Geelong hosts a six pack of Friday night harness action, with Tim O’Connor offering his race-by-race preview and tips.
| 1. Shonee (1) J: Anthony O’Connor 68×13 T: Anthony O’connor |
OVERVIEW: The inside back row draw is tricky, but it’s hard to go past THE FINAL DANCE (8) after what we saw first-up for the Emma Stewart stable at Ballarat on June 11. The three-year-old worked early to find the front, but still absolutely thrashed his rivals – including three that reoppose here – by a whopping 18.5m in fast time. Will be short, but deservedly so. JANIEBQUICK (6) ran well to grab third in that aforementioned race and has continued to catch the eye with two more placings since, TALKBABYTALK (5) was airborne with three wins during late May and early June and has had excuses since, while SHIFFRIN (10) won well from back in the field last time out and will be running home hard.
BACK: JANIEBQUICK (6) – 3 units (place)
| 6. Janiebquick (6) J: Brent Murphy 46323 T: David Murphy |
OVERVIEW: SILENT REVERIE (2) settled leader’s back first-up from a break at Ballarat and simply couldn’t get clear in the straight when looking like she had plenty left to give. She had trialled fairly well prior and looks to have the gate speed to control this race from the front. Should give a great sight and looks hard to beat. THE FIERY SUNSET (9) hasn’t been seen at the races or trials since October last year, but finished that campaign in great form and certainly looks up to a race like this, RIDETHELIGHTNING (8) charged home from a horror draw to run a good fifth at Melton last time and is capable in this sort of grade, while HEART OF GRACELAND (1) is up a bit in class on his last start, but was badly held up and did a great job to come wide and run fourth.
BACK: SILENT REVERIE (2) – 4 units (win)
| 2. Silent Reverie (2) J: John Caldow 897×4 T: J Vassallo |
OVERVIEW: Good clash here where I fancy the three-year-old trio will rise to the fore. ROCKNROLL WISH (8) has beaten MIDNIGHT MOTH (7) and SECRET SERVICE AGENT (5) twice this campaign at Bendigo and Maryborough, and is fancied to do it again. He was out the back but chased hard for third in a rapid last half behind Apollostorm latest and looks capable of running over the top of his rivals here. MIDNIGHT MOTH (7) ran a cracker for second from the chair when beaten by ROCKNROLL WISH (8) at Maryborough and cruised to victory in an easier race here a fortnight ago, SECRET SERVICE AGENT (5) is perhaps a shade below the top two picks but comes here having won a suitable race at Melton on June 12, while LAMBRO MACH (3) is one of a number of horses who maybe can’t win but can fill the minor end of the prize.
| 8. Rocknroll Wish Nz (1) J: James Herbertson 1×113 T: Craig Demmler |
OVERVIEW: HIGH RIDER (5) produced a lovely trial at Terang recently ahead of his debut here in this two-year-old maiden. He finished strongly in a sharp last quarter to beat a field of rivals that have all won races, including seven-time victor Mufasa Bart. He looks like running well for Team Tindale, who also has stablemate WOTTAWIZARD (6) engaged. He mucked up his recent trial, but wasn’t far behind HIGH RIDER (5) in one at Melton prior. DEL RAY (1) looked just fair when fourth in a Melton trial, but hails from the powerhouse Emma Stewart stable and must be given a huge chance just based off that. SMOKEN HEAVEN (7) brings the race experience, and while he galloped last time out at Cranbourne, there were good signs despite decent margins in his prior two outings.
BACK: HIGH RIDER (5) – 1 unit (win)
| 5. High Rider (5) J: Jason Lee T: A J Tindale, B J Tindale |
OVERVIEW: Had a bit of trouble splitting the top two picks, but will lean towards FAMOUS CRIMES (1) due to his good barrier one draw. I think he has the speed to lead if driver Josh Duggan decides and he doesn’t look too far away from a maiden victory. He sat parked first-up at Bendigo and did well to only be beaten 5.2m by Zihuatanejo, and was perhaps a little plain when leading and fading into sixth last time out, but did do a little bit of work to lead early. SWEETHEART DIOR (2) is the other key winning hope. She was outclassed in a hot race at Geelong a fortnight ago, but the prior two runs were good runner-up placings to handy rivals. TRICODE (5) was very brave sitting parked and running second – with a good margin to third – at Cranbourne on Sunday, while PONTIAN GIRL (3) might be next best.
| 1. Famous Crimes (1) J: Josh Duggan 54×26 T: Courtney Slater |
8-UNIT GAME PLAN
R2 #6 JANIEBQUICK – 3 units (place)
R3 #2 SILENT REVERIE – 4 units (win)
R5 #5 HIGH RIDER – 1 unit (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
1,2,3,4,5,8,10,11,12/8/2,8,9/5,7,8
QUADDIE
2,8,9/5,7,8/1,5/1,2
OVERVIEW: Tricky way to start the card where plenty have cases. SHONEE (1) looks to have the gate speed to lead or be leader’s back, and has a win and third placing to her name this campaign, NIGHT FLIGHT (10) was beaten in the shadows of the post in a race five of these contested last week at Ballarat but has to do it away from the pegs here, while THATS DUDLEY (8) beat home SHONEE (1) in a recent Melton trial and might get a nice trip on the fence first-up from a spell.
BACK: NO BET