Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Victoria · Thursday 30 April 2026
Our top pick won 3 of 8 races at Ballarat. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
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Hayes stable debutants command respect, particularly with gear changes suggesting readiness. Melham's excellent recent form (20% strike rate) and strong trainer combination (9% strike rate) provide confidence. The neutral barrier suits Ballarat's on-speed bias, and the stable's preparation suggests this runner is ready to fire fresh.
The Ryan stable has a good record with improving types, and the 28-day gap suggests she's been freshened for this assignment. While the barrier is wide, her early speed should help her settle closer than expected.
The Freedman stable excels with improving types, and Stackhouse's current form is excellent. Despite the wide barrier, the quality shown in her debut suggests she can overcome the draw and improve significantly second-up.
McEvoy stable debutants with gear changes often show significant improvement. Coffey's excellent recent form and the inside barrier draw provide tactical advantages on this on-speed track.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | Cavill Avenue | 5 | Jamie Melham | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 57kg | $3.20 |
| 2nd | 3 | Autumn Charm | 9 | Jamie Mott | Nick Ryan | 57kg | $3.90 |
| 3rd | 4 | Bella Blaze | 12 | Neil Farley | Michelle Payne | 57kg | $3.60 |
| 4th | 11 | Sound Byte | 7 | Logan Bates | Ms C Alderson | 57kg | $8.00 |
| 5th | 1 | Adakite | 4 | Zac Spain | Shane Nichols & Hayden Black | 57kg | $11.00 |
| 6th | 9 | Firm'n'high | 6 | Luke Nolen | P G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 57kg | $11.00 |
| 7th | 5 | Blue Jeans Talk | 15 | Ben Kennedy | Shannon Roughan | 57kg | $81.00 |
| 8th | 12 | Stepify | 1 | Dean Yendall | P A Preusker | 57kg | $51.00 |
| 9th | 10 | Rich Voltage | 8 | Alana Kelly | Daniel Kelly | 57kg | $101.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Angelic Code | 2 | John Allen | N A Blackiston | 57kg | |
| Scr | 7 | Del Lirenza | 3 | Harry Coffey | T & C McEvoy | 57kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Determined Rose | 13 | Thomas Stockdale | Jerome Hunter | 57kg | |
| Scr | 13 | Teen Torque | 14 | Linda Meech | P G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 57kg | |
| Scr | 14 | Velocite Belle | 10 | Daniel Stackhouse | A & S Freedman | 57kg | |
| Scr | 15 | Queen Clarion | 11 | Mitchell Aitken | Anthony Chibnall | 57kg |
Royal Honour stands out as the most consistent performer with three placings from four starts.
Miss Deceiver represents value dropping in class with the benefit of barrier 2. The class drop and inside barrier position make her a strong each-way chance despite recent disappointing form.
The filly has been competitive in recent starts and benefits from quality connections.
Our Wynd Chymes represents value as a debut runner with quality connections. While lacking form data, the combination of Henry Dwyer and John Allen suggests this horse has ability.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 11 | Our Wynd Chymes | 11 | John Allen | Henry Dwyer | 57kg | $8.50 |
| 2nd | 2 | Kung Fu Kid | 1 | Thomas Stockdale | A & S Freedman | 59kg | $26.00 |
| 3rd | 8 | Gattino Veloce | 9 | Daniel Stackhouse | G M Begg | 57kg | $7.00 |
| 4th | 3 | Royal Honour | 10 | Jamie Mott | R D Griffiths | 59kg | $2.00 |
| 5th | 7 | Blue Typhoon | 4 | Neil Farley | Nathan Hobson | 57kg | $15.00 |
| 6th | 10 | Miss Deceiver | 2 | Teodore Nugent | C Maher | 57kg | $12.00 |
| 7th | 5 | Painted Wings | 3 | Declan Bates | Edward Cummings | 57.5kg | $101.00 |
| 8th | 9 | Lady Courrege | 6 | Craig Newitt | G L Donaldson | 57kg | $10.00 |
| 9th | 4 | The Gruyff Factor | 8 | Cian Macredmond | Ms M Cunningham | 59kg | $12.00 |
| 10th | 6 | Super Dirty | 12 | Liam Riordan | T Fitzsimmons | 57.5kg | $61.00 |
| 11th | 12 | Trigger Warning | 7 | Dean Yendall | Ann-Jeanette Tindale | 56.5kg | $19.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Xiguous Equus | 5 | Thomas Doyle | Stephen Lenehan | 59.5kg |
The recent close second at Seymour shows promise, and being second up from spell is often advantageous.
