Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Victoria · Saturday 2 May 2026
Our top pick won 2 of 7 races at Donald. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
top pick wonanother tip wonno tip won
Barrier 3 perfect for Donald's tight sprint where inside gates dominate. Consistent placer (3 placings in 6 starts) dropping in class, suits very fast tempo from midfield. Recent runs show upward trajectory on Good 4 (5:0-0-2). Prime win chance.
Limited starts (3:0-0-0) but improving trend first up after spell. Neutral barrier 5 allows midfield settling in very fast tempo. Solid place chance despite form gaps.
Improving filly (30x7742) from strong Dwyer stable. Wide draw barrier 10 tests in leader-biased Donald sprint but on-pace map helps. Reliable place contender with local proof.
Barrier 1 is gold at Donald sprints (inside bias key). Solid Good 4 record (8:0-2-1) and 27% place rate. Wide-open maiden suits inside speed. High value for exotics despite flaws.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Dame I Am | 4 | Alana Kelly | Shay Keating | 57.5kg | $31.00 |
| 2nd | 6 | Hegely | 3 | Jack Hill | B C Hearps | 57.5kg | $5.50 |
| 3rd | 9 | Russian Sky | 5 | Linda Meech | Simon Zahra | 57.5kg | $3.50 |
| 4th | 7 | Mariner Miss | 10 | Neil Farley | Henry Dwyer | 57.5kg | $12.00 |
| 5th | 1 | Buffo | 9 | Ryan Hurdle | Michael Hickmott | 59.5kg | $4.40 |
| 6th | 4 | Brilliant Beagle | 1 | Brittany Button | Olivia Osborne | 56kg | $71.00 |
| 7th | 2 | Eighteen Months | 7 | Zac Moore | Shane Jackson | 56.5kg | $26.00 |
| 8th | 11 | Velsheda | 8 | Dean Yendall | M M Laurie | 55kg | $3.10 |
| 9th | 8 | Pacific Pixie | 6 | Thomas Doyle | Stephen Lenehan | 57.5kg | $151.00 |
| 10th | 10 | Circus Prince | 11 | Melissa Julius | Anthony Cosgriff | 57kg | $41.00 |
| Scr | 3 | Master Taj | 2 | Joe Bowditch | Gavin Bedggood | 59.5kg |
Barrier 3 provides perfect tactical position on leader-biased Donald track despite backmarker track stats. Class drop enhances chances in moderate-fast tempo favoring handy runners.
Barrier 1 exploits Donald's inside bias despite neutral stats. Recent 1600m form at distance suits moderate-fast tempo, though winless record tempers enthusiasm vs fresher rivals.
Extensive experience (26 starts) and Donald exposure suit conditions, positioning as closer in backmarker-friendly stats.
Limited exposure (3 starts) suggests upside in weak maiden against more exposed winless rivals. Strong overlay opportunity.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Blindato | 10 | Linda Meech | Andrew Bobbin | 59.5kg | $11.00 |
| 2nd | 2 | Brutalrule | 1 | Eoin Walsh | Niki O'Shea | 59.5kg | $2.00 |
| 3rd | 9 | Miss Solar Hart | 8 | Chelsea Taylor | Ms H Burns | 57.5kg | $41.00 |
| 4th | 6 | Path To Victory | 3 | Jack Hill | Andrew Bobbin | 59.5kg | $4.40 |
| 5th | 3 | Deadly Devil | 2 | Brittany Button | Olivia Osborne | 58kg | $31.00 |
| 6th | 8 | Cee Rose | 4 | Ryan Hurdle | Jesse Carmichael | 57.5kg | $31.00 |
| 7th | 10 | Our Little Cracker | 9 | Sheridan Clarke | Nell Carter | 57.5kg | $151.00 |
| 8th | 5 | Lucky Crimson | 5 | Neil Farley | Dane Smith | 59.5kg | $15.00 |
| 9th | 4 | Gumdrop Buttons | 6 | Tom Madden | Shane Jackson | 59.5kg | $17.00 |
| 10th | 7 | Zip Empathy | 7 | Dean Yendall | Lucinda Boyd | 59.5kg | $5.00 |
Patsy's Star tops form assessment with two dominant recent wins (Stawell 2000m, Kyneton 1864m) on Good/Soft, carrying 59-61kg.
