Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Victoria · Wednesday 22 April 2026
Our top pick won 2 of 8 races at Geelong. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
top pick wonanother tip wonno tip won
The Hawkes-trained filly showed excellent speed at Caulfield last start and draws perfectly to control from barrier 1. Despite being second up, her superior class and tactical advantage make her the most likely winner.
Upolu brings the best consistency with two close seconds from three starts. The wide draw is concerning at Geelong, but his proven ability to run close suggests he can overcome the barrier disadvantage.
The gear change removing winkers could help him settle better, though the wide draw and first-up assignment present challenges in this competitive maiden.
Varadero represents the classic maiden unknown with a quality jockey booking and perfect barrier draw.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 8 | Marsept | 1 | Jye McNeil | M, W & J Hawkes | 56kg | $1.14 |
| 2nd | 6 | Varadero | 2 | Lachlan Neindorf | Mick Shepherdson | 58kg | $26.00 |
| 3rd | 2 | Harry De Lad | 7 | Jamie Mott | Tom Dabernig | 58kg | $26.00 |
| 4th | 3 | Misty Whisper | 3 | Rhys Mc Leod | Linc Sullivan | 58kg | $81.00 |
| 5th | 5 | Upolu | 8 | Jack Hill | Jamie Edwards | 58kg | $8.00 |
| 6th | 1 | Flamingo Flyer | 6 | Jason Maskiell | Clayton Douglas | 58kg | $51.00 |
| 7th | 4 | The Botany Frog | 4 | Fred W Kersley | L Smith | 58kg | $14.00 |
| Scr | 7 | Weasel Sea | 5 | Daniel Stackhouse | Jason Warren | 58kg |
Hayes stable debut runners command respect, and the booking of Daniel Stackhouse reinforces stable confidence. Barrier 4 provides excellent positioning options for a track that strongly favours forward runners. The combination of ear muffs and lugging bit suggests specific preparation for debut conditions.
Mark Zahra's booking and the addition of stallion chain first time suggests this horse is well-regarded by connections. Barrier 5 provides tactical options to settle forward, crucial at Geelong where front-runners dominate.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 10 | She's Buoyant | 8 | Declan Bates | Archie Alexander | 56kg | $12.00 |
| 2nd | 4 | Pursuit | 7 | Ben Allen | C Maher | 58kg | $2.90 |
| 3rd | 7 | Lady Of Power | 1 | Harry Coffey | T & C McEvoy | 56kg | $6.50 |
| 4th | 9 | Sayalero | 3 | Jamie Mott | John McArdle | 56kg | $5.00 |
| 5th | 5 | Stoneflight | 4 | Daniel Stackhouse | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 58kg | $2.90 |
| 6th | 8 | Ruby From Zadar | 6 | Neil Farley | P Koumis | 56kg | $31.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Enea | 5 | Mark Zahra | M Price & M Kent Jnr | 58kg | |
| Scr | 2 | Normandy Peace | 2 | Tom Madden | Aaron Purcell | 58kg | |
| Scr | 3 | Prime Pattern | 10 | Zac Spain | Jason Warren | 58kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Hendon Honey | 9 | Luke Cartwright | P G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 56kg | |
| Scr | 11 | Victimised | 11 | Fred W Kersley | L Smith | 56kg |
Despite limited experience, Geeseven represents elite connections with G M Begg training and Jordan Childs riding. Their 20% strike rate combination is impressive, and the horse placed on debut.
Royal Maximus is a complete unknown but represents the powerful Chris Waller stable making their debut. The engagement of quality jockey Jye McNeil and gear change suggests stable confidence. While the jockey/trainer combination has modest statistics, Waller's debut runners often show improvement and the lack of negative form could be advantageous.
The Maher stable and Mark Zahra combination has solid statistics, and second-up runners often improve. However, the wide barrier is a major concern at this track where inside runners dominate.
The Mott/Sandhu combination has an excellent 18% strike rate, and the filly receives a useful weight allowance.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | Strangethingdesire | 6 | Luke Currie | M, W & J Hawkes | 59kg | $12.00 |
| 2nd | 5 | Geeseven | 2 | Jordan Childs | G M Begg | 59kg | $1.65 |
| 3rd | 1 | Back Of The Boat | 1 | Will Gordon | Jessica Pateman | 59.5kg | $15.00 |
| 4th | 9 | Elegant Contessa | 7 | Jamie Mott | Julius Sandhu | 57kg | $8.00 |
| 5th | 6 | Royal Maximus | 5 | Jye McNeil | C J Waller | 59kg | $4.40 |
| 6th | 4 | Tobeyeus | 3 | Jack Hill | Jamie Edwards | 59.5kg | $17.00 |
| 7th | 3 | Savvy Nights | 4 | Jason Webb | Pat Cannon | 59.5kg | $101.00 |
| 8th | 2 | Money Wheel | 8 | Teodore Nugent | Jamie Edwards | 59.5kg | $41.00 |
| Scr | 8 | Warrego | 9 | Mark Zahra | C Maher | 59kg |
Debut second at Hamilton was impressive, beaten less than a length. The Maher/Bates combination is proven (17% strike rate), and the inside barrier suits Geelong's on-speed bias.
