Shepparton Harness Preview – Tuesday 10th November

OVERVIEW: OUR SWEET JEANNIE (11) deserves another chance here after getting it wrong at the start when favourite last week. Despite mapping close enough thereafter, the race developed into a sprint home, and she was finding the line well. Her form prior was against the A-grade runners of her age group, and despite going to the back row as an O/D runner, she can atone against what is a much weaker line-up. 

IM DUSTEE (10) broke through for a deserved win last start when able to find the lead and hang on against lesser opposition. She stays in a similar class with the junior claim, so warrants consideration again. MUSSEL SHOALS (2) is a quick beginner second up from a break, and her likely map over the short trip makes her an attractive option. MASTER MIKI (4) is one of several who can show speed here off the front row and will find this grade more to his liking, so is open to improvement. There are a few others who have claims but will need things to work out, including EAGLE MAJOR (1), MAJOR ORION (7) and FULL STEAM AHEAD (9). 

BACK: OUR SWEET JEANNIE (11) – 4 units (win) 

SELECTIONS: OUR SWEET JEANNIE (11), IM DUSTEE (10), MUSSEL SHOALS (2), MASTER MIKI (4) 

OVERVIEW: ALCATRAZ GIRL (2) is a speedy beginner who got things wrong here last time out and had to drift back to last before finishing close enough under the circumstances. She gets appealing conditions over the short trip to potentially find the front and take plenty of catching if she can secure that position. 

SALSBOY (1) is a veteran who comes up with a great draw to map perfectly, like his most recent placing four runs back when he lobbed behind the leader at Bendigo. He can improve sharply on his numerical form. OLLY ODD POTTS (9) tends to hit a purple patch of form and then go out of it, as her history would suggest, but assessing her on her past two wins, she must be considered. She gets a junior claim to stay in a winnable race. QUEENHIGH FLUSH (10) is going well this season, and she’s a mare who likes to come with one run, so if the tempo is genuine enough, she can be strong late. OHHEMJAY CRESCO (4) will find this easier than last time and can also be considered on an each-way basis. 

SELECTIONS: ALCATRAZ GIRL (2), SALSBOY (1), OLLY ODD POTTS (9), QUEENHIGH FLUSH (10) 

OVERVIEW: PLUTOPHOBIA (1) has made an impression in his two career starts at Wagga and has proven he can run time at that track and show enough speed to position himself well from an inside draw. While that form can often be questionable coming to Shepparton, you must respect the stable and what appears to be a positive set-up. 

MY ROC (2) was good in winning on debut here last week, and that was from a wide draw, backing up some solid efforts at the trials. He gets a better draw and must be respected again. EEBEEBEE (8) finally broke through for her maiden last start after several placings where she was favoured in the market. She gets a soft draw here, and her experience may be an advantage, being a 4yo taking on 2yos who will be at the top end of the market. ATOMIK GO ANNA (10) gets another challenging draw, and she was finding the line quite well last time from a similar set-up. She’s taken on some nice quality this season to suggest there’s ability, but she will need some luck. 

SELECTIONS: PLUTOPHOBIA (1), MY ROC (2), EEBEEBEE (8), ATOMIK GO ANNA (10) 

OVERVIEW: ELIANA (1) looks to get the right set-up to break her maiden here, coming off some nice runs from difficult draws. Now she can use her speed to either lead or catch the right cover over the short trip. She’s gone close a couple of times at this track when she’s been able to grab a forward position. 

TOUCH OF REALITY (3) has threatened a few times to break her maiden status, recording six seconds from 11 starts this season. She has tactical speed, so she will go close again. ALCATRAZ MISS (2) gets a good draw after some challenging back-row marbles, so she should be able to get the right trip to go close, but like many of these, she’s had plenty of chances to get into the winner’s circle. AMERICAN GRANGE (7) and BACK DATED (8) are first starters from the same stable who have trialled fairly leading into their debut runs. While they have awkward draws to overcome, they’re worth keeping safe in a race of this strength. 

