Form Analysis: Albion Park November 21

RACE ONE

Two heats were held last Friday for these 3YO colts and geldings where STAY FOOLISH (3) had to settle for the bronze in his heat but was only 1m from the winner. Having an early look that was repelled, he looks to get his chance to find the front this time and if crossing down, will take some stopping.

 HAPPY AS CAN BE (9) started from gate one in his heat and with the benefit of inside running, railed through to lead and take them all the way in the quickest of the two heats. Finishing with a 27.1 closing panel, it followed a strong chasing victory at Redcliffe. Tempo will assist his hopes of descending for the W.

 MY ULTIMATE FELIX (11) was midfield behind BOLD MEDLEY JUJON in a sizzling mile two starts back prior to his heat effort from gate 7 which had merit. Tempo will be his friend here.

 RACE FOR RICHES (6) was sent to the post deep into the red for his heat from gate 3 but with no lead available, was forced to sit parked. With one last rally on the wire, he was only a blister from victory. The gate stings.

SELECTIONS: STAY FOOLISH (3), HAPPY AS CAN BE (9), MY ULTIMATE FELIX (11), RACE FOR RICHES (6)
 SUGGESTED BET: STAY FOOLISH (3) to win

RACE TWO

Not comfortable at all last week when finishing at the rear of the field, SHEZA CHANCE (7) reuniting with regular pilot Angus Garrard is a big plus. A winner at four in succession prior to the round 1 issues, the middle trip and a smart beginning can see her capitalise.

 GOLDEN SUNSET (11) was a winner of her heat last week, starting well from the 20m impost and finding running line cover. Closing out strongly to take a 4m margin on the line, she should strip fitter for the run which was her third this campaign. Negotiating traffic, she can challenge.

 HAMMER SON (5) not ideally suited at the 13 furlongs of the first round, the 2138 on offer here off a front tape looks more suitable. A winner under mobile conditions two back, has claims.

 ZEALOUS SPUR (10) put the head out at the right time in the stretch last week, moving up strongly to claim the heat victory. With the right cart into the contest, he will be right there.

SELECTIONS: SHEZA CHANCE (7), GOLDEN SUNSET (11), HAMMER SON (5), ZEALOUS SPUR (10)
 SUGGESTED BET: SHEZA CHANCE (7) to win

RACE THREE

After last Saturday’s washout of races five through ten, all the Sunshine Stars Finals fill this Friday night feast. Completing a hat-trick of victories with his heat win, KIKI MEISTER (1) was first up since July with the PB victory after finding the front from gate 2. Taking them all the way with 7m to spare on the line, he has options and added fitness to capitalise.

 SITTING ON EIGHT (9) worked to the front in his heat before taking cover on PURE GRUNT which dictated a 60.1 middle half. Taking his shot in the stretch, he had superior speed and claimed a 3m margin in a 26.4 close out. Too gritty for older horses when parked the start prior, he can throw down the challenge.

 PURE GRUNT (4) ambled to the front in his heat which looked the stronger of the two. With the first three quarters not overly slick, it was a stretch drive showdown which he had no answer to. With early hustle and a stronger tempo, he can be sharper.

 OPALLANE (8) resumed from the ultimate gear change with victory at the mile when descending on them here three starts back. Placed in both runs since, he held the bronze from three fence behind SITTING ON EIGHT and with another cosy trip can grab minor money.

SELECTIONS: KIKI MEISTER (1), SITTING ON EIGHT (9), PURE GRUNT (4), OPALLANE (8)
 SUGGESTED BET: KIKI MEISTER (1) to win

RACE FOUR

The last of the four DJA heats here over the 2138 where TAYLAD TO USE (1) which was first up in last week’s heat should take plenty of benefit from the run. Attacking that with no public trial and first up since a 3^rd to ALDEBARAN ACRUX in the ID Consolation back in July, he was never tested in the stretch after copping traffic. From the gate, he can storm into the final.

 MUFASA METRO (10) tracked eventual winner ZEALOUS SPUR into the race last week and kept punching to the wire when under 4m from the winner. Beaten a similar margin the start prior around the tight Marburg circuit, the right trip here can see him issue the challenge.

 KODA DA MODA (3) comes into the second round off a unique approach, being sent around on Tuesday at this trip. Runner-up when 4m from GOLDEN SUNSET in the heats, she scored a strong win on Tuesday and can feature again.

 HIDE AND SEEK (11) was game in defeat in the opening round when sitting parked over the long trip and fighting on for the bronze behind ZEALOUS SPUR, only 2m away. He will be right in this.

SELECTIONS: TAYLAD TO USE (1), MUFASA METRO (10), KODA DA MODA (3), HIDE AND SEEK (11)
 SUGGESTED BET: TAYLAD TO USE (1) to win

RACE FIVE

Second up in last week’s Be Good Johnny Sprint, CAPTAIN SHUFFLES (6) faced an awkward draw when retreating for position. With the closing tempo set from the front making it too hard for those chasing, the effort was solid. 4m from FOR REAL LIFE two starts back, he has the class edge to capitalise.

 ALBY TWO CHAINS (3) was stepping out for the new stable for the first time when eased from the widest gate as the field settled in single file at the mile. Attacking the line with venom to grab the silver, his closing splits were impressive in his first run since July. Added fitness and another small field are in his favour.

 WAMBOYNEINAMERICA (5) was too slick in a PB mile from the front two starts back which had followed victory at 2138. Under 3m from the flying TREMENDOUS SENSATION when chasing the hat-trick, he can chase minor money here.

