Form Analysis: Albion Park Aug 06

RACE TWO

I AM SPARTA (4) threw his chances away in the Triad last start when breaking gait before resetting and chasing gamely to be 7m from the winner AWAYWEGO. Handing up the lead in the Paleface Adios Classic 2 starts back, he can get to the front in this and with the likelihood of limited outside pressure take it all the way.

CLASS TO THE MAX (6) started from the ace in the Triad Final last outing and after trying to burrow through was bumpy gaited an eventually jumped it off and his chances evaporated. Asked to work hard in his lead-in run 18 days previous when parked. This small field can see him make a challenge.

CLASSICALLY SMOOTH (5) has faced the starter on 4 occasions in Victoria and been forced to face off against some smart juveniles in 3 of those. A winner at his race debut 4 back when sprinting sharply over the closing stages, he can chime in here.

SELECTIONS: I AM SPARTA (4), CLASS TO THE MAX (6), CLASSICALLY SMOOTH (5)
SUGGESTED BET: I AM SPARTA (4) to win

RACE THREE

In a tough trot to dissect made no easier by the close to capacity field, the enigmatic LADY HILLARY (4) gets a chance for her talent to dominate her manners. Making errors in a 2 start prep towards the end of 2020, she has not been pushed in a pair of trials in readiness for the return. If she can trot, she can win.

BOURBONONTHEROCKS (9) has returned from a break in nice order and put the writing on the wall when 2^nd up and closing out strongly to grab the silver behind MISTER CHISOLM. With the perfect trip last start, she was angled to the outside and let down nicely to sweep home and post a 6m margin. She can throw it down.

IGNITE (2) takes on the older and experienced performers here but has the benefit from the front tape. Forget his last start when making an error, his run 2 back was tidy, and he is a podium hope.

SPIDERS DEVIL (10) stepped straight to the front here 2 starts back from a front tape and gave plenty of cheek out in front when 2m shy of the winner. Closing nicely last start, he can chime in.

SELECTIONS: LADY HILLARY (4), BOURBONONTHEROCKS (9), IGNITE (2), SPIDERS DEVIL (10)
SUGGESTED BET: LADY HILLARY (4) to win

RACE FOUR

NINA SIMONE (9) rolled forward in the early stages over the mile last start before cover arrived. With BRAEBEACH providing that cover, she took the closing dive on that fellow to get within an eyelash of victory. After tackling the Oaks at her previous 2, with the right early trail, this looks the race for her.

BARIKA (2) has switched to the Trent Dawson yard and lines up for the 2^nd time under his name. Working home wide out to grab the bronze behind MAC SWEEENEY last time, it followed defeat by a nose hair at Redcliffe. Firing an early shot here can have her in the right spot to challenge.

OCTOBER RACKETEER (5) has bumped into the smart OUR ACTION MAN at his past 2 starts since returning from a let up. 3 back he was only 1m from DYNAMIC DAN in the Triad Consolation and in this line-up is right in the fight.

IAMAJOYRIDE (3) has had 3 starts here at The Creek and had little joy at the marble drop on each occasion. Sound from the second line behind HEMSWORTH last start, the improved gate is a huge help here.

SELECTIONS: NINA SIMONE (9), BARIKA (2), OCTOBER RACKETEER (5), IAMAJOYRIDE (3)
SUGGESTED BET: NINA SIMONE (9) to win

RACE FIVE

Finishing his races strongly from bad gates in recent starts has seen NO DOUBT (10) finish as the runner-up at his past 3 in succession. Wide off the track last start, he was strong to the line when 4m from the dictating CHARMING CHARLOTTE. The gate makes it tough once again, but with the tempo can arrive.

RAANI (6) started from this gate over the middle trip 2 runs back and was strung up in traffic and never got a shot at them. On the four-day back-up to tackle a mare’s qualifier, she was hitting the line hard to grab 3^rd behind SPORT MENTAL. Despite the wide gate she can challenge.

MAJORCA (2) will be first up in Qld after arriving from the South Island of NZ. Arriving a six-time winner, she was given a pipe opener at the trials in a sound effort and from the gate is in the fight.

AYE AYE CAPTAIN (4) was a winner here 2 starts back when rolling forward to do some early work before receiving cover. With the bullets to fire late, he cashed-in and followed that when midfield to the smart 3YO HEMSWORTH. He is in the mix.

SELECTIONS: NO DOUBT (10), RAANI (6), MAJORCA (2), AYE AYE CAPTAIN (4)
SUGGESTED BET: NO DOUBT (10) to win

RACE SIX

GENERAL MONTANA (6) was last seen in the Redcliffe Derby searching for a hat-trick when he tried to use gate 1 to advantage in setting the speed. With a brutal tempo in front, KRUG put him away 600m from home and he wilted. Back to the mile and refreshed from that last start, he can atone in style.

SENSE OF OCCASION (2) makes his first appearance in Australia for trainer Steve Borg and has not been seen in a public trial in readiness for his first up tilt. An Addington winner 2 starts back on June 2 when showing some early hustle from a wide gate and then dictating over the 2600m, he stays under notice.