BACK: ELIANA (1) – 2 units (win) 

SELECTIONS: ELIANA (1), TOUCH OF REALITY (3), ALCATRAZ MISS (2), BACK DATED (8) 

OVERVIEW: TOBYS SHOUT (8) deserves another chance after I had him on top in a more difficult race than this last time, where he didn’t get much luck. He was a solid winner three runs back when a short-priced favourite, and while he doesn’t have the best record at this track, he has had some excuses. He will need luck again, but if he gets it, he’s better than most here. 

KRAKEY (5) was able to break through for his first win this season last start, where he did the work outside the speed and was too strong. The draw means he’ll likely have to earn it again, but he’s going well. ROCK THE JET (3) is a 2yo filly taking on the older horses but was able to lead and win last time out, so respect the likely map in her favour. Of the rest, they’re for the most part unreliable in terms of consistency, but SON OF A BROAD (1) and ALTA BAYAMO (6) could win without surprising when they get it together. 

SELECTIONS: TOBYS SHOUT (8), KRAKEY (5), ROCK THE JET (3), SON OF A BROAD (1) 

OVERVIEW: SPIRITED GIGI (6) finds a more suitable grade having taken on some smarter types in recent starts, but when he dropped back in class three runs ago, he was an easy winner, leading and winning by a space. He’s building a nice record, and although there are a couple going okay here, he looks well suited. 

ALDEBARAN DENBAY (5) has been a model of consistency for the new stable, and although he keeps stepping up in grade, he deserves respect again with a positive draw. He seems better when he can lead, but it’s not certain he gets that role here. STRAIGHT TO THETOP (2) is always thereabouts under mobile conditions, and this draw looks favourable to use her speed over the short trip and look to lead all the way. She will go close but has had plenty of chances in similar circumstances. SHEZALOVER (3) has been going well for the new stable, and although this may be slightly trickier than her past couple, she may map well enough to be in the finish. 

SELECTIONS: SPIRITED GIGI (6), ALDEBARAN DENBAY (5), STRAIGHT TO THETOP (2), SHEZALOVER (3) 

OVERVIEW: LATHER ME UP (6) is a 2yo filly who was well supported against the older horses last start but cost herself any chance by pacing roughly at the start. She was forced to the rear of the field, only to make ground again late and finish a close-up 5th. That was her first run for the new stable, and she finds an easier race this time to atone. 

LORIMERMAJOR (5) has been thereabouts recently, getting closer to notching a second win for the season. He’s likely to drift back and hope to overpower them from the rear of the small field, so he’ll need the right tempo. TREACHEROUSTIMES (1) has the potential to use his speed from the inside draw and look to hold out those drawn immediately outside him as challengers for the lead. He was able to win from this draw back in August. The three stablemates are all drawn alongside each other, with GOODTIME MAE (2), ENABLE ME (3) and ALLHEARTNOHEIGHT (4) all having claims but being dependent on the maps they get. 

SELECTIONS: LATHER ME UP (6), LORIMERMAJOR (5), TREACHEROUSTIMES (1), ENABLE ME (3) 

OVERVIEW: YOUR SO RICH (4) was terribly unlucky on debut at Maryborough, where he showed good gate speed to position behind the leader and was travelling like the winner until that leader broke at a crucial stage, severely checking him out of the race. He managed to regain his gait and finish 4th. There was market support on that occasion, so with even luck this time, he can get the job done. 

GATSYS DELIGHT (5) isn’t a big filly, but she showed some ability on debut. She displayed some greenness but did well to finish 3rd in decent time. Hopefully, she can mature from that experience and run well. KYVALLEY DAYTONA (2) started off the back row on debut and, as a result, came with one run and found the line okay. He was in the same race as the top pick here, but circumstances were different between them. KYVALLEY DANNY (1) is the stablemate out of the same race but was safely held by some of the others, although the draw aids her chances for minor money. 

BACK: YOUR SO RICH (4) – 4 units (win) 

SELECTIONS: YOUR SO RICH (4), GATSYS DELIGHT (5), KYVALLEY DAYTONA (2), KYVALLEY DANNY (1)