Australian Analyst – Saturday Harness Racing Best Bets 27th June

Harness racing continues to heat up in Queensland as star Kiwi pacer Marketplace is the dominant favourite for the 2026 Wondais Mate.

In addition to the FFA event where Marketplace is expected to dominate, a potential match race between Tokyo Rose and Steno in the Horse & Hounds Mares.

The Queensland Sun will see the winner exempt from the ballot for the Rising Sun. Cool And Classy is favourite ahead of Fernco Nel and Ruby Rules.

Here are our best bets for Saturday’s harness action across the country.

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Saturday Harness Racing Best Bets June 27

Albion Park

Race 1

SUGAR PIE HONEY (6) boasts strong Menangle form, winning two runs back in 1:49.1. She then finished fifth behind Tokyo Rose. Trainer Rickie Alchin will drive the mare as regular driver Ashleigh Delosa remains in New South Wales. Whether the mare can eventually find the front or seek some cover on the speed, she should run well.

DOUBLE LOU (7) is the class runner and has the best gate speed. Whether he is lit up early to try and find the fence, or works forward, this gelding is a deserved favourite. He was beaten just 1.8m by Ubetcha Tigerpie last start when beating home Marketplace. CATSEYE BEACH (1), BIRKIRKARA (3) and CYA ART NZ (9) are also in the mix.

Selections: 6-7-1-9

SUGAR PIE HONEY (6) to win

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Race 4

COOL AND CLASSY (3) should find the lead in a race that doesn’t have a quick front line for this grade of horse. She broke the track record at Redcliffe, rating 1:51.8, to win the Princess of the Bay by 15m. If she can replicate her last start effort, she is going to be hard to run down.

RUBY RULES (2) may be able to find the fence and hand over to her stablemate. She had no chance last week against Cool And Classy but if she can land her back, she has each-way claims. FERNCO NEL NZ (9) should be driven for one run. If there’s any early pressure, he can take advantage late. Plenty of depth here with REDS ABLAZE (1), FRENCH FRIES (4), PATH TO GREATNESS (5) and GREASED LIGHTNIN NZ (6) all having smaller claims.

Selections: 3-2-9-1

COOL AND CLASSY (3) to win

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Race 5

TOKYO ROSE NZ (3) leads for fun and that gives her the best chance to make it back-to-back victories after capturing the Captains Mistress Ladyship Stakes last start. She is short enough at $1.75 because she can mix her form.

SALLY BIGTIME (8) is having an incredible preparation, winning four times from six attempts. She breezed to win last start and has been freshened up. She will trail TREMENDOUS SENSATION NZ (1) which means that she likely ends up 3 back on the pegs. I still like her each-way prospects. STENO (4) is the obvious danger to Tokyo Rose and the market reflects that. Next best is LUX AETERNA (9).

Selections: 8-3-4-9

SALLY BIGTIME (8) each way

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Race 6

MARKETPLACE NZ (2) is the star of the show here in the Wondais Mate and he should be very hard to beat. He lost no admirers at Menangle when forced to work hard and run third. He should be finding the lead here and from there, it should be race over.

SEASIDER (1) will be firing out from the inside to make sure he can trail Marketplace. The worst case is that TIGER BAND WAGON (4) has a look and crosses over. With his finishing burst, Seasider should have strong place claims. KANENA PROVLIMA (8) follows speed well and could run into the money at odds. A good horse to put into the exotics. CHEERSTOLOU (9) is the proven FFA horse outside of Marketplace.

Selections: 2-1-8-9

Exacta: 2 / 1

Trifecta: 2 / 1,8,9 / 1,4,8,9

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Race 7

YOTTIE (5) is a smart three-year-old for Bernie Hewitt and he is going to land on the speed. Whether that is by pressuring to find the front, sitting in the breeze, or getting some 1 out 1 back cover. He did all the work and was only beaten 2m in 1:50.7 at his first up run. He showed his class by racing well in the NSW Derby and Gold Chalice Final.

NYMBAL NZ (1) put them away from four back on the fence in the Redcliffe Derby. He has good gate speed and will be trying to hold up early because BEROCCA BERNIE (4) may have a crack at him early. Whether he leads or trials, Nymbal has strong claims. MAXO MIGHTY (10) has won all three starts since joining Jason Grimson. He won’t get the chance to lead here, so it will be harder. SHOWMETHETANLINES NZ (8) is next best with each-way claims.

Selections: 5-1-8-10

YOTTIE (5) to win

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Race 9

I AM HELLBOUND (9) just keeps getting better for Scott Hewitt, winning four of his past five starts. All of them have been at Menangle. He will probably be content sitting outside of SUPERIOR STRIDE (3) and trying to wear him down. Both of those NSW trotters have strong claims and deserve to be the two favourites.

The locals will try and cause an upset with the two peg-line starting runners as the most likely to cause an upset if there is to be one. RAFFIE JAY NZ (1) takes the biggest class jump that a young horse can – she is a three-year-old filly meeting a gelding, and also a four-year-old gelding in I Am Hellbound. SASSY GALLEON (8) continues to race well and has each-way prospects.

Selections: 9-3-1-8

RAFFIE JAY NZ (1) each way

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Menangle

Race 6

UBETCHA TIGERPIE (7) was the beneficiary of Hi Manameisjeff and Marketplace having a battle last time out as he raced on the back of Marketplace and ran over the top. This is easier than last start and if he gets a nice run, he will prove hard to hold out.

JORGE STREET (8) is the sectional star on my figures and considering he is $41; I’ve simply got to have something on him each way. The speed map looks poor. Declan Murphy picks up the drive, and he is going to need a stack of luck. He generally closes fast, so if he can get the right run, he could shock at huge odds. RIPP (4) and GLITTER AINT GOLD (3) both have good gate speed to land a prominent position.

Selections: 7-8-4-3

JORGE STREET (8) each way

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Melton

Race 5

HES FROM HEAVEN NZ (4) should be aggressive early searching for the front. Five starts back he did that when running second to Bulletproof Boy, which is excellent form. He continues to race well – simply put the pen through last run against Hollywood Strip. That horse is a star.

JUSTALITTLESIP NZ (1) can be an underrated horse and from the good draw, I could see him running a cheeky race. At Geelong, he was beaten just 1.2m by MY ULTIMATE BARNEY (5) and Fighter Command. I have to have something small on.

JACKS ULTIMATE FURY NZ (6) and CALEXICO (7) also have claims.

Selections: 4-1-7-6

HES FROM HEAVEN NZ (4) to win & JUSTALITTLESIP NZ (1) to win

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For complete Saturday night harness racing fields, click here.

by Trent Orwin for Harnesslink