SELECTIONS: CAPTAIN SHUFFLES (6), ALBY TWO CHAINS (3), WAMBOYNEINAMERICA (5)
 SUGGESTED BET: CAPTAIN SHUFFLES (6) to win

RACE SIX

Winning the inaugural 2YO edition of this Series, COOL AND CLASSY (4) looks to have a stranglehold on the 3YO leg an move her stake earnings towards $500k. Unable to reel in ARRIVE in the Triad Final, she was fresh into the prelude for this with an effortless 9m margin. Added fitness can see her dominate.

 SEASIDE GLORY (3) will take good benefit from the prelude where she was first up since May and faced with an awkward barrier. Easing for position and running home in smart order, she was shut down following successive wins, including a tough effort when parked. Improved gate and added fitness are a big asset.

 THE LADY DIOR (5) has been runner-up in successive appearances with her effort behind COOL AND CLASSY a tough performance when parked. Only a half-neck away the start prior, the gate is against her.

 LONDON BABY (2) is another that was fresh into last Friday’s Prelude and was jammed by gate 7. Sliding into the running line, she worked home in good order and can chase a podium payday.

SELECTIONS: COOL AND CLASSY (4), SEASIDE GLORY (3), THE LADY DIOR (5), LONDON BABY (2)
 SUGGESTED BET: COOL AND CLASSY (4) to win

RACE SEVEN

Unbeaten in two career starts and landing the ace for this big money Final, all the favours look to in the corner of QUEEN TIDE (1). Pressing forward to find the front here last week against these same five opponents, she was able to see it out with 2m to spare. Added experience and benefit from the outing can see her capitalise.

 SUMMER PUNCH (4) made her debut back in April when finishing at the rear of the field and she was duly shut down. Resuming in the prelude here last week, she had early speed to hold up before releasing for the trail. Holding on for the silver behind QUEEN TIDE, she can issue the challenge.

 LACEYS LASS (5) appealed to the eye here last week when running on late when the widest runner to the wire. Yet to hit the board in nine starts, the gate stings.

 GIRL POWER (6) rolled the sleeves and did the work outside QUEEN TIDE in the prelude, gripping on for the bronze in a blanket finish for the minor money. The gate makes it a big ask.

SELECTIONS: QUEEN TIDE (1), SUMMER PUNCH (4), LACEYS LASS (5), GIRL POWER (6)
 SUGGESTED BET: QUEEN TIDE (1) to win

RACE EIGHT

Just a small field of five runners to contest the Qld Trotting Derby, with the two main chances both fillies, opting for this over the Oaks. ASPIRING VICTREE (4) eased from gate 5 last start and tried to make a closing raid when 6m astern of DOWN SOUTH DAISY. Not suited from a 20m tape the start prior, this looks well within reach.

 MAROON BELLS (3) was finding a maiden breaking win elusive until finally finding the right conditions two starts back. Stepping cleanly to take them all the way and post a 4m margin, last start from 10m she was 5m from the winner GAIT WITH GRACE. Her mobile record could be the query but mastering that will see her throw it down.

 BUSTER DAN (1) has placed in three of his five mobile appearances, the latest a tough effort when parked and grinding out a 2m deficit to DOWN SOUTH DAISY. Holding the bronze from a 10m tape two starts back, he has the gate and map to make a play.

SELECTIONS: ASPIRING VICTREE (4), MAROON BELLS (3), BUSTER DAN (1)
 SUGGESTED BET:

RACE NINE

A return to mobile conditions looks ideal for LAYDOWNLUNA (5) who has been runner-up at her past two starts when faced with a 20m handicap on each occasion. Completing the Triad and Springboard double at the same mobile 2138 trip they face here, the small field and her own age are firmly in her favour.

 DOWN SOUTH DAISY (3) has slowly started to put it all together and lines up here after dictating from the front at the same conditions that they tackle here. Taking a 2m margin with a tidy last 800, she hit the line in good order for the silver the start prior when faced with a 10m tape and gets the chance to challenge.

 DONNIE GAL (2) ships in for NSW trainer Rikki Cernovskis and with good mobile manners can look to be first to the poles. Working hard in the run with a 2^nd at Goulburn four starts back, tackling her own age from this gate can see her right in the fight.

SELECTIONS: LAYDOWNLUNA (5), DOWN SOUTH DAISY (3), DONNIE GAL (2)
 SUGGESTED BET: LAYDOWNLUNA (5) to win

RACE TEN

A win was proving elusive for DESIRING DIAMONDS (1) despite some smart performances, including a 4^th at Melton in the Nutrien Final. Returning to Qld and with seven weeks between appearances, she opened the account with an effortless victory and followed that with a win from the 10m tape. The threepeat is on.

 KICKING HORSE (4) started the season with impact, winning his first three in succession. Runner-up in the Triad behind ICONIC IMAGE, he bounced back to claim the Springboard Final. Resuming last time off 40m when striking trouble, back to the front tape is a huge plus.

 NONIS GOLD CLASS (2) has set the tempo at her past two starts and both occasion been gunned down in the stretch by DESIRING DIAMONDS. Placed in three of five for the season, she can step cleanly to feature again.

SELECTIONS: DESIRING DIAMONDS (1), KICKING HORSE (4), NONIS GOLD CLASS (2)
 SUGGESTED BET: DESIRING DIAMONDS (1) to win