REDDY MAJOR (1) heads North for visiting trainer Dylan Marshall and arrives with a last start 3^rd at Maryborough. He looks set to secure an economical trip and can chime in when the gaps arrive.

BE GOOD BENNY (10) made a winning start to his Qld career when powering over the top at Redcliffe 2 starts back. Taking on the mile here last start, he caught the eye finishing hard for the bronze. This is tougher but he can chime in.

SELECTIONS: GENERAL MONTANA (6), SENSE OF OCCASION (2), REDDY MAJOR (1), BE GOOD BENNY (10)
SUGGESTED BET: GENERAL MONTANA (6) to win

 

RACE SEVEN

Moving closer to a victory after placings in his past 4 in succession, BITCOIN (6) has been given no favours from this alley but with enough speed and even luck, he might be able to sneak home. From gate 1 last start the leading rights proved too expensive when laid down in 26.5, yet he was still within 2m of the winner in holding 2^nd.

OUR ACTION MAN (7) has 3 wins in his past 4 starts with the other return a half-head 2^nd placing. Beaten off the arm from the ace in a qualifier last start, the retake was on, and he soon zipped back around to assume control and from there was never headed. The gate is a stinger, but with even luck the threepeat can be achieved.

DANCINTOTHEBEAT (3) never saw daylight last start and was in behind them when 5m from BRAEBEACH yet never had a crack at them. The start prior was in the South East Oaks and from the improved gate can see her feature.

ONYA DOUG (9) had the right trip and the power to charge home here 2 starts back over this trip and then last start worked home in nice order for the bronze. Pressing through early, he is in the mix.

SELECTIONS: BITCOIN (6), OUR ACTION MAN (7), DANCINTOTHEBEAT (3), ONYA DOUG (9)
SUGGESTED BET:

 

RACE EIGHT

ITALIAN LAD (10) bounced in front early but opting to stay out of a pace war, released the speed before angling for the retake manoeuvre. Controlling it from the 1200m he was able to cruise home to a comfortable victory. The drop in grade was well appreciated in that contest from what he had been meeting and he can go again here.

YOUNG CONQUEROR (2) settled in the 1x1 trail last start and with an even tempo set up front had the bullets to fire in the stretch when arriving for a half-head victory. Midfield after working hard outside the leader the start prior, he can look for early supremacy here and be looking to go back-to-back.

THE HERVEY BAY (5) did not have the early wheels to hold them out from gate 1 last time and was soon buried along the poles. Game when facing the breeze the start prior behind BLACK HAWK JOE, he can roll forward to feature.

MAJORDOIT (9) was sent forward to take control from gate 3 last start in Saturday night company but was unable to fight them off. Hitting the line strongly from deep in the pack the start prior, he can be chiming in here.

SELECTIONS: ITALIAN LAD (10), YOUNG CONQUEROR (2), THE HERVEY BAY (5), MAJORDOIT (9)
SUGGESTED BET: ITALIAN LAD (10) to win


 

RACE NINE

SLINGSHOT (8) will need some factors in his favour here but if he can be behind the leader with some momentum to the passing lane-which looks achievable- he can take his shot. Finishing over the top of them last start at the mile, he can look to make the closing shot a winner.

YEP GOT CHOOKS (4) is in search of the hat-trick after wins at the mile and then the 2138m here at his pasty 2 outings. Pressing forward from gate 7 over the middle trip last week, he was content to sit parked and proved too strong to claim victory buy 1m. He might need to work again but the threepeat is within reach.

CHASING THE WIND (5) transfers to the Jack Butler barn after 3 runs here at headquarters where not much has gone his way. Buried last start and hampered, with an even rub of the green he has claims.

GLENEAGLE WARRIOR (6) will take benefit from his latest outing when returning from a spell. Starting from inside the 2^nd line he was soon shuffled out to the rear. The wide gate stings but he can feature.

SELECTIONS: SLINGSHOT (8), YEP GOT CHOOKS (4), CHASING THE WIND (5), GLENEAGLE WARRIOR (6)
SUGGESTED BET: SLINGSHOT (8) to win
 

RACE TEN

He steps up to the 2138m for the first time and must tackle the older horses, but MY ULTIMATE BAXTER (3) looks to have the edge to capitalise here. A winner at 4 of his 5 appearances, he was comfortable in sitting parked and defeating his own age last start when finishing them off in a slick closing panel. The gate assists even further.

MONTANA EXPRESS (12) was eased from gate 7 over the sprint trip last time out before working home in nice order over the concluding stages to grab the bronze. Although his win record here at The Creek is light, this race profiles as the right contest for him to be making a closing challenge.

MAYWYN TROUBADOR (5) has the early speed to zoom across here but what he does thereafter becomes the query. Placed just once in 6 attempts over the trip, limiting the burn will be vital.

STOKER ACE (10) was sent to the post as the favourite last start over the mile and from the 2^nd line was soon put into the battle when circling to sit parked. 4m in arrears over the line, he is a podium hope.

SELECTIONS: MY ULTIMATE BAXTER (3), MONTANA EXPRESS (12), MAYWYN TROUBADOR (5), STOKER ACE (10)
SUGGESTED BET: MY ULTIMATE BAXTER (3) to win