He’s not the horse you’d bet your last dollar on, but COLTRANE (4) is one that might give you some thrills as he’s a quirky customer with loads of ability who will be very good when he puts everything together. He ruined his chances with a gallop when favourite in a 0W/15.0K stake race before a spell and has come back with two nice trials, including one where he was only 3.5m off unbeaten star two-year-old Verbici. He’s won four from 18 and there looks to be some serious scope there. EL TORNADO (5) took a while to warm up this campaign but has won his last two in really nice style at Melton and Ballarat, lightly-raced five-year-old LORD LOGAN (6) is back in Victoria after an early gallop at Globe Derby took him out of winning contention on October 3 and he’s capable of returning to winning form, while KYVALLEY JETSTREAM (7) hasn’t shown much in two runs back from a break but has ability and is dropping in grade.

BACK: COLTRANE (4) – 3 units (win)

SELECTIONS: COLTRANE (4), EL TORNADO (5), LORD LOGAN (6), KYVALLEY JETSTREAM (7)

Race 6:

OVERVIEW: SERIOUSLY SAL (2) ran second in the Vicbred Super Series two-year-old consolation two starts back at Ballarat and performed okay in a subsequent race at Melton last Friday despite being well beaten by a few rivals with good promise. This looks much easier, and from the good draw she must be rated a good chance. THE WOOL BROKER (4) started favourite first-up from a break at Ballarat on September 16, taking off in the last lap before getting tired and breaking. It’s hard to know how he was travelling when he made a mistake, but the form in his prior campaign was good and he’s surely good enough to win a maiden soon. NONREMARKABLE (1) hasn’t shown a great deal at the trials despite winning his last one but gets the services of James Herbertson, while the well-named WHEREDASUNDONTSHINE (3) – who is out of the mare Gluteus Maximus – is maybe next best but the others could all fill the minor end of the prize without surprising.

SELECTIONS: SERIOUSLY SAL (2), THE WOOL BROKER (4), NONREMARKABLE (1), WHEREDASUNDONTSHINE (3)

Race 7:

OVERVIEW: ROSBERG (3) was a very good winner for this grade of horse in a race at Melton two starts ago when sitting parked, putting away the leader and then hanging on for victory. He was trapped in the same spot last time out at Ballarat, put away the leader again, but faded late to be beaten 10.7m in what was a solid run. Not sure he gets it any easier here, but I think he’ll be hard to stop regardless of where he ends up in the run. KEAYANG HUSTLER (6) is the obvious, and sometimes the obvious is the best way to go. He’s had two starts for two good wins, and while the times haven’t been off the charts by any means, the trotting-bred son of Bold Eagle is sure to be going close. BRAVE ART (1) has had two runs for smart trainer Carson Millar, with her latest being an encouraging front-running display at Ballarat when only grabbed late. Gate one, sprint trip – tick, tick. LENARD ESS (4) is set to step out for his 200th career start, and he’s the other one with a good chance.

BACK: ROSBERG (3) – 2 units (win)

SELECTIONS: ROSBERG (3), KEAYANG HUSTLER (6), BRAVE ART (1), LENARD ESS (4)

10-UNIT GAME PLAN

R3 #1 ALLWATFUNJINGLES – 1.5 units (each-way)

R4 #2 BANIA – 2 units (win)

R5 #4 COLTRANE – 3 units (win)

R7 #3 ROSBERG – 2 units (win)

EARLY QUADDIE

5,6,7,10/9,10/1,2,4,5/2,8

QUADDIE

2,8/4,5,6,7/1,2,4/1,3,4,6

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