The John Allen booking and good barrier suggest connections expect improvement.
Consistent mare who finds placings but struggles to win. Recent third at Naracoorte shows she's competitive at this level. The staying distance suits her pattern, and Tom Madden's booking adds credibility.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Soldier Boi | 9 | Lucinda Boyd | Lucinda Boyd | 59kg | $4.00 |
| 2nd | 7 | High Altitude | 5 | Tom Madden | Clint Marshall | 57.5kg | $26.00 |
| 3rd | 10 | Kiwi Jenni | 4 | Declan Bates | C Maher | 57kg | $1.45 |
| 4th | 8 | Sloane Raider | 8 | Brendon Newport | T W Mulder | 57.5kg | $151.00 |
| 5th | 9 | Deelamour | 10 | Jack Hill | Jamie Edwards | 57kg | $61.00 |
| 6th | 1 | Le Plus Rapide | 6 | Teodore Nugent | Ann-Jeanette Tindale | 59.5kg | $26.00 |
| 7th | 6 | Tarnation | 3 | Dylan Dunn | Jamie Edwards | 59kg | $31.00 |
| 8th | 4 | King Kalakaua | 2 | John Allen | C Maher | 59kg | $13.00 |
| 9th | 2 | Affinedeel | 1 | Cian Macredmond | Matthew Cumani | 59kg | $51.00 |
| 10th | 3 | Burn For You | 7 | Will Gordon | Matthew Cumani | 59kg | $41.00 |
Hot Chips brings the best recent form having won her last start at Cranbourne. The Stackhouse/McArdle combination has a strong 21% strike rate, and she's proven effective on good tracks. While rising in class, her consistent record and winning momentum make her the most reliable selection despite the wide draw.
The barrier suits Geelong's forward bias, making her a legitimate threat.
Yoomee Wonder won well last start and gets the benefit of John Allen's booking from the ideal barrier 2. The class rise is substantial but her consistent record and forward position from the draw could see her competitive in this grade.
Her distance record is excellent and the first-time winkers could provide improvement.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Eternal | 6 | Mark Zahra | C J Waller | 60.5kg | $2.20 |
| 2nd | 5 | Igotcha | 3 | Jamie Mott | Rhys Archard | 58kg | $19.00 |
| 3rd | 3 | Time Bandit | 1 | Rhys Mc Leod | Josh Cartwright | 58.5kg | $10.00 |
| 4th | 4 | Yoomee Wonder | 2 | John Allen | Mitchell Freedman | 58.5kg | $4.60 |
| 5th | 6 | Into You | 7 | Neil Farley | Shay Keating | 58kg | $7.50 |
| 6th | 7 | Hide Your Assets | 4 | Lauren Burke | S A Beani | 53kg | $101.00 |
| 7th | 2 | Hot Chips | 5 | Daniel Stackhouse | John McArdle | 60.5kg | $4.20 |
Brutalina presents the strongest winning chance with a significant class drop from BM70 to BM62. Her barrier 1 draw is perfect for Geelong's on-speed bias, and she showed good form when third at Cranbourne last start.
The Luke Currie booking and gear changes suggest connections expect improvement. The form line through last start's runner-up finish is strong.
The Bates/Maher combination is reliable, and the 3-year-old filly gets weight relief. The class drop should see her competitive despite the distance rise.
The barrier 4 draw suits, and he's proven at the distance with a win at Mt Gambier.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 | Brutalina | 1 | Olivia East | M Price & M Kent Jnr | 57.5kg | $2.50 |
| 2nd | 1 | Dantooine | 4 | Christopher Pang | Tom Dabernig | 59kg | $3.50 |
| 3rd | 5 | Podargoni | 2 | Adam Mc Cabe | Rory Hunter | 60kg | $17.00 |
| 4th | 2 | Albanian I Am | 13 | Brad Rawiller | P Koumis | 61kg | $10.00 |
| 5th | 11 | Love Symbol | 7 | Luke Currie | N A Blackiston | 58kg | $4.40 |
| 6th | 7 | Ceremonious | 6 | Ben Allen | L & T Corstens & W Larkin | 59.5kg | $21.00 |
| 7th | 13 | Les Vosges | 5 | Kate Walters | K M Elford | 54kg | $151.00 |
| 8th | 4 | Nicajon | 12 | Teodore Nugent | Mick Shepherdson | 60.5kg | $51.00 |
| 9th | 8 | Dustland Fairytale | 3 | Jason Webb | L Smith | 59kg | $51.00 |
| 10th | 9 | Belmia | 10 | Jamie Mott | Jamie Edwards | 58.5kg | $21.00 |
| Scr | 6 | Winning Toast | 8 | Neil Farley | C A Conron | 60kg | |
| Scr | 10 | Finchaven | 11 | Fred W Kersley | L Smith | 58kg | |
| Scr | 12 | Alzaro | 9 | Declan Bates | C Maher | 57kg |
The Craig Williams booking for a BM62 race suggests strong stable confidence despite the class rise. The light weight and good barrier position enhance her chances significantly.
