Tim O'Connor's Saturday best at Melton (15/08)

OVERVIEW: LOUGLE (10) is an exciting, progressive pacer who has recently joined the Stephen Clarke stable and tuned up for his first-up assignment with a lovely trial performance at Maryborough recently. There, he cruised to the line to win a slick 54.4sec last half, beating Don Lou who has won in easier grade since. He ran some great races when in the care of Gerard Jamieson last campaign and has a good horse’s record of seven wins from 10 career starts. ATUA MAGIC (1) is another nice type from the Shane Sanderson yard, and he resumed from a long break with an easy front-running triumph across the border at Wagga on August 7. He placed in the Protostar as a two-year-old last season and draws well here. The query is his gate speed and whether he might be crossed at the start, but if he gets the right trip he will be hard to hold out. ROYAL APPOINTMENT (9) had no luck when hemmed away three back the fence in a similar race last weekend and is ready to win one of these 0W/15.0K stake events, while THE NAKED ART (5) was super from the chair when third to Rocknroll Willow at Melton a fortnight ago and all her recent form at Melton is strong.

BACK: LOUGLE (10) – 1 unit (win)SELECTIONS: LOUGLE (10), ATUA MAGIC (1), ROYAL APPOINTMENT (9), THE NAKED ART (5)

OVERVIEW: VICI BLOOM (3) hits this first-up assignment on the back of two nice trials wins at Shepparton and draws to potentially find the top. She has had just the two starts for the Lisa Pitt barn, with a strong front-running victory at Shepparton followed by a mistake as a well-fancied $5.50 shot in the Gunbower Trotters Cup during December. If she leads as expected, she will be hard to beat. SPIRITED LASS (4) might finally be starting to put her bad manners in the rear-vision mirror, with her last two starts resulting in good wins here at Melton. James Herbertson is the country’s leading reinsman and has clicked with the Scott Ewen-trained mare, who shapes as a key hope in her bid for three-straight triumphs. KYVALLEY MICHAEL (9) hasn’t been beaten far his last two despite sitting parked and can certainly win, while PARIS KAY (6) is one of the gate speed runners who beat three rivals that reoppose when leading at Melton on July 18.

BACK: VICI BLOOM (3) – 2 units (win)SELECTIONS: VICI BLOOM (3), SPIRITED LASS (4), KYVALLEY MICHAEL (9), PARIS KAY (6)

OVERVIEW: CARLA PIXIE (8) has been banging the door down to win a race here at HQ for some time, and she arguably should have a fortnight ago when held-up in the home straight. She was only beaten 2.5m by SKY FLAIR (7), who had a great run in behind the leader and sprinted too quickly. The Brent Lilley runner might get buried away again in this event, but she hasn’t missed a place in her past six outings in good company and just needs the breaks to come her way to be finding the winner’s circle. Might be an each-way price again, too. KEAYANG GYPSY (9) returned from a break with a good front-running triumph here on July 25, but she was entitled to win given two of her main dangers in the market galloped early. That said, she’s a talented customer with a nice trailing draw and will be hard to hold out. CENTURION DREAM (4) was brave from the chair when only beaten 9.7m by Spirited Lass last week and chased some handy rivals home for third before that, while possible early leader JILLIBY TOPGUN (2), BOUTIKA (1), SKY FLAIR (7), KARBINE (6) and OFF YOUR FACESKI (5) are among those that look outside winning hopes and ones to consider for the minor end of the prize.

BACK: CARLA PIXIE (8) – 1 unit (each-way)SELECTIONS: CARLA PIXIE (8), KEAYANG GYPSY (9), CENTURION DREAM (4), OFF YOUR FACESKI (5)

OVERVIEW: FAIRPLAY (2) has returned from a long break in scintillating style, with three wins from three starts all ultra impressive and he looks awfully hard to oppose here. Last time out, he was crossed, regained the lead and darted clear in fast time to beat HOORAH PHILTRA (8) by 9.7m. That horse has won since and it’s hard to see the result being overturned given the barrier draw. HOORAH PHILTRA (8) ended a streak of four-straight runner-up placings to Emma Stewart-trained pacers when he sprint-laned to victory in a free-for-all last weekend and he’s simply flying for new trainer Ashleigh Herbertson, SOAP AND BUBBLES (7) has trialled nicely since her third placing to The Art Of Success in mid-June and is a speedy customer who will be flashing late, and MY UNCLE STAN (1) draws to trail the favourite if Jodi Quinlan desires and ran really well when second over this trip behind I Am The Storm a fortnight ago.

