Tim O'Connor's Saturday best at Melton (19/09)

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

Race 1:

OVERVIEW: HOORAH PHILTRA (4) has emerged as a genuine free for all pacer since joining the Ashleigh Herbertson stable in recent months and continued his rise to prominence with a good third placing in a hot event last Saturday night. There, he worked hard on a sizzling lead time and took cover on CATCH A WAVE (11) before getting home into third, beaten just 3.4m in a slick 1:50.7 mile rate. There is plenty of speed off the front line here, but he’s quick himself and you’d expect him to work to the fence. From there, whether he leads or takes cover, he looks well placed to fight out the finish. CATCH A WAVE (11) has burned for the front his last two starts for 9.1m and 5.5m defeats in fast time. He doesn’t win out of turn these days, but it’s hard to deny his class and he’s a huge factor despite the wide back row draw. WORDS (2) showed electric gate speed when he won on Aussie debut back in early August and has run well since in lesser grade than this, while SIR JIMMY (10) dominated a FFA from the top first-up in mid-July and has run creditable races since.

SELECTIONS: HOORAH PHILTRA (4), CATCH A WAVE (11), WORDS (2), SIR JIMMY (10)

Race 2:

OVERVIEW: Host of chances here in this up-to-70 pace, but happy to have something each-way on GUNFORHIRE (6) who regains the services of Ewa Justice for this assignment. Justice has driven the Rory Coverdale-trained pacer three times at Melton for a good win, unlucky sixth and eye-catching second behind I Am The Storm on August 22. He just peaked on his run late last Friday at Geelong when he looked a winning hope at the turn, and his efforts before that at Terang and the aforementioned race at Melton were very good. Just needs some luck from the wide front row draw, but he’s got the ability. TO THE NINES (11) has come back from a break in good form with a fast-finishing second at Mildura followed by a great closing effort in the Vicbred Super Series heats when only beaten 4.4m by I Am The Storm last week at Kilmore. BROWNIESATMIDNIGHT (12) is back in the care of Team Lee after a stint in New South Wales and I liked the way he finished off in his recent trial at Terang, while LAMBRO MACH (9), likely early leader DANCE AFFAIR (3), KIA ORA BEAUTY (4), THESTATESMAN (10) and BIZZNESS CLASS (13) are others in with a major chance.

SELECTIONS: GUNFORHIRE (6), TOO THE NINES (11), BROWNIESATMIDNIGHT (12), LAMBRO MACH (9)

Race 3:

OVERVIEW: Sticky gate, but KYVALLEY MICHAEL (8) is in good form for Brent Lilley and looks one of the key players in this 60-69 contest. He worked to the front and won in good style two starts back, and then flashed home from the rear of the field to just miss in a race won by ALDEBARAN SUSANNE (11) here in late August. He ran past SEBASTIANS BOY (4) on that occasion, but the latter’s effort was also good and he’s working towards a victory. SCAR (7) is flying for veteran trainer-driver Robert Young and won his second race in succession when finding the front at Geelong last Friday, while TICTOK (10) bombed the start there and did a great job to only be beaten 4.1m into third. She looks ready to win. The other key chance is KYVALLEY JETSTREAM (2), who draws well and has trialed up nicely with a Kilmore win and Melton second to handy mare Aldebaran Acrux ahead of this first-up assignment.

SELECTIONS: KYVALLEY MICHAEL (8), SEBASTIANS BOY (4), SCAR (7), TICTOK (10)

Race 4:

OVERVIEW: Cracking Group 2 Vicbred 4YO mares’ final where I reckon MISS ARI (3) shapes as a great each-way bet, with perhaps a heavier focus on the place. She is a top-end mare who ran well in a heat of this series from three back the fence when a closing third to LET HER ROLL (13) and SOHO AMERICANO (12), and importantly draws to find the fence here. I’d expect her to take cover on go-forward horse WICKED CONFESSION (7), who will likely be driven confidently by Alex Ashwood. She should be in a striking position turning for home and I think she can be fighting out the finish. WICKED CONFESSION (7) was outstanding sitting parked and running hot sectionals in a heat at Kilmore when second to THE ART OF SUCCESS (11), who is a winning machine and stretched her sequence to nine. This is a big challenge from the back row, though, as it is for LET HER ROLL (13) and SOHO AMERICANO (12), who look the other key hopes.

BACK: MISS ARI (3) – 1 unit (win)/2 units (place)

SELECTIONS: MISS ARI (3), WICKED CONFESSION (7), THE ART OF SUCCESS (11), LET HER ROLL (13)

Race 5:

OVERVIEW: Emma Stewart has a mortgage on this Vicbred final for the four-year-old colts and geldings, but finding the winner is tricky. It will likely come down to the map and who finds the front, and I fancy that might ultimately be FAIRPLAY (4) for Mark Pitt. He has won all five races this campaign, including a heat of this series last week at Kilmore when he controlled things at the head of affairs. From the top, he’d be the one to beat. Stablemate APOLLOSTORM (3) absolutely rattled home for third in that same qualifier and is a very speedy conveyance who would be a huge threat if he got to the fence, THE LAST TRIP (9) has just been outstanding since joining the Stewart stable and remains unbeaten from five goes for the yard, while STORMS COLLIDE (1) heads the other winning chances given his good gate. Hard to leave out some of the others, but SEATHESTARS (2), FOX DAN (8), NEW SHUFFLE (11) and heat winner I AM THE STORM (6) must be considered for trifectas and First 4s.