In-form mare coming off a Geelong win with a solid track record. The Kersley/Smith combination is firing with a 22% strike rate, and she's shown consistent form with three placings from her last four starts. The quick backup and class rise are concerns, but her proven track form and current momentum make her a viable place chance.
Remarkable track and distance specialist with a perfect 3-from-3 record at Geelong over 1525m. John Allen's booking adds confidence, and her proven ability at this specific venue makes her a strong each-way proposition.
The second-up statistics show improvement, and the good barrier position suits the likely tempo.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 11 | Move The Torana | 7 | Fred W Kersley | L Smith | 58.5kg | $5.00 |
| 2nd | 3 | Amphactor | 6 | Brad Rawiller | Mark & Levi Kavanagh | 61kg | $31.00 |
| 3rd | 14 | Zeaction | 2 | Jamie Mott | John McArdle | 59.5kg | $9.00 |
| 4th | 2 | Ghetto Supastar | 10 | Neil Farley | Mick Shepherdson | 61.5kg | $14.00 |
| 5th | 5 | Breathless Spirit | 15 | Declan Bates | Archie Alexander | 60.5kg | $51.00 |
| 6th | 1 | Natural Ruler | 1 | Dakotah Keane | A & S Freedman | 60kg | $26.00 |
| 7th | 13 | Sabeeria | 8 | Lachlan Neindorf | C I Brown | 57.5kg | $10.00 |
| 8th | 9 | Easy Dun | 12 | Billy Egan | Andrew Noblet | 59.5kg | $21.00 |
| 9th | 4 | The Muffin Man | 4 | Dylan Dunn | M J Enright | 61kg | $12.00 |
| 10th | 8 | Birdie Time | 5 | Daniel Stackhouse | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 59.5kg | $21.00 |
| 11th | 7 | Vegas Jack | 17 | Rhys Mc Leod | C A Conron | 60kg | $101.00 |
| 12th | 12 | Justique | 11 | Craig Williams | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 57.5kg | $2.40 |
| 13th | 6 | Shultzy | 13 | Liam Riordan | Pat Cannon | 60.5kg | $26.00 |
| Scr | 10 | Delta Sky | 3 | John Allen | Lee & Shannon Hope | 59kg | |
| Scr | 15 | Loose On Gin | 16 | Dean Yendall | M J Williams | 59kg | |
| Scr | 16 | Pick Wisely | 14 | Will Gordon | Archie Alexander | 58.5kg | |
| Scr | 17 | Lucky Compass | 9 | K T Bourke | 54kg |
Mrs Iglesia presents as the standout selection dropping significantly in class from Listed/Open company to BM70. The barrier 3 draw is ideal for Geelong's on-speed bias, and her consistent record (22% wins, 56% places) supports her chances despite being a young filly against older horses.
While the class rise is significant, his limited exposure and high win rate indicate untapped potential that could be realised at this level.
Ballynacally brings outstanding statistics and recent winning form to this class rise. Her 57% win rate and perfect record at today's distance, combined with the strong Meech/Chambers partnership, make her a serious contender. The recent Warrnambool win shows she's in good form despite the disappointing Ballarat run.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Wingsandpropellers | 4 | Brad Rawiller | Jess Gleeson | 60kg | $4.40 |
| 2nd | 2 | Barbaric Lad | 10 | Mark Zahra | A & S Freedman | 60.5kg | $5.00 |
| 3rd | 12 | Southern Crescent | 15 | Jack Hill | Aaron Purcell | 56.5kg | $21.00 |
| 4th | 6 | Ballynacally | 5 | Linda Meech | Adam Chambers | 59.5kg | $8.50 |
| 5th | 1 | Prince Of Parwan | 1 | Nadia Daniels | Josh Cartwright | 59.5kg | $21.00 |
| 6th | 3 | Deepfloat Diva | 14 | Lachlan Neindorf | R & C Jolly | 60.5kg | $9.50 |
| 7th | 5 | Zemgrinda | 2 | Jason Maskiell | Ms J Wicks | 60kg | $21.00 |
| 8th | 10 | Loving Mandy | 9 | Holly Durnan | Dwayne Reid | 54kg | $81.00 |
| 9th | 11 | Mrs Iglesia | 3 | Daniel Stackhouse | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 56.5kg | $3.30 |
| 10th | 8 | Blaze Away | 12 | Lachlan King | Claire Patterson | 57.5kg | $20.00 |
| Scr | 7 | Honor Galore | 13 | Jamie Mott | C I Brown | 58kg | |
| Scr | 9 | Miss Mahjong | 11 | Cian Macredmond | Matthew Cumani | 57.5kg | |
| 13 | Sorel Rising | 6 | Jett Stanley | Brent Stanley | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 14 | Scholl Deep | 8 | Fred W Kersley | L Smith | 54kg | |
| Scr | 15 | Reward Tha Master | 7 | Linc Sullivan | 55kg |
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