SELECTIONS: FAIRPLAY (2), HOORAH PHILTRA (8), SOAP AND BUBBLES (7), MY UNCLE STAN (1)

OVERVIEW: This is the Youthful Stakes for the two-year-old colts and geldings, where powerhouse trainer Emma Stewart has a pair of runners in the race. Hard to split them, but SOME HIGH (5) does get the front-line draw and did beat home stablemate CARDIGAN SNIPER (8) in the Rising Star at Ballarat in mid-June. He led and won somewhat unimpressively at Melton in an easier race than this on June 26 and is narrowly favoured in a wide-open event. CARDIGAN SNIPER (8) claimed the rich APG series final at his most recent start and has won three of his four outings, FARROH JOE (2) now gets the services of Chris Alford after breaking his maiden at Kilmore a month ago, while BAYSTYLE (6) has been getting home nicely in recent starts and is a contender.

SELECTIONS: SOME HIGH (5), CARDIGAN SNIPER (8), FARROH JOE (2), BAYSTYLE (6)

OVERVIEW: LA CANTATRICE (7) has the wide draw to contend with, but looks to bring the premier form into the Youthful Stakes for the two-year-old fillies. She won impressively first-up against older horses at Ballarat on July 29, which followed some great runs last campaign. Of those, a dominant win at Melton and third placing behind subsequent Protostar favourite Comeandsee and Kings Gallery – who won on Wednesday night – stand out. ONELOOK (5) was a good winner on debut earlier in the year and returned from a break with a strong-closing third at Shepparton on August 4 when she finished behind runner-up MY ROCKING HORSE (2), ALWAYSTHE PRINCESS (1) has been second her last two and draws for a nice trip, while WESTERIA (6) claimed a much-deserved maiden success at Cranbourne recently and wouldn’t completely shock.

BACK: LA CANTATRICE (7) – 2 units (win)SELECTIONS: LA CANTATRICE (7), ONELOOK (5), ALWAYSTHE PRINCESS (1), WESTERIA (6)

OVERVIEW: LE CARDINAL (6) has had two nice trials since his sizzling win at Melton on July 4 when he sprinted past the handy Most Exciting to score. Before that, he handed up to APOLLOSTORM (7) and just couldn’t reel him in late, with the pair miles clear of third. There’s not much between the top two picks, but will just lean his way. APOLLOSTORM (7) only managed fourth in a pegs-dominated event a fortnight ago, but won his prior three this campaign from the front in good style. He’s fast and will be going close. THESTATESMAN (1) has been running well for some time from awkward gates and gets the fence this time, while PERUN (3) did a super job to finish second to The Steel Dragon despite doing a power of work last weekend and is ready to win.

SELECTIONS: LE CARDINAL (6), APOLLOSTORM (7), THESTATESMAN (1), PERUN (3)

OVERVIEW: THE LAST TRIP (6) looks a super exciting talent for the Emma Stewart stable and provided driver Taylor Ford with her very first Saturday night Melton winner when he claimed the Graduation Final on August 1 by a mammoth 48.6m. That followed a 25.8m victory first-up from a long break at Kilmore and he’s clearly the horse to beat in this 0W/15.0K stake event. LILLY LOTUS (9) chased home the very handy Wicked Confession gamely at Shepparton last time and has performed well in some good races at Melton of late, TELEMACHUS (8) is in great form for Nathan Chair and did very well to only be beaten 10.9m last weekend when caught parked in fast time behind Seaside Boy, while PICK UP ELVIS (7) is a nice pacer from the Aaron Dunn yard who hasn’t been beaten far both runs this time in and was competitive in a Breeders Crown final before a spell.

SELECTIONS: THE LAST TRIP (6), LILLY LOTUS (9), TELEMACHUS (8), PICK UP ELVIS (7)

OVERVIEW: INSULATOR (3) won on debut in dominant fashion by 16m at Maryborough in March and then made mistakes his next two starts when well fancied in the market. He led and held off ORLANDO VEYRON (4) under minimal driving at the Melton trials recently and looks a really progressive type for Joe Pace. I think he’s pretty handy and I’m happily in his corner. ORLANDO VEYRON (4) had some good battles with REGAL GALA (6) earlier in the season – winning one and finishing runner-up to him twice – and also trialled well for his return, REGAL GALA (6) led and was only run down by the very smart Phoenix Rex last time and is a winning chance, while PASTOR CASH (1) makes his debut after a promising trial effort when second to maiden winner Pleasure To Have at Shepparton.

BACK: INSULATOR (3) – 3 units (win)SELECTIONS: INSULATOR (3), ORLANDO VEYRON (4), REGAL GALA (6), PASTOR CASH (1)