SELECTIONS: FAIRPLAY (4), APOLLOSTORM (3), THE LAST TRIP (9), STORMS COLLIDE (1)

Race 6:

OVERVIEW: The Vicbred final for the four-year-old trotting entires and geldings looks a match race between Victorian ALRIGHTY (10) and NSW visitor I AM HELLBOUND (12). I’ll lean towards the horse with the home ground advantage and seemingly better barrier. Anndy Gath’s charge has been airborne this campaign and stretched his winning sequence to four with an easy front-running success in his heat at Melton last week. I AM HELLBOUND (12) has been a great pick-up for Scott Hewitt through 2026, and showed his class with a dominant win in the other qualifier. It would be a shock if one of the two didn’t win, with IJUSTCALLEDTOSAY (13) and KARBINE (8) perhaps the leading contenders outside those after eye-catching heat runs where they closed off nicely and into the placings.

SELECTIONS: ALRIGHTY (10), I AM HELLBOUND (12), IJUSTCALLEDTOSAY (13), KARBINE (8)

Race 7:

OVERVIEW: Another apparent match race here in the Vicbred final for four-year-old trotting mares, with heat winners GATESYS GEM (7) and I AM WILMA (11) tough to beat. The barrier draw has really favoured GATESYS GEM (7) as she is expected to work across and find the front. She won her qualifier easily and she’s the one to beat here. Like the on-top selection, I AM WILMA (11) is a Group 1 winner and claimed the other heat in easy fashion. She’s a serious danger, but the back row makes it tough. JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (12) is a star trotter from the Lee stable who did a good job to finish second in the heat behind GATESYS GEM (7), while IRON WOMEN (3) might be able to burn the gate and find the top, and from there would be a good chance of filling a First 4 spot. That said, most of these are capable of running into the back end of the top four.

BACK: GATESYS GEM (7) – 4 units (win)

SELECTIONS: GATESYS GEM (7), I AM WILMA (11), JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (12), IRON WOMEN (3)

Race 8:

OVERVIEW: We got a look at five of these horses in a race at Geelong last Friday that was ultimately taken out by THUNDA STRUCK (7), who sprint-laned to victory over favourite RUBYS DREAM (5). The latter was first-up there and did control things at the front, so was perhaps a little disappointing not to win. That said, I’m in her corner again as I expect she can work over and take the lead off fast starter NAKEDTRUTH (3) and prove hard to run down back from 2100m to 1720m. THUNDA STRUCK (7) must be a chance based off his win last time, QUIRKY CHARACTER (8) was back to something like his best in that aforementioned race and only went down by 1.5m after coming from off the speed, while NAKEDTRUTH (3), who maps to find the pegs and was good running second to the handy Vici Bloom last time out, and KEAYANG LAVITA (6), who ran fourth in that clash at Geelong, are other leading hopes.

BACK: RUBYS DREAM (5) – 2 units (win)

SELECTIONS: RUBYS DREAM (5), THUNDA STRUCK (7), QUIRKY CHARACTER (8), NAKEDTRUTH (3)

Race 9:

OVERVIEW: HITTHEROADJACK (3) is a one-paced type of horse who has struggled to pick-up quickly from behind the leader his past two starts. He has good gate speed, and if he’s able to wrestle the front here and control things at the top, he shapes as a good value chance. He’s a veteran of 168 starts, but is still racing well to my eye. CLYMENUS (6) finished second and best of four horses that clash again here last Friday at Geelong in a race won by Ata Rangi and is going well at the moment, MIGHTY JOLT (2) has the speed to find the fence, and while he was disappointing from a spot behind the leader last time, he draws to run a forward race, while ISOLATION (4) found the front and won an easier assignment in good style at Geelong last week following a nice trial. Not much would surprise and most are winning hopes with the right trip.

BACK: HITTHEROADJACK (3) – 0.5 unit (each-way)

SELECTIONS: HITTHEROADJACK (3), CLYMENUS (6), MIGHTY JOLT (2), ISOLATION (4)

Race 10:

OVERVIEW: Multiple Group 1 winner ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (4) returns for her first run since finishing a close-up fourth in the Inter Dominion Trotting Championship Grand Final at Albion Park in July. She’s a star and should lead and win this assignment as a short-priced favourite. HOPPY (6) showed exciting progression last campaign when he won two races and placed in a further two, and looks ready to enter the free-for-all ranks, FOUROUTOFFIVE (5) won brilliantly from the chair in an easier clash than this at Melton on August 29 and is a nice type, while ALDEBARAN ACRUX (3) returns to the races following a Queensland preparation that ended after one round of Inter Dom heats, but she’s a classy mare on her night and looks the other top four contender.

SELECTIONS: ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (4), HOPPY (6), FOUROUTOFFIVE (5), ALDEBARAN ACRUX (3)

10-UNIT GAME PLAN

R4 #3 MISS ARI – 1 unit (win)/2 units (place)

R7 #7 GATESYS GEM – 4 units (win)

R8 #5 RUBYS DREAM – 2 units (win)

R9 #3 HITTHEROADJACK – 0.5 unit (each-way)

EARLY QUADDIE

2,4,9,10,11/4,6,9,10,11,12/2,4,7,8,10/3,7,11

QUADDIE

1,3,4,9/10,12/7,11,12/3,5,6,7,8

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