Shepparton Harness Preview – Tuesday 4th August

OVERVIEW: SASSY GABBY (3) lacks recent racing and hasn’t started since October but she was very impressive at an Echuca trial victory last week, where she finished quickly from last. She is nicely drawn and is worth an investment. GALLICO (4) has been below his best form recently but he has the class to test this field. He was a winner at Warragul four starts ago and was placed six times in succession at the turn of the season. SIR SONNY MAGUIRE (5) is resuming since a sixth at Shepparton on June 02. He came from last when a handy third at a Shepparton trial performance last week and is worth a ticket each way. MEGAWATTS (6) is racing in career best form having won three of her past four starts and is worth thought again. This is a much harder assignment but she is racing too well to dismiss.  

BACK: SASSY GABBY (3) – 1 unit (each way) 

SELECTIONS: SASSY GABBY (3), GALLICO (4), SIR SONNY MAGUIRE (5), MEGAWATTS (6) 

OVERVIEW: CLIVES GIRL (9) gained a nice trail early, came out three horses wide from the 800m and hit the front at the 500m when a game second behind Miss Hermes last week. She has had a few chances since her latest win but she appears to be suited from the trailing draw. IVE AN IDEA (4) settled four back on the markers, was held up for a run at a vital stage and weaved a passage late when third at Shepparton last week. This race is of similar standard and she is worth a ticket each way. ARRAPS (6) is a fast beginner and races best when he is able to lead. He has drawn on the second line at his past two attempts so he appears to be better suited under these conditions. HOLD ON FOREVER (8) is racing well enough to figure in the finish despite the awkward draw and MAMMALS REASON (10) ran a much sharper race to win against easier grade last week.  

SELECTIONS: CLIVES GIRL (9), IVE AN IDEA (4), ARRAPS (6), HOLD ON FOREVER (8)  

OVERVIEW: STARLIGHT RED (2) is a brilliant beginner from the standing start and is racing in good form so she should give a bold showing. She gained a nice trail just behind the speed when she finished off best to win at Echuca then attempted to lead throughout at her past two attempts. JACKIES GIFT (10) is the class runner of the field but she lacks standing start experience and faces a tough handicap of 20m. She led throughout in record time at Echuca two starts ago then took on much tougher opposition at Melton. STRAIGHT TO THETOP (9) is a quick beginner from behind the tapes and has the ability to feature prominently. She is first up from a break and hasn’t been to the trials but she was placed five times in succession towards the end of her last preparation. VAN DOREN (5) continues to race consistently against this class. He enjoyed a nice trail throughout when fourth behind Jilliby Topgun last outing and is worth a ticket each way.  

SELECTIONS: STARLIGHT RED (2), JACKIES GIFT (10), STRAIGHT TO THETOP (9), VAN DOREN (5)  

OVERVIEW: KIA ORA BEAUTY (1) will appreciate a decent drop back in class for this assignment and had little luck in obtaining a clear passage when an unlucky seventh at Swan Hill last week so she gets her chance to improve under these conditions. MISTER JIMARINGLE (4) returned to winning form when he parked without cover for the majority of the journey and dominated an easier field last week. He is drawn to give another forward showing despite meeting a field of more depth. HES CHARLIES ANGEL (6) was resuming since May when he set up a genuine tempo and was run down late at Shepparton. He should strip fitter for this assignment and he has been competitive at a much higher level previously so he cannot be left out of calculations. CITY ROCKSTAR (3) showed a glimpse of her best form when second behind the smart pacer Mount Barker Boy at Ballarat last outing. She is a speedy beginner and is suited to racing over the sprint distance so she must be included amongst the leading chances.  

BACK: KIA ORA BEAUTY (1) – 1 unit (each way) 

SELECTIONS: KIA ORA BEAUTY (1), MISTER JIMARINGLE (4), HES CHARLIES ANGEL (6), CITY ROCKSTAR (3)   

OVERVIEW: WHERE IT BEGAN (1) is resuming since a fourth at Shepparton in May but he finished second at a Shepparton trial effort last week after setting the pace and should give a forward showing first up. AMADA VILLMA (7) began quickly and found the front from a wide draw before being run down over the latter stages when second behind Mammals Reason at Shepparton last week. She should be fitter from that run and is capable of going one better now. MAJOR FRIEND (8) has the perfect trailing draw behind WHERE IT BEGAN (1) and has been placed from behind the leader at her past two attempts so she should run a good race again. ELLIANA (5) gained a nice trail for the majority of the journey when she worked home reasonably well for second at Shepparton last week. She is meeting a field of similar standard here and is worth thought again.  

SELECTIONS: WHERE IT BEGAN (1), ADAMA VILLMA (7), MAJOR FRIEND (8), ELLIANA (5)  

OVERVIEW: MATRIARCH DAISY (5) has been placed in all of her five starts for the season and she won a trial at Bacchus Marsh last week so she must be respected. THERESHEWAS (2) has been placed in three of her past four starts and finished off well for third behind Crackin Philtra last outing so she must be considered as a winning chance. CELESTIAL NEBULAE (4) is resuming since a third at Mildura in November but won a trial at Maryborough last week and has the ability to feature prominently against this class. ESTHERS BEST (7) produced a sharper performance at her second attempt when she pushed forward to find the lead from the 1400m and proved to be too strong at Shepparton. This race is much harder than the Maiden class but she should continue to improve with the benefit of racing. SWEET LOUANNE (8) finished off well last week and is worth thought from the trailing draw. 

BACK: MATRIARCH DAISY (5) – 3 units (win)  

SELECTIONS: MATRIARCH DAISY (5), THERESHEWAS (2), CELESTIAL NEBULAE (4), ESTHERS BEST (7)  

OVERVIEW: WICKED CONFESSION (7) was the inaugural winner of the Running Of The Bulls at Birchip and was placed in both the Robin Dundee Stakes and the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II at Menangle during her last preparation so she is clearly the horse to beat, despite being first up without a trial. HITCH TO HIS STAR (6) is race fit and in form so he looms as the logical danger. He settled in the second half of the field and ran home well for fourth in a sizzling mile rate of 1.52.4 at Melton last week. LILLY LOTUS (5) is a speedy mare that has been racing at Metropolitan level and is worth thought. She settled three back on the markers and was held up for a run at a vital stage when a handy fifth behind Fairplay at Melton last time out. OH SWEET CREATURE (3) is rising in class but is racing consistently and is a place chance again. 

BACK: WICKED CONFESSION (7) – 3 units (win)  

SELECTIONS: WICKED CONFESSION (7), HITCH TO HIS STAR (6), LILLY LOTUS (5), OH SWEET CREATURE (3)  

OVERVIEW: LATHER IN GOLD (5) led out then took cover when she scored in a sharp mile rate of 1.57.7 at Shepparton then went back at the start from a wide draw and couldn’t work into the race in fast final sectionals at Kilmore last outing. He has the advantage of race experience over his rivals so he looms as a strong winning chance. HUNTER VALLEY RED (3) is a nicely bred debutante being by Huntsville out of the classy mare Scarlett Brew for trainer Lisa Pitt and considering Mark Pitt is driving him ahead of the two other stable runners REBEL REBEL (1) and ONELOOK (6), he must be respected. Both HUNTER VALLEY RED (3) and ONELOOK (6) performed in the same trial at Shepparton last week and they hit the line strongly for second and third respectively with not much separating them at the finish. JASPER JAY (4) went back to last from the outside of the front row and finished off well for second at Wagga last week and is a place chance again.  

SELECTIONS: LATHER IN GOLD (5), HUNTER VALLEY RED (3), ONELOOK (6), REBEL REBEL (1)