Form Analysis: Albion Park Mar 21

RACE ONE

Stepping out in Qld for the first time, it did not go to plan for VALERIE VERDE (2) who had her race ended within 400m after a wheel issue forced her to pull up. Leading into that first appearance, she had trialled in good order and back to maiden only company looks the one to stop.

SKYLAR BREE (5) started from the second line at Marburg two starts back and was trying to make a closing raid when 3m from the winner in grabbing the silver. Forget her last start when her race ended before it started when levelled as the start was affected. She can look to challenge.

PUMPKIN PAT (3) was asked to do it tough at Redcliffe last start and despite the tough trip was grafting it out when 3m from the winner. Settling handy she can be thereabouts once again.

MYSTICAL CHARM (7) has no favours from the wide gate which she faces after her last start saw her make an error and cop the ODM embargo. The smaller field aids her minor claims.

SELECTIONS: VALERIE VERDE (2), SKYLAR BREE (5), PUMPKIN PAT (3), MYSTICAL CHARM (7)
SUGGESTED BET: VALERIE VERDE (2) to win

RACE TWO

Runner-up in 3 of his 5 runs back this season, it looked that HOLD MY HAT DOUG (1) was finally going to claim the breakthrough last week but ultimately came up a pimple short of the prize. Stepping cleanly, he was out in front and trying to see it out. A beaten fav in all 5, can this be it?

OONSKADE (6) started off the 30m impost last time and was strong to the wire over the closing stages and kept chasing to arrive right in the final strides to claim a narrow victory. That was just her 2^nd career victory and despite moving back another 10, she can be closing out hard to challenge.

SET ME FREE (7) has contested the two rounds of the McNeil, the first round where she struck trouble soon after the start before a tidy 2^nd on Friday. Despite the 40m, back to this grade looks suitable.

JUST CALL ME MOLLY (4) was rough off the mark last start until finding rhythm and chasing when midfield to OONSKADE. A safer start off the 30m can see her in the mix.

SELECTIONS: HOLD MY HAT DOUG (1), OONSKADE (6), SET ME FREE (7), JUST CALL ME MOLLY (4)
SUGGESTED BET: HOLD MY HAT DOUG (1) to win

RACE THREE

A 2YO contest here where the debutant CHECKNOUTTHETALENT (3) can look to make a perfect start to his career. By Hes Watching, the gelding is prepared by Chantal Turpin and looked good in a recent qualifying trial. From the gate, he can get off the mark.

DRAGON (2) will be fresh up after making his debut on January 31, showing some early hustle off the gate before taking cover. Using the passing lane to be just a half-head from IGNITE THE FIRE, he will benefit from the experience and has the gate to challenge fresh.

ELLIS STREET (6) has been runner-up in 2 of his 3 starts, the latest when just a half-neck from MORE SASS. Chasing hard two starts back behind subsequent winner WESTERN ACTION, the gate stings.

ROCKIN CHIKA (8) is a Rock N Roll Heaven filly on debut for Graham Dwyer off the back of a handy trial hit out. From inside the second line, she will be searching for open space.

SELECTIONS: CHECKNOUTTHETALENT (3), DRAGON (2), ELLIS STREET (6), ROCKIN CHIKA (8)
SUGGESTED BET:

RACE FOUR

A drop back into this grade might just be the catalyst for IM FEELING FIREY (4) to find his way back into some winning form. Buried on the poles from inside the second line on Saturday night, he kept to the inside when 3m from YEP GOT CHOOKS. Not far away in recent starts, this looks within reach.

KASH US BACK (7) should appreciate a drop to this up to 70 veterans after an extended period without a win. Chasing hard when best of the rest behind EL AGUILA here last week, his run four back was solid at Redcliffe when just a half-neck from MISTERFREEZE. Despite the gate, he can throw it down.

TINGE OF FEAR (1) has taken on mare’s only at her past three starts and been unable to hit the board, the latest on Saturday night from the second line behind ROSES ARE SWEET. The gate is a plus.

OHOKA JIMMY (8) chased home valiantly last time when 6m from EL AGUILA who dictated on the front end. A similar margin behind a dictating DESPONDENT two back, he has second line options.

SELECTIONS: IM FEELING FIREY (4), KASH US BACK (7), TINGE OF FEAR (1), OHOKA JIMMY (8)
SUGGESTED BET: IM FEELING FIREY (4) to win

RACE FIVE

These 30-41s are always tough to pull apart when they get to HQ, and this is no exception. TODAYS HERO (2) has been unable to capitalise from gate 1 in 4 of his past 5 starts, the latest when trying to take them all the way but ultimately overpowered by AUNTY FRANCES. He can try to go one better.

AUNTY FRANCES (10) overcame a wide gate at Redcliffe last start when powering home in the closing stages and pulling clear to win by over 10m. Buried in the run two back over the AP mile when making late metres to be 6m from the winner, if the tempo is right, she can arrive.

