Tim O'Connor's Saturday best at Melton (11/07)

OVERVIEW: PATIRO (10) ran a cracking race at huge odds last time out behind Good Tobe Locksley when he settled last and clocked the best last mile, half and quarter to finish fourth. It was a great performance in strong company and it suggests he’s capable of winning a race like this. THE STEEL DRAGON (1) was sensational two runs ago then was crossed at the start by PISTOL PEARCE (2) last weekend before being held up and sneaking into third. The map is a concern again, but if he can lead or the breaks come his way, he’s a major chance from the good draw. THE NAKED ART (8) is going super for Justin Lane and backed up a top Horsham win with a good fourth in fast time behind Apollostorm last Saturday, while HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (7) has a shocking draw but is a handy pacer who didn’t get a crack at them from a horrible position last time.

BACK: PATIRO (10) – 1 unit (each-way)

SELECTIONS: PATIRO (10), THE STEEL DRAGON (1), THE NAKED ART (8), HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (7)

OVERVIEW: ALRIGHTY (5) is a very handy four-year-old who returns to the races here for the first time since February and tuned up for his comeback with a solid Melton trial win late last month. His form around some top trotters – including a very good second to star mare Jilliby Ballerini in the Delvin Dancer at Ballarat in January – is strong, he has good gate speed and he will be awfully hard to beat if he finds the top. MORE WANTED (9) is a very consistent squaregaiter who is often competitive at free-for-all level and this type of grade will see him as a major player, MUSKEE (3) has had excuses either side of a good third to Vytis on June 20 and is a handy up-and-comer, while SEBASTIANS BOY (10) is a quirky but talented trotter who is first-up for new trainer Ash Manton. He heads here after a fairly poor trial at Bendigo, but has ability and should be considered for wider exotics.

BACK: ALRIGHTY (5) – 3 units (win)

SELECTIONS: ALRIGHTY (5), MORE WANTED (9), MUSKEE (3), SEBASTIANS BOY (10)

OVERVIEW: OLLIES THE BOSS (4) produced two great runner-up efforts to start the campaign and was then way out the back in a hot race here behind Apollostorm and Le Cardinal, which can be forgiven. Based off his prior form, he looks set for a good campaign and should be able to land in a nice position from his gate four draw. Keen runs well. KEAYANG SWEETHEART (8) is the obvious danger after a brilliant win here at Melton on June 27 when she sat parked and beat a field that included TIVOLI (3) and IDEAL MOTH (10). She has a good horse’s record and just needs luck from the sticky gate. BIZZNESS CLASS (9) is a very consistent veteran of 101 career starts and will be steaming home late, while TIVOLI (3) has been catching the eye recently and, like the progressive SWEET IRISH LOCH (2), could surprise at odds with the right trip.

BACK: OLLIES THE BOSS (4) – 1 unit (each-way)

SELECTIONS: OLLIES THE BOSS (4), KEAYANG SWEETHEART (8), BIZZNESS CLASS (9), TIVOLI (3)

OVERVIEW: Very tricky event here where plenty can win a race where the speed map looks to have plenty of scenarios. PROHIBITED GRACE (2) should be able to find the fence, but has taken a sit in her past couple so I assume a few will come knocking. ALDEBARAN ABEL (3) might get the chance to work across, and if that’s the case then he becomes the horse to beat. He ran well last time when only grabbed late by Ijustcalledtosay, who has come out and won again since. He’s a handy trotter who won well over the sprint trip early in the campaign and he’s narrowly favoured. FREIGHT SHAKER (7) ran well for fourth in a stronger race than this first-up and must be a factor despite the wide gate, JUST AS I AM (4) has ability, good gate speed and might be a player for the front, while PROHIBTED GRACE (2) continually runs well and is a key chance along with last-start winner KYVALLEY MICHAEL (6) and ROCKY VALLEY (9).