The drop from Caulfield racing to provincial maiden level represents a key advantage.
The gelding has recorded two placings at Ballarat over 1400m and drops significantly in class from Class 3 racing.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Terrortorian | 3 | Jamie Mott | Nick Ryan | 59.5kg | $8.00 |
| 2nd | 4 | Interrogate | 4 | Daniel Stackhouse | A & S Freedman | 59kg | $8.00 |
| 3rd | 2 | Best Terms | 11 | John Allen | T & C McEvoy | 59kg | $1.70 |
| 4th | 3 | Galivad | 5 | Joe Bowditch | Gavin Bedggood | 59kg | $19.00 |
| 5th | 9 | Truth Seeker | 6 | Jamie Melham | Lloyd Kennewell | 59kg | $3.80 |
| 6th | 5 | Knucklehead | 2 | Thomas Stockdale | Archie Alexander | 59kg | $26.00 |
| 7th | 10 | Toomanysteps | 9 | Teodore Nugent | M A Townsend | 57.5kg | $151.00 |
| 8th | 11 | Safina | 1 | Neil Farley | Henry Dwyer | 57kg | $51.00 |
| Scr | 6 | Menzies Creek | 8 | Maddie Raymond & Patrick Bell | 59kg | ||
| Scr | 7 | Mykindakandy | 7 | C I Brown | 59kg | ||
| Scr | 8 | Oyster Lane | 10 | Declan Bates | C Maher | 59kg |
The significant class drop from previous runs provides a key advantage, despite the wide barrier draw.
John Allen's booking adds confidence, and the class drop from previous runs provides a clear edge despite her maiden status.
Shaw Can Fly's close third at Ballarat demonstrates track and distance suitability. Stackhouse's current form and the gear change provide positives, though the wide barrier and maiden status present challenges in this competitive field.
Janey Bopper offers value through Linda Meech's outstanding current form and the significant class drop from Group 1 level. Her distance experience and proven connections make her a worthwhile each-way proposition despite the wide barrier.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | Tulchan | 9 | Cian Macredmond | Annie Alexander | 59.5kg | $26.00 |
| 2nd | 4 | Sasterion | 14 | Lachlan King | T Fitzsimmons | 59.5kg | $5.50 |
| 3rd | 11 | Rainey | 7 | Eoin Walsh | Henry Dwyer | 57.5kg | $16.00 |
| 4th | 5 | Slomo | 5 | Harry Coffey | Symon Wilde | 59.5kg | $12.00 |
| 5th | 7 | Ateyate | 3 | Beau Mertens | T Busuttin & N Young | 59kg | $31.00 |
| 6th | 1 | Last Card Louie | 15 | Teodore Nugent | Denis Pagan | 59.5kg | $26.00 |
| 7th | 12 | Wizardess | 8 | Neil Farley | Jamie Edwards | 57.5kg | $61.00 |
| 8th | 15 | Explain | 6 | Craig Newitt | Jarrod Robinson | 57.5kg | $31.00 |
| 9th | 9 | Shaw Can Fly | 11 | Daniel Stackhouse | D T O'Brien | 59kg | $9.00 |
| 10th | 14 | Janey Bopper | 12 | Linda Meech | Andrew Bobbin | 57kg | $5.50 |
| 11th | 10 | Soul Glow | 4 | Luke Currie | Andrew Bobbin | 59kg | $12.00 |
| 12th | 13 | Baudin | 1 | John Allen | P A Preusker | 57kg | $3.00 |
| 13th | 3 | Parrot Club | 10 | Brad Rawiller | M W Ryan | 59.5kg | $41.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Mungerannie | 2 | Zac Moore | Amy McDonald | 56.5kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Guthrie | 13 | Jett Stanley | T Busuttin & N Young | 59kg |
Second up from spell with perfect first-up record and 100% strike rate with jockey Hurdle.
The blinkers removal and Luke Currie booking suggest connections expect improvement.
Filly with perfect second-up record and strong jockey/horse combination. The good barrier draw and light weight suit Ballarat's on-speed bias. Despite poor last start, the second-up statistics and proven partnership with Yendall make her a genuine chance.
