Trent’s Tips - Saturday Harness Racing Best Bets 28th February

Keayang Zahara (Stuart McCormick Photo)

Champion mare Keayang Zahara seeks a 14th Group 1 win in the Just Believe Grand Prix at Melton on Saturday night.

Keayang Zahara is $1.04 to capture her 26th win from just 27 starts when she contests the Grand Prix. Her stablemate Jilliby Ballerini looks hardest to beat in the Group 3 Breed For Speed Gold Trot.

Tasmania will host the $150,000 Tasmania Cup Final with the smart Triedtotellya the dominant favourite. He may be the best horse since Beautide to race in Tasmania and it will be a matter of time before he heads north.

Menangle has some serious horses with Captains Mistress contesting the Listed Paleface Adios Stakes. Other prominent horses on the program include Don Hugo in the FFA, Hollywood Strip in an NR up to 80 event, and a clash between Ripples and Tokyo Rose in an NR up to 85 race.

At Albion Park, Gus will contest a Trotters Mobile event, while the FFA pacers and Junior FFA pacers are races worthy of coverage.

Saturday Harness Racing Best Bets February 28

 

Melton

Race 1

This feels like a very important race for former Miracle Mile winner CATCH A WAVE (2) who has raced below his best form recently. He won’t find a more suitable race than this and defeat from barrier two could mean his career is at the crossroads. I couldn’t suggest anyone dive into the $1.40 though.

LOUIE LOU I NZ (1) should take a trail in the race and hasn’t been far away in most of his recent efforts. It would not shock to see him use the sprint lane to win at double figures is a good enough price to take. Not sure what they do from the wide gate, but on sectional times, JILLIBY NITRO (7) can still win so happy to back him too. TRIPLE EIGHT NZ (4) has been below par in the last two but gets James Herbertson, so that could prove a change of fortune for the veteran.

Selections: 1-7-2-4

LOUIE LOU I NZ (1) to win

JILLIBY NITRO (7) to win

 

Race 5

It should be a big night for Marg, Paddy and Jason Lee, as well as Glen Craven, and it could start with KEAYANG GYPSY (5) who is the short-priced favourite. Just like Catch A Wave, I couldn’t suggest anyone taking $1.40 here as there are two serious dangers in the race with ALDEBARAN SUSANNE (2) drawn to find the pegs and RUBYS DREAM (8) potentially being driven for luck but capable of a strong finishing burst.

Five starts ago ALDEBARAN SUSANNE (2) led throughout at Geelong in 1:56.5, 57.4. Manners can be a query with this mare but if she trots, then she can go close to winning. Happy to back her and also RUBYS DREAM (8) – both are around $6. We will be hoping that KEAYANG GYPSY (5) gets caught without cover, but she could still win from there.

Selections: 2-8-5-4

ALDEBARAN SUSANNE (2) to win

RUBYS DREAM (8) to win

 

Race 6

It starts to feel a little repetitive writing the same thing about the champion mare, but that’s not the case when it comes to watching her perform. The winner of 25 races from 26 starts should be winning again as she looks for a 14th Group 1 win in the Just Believe Grand Prix (2240m). Sit back and enjoy her in full flight!

Outside of her, expecting LOVEMETO NZ (2) and JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (3) to fight out the silver medal position. The exotics aren’t likely to pay too much if they finish as expected so going to leave this race alone.

Selections: 1-2-3-4

 

Race 7

The Group 3 Breed For Speed Gold Trot (1720m) is at the mercy of superstar trotter JILLIBY BALLERINI (6). On recent form, she will handle this field to record a 16th career win at start 33. If there is a danger, it is likely to be David Miles’ ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (5) who can fly straight across to the pegs. That is the likely Quinella in the race, but I suspect she may have to be second best behind a star Lee trotter.

Selections: 6-5-4-3

Exacta: 6 / 5

 

Hobart

Race 2

The Listed George Johnson Mares (2090m) has an odds-on favourite in the form of Conor Crook’s five-year-old mare ULTIMACTION (3) who blasted out a 1:53.9 victory over 1680m at Launceston. If she runs like that, this is race over for rivals. She is second-up after galloping in a standing start event last time so let’s see if that plays any part on her mindset here.

Heath Woods trains and drives STEPPING STONES (6), a classy eight-year-old mare with 13 wins besides her name. Her sectionals are the best in the race and despite the worst draw in the field of six, with a bit of luck, she can finish over the top of them. Any of the others can fill a minor placing except for SPOOKY GIRL (4) who looks outclassed in this event.