SELECTIONS: ALDEBARAN ABEL (3), FREIGHT SHAKER (7), PROHIBITED GRACE (2), JUST AS I AM (4)

OVERVIEW: Firstly, before I have my say, what does the lady who has this race named after her say? “The one Jordy’s (Jordan Leedham) driving…” Righto, so GOOD TOBE LOCKSLEY (2) it is for my lovely wife. But if you want a more in-depth analysis, stick around… Seriously though, this looks a ripping event where a host of in-form pacers do battle. The speed map looks crucial, and also tricky to define. I think there’s a good chance SOME AMERICAN (4) works to the front, and if that’s the case, then he looks hard to beat. He led and won in grand style first-up at Melton on May 23 and then tried for the front, didn’t get it, but still boxed on well for fifth behind Sweet Ideal in a race four of these contested a few weeks ago. TRIPLE EIGHT (8) is a legend of a horse who is closing in on $1 million in prizemoney and almost never runs a bad race in free-for-all grade, which this is a shade below. He will be closing hard late and can win if the tempo is on, which it might very well be. GOOD TOBE LOCKSLEY (2), for the Shannon O’Connor fans, has been airborne since joining Adam Kelly and won his third race for the stable despite doing it tough and pulling in the breeze last time out, while Vicbred winner ITS CONFIDENTIAL (7), HOORAH PHILTRA (3), JUSTALITTLESIP (6) and even DIAMOND ECLIPSE (1) are genuine hopes with luck in transit.

SELECTIONS: SOME AMERICAN (4), TRIPLE EIGHT (8), GOOD TO BE LOCKSLEY (2), HOORAH PHILTRA (3)

OVERVIEW: THE STATESMAN (5) was probably the run of the race in an event five of these horses contested on June 27, which was won by the flying Good Tobe Locksley. He drew two, drifted back to near last and made a sustained three-wide charge to finish third, beaten just 2.9m. He clocked some good sectionals home, and while he’s unlikely to find the fence here, I’m happy in his corner given how well he’s going of late. Just need some Chris Alford magic from gate five… SOHO DARKNSTORMY (4) has blistering gate speed and looks almost a certain leader here, so he must be a huge danger. He drew seven, speared over and led that aforementioned race and was only nailed in the shadows of the post. To be fair, he probably had every chance there, but the lead might be a little easier this time and a slightly softer trip in front might be good enough for him to sneak away with this. SPRINGFIELD AFFAIR (1) gets the draw to run well while MEDINA (9) won well two back here at Melton in a handy race.

SELECTIONS: THE STATESMAN (5), SOHO DARKNSTORMY (4), SPRINGFIELD AFFAIR (1), MEDINA (9)

OVERVIEW: Quickly becoming one of my favourites is HOPPY (5) and he looks every bit a top-line trotter this campaign. He ran a cracker first-up in a hot race here at Melton on June 6 and then produced two brilliant wins, including last weekend when he did a power of work to get outside the leader but still put his rivals to the sword. His last go at 1720m was a scintillating triumph from three back the fence, when he rattled past leader IRON WOMEN (2) in the straight. He’s destined for plenty more wins and happy his way. GATESYS GEM (3) is a Group 1-winning mare who is back from a break and trialled up nicely for her return, PLYMOUTH CHUBB (6) is a former megastar juvenile who is very capable at free-for-all level and resumes for his first run since July last year and IRON WOMEN (2) should get down to the pegs, likes the 1720m and is running well of late.

BACK: HOPPY (5) – 3 units (win)

SELECTIONS: HOPPY (5), GATESYS GEM (3), PLYMOUTH CHUBB (6), IRON WOMEN (2)

OVERVIEW: The two-year-old trotters step out late on a Saturday night at HQ and it looks an intriguing way to close the evening. REMEMBRANCE TIME (3) trialled well and then blew her rivals away with a huge 14m win on debut at Geelong before making a mistake as a red-hot $1.10 favourite last time at Cranbourne when last. Her best looks good and she just needs to trot throughout to be a major factor here. KYVALLEY DIXON (2) has trotted twice throughout in her four career starts for a good third in a Nutrien series prelude and a dominant win at Geelong, so her best appears handy, REGAL GALA (5) looks clearly the pick of Chris Angove’s three runners and must be a key player based off his recent Maryborough win and runner-up placing in the rich Nutrien final behind Verbici, while CLOUDY CANYON (4) did everything right on debut at Cranbourne last weekend to beat some older rivals and must be respected based off that.

SELECTIONS: REMEMBRANCE TIME (3), REGAL GALA (5), KYVALLEY DIXON (2), CLOUDY CANYON (4)