The combination with Farley has produced a win before and his distance record is solid.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | Buzitup | 6 | Neil Farley | S J Campbell | 58kg | $5.50 |
| 2nd | 9 | Lantana | 4 | Dean Yendall | M J Williams | 56.5kg | $7.00 |
| 3rd | 12 | Gisella | 3 | Luke Currie | Dan O'Sullivan | 55.5kg | $7.00 |
| 4th | 7 | Axiom | 11 | Thomas Stockdale | Gavin Bedggood | 57.5kg | $3.90 |
| 5th | 3 | Flying From Above | 1 | Declan Bates | Edward Cummings | 59.5kg | $14.00 |
| 6th | 11 | Yes Chicci | 2 | Holly Durnan | C Maher | 53.5kg | $41.00 |
| 7th | 2 | Barryfrom Brunzwik | 8 | Ryan Hurdle | Robert Hickmott | 59.5kg | $5.00 |
| 8th | 5 | He's A Hustler | 9 | Harry Coffey | T & C McEvoy | 58.5kg | $18.00 |
| 9th | 14 | Whitson | 5 | Teodore Nugent | Ann-Jeanette Tindale | 54kg | $51.00 |
| 10th | 10 | Monix | 12 | Cian Macredmond | Nathan Hobson | 56.5kg | $14.00 |
| 11th | 8 | Lady Brightside | 7 | Jett Stanley | T Busuttin & N Young | 57.5kg | $20.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Invincible Woman | 10 | Lucy Yeomans | 60kg | ||
| Scr | 4 | Sunni Mofeed | 10 | Jason Maskiell | Ms W Kelly | 59.5kg | |
| Scr | 13 | Ravens Bay | 13 | Brett Scott | 55kg |
Our Lone Star presents as the most reliable winning chance. His proven ability at Ballarat (1 win from 4 starts) and strong partnership with Brad Rawiller make him the standout despite the wide draw.
M'lady Rose offers excellent value dropping significantly in class. Her Group 3 exposure at Flemington shows quality, and she's proven at Ballarat with a win. The addition of winkers first time and John Allen's booking suggests connections expect improvement.
Upstage brings winning momentum from her Pakenham victory and the strong Stackhouse/Begg combination. The good barrier draw suits Ballarat's on-speed bias, and her consistent form suggests she can handle the class rise. However, the step up from maiden company is significant.
The Luke Currie booking and gear changes suggest improvement expected. While her overall record is modest, her raw speed and tactical advantage make her a worthwhile value play.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 13 | Upstage | 3 | Daniel Stackhouse | G M Begg | 57.5kg | $5.00 |
| 2nd | 7 | Hoodys Horse | 4 | Ryan Hurdle | T Cottier | 59kg | $201.00 |
| 3rd | 5 | Caleana | 5 | Thomas Stockdale | M Price & M Kent Jnr | 59.5kg | $6.50 |
| 4th | 12 | M'lady Rose | 10 | John Allen | T & C McEvoy | 57.5kg | $2.30 |
| 5th | 6 | Delta Sky | 11 | Ryan Houston | Lee & Shannon Hope | 57.5kg | $14.00 |
| 6th | 4 | Life Sentence | 2 | Declan Bates | Matthew Cumani | 60kg | $21.00 |
| 7th | 15 | Jaz Tycoon | 14 | Ms M Cunningham | 58kg | $81.00 | |
| 8th | 2 | Wild Chap | 7 | Cian Macredmond | Ms M Cunningham | 61.5kg | $71.00 |
| 9th | 9 | Piwhane | 15 | Alysha Warren | Gary Boyce | 57kg | $41.00 |
| 10th | 1 | Our Lone Star | 9 | Brad Rawiller | Sean Mott | 62.5kg | $17.00 |
| 11th | 11 | Love Symbol | 1 | Luke Currie | N A Blackiston | 57.5kg | $5.50 |
| Scr | 3 | Galant Knight | 12 | Eoin Walsh | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 60kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Loose On Gin | 13 | Dean Yendall | M J Williams | 59kg | |
| Scr | 10 | Bancoora | 8 | Fred W Kersley | P A Preusker | 58.5kg | |
| Scr | 14 | Designs Of Eight | 6 | Christopher Pang | Maddie Raymond & Patrick Bell | 53kg |
Bold Strike presents as the most logical winner with a perfect record at this track and distance, including a recent victory here. The class rise is manageable given his proven ability at this venue.
