Terang Harness Preview – Sunday 12th July

OVERVIEW: KEAYANG SEASIDE (11) resumes here off two trials and nearly 10 months off. His form last preparation was quite good, racing consistently from bad draws and racing tough. He’s going to need the right tempo to get into the race but has ability. This is a tricky way to open, so speed and tactics are everything.

KEAYANG VIPER (7) resumed off a long spell to win an easier race last start, but she did win with plenty of authority. The map doesn’t do her any favours, but she looks to have ability. WE FAVOUR ROSIE (4) is another resuming off a break with no trial, but her best form sees her well placed. She can press forward alongside the stablemate at the start and get a handy position. KEAYANG SUPREME (2) won an easier race on debut but did it with authority. The barrier draw helps her lob into a nice position which is an advantage in a very even race.

OVERVIEW: DOCTOR GO JOH (9) was a good winner at Stawell four runs back when he worked to find the lead and pulled away to win well. His runs since have been in stronger company than this, and although he comes off the back row, he can punch through behind what looks to be a keen front row. He looks well suited against this quality.

QUICK DECISION (10) is going better than her form may suggest, racing in tougher grade where they have been running decent time. She must overcome the backrow draw over the short trip, but with a solid tempo expected she can overpower them late. LIVERMERE (8) was an all-the-way winner two runs back in similar grade and ran a decent enough time to be competitive here. The draw is a little tricky, but she can be strong late if the breaks come her way. EASY ROLLING (2) is hard to get a line on with recent efforts but has been racing in better company and now gets a top local driver to potentially improve, although you’re going back to 2023 for her last win.

BACK: DOCTOR GO JOH (9) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: JAKARTA (9) tipping horses off big handicaps over middle trips isn’t a high-striking formula, but this race presents well considering the strength of the opposition. His best form comes under the standing start conditions, and his best form covers these, considering his last victory in May last year was over a G1 winner.

ROBERT JOHN (3) was able to go back-to-back with the country’s top driver aboard recently and missed out on a hat-trick last time when forced to do too much work. His form prior under the stand conditions was a little mixed but warrants consideration. LADY SUSPICIOUS (4) has a decent record under the standing start conditions, and her last win back in March came under similar conditions. She went very close to winning last time when she was able to lead, and should she find a similar map here she would be hard to run down. MATTYO (2) normally performs well under the standing start conditions, and if you’re prepared to forgive last start, shows reasonably good manners. He will look to go forward and hang tough.

OVERVIEW: SIR EROS (9) is having his second run for the new stable and had excuses first-up at Melton when he broke in running after contacting himself. His trial prior was very good and showed improvement. He has performed well under the stand conditions previously and is open to sharp improvement in what looks to be a suitable grade.

KEAYANG TWEETYBIRD (5) is on her last chance with stewards and punters after breaking at her past three starts, two of which were well up in grade, and two back as a $1.15 favourite. She was a lot better at Ballarat on Thursday night but did go down as an odds-on favourite. The ability is there and she is from the top stable, but she’s hard to trust. SONARMI JOH (7) has a very good standing start record and has the lightest handicap he’s had to deal with for a while. He’s been racing honestly and a closer map may well be in his favour. LEANNE LEEANN (2) is a veteran mare who doesn’t win out of turn, but she does have an honesty about her, and these conditions look to suit her.

BACK: SIR EROS (9) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: ITTAKESLUV (2) draws well with the mares allowance to press forward and look for the lead here. Her best runs come when she’s able to race up on speed and this opposition doesn’t look overly strong for her to control the tempo over the middle trip and give them something to catch.

WOW YOU CAN DANCE (8) switches back to his former stable after two wins in similar grade at Mildura. He was well backed on both occasions and won well. A repeat of that performance has him right in it. He raced up in grade prior, so this looks suitable. He has one placing from seven tries here. HUXHAM CHUBB (6) performs well at this track, and she too will find this company more to her liking. Her best times benchmark her here, but she has a tricky draw to overcome. PRESIDENTIALCHANGE (7) was a winner when able to lead three back, and last time was sound when getting the right map. He’ll need luck from the draw but has place claims.

BACK: ITTAKESLUV (2) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: MISS MUSCLE (4) lines up as one of four first starters, all coming in with vastly different profiles. MISS MUSCLE is a 2yo filly who changed stables before making her racing debut and stepped out at a recent trial, overpowering KEAYANG ZIA (6) and KEAYANG MARCUS (5) who wasn’t far behind. They didn’t go overly hard in the trial, so you’re trusting what you see to the eye, and the mentioned order is how I line them up.
It’s worth noting Keayang Zia is a half-sister to champion Keayang Zahara and had her debut at Ballarat on Thursday, running second as an odds-on favourite after having her chance.

RAMA SAIGO (7) went around in a slightly stronger trial, taking on better performed trotters. He closed off quite well into third in that trial. Again, this one is with the powerful Lee stable, so any betting moves may be a good indicator of ability in comparison to his stablemates. I AM SKYE CHIOLA (8) was a smart winner at the trials back in June, and it’s been encouraging to see her bring that to race day. Her second during the week at Charlton was good after mixing stride at the start, as she worked to sit parked and stuck on gamely. It’s a race of low confidence overall.

OVERVIEW: GUNFORHIRE (7) is a horse who can let down with a strong finishing burst, and he’s been racing well up in grade recently. He will give the others a start, and will need a solid tempo to work home, but his record at this track is good and he appears well graded.

ALL BLAZING GUNS (5) should appreciate this company after racing in fast times at Melton. He was against similar horses at Horsham two back where he got shuffled back and found the line ok. He can improve. OUR ULTIMATE GRACY (4) looks well suited from the draw with the mare’s allowance and will show her gate speed here to race in a forward position. She was a good winner last time in an easier race but should be in the finish again. KEAYANG PAYTON (6) has been racing well in strong company, then dropped back to a suitable class and led all the way at Mount Gambier. This looks stronger and surprisingly is yet to run a place at her home track in six attempts.

BACK: GUNFORHIRE (7) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: Another race with several first starters hard to line up confidently. IDEALWRIGHT (1) won a trial here recently and found the line quite strongly. KEAYANG MIDNIGHT (5) was also in that trial and largely untested, while CHEDDAR CHEESE (2) was sound after showing good gate speed and wasn’t far away.

SWEETHEART DIOR (4) clearly has the best exposed form as a 3yo filly, and whilst she’s a maiden, she’s been a runner-up on three occasions, the most recent just missing out, but the form out of that looks ok. She can press forward from the draw and lob a nice spot and go close again.