The experts' $200 Breeders Crown final game plans

Our experts have run a fine-tooth comb over Breeders Crown finals night from Melton Entertainment Park and provided their $200 game plans.

Dan Mielicki - Race Caller

$120 WIN

R7 NO.4 PERFECT CLASS

is a four-time Group 1 placegetter who was second in the Victoria Derby where he did a power of work and went down fighting behind the brilliant Petracca. I think he is racing in career-best form, he’s tough and was looking sharp when easily accounting for his rivals last week. His main danger is stablemate Oliver Dan, who continues to emerge as a quality three-year-old pacer.

$10 WIN & $22 PLACE

R10 NO.9 NO TELLING HEATHER

She needed the hit-out at Maryborough. It was only the last 100m where she felt the pinch after sitting without cover and I think she will have benefited immensely from that run. This race shapes differently and more suitably as she has a good turn of foot when she gets a sit and cover. A Group 1 Vicbred placegetter two starts back, she looks good value at around double-figure odds.

THE QUADDIE

2,5/2,3/2,4/4,6 $48 for 300%

With $75,000 seeded and a projected $325,000 final pool, the TAB Quaddie looks an attractive betting option that might not be that hard to land with two main players in each leg. Timmy Rictor is my top pick in race five with stablemate Stormryder the main threat. The unbeaten Draw A Dream and Very Pretty should fight out the second leg, the Emma Stewart dominance can continue with Perfect Class and Oliver Dan in the next before Major Delight and Joyful bring us home in the final event.

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Brittany Graham - Sky Racing

$50 WIN

R5 NO.2 STORMRYDER

On a night with a lot of early market movement, the support for Stormryder has furthered my confidence in his chances. His draw looks perfect with options: if he leads, he is incredibly hard to beat, but from any position he will be ultra-competitive. His semi-final sectionals were exceptional and he’s now third-up after a freshen which should see him peaking.

$30 WIN

R4 NO.2 ALDEBARAN MILEY

This filly has mixed it with the best all season long and it may be the right circumstances tonight that see her get her opportunity. Miley’s heat effort was very tough in strong time and she gets a much more favourable draw here. With options, and a few of her major rivals having queries over their current form, she looks great value.

$25 EACH WAY

R2 NO.6 MAX DELIGHT

The race shape looks a little ugly on paper for Max Delight, but the old boy is flying. He savaged the line last week and his sectionals have been dazzling. He looks to have that spark back and that may even translate to him having the gate speed of old if asked for it. He has been a big early drifter to a price that’s worth a dabble.

TRIFECTA (RACE 3)

4,12/4,12/3,5,10 $20 for 333.33%

There are two main winning chances in the three-year-old trotting colts and geldings’ final, and despite differing barrier draw fortunes, there is very little separating them. It would surprise if the winner came outside Not As Promised or The Locomotive and there looks limited place chances, so it appears a neat exotics race.

THE QUADDIE

1,2,5/2,3,10/2,4/4,5,6 $50 for 92.59%

The main Quaddie legs are stacked with exceptional and quality youngsters, particularly in the very deep two-year-old divisions. There are some very good horses at big prices, but I’ve tried to keep it as skinny as possible.

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Tim O’Connor – Harness Racing Victoria

$50 WIN

R5 NO.5 TIMMY RICTOR

Have loved this bloke since day one and I simply can’t drop off him now. He’s been brilliant in all five career starts, with his only defeat coming from a hopeless position when second in the Group 1 Bathurst Gold Crown during March. I’ll admit his draw is a little sticky here, but I’ve got no doubt he’s the best horse in the race and I’m confident he will be winning with even luck in running.

$50 WIN

R7 NO.2 OLIVER DAN

Was opposing this bloke in the semi-finals last weekend, but he couldn’t have been more impressive winning from the death seat in good time. He crushed leader Dougs Platter on that occasion – a horse who sprinted past tonight’s main danger Perfect Class in the heats of this series at Ballarat – and draws inside him here. Keen.

$25 WIN

R9 NO.11 KYVALLEY MAVEN

She looks a classy trotter and I loved the way she surged home in a heat of the two-year-old trotting fillies’ series at Maryborough last week. It was a walk and dash, and Kyvalley Maven was wide around the turn and charged through the line for second behind Thunda Struck as a short-priced favourite. If she trots the whole way, she will go very close.

$25 EACH WAY

R10 NO.5 THIRD EYE

In an open event, I’m keen on the chances of Matthew Gath’s runner here. She won two starts ago beating the handy Hoppy at Bendigo, and was then climbing over their heels in a heat of this series last week. Looks a good chance if favourite and likely leader Nordic Reign doesn’t get it too easily in front.

$25 PLACE

R8 NO.8 PERFECT IN PINK

Found it a tricky race to find the winner with the three stars all drawn alongside each other, but I loved the way Perfect In Pink rocketed home from back and wide in the semi-finals, and she draws for a soft run on the pegs here. She can’t win, but can definitely scoot home for second or third if things get hectic up front.

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BRONTE NIEUWENBURG - TrotsVision

$20 EACH WAY

R4 NO.2 ALDEBARAN MILEY

Sectionally speaking, Aldebaran Miley has performed well in three of her last four starts. She may not be the strongest filly in the field, but has a brilliant last 400m sprint. Recently, Aldebaran Miley’s had to work hard and make her own luck, but she’s drawn well in gate two here and is likely to find a position where she can use her strong finishing speed.

$40 WIN

R5 NO.1 NATHAN STREET

Arguably the strongest race on the card. On sectional times, there is very little separating all the big guns in this race, including Nathan Street. The son of Lazarus has the best draw, will be racing on the fence and won’t have to cover extra distance.

$40 PLACE

R7 NO.10 FINAL COLLECT

Final Collect placed in both his heat and semi-final where he had to work early. A very strong horse, the draw allows him to be saved for one run and he might charge home the best if the leaders go hard early.

$20 EACH WAY

R9 No.12 PHOENIX RED

In only three starts, this eye-catching chestnut has shown a huge amount of ability when he does everything right. He has a very fast last 400m sprint and if he stays trotting, he will be flashing home.

$20 EACH WAY

R10 NO.5 THIRD EYE

She ran sensational individual times two starts back that are better than the rest of the field’s recent numbers. Her behaviour can be risky, but if she does everything right, she will be a big factor in the finish.

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