All So Clear's exceptional Ballarat record makes him a serious contender despite the class rise. His local knowledge and consistent recent form, combined with proven ability at this track and distance, provides solid each-way value in a race where his venue expertise could prove decisive.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 11 | Bold Strike | 9 | Thomas Stockdale | C Maher | 57.5kg | $3.90 |
| 2nd | 12 | Revolver | 10 | Craig Newitt | Archie Alexander | 57kg | $6.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | All So Clear | 5 | Jackson Radley | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 58kg | $5.50 |
| 4th | 6 | Super Snitch | 3 | Brad Rawiller | P W McKenna | 59kg | $21.00 |
| 5th | 13 | Batoka Chief | 7 | Ryan Houston | Lee & Shannon Hope | 53kg | $11.00 |
| 6th | 10 | Johnnie Pinch | 8 | Ryan Hurdle | P A Preusker | 58kg | $19.00 |
| 7th | 8 | Chimed | 2 | Declan Bates | Annie Alexander | 58kg | $41.00 |
| 8th | 3 | Morryl Moral | 4 | John Allen | C Maher | 61kg | $3.40 |
| 9th | 5 | Spylark | 11 | Melissa Julius | Dane Smith | 59.5kg | $41.00 |
| 10th | 7 | Enchanted Jenni | 1 | Jett Stanley | Lloyd Kennewell | 58.5kg | $12.00 |
| 11th | 2 | Argentum | 12 | Teodore Nugent | L & T Corstens & W Larkin | 61kg | $101.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Teewaters | 8 | Holly Durnan | Annie Alexander | 58.5kg | |
| Scr | 9 | Hawk Power | 6 | Neil Farley | P Koumis | 58kg |
The inside barrier perfectly suits Ballarat's on-speed bias, and his second-up record (1-0 from 2) is encouraging. The drop from BM70-84 to BM62 represents excellent value.
Thinking Of Gerty offers excellent consistency and strong recent form, finishing a close second at Donald just 15 days ago. The mare's 59% place rate demonstrates reliability, while the class drop from BM66 and Luke Currie's booking suggest stable confidence. However, the wide barrier and modest second-up record present challenges at this on-speed track.
Amping Lass represents the biggest class drop in the field, stepping down from Group and Listed level to BM62. The elite Moody/Nolen combination adds significant appeal, but the wide barrier presents a major challenge at this on-speed venue.
That'smoneybrother offers value as a lightly-raced improver with perfect second-up credentials. His maiden win at this track and the strong Stackhouse/Laurie combination provide confidence.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 | Documentary | 1 | Jamie Mott | Nick Ryan | 61kg | $2.25 |
| 2nd | 17 | Xtramagic | 16 | Shayleigh Ingelse | P A Preusker | 52kg | $51.00 |
| 3rd | 2 | Ballon D'or | 15 | Dylan Dean | C J Cassar | 58.5kg | $41.00 |
| 4th | 16 | Ville De Lumiere | 5 | Eoin Walsh | T & C McEvoy | 56kg | $8.50 |
| 5th | 13 | Zetalyn | 7 | Liam Riordan | L & T Corstens & W Larkin | 57.5kg | $19.00 |
| 6th | 12 | Proven Soul | 6 | Harry Coffey | Scott Cameron | 57.5kg | $7.00 |
| 7th | 4 | Thinking Of Gerty | 8 | Luke Currie | Ms G Johnstone | 60kg | $4.40 |
| 8th | 15 | Lucky Duck | 14 | Craig Newitt | J P Salanitri | 57kg | $41.00 |
| 9th | 1 | Orlabent | 4 | Zac Moore | Ms M Cunningham | 62kg | $101.00 |
| 10th | 7 | Kamezali | 10 | John Allen | Taige Weir | 58.5kg | $21.00 |
| 11th | 14 | Smoke Screen | 9 | Thomas Stockdale | C Maher | 57kg | $10.00 |
| Scr | 5 | That'smoneybrother | 12 | Daniel Stackhouse | M M Laurie | 59.5kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Final Countdown | 3 | Shayleigh Ingelse | P A Preusker | 55.5kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Amping Lass | 11 | Luke Nolen | P G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 58kg | |
| Scr | 9 | Dragon Scroll | 13 | Beau Mertens | Clayton Douglas | 57.5kg | |
| Scr | 10 | Freshen | 2 | Fred W Kersley | Peter Gelagotis | 57.5kg | |
| Scr | 11 | Meisho | 15 | Olivia East | T Busuttin & N Young | 54.5kg |
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