Selections: 6-3-1-5

STEPPING STONES (6) to win

 

Race 3

The Eric Reece Memorial (2090m) is a $20,000 maiden event and it looks a competitive race as one of these horses will add their first win. I am looking at a couple of horses in the race that rate well. FANCY ANOTHER (8) has the inside of the back row and is knocking on the door with back-to-back seconds. She is running good sectionals and can go close with some luck.

SPORT WATCHER (10) is ticking along fairly and she could break the duck with a bit of luck in running from her backrow draw. There is a stack of other hopes in the race too.

Selections: 8-10-11-2

FANCY ANOTHER (8) to win

SPORT WATCHER (10) to win

 

Race 6

The big $150,000 Tasmania Cup Final (2579m) showcases the brilliant Rohan Hillier-trained and driven TRIEDTOTELLYA (12) and he looks like he will handle this field as he heads on to bigger and better things. The price reflects his dominance as he is the $1.25 favourite and chasing his 19th win from just 25 starts.

One roughie that I think can run a race is PARDOE PLUGGA (1) from the inside draw. Two starts back, he was fourth when beaten just 2.1m by Maebee in the Devonport Cup (2698m). He wasn’t a bad run last start either in the heat and if he gets a soft trip, could be finishing strongly into a place at odds. MAEBEE (2), STAR MAJOR (4), HORATIUS SPECULO (8) and DALTON SHARD NZ (9) all have place claims in the race.

Selections: 12-1-9-8

PARDOE PLUGGA (1) each way

 

Menangle

Race 5

Will keep the FFA short and sharp here. Star pacer DON HUGO (3) goes around at $1.04 and should have no trouble handling rivals. Despite a pair of seconds, he should return to the winner’s circle to record a 24th win and add to his $2.5 million in prizemoney.

KINGMAKER NZ (5) has strong claims of running a place in this and the $3 on offer is good enough to take. Can’t see how he beats the favourite so happy to support on a place-only basis. He has won 14 races at the track and will prefer it over Newcastle where he finished third last time out.

Selections: 3-5-4-8

KINGMAKER NZ (5) to place

 

Race 6

The Listed Paleface Adios Stakes will see the Jason Grimson flying machine CAPTAINS MISTRESS NZ (7) smash the clock. Nothing in this field will scare her and she should get things her own way. She has been crushing fields for fun and there’s no reason she won’t do the same here.

Likely to fight out the placings is FORTY LOVE (2) and FERNCO NEL NZ (3). Happy to put them into an Exacta and Trifecta.

Exacta: 7 / 2,3

Trifecta: 7 / 2,3 / 2,3,4

 

Albion Park

Race 3

WHOS DELIGHT NZ (1) flew the gate at his Australian debut when leading throughout to score in 1:53.2, 55.5, for the 2138m journey. If he carves out similar sectionals over the mile, he is going to prove hard to run down.

FOR REAL LIFE (7) is racing in excellent form and his last two have been some serious sectional times. If he had drawn to advantage, it would have been hard seeing anything beating him here. TURN IT UP (5) is one of the quickest beginners the sport has ever seen, but I don’t think he crossed the inside horse after the early speed it showed. MULLUM HANK (3) also has winning claims in the race.

Selections: 1-7-3-5

WHOS DELIGHT NZ (1) to win

 

Race 4

Queensland’s top trotter GUS NZ (11) should have this mobile event at his mercy after a first-up win off a 40m handicap over 3157m. He sat back and put them away stylishly, which is probably what Pete McMullen will be looking to do here too.

Not keen on anything to beat him – AJAY VOLSTEAD (5) and NOT AS PROMISED (6) are the dangers if Gus misbehaves but most likely for a place if he trots throughout. GOLDEN SUNSET (8) could also fill a placing.

Selections: 11-6-5-8

GUS NZ (11) to win

 

Race 7

The FFA pacers event is a small field but looks excellent with TIMS A TROOPER (5) and SPEAK THE TRUTH (6) heading the market. I quite like TIMS A TROOPER (5) in this after his impressive win last start in 1:51.1 from the death seat. His speed and toughness mean he can win the race from anywhere.

HOT AND TREACHEROUS NZ (1) raced well off 30m and barrier one aids his cause. I still think he may find one better though.

Selections: 5-6-1-2

TIMS A TROOPER (5) to win

 

For complete Saturday night harness racing fields, click here.

 by Trent Orwin for Harnesslink