Form Analysis: Albion Park Mar 25

RACE ONE

Another high quality 70Final drawn together where MIDNIGHT CALM (1) lands the first blow by scoring the ace. Buried in the run in his heat from inside the second line, he shook free to close out strongly. With good arm speed, he holds the keys to the contest and looks the one to stop.

MR MCLAREN (3) was first up in Aus in the heat where he was able to slide into the 1x1 trail and then had the closing momentum to arrive for the prize. Taking benefit from that run, which was his first in over two months, he can possie up close enough to throw down the challenge.

CALL ME KEITH (8) eased across to find the fence at Redcliffe last start as HESTON ZOOLANDER carved it out on the front end. Chasing hard for the silver, he should enjoy another cosy trip here.

MELTON BEACH (4) fired out from gate 2 last start and once in control was never headed, pulling clear to claim a dominant 8m margin in a career PB time. He can be chiming in once again.

SELECTIONS: MIDNIGHT CALM (1), MR MCLAREN (3), CALL ME KEITH (8), MELTON BEACH (4)
SUGGESTED BET: MIDNIGHT CALM (1) to win

RACE TWO

After two runs back from a spell where he has not been too far away in each, L L COOL J (9) looks to have found the right set up to get on the board this season. Retreating from gate 7 last week, he was making late metres wide out when 5m away which followed a strong first up 3^rd at Redcliffe.

TARGARYEN (3) tackled the open ranks last start from gate 1 and after the economical trip against the poles was chiming in down the stretch for 3^rd behind TURN IT UP. Beaten by the outside second line alley the start prior behind the airborne UPTOWN BEACHGIRL, he looms large in this contest.

CARDLESFROMHEAVEN (1) found 1x1 cover last time out and was chasing all the way for the bronze, finishing 4m from the winner SURF ACE. He secures all the options from this gate to feature.

MISTERFREEZE (8) was tucked away from this same gate last start and chasing when 7m from the winner SURF ACE. He looks to find a similar position here and will be probing for the gaps to offer.

SELECTIONS: L L COOL J (9), TARGARYEN (3), CARDLESFROMHEAVEN (1), MISTERFREEZE (8)
SUGGESTED BET: L L COOL J (9) to win

RACE THREE

Placed in all six starts this season, the past five when finishing as the runner-up, can THE HIGH COMMANDER (9) get the right opportunity to capitalise here. Asked to grind away outside the leader last start in a 53.1 mile, he was game in holding 2^nd. With the right trail, he is up to it.

ROLLYARRRZ (2) has faced the second line at his past three starts, the latest from gate 10 where he was working home wide off the track in a peg dominated contest. Strong to the line at the 2138m two starts back when 6m from HIPSTAR, he can be closer to the action from this alley to challenge.

ANIMADO (1) found a much easier Redcliffe contest last start where he duly started in red figures. Forced to park out, he wilted late to be 7m in arrears. He gets the options here to be sharper.

ARGYLE (10) was resuming from a break last start when asked to sit parked at the mile where he faded in the closing stages. Tightened from that run, he can follow through to chime in.

SELECTIONS: THE HIGH COMMANDER (9), ROLLYARRRZ (2), ANIMADO (1), ARGYLE (10)
SUGGESTED BET: THE HIGH COMMANDER (9) to win

RACE FOUR

Facing gate 7 from the mobile at his first Qld appearance, CALL ME TROUBLE (8) was not comfortable behind the start car, eventually pressing forward to sit parked and fighting to the wire. Taken back to the trials where he looked sharp, his record beyond 2600 is not the best, but with solid NZ form prior to arriving, he can open the Aus account.

MAJESTIC HARRY (10) has been competing in stronger contests than he faces here where he gets to share the equal back mark of 20m. Competing in the Hammerhead last start at Menangle, he was just out of the money at G1 level. Just 4m away the start prior over the 2300, he can challenge.

RED CASTLETON (9) has found his way back into some handy form and last start did it from the front over the mobile mile. At his best off the speed, look for him sailing home down the stretch.

C K SPUR (6) is a newcomer to Qld that joins the Matt Elkins stable. Arriving with solid numbers which include a win from 50m in the SA Trotters Cup four starts back. With a smart local trial, he stays under notice.

SELECTIONS: CALL ME TROUBLE (8), MAJESTIC HARRY (10), RED CASTLETON (9), C K SPUR (6)
SUGGESTED BET: CALL ME TROUBLE (8) to win

RACE FIVE

Returning to Qld and to a track where he is winless in eight previous attempts, ASTERISM (4) joins the Graham Dwyer stable after recent form in the New England region of NSW. Scoring a smart win from the second line when pressing to the front and claiming the 1980m Armidale track record three starts back, he can get forward to take his shot.

CHEETAH LODGE (9) showed some early hustle before retreating to find position last start and was finishing nicely when 3^rd to HY VOLTAGE. Wide off the track chasing home behind MACH DADDY two starts back, his middle trip record is not great, but he can secure the right trail to challenge.

MOSSDALE MAC (8) was hemmed away last start and trying to make closing metres as HY VOLTAGE stepped it out in front. Needing some factors in his favour, he will be probing for the openings.

BLACKJACK BART (1) landed gate 7 last start where he retreated early before finishing in a strong burst to grab the silver. With the good gate, he gets options to feature.

SELECTIONS: ASTERISM (4), CHEETAH LODGE (9), MOSSDALE MAC (8), BLACKJACK BART (1)
SUGGESTED BET: ASTERISM (4) to win

RACE SIX

This looks one of the most even McNeil Finals in recent years with the rise to 13 furlongs a change following two heats at 2138m. Resuming from a spell for this series, REGAL APPOINTMENT (9) was left chasing first up before being left exposed second up, although sitting back form the leader. He closed it out nicely despite some traffic issues and with added fitness third up can pinch it at a price.