TACTICS ARE ROLLIN (6) was second up from a spell two starts back and trying to make late metres when midfield to SOHO CASABLANCA. Just a half-neck away last start, she can chime in.

LANCELOT BROMAC (8) has placed at his past two starts, the latest where he needed to graft it out after being left exposed. The inside second line is not his ideal these days, but he can chase another minor.

SELECTIONS: TODAYS HERO (2), AUNTY FRANCES (10), TACTICS ARE ROLLIN (6), LANCELOT BROMAC (8)
SUGGESTED BET:

RACE SIX

Returning to start his 3YO term off the back of a 2 from 3 start to his career, ALTA MAGACIAN (3) looks to have found a suitable assignment and alley to strike fresh. Rounding out his 2YO term when runner-up to ARODA, it had followed successive wins to kick off his career and he can return in style.

MORE SASS (10) is a 2YO filly tackling the older performers here off the back of a perfect start to her career here last week. Pouncing on the lead from gate 3, she was able to see it out for a narrow winning margin. Despite the second line, she can chase here to challenge second up.

KEAYANG TARA (1) was strong to the line here on Saturday when rattling late to be 3m from the leading winner GOALKICKER. Too far back from the wide gate the start prior, the inside is a big asset.

ODINS BLACK CROWS (6) returned from a spell when 3^rd from a wide gate in a contest dictated in front by JILLIBY TYPHOON. A winner at his first look at the 2138 last start, the gate makes it tough.

SELECTIONS: ALTA MAGACIAN (3), MORE SASS (10), KEAYANG TARA (1), ODINS BLACK CROWS (6)
SUGGESTED BET:  ALTA MAGACIAN (3) to win

 

RACE SEVEN

ELOUISA DALE (10) was first up in Aus last week when sent to the post as fav from two off the second line. Settling in the 1x1 trail, she was trying to launch a closing raid when finishing with the bronze, 4m from the winner. Stripping fitter from the first up effort, she can strike here.

YANKEE C J (5) last tasted victory almost four years ago, yet his recent efforts suggest he can be changing that anomaly soon. Placed in successive starts behind GIRL FROM ROSEDALE, he was locked away three back on the poles last start and can be challenging off pace here.

IMA BEACH BABE (1) had this alley last start when trailing GIRL FROM ROSEDALE throughout and holding on for the bronze. With the economical trip, she can again be chiming in.

TORQUE TO THE MUSIC (8) was fired off the arm from gate 5 last start to set the tempo but could not see it out when 3m astern of the winner O B LEGAL. From this alley he will be probing for gaps.

SELECTIONS: ELOUISA DALE (10), YANKEE C J (5), IMA BEACH BABE (1), TORQUE TO THE MUSIC (8)
SUGGESTED BET:

RACE EIGHT

A winner at her past two starts when able to take control on the front end, OUR MODERN MINNIE (4) can look to get forward and chase the threepeat. Never in danger in a sharp last 800 at Redcliffe last time, it followed an 8m margin here when leading from this same gate. She can take another step up here.

AMAMI (1) tackled the 2138 last start and was slow off the arm and soon snookered three back and needing factors in his favour that did not eventuate. Grafting it out first over when 2^nd to the subsequent winner RED TRIX two back, he will need to hustle hard to avoid another pocket.

LANAI (9) has been runner-up in two runs back from a spell, the latest when luckless searching for a gap that did no open when 6m in arrears of LORD OF MISRULE. If the tempo is right, he can descend.

O B LEGAL (10) has been in nice touch in recent weeks with 3 wins from his past 4 outings. Overcoming gate 6 when powering home in the closing stages here last week, he is in the mix.

SELECTIONS: OUR MODERN MINNIE (4), AMAMI (1), LANAI (9), O B LEGAL (10)
SUGGESTED BET: OUR MODERN MINNIE (4) to win

RACE NINE

Tackling a qualifier last start when hemmed away back on the poles, HIPSTAR (9) shook free of the pocket and rattled home to grab the prize in the closing stages. Just a half-neck away here two back in this grade over this trip, he can press through early to find a handy spot and look to finish them off.

EL AGUILA (4) was first up back in Qld last week where he was sent straight to the front from gate 4 and taking control was never in danger when claiming a 4m margin after being heavily supported into red figures. The big query is his middle trip record which shows just the solitary victory.

SOLE AMBITION (2) was trying to lead throughout from his same gate over this trip last start but could not repel them in the stretch. Runner-up the start prior, he can get forward and be gripping on.

APHORISM (12) was asked to work hard in the run last start when sent to sit parked from gate 7 and after the tough trip, faded in the closing stages. The extreme gate is never easy to overcome.

SELECTIONS: HIPSTAR (9), EL AGUILA (4), SOLE AMBITION (2), APHORISM (12)
SUGGESTED BET: HIPSTAR (9) to win