RILEY MOMENT (11) should appreciate the extra trip off the back mark and can be working into this strongly. Making a late play when 3^rd in the second round as BANFF claimed it up the passing lane, her first heat was solid after striking trouble and forced to chase. With the right cart home, she can challenge.

NORTIE NORTIE (13) is lucky to sneak through to the Final after making a mess of things in the first heat. Safely away in heat 2, he only peeled wider at the top of the stretch to close hard for 3^rd. Bringing the manners, he can feature.

EVERYSECONDCOUNTS (3) will be looking to sweep the series after claiming both heats, she contested. Taking the trail and then sniping them late in heat 1, she took them all the way in heat 2. This will be her first outing beyond 2280m which does pose a concern.

SELECTIONS: REGAL APPOINTMENT (9), RILEY MOMENT (11), NORTIE NORTIE (13), EVERYSECONDCOUNTS (3)
SUGGESTED BET:   REGAL APPOINTMENT (9) each-way

 

RACE SEVEN

The return to her own sex looks the ideal catalyst for SCARLET BABE (7) to regain some winning mojo after all five runs back from a spell have been against all comers. Searching for an opening last week that did not open when 8m from WARFARE, she trailed and held 3^rd in a new mare’s track record carved by UPTOWN BEACHGIRL. Despite the gate, she can arrive.

SPEED DATNG (6) rediscovered winning form last start when driven quiet from gate 5 before rattling home down the stretch to take a 2m margin. Buried away the start prior at the middle trip and grabbing 3^rd to UPTWON BEACHGIRL, she can issue the challenge here.

MISS MUCHO (9) will take great benefit from her first start here in Qld where she burrowed through from gate 1 to take them all the way in a new career benchmark of 1.54.1. Back to mare’s only is a plus and she can follow through to feature.

SWEDISH STARLET (4) was back in the pack and trying to make a closing raid last start when midfield in a 70Heat. Landing her best gate in recent weeks, a sharper return here would be no surprise.

SELECTIONS: SCARLET BABE (7), SPEED DATNG (6), MISS MUCHO (9), SWEDISH STARLET (4)
SUGGESTED BET: SCARLET BABE (7) to win

RACE EIGHT

Back to qualifying grade might be enough for VINDICATE (4) to bounce back into winning form in an open and tricky mare’s contest. Taking on the open mare’s last start as RED TRIX swept home to score, she was not too far from the flying STORMTIDE two back at Redcliffe. Forcing the issue, she can capitalise.

GOALKICKER (2) has been able to claim second division qualifiers twice in her past five starts, the latest here last week when taking them all the way and holding on for a half-neck margin. With the early hustle to find the poles, she will have available options here to issue the challenge.

MISS DAYTONA (10) has hit the board in all four appearances since arriving in Qld, with three of those here at HQ. Grafting it out and holding on for 3^rd last start, she will keep slogging to the wire.

JAZIAH (3) has been super consistent this season where she has missed the money just once in eight appearances. Just a neck away last start after pressing forward from gate 6, she can feature again.

SELECTIONS: VINDICATE (4), GOALKICKER (2), MISS DAYTONA (10), JAZIAH (3)
SUGGESTED BET: VINDICATE (4) to win

RACE NINE

After five runs back from a spell, a marble finally falls the way of CLASSIE WASHINGTON (2) after starting wide or second line in each run back. Only 3m from MR MCLAREN last start when closing out smartly from gate 7, he can settle much closer this time and look to open his 2023 account.

CAPTAINS PICK (1) is homing in on 12 months since he last tasted victory, but he has the gate to look to arrest the decline. Trying to see it out at Redcliffe last start, he was nabbed up the passing lane by LETS BLAZE after setting a sizzling closing half. With all the options he can challenge again.

MACH DADDY (9) was too strong when parked out over the middle trip two starts back and then last start gate 7 proved a hurdle too high when finishing out of the money behind MELTON BEACH. The second line makes it tricky.

SPEAK WITH SAM (8) was returning from a spell last time out when sticking to the poles from this same gate to grab the bronze. A similar trip, tucked away can see him chase down a similar return.

SELECTIONS: CLASSIE WASHINGTON (2), CAPTAINS PICK (1), MACH DADDY (9), SPEAK WITH SAM (8)
SUGGESTED BET: CLASSIE WASHINGTON (2) to win

RACE TEN

Running hot since arriving with Donny Smith, STORMTIDE (1) lands the ideal gate to continue his top form. Powering home over the top of them last start at Redcliffe after easing from gate 5, he claimed a qualifier two starts back when gate 6 proved no obstacle. He lands all the favours and looks to get his chance for the threepeat.

COPPERFIELD (8) sat in the trail last start from this same gate but could not land in the money as SPEED DATING came from behind him to claim the prize. Runner-up two starts back after being shortened up in front with a lap to travel, he can stalk the speed and await the opening.

PARAVANI (9) tackled a tougher contest here last week where he eased to find the poles before really catching the eye down the stretch to grab the bronze. He can get to the poles here and chase a similar result.

HY VOLTAGE (10) made the most of his chance to set the tempo last week, taking them all the way out in front to claim a qualifying victory. The second line makes the task much tougher this time.

SELECTIONS: STORMTIDE (1), COPPERFIELD (8), PARAVANI (9), HY VOLTAGE (10)
SUGGESTED BET: Exotics 1 / 8-9 / 6-7-8-9-10