Barrier 2 perfect for backmarker in race favouring closers (18% win rate). Recent placings at Warrnambool/Cranbourne show fitness; track experience edges Jenny The Beaver. Second pick as value alternative to top selection in upset-prone country staying race.
Recent Terang 2nd fresh shows fitness; distance winner previously.
Distance specialist (4:1-0-2) suits staying trip; midfield map ideal for Donald backmarker bias.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Patsy's Star | 3 | Neil Farley | M Sell | 60kg | $3.90 |
| 2nd | 2 | Mangione | 7 | Tom Madden | Nell Carter | 59.5kg | $11.00 |
| 3rd | 7 | Shrewsbury Road | 8 | Liam Riordan | Simon Zahra | 58kg | $4.60 |
| 4th | 8 | Vizie | 2 | Eoin Walsh | Chris Calthorpe | 57kg | $3.20 |
| 5th | 3 | Bogues | 4 | Alana Kelly | Liam Howley | 59kg | $4.20 |
| 6th | 4 | Helping Hands | 6 | Adam Mc Cabe | Jason Warren | 58.5kg | $12.00 |
| 7th | 9 | Pine Valley | 9 | Tayla Childs | D P Dwyer | 54kg | $91.00 |
| Scr | 5 | Eismond | 5 | Jack Hill | Andrew Bobbin | 58kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Jenny The Beaver | 1 | Linda Meech | Ben O'Farrell | 58kg |
Linda Meech (45% recent wins) pairs with high-strike McEvoy stable (32% combo). Barrier 3 perfect for Donald's tight sprint where leaders dominate (24% win rate). Very fast tempo suits forward runner.
50% place rate, Good 4 suited (1:0-1-0), light weight. Barrier 6 midfield ok in fast tempo where closers can feature if leaders soften.
Moody/Coleman stable excels with young horses stepping up. 1200m ideal progression, Good 4 exposure. Barrier 10 tests in leader-biased Donald but fast tempo may aid midfield close. Viable top-3 chance over weaker proxies.
Moody stable, light weight, winkers first time boost intent.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 9 | Shintono | 3 | Linda Meech | T & C McEvoy | 57kg | $3.80 |
| 2nd | 2 | Cosmic Voyage | 5 | Liam Riordan | D T O'Brien | 59kg | $3.60 |
| 3rd | 8 | Famous Rosy | 7 | Neil Farley | P Kearney | 58kg | $11.00 |
| 4th | 5 | Pinazaki | 10 | Theodore Ladd | P G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 59kg | $4.60 |
| 5th | 7 | Vallice | 8 | Eoin Walsh | C Maher | 59kg | $17.00 |
| 6th | 11 | Teen Torque | 1 | Alana Kelly | P G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 56kg | $11.00 |
| 7th | 3 | Grandpa Neil | 4 | Paul Gatt | Jason Warren | 59kg | $12.00 |
| 8th | 10 | Fox Phire | 6 | Jack Hill | Shane Jackson | 56.5kg | $8.50 |
| Scr | 1 | Ciphered | 9 | Joe Bowditch | Gavin Bedggood | 59kg | |
| Scr | 4 | Magna Sententia | 8 | Dean Yendall | Taige Weir | 59kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Stayinharmony | 2 | Tom Madden | Maddie Raymond & Patrick Bell | 59kg |
Barrier 3 suits midfield settling in fast tempo race favoring closers per track bias (backmarkers 18% win rate). Good 4 record strong (6:2-1-0). Class rise manageable from Open.
Good 4 form excellent (8:2-4-0). Maps forward in likely fast tempo suiting handy type on tight Donald track.
Recent Stawell BM56 success dropping class here. Meech booking positive (45% recent). However wide draw 11 and backmarker style hurt on tight Donald with fast tempo favoring closers but punishing wide runs. Good 4 form ok (29:4-2-6). Solid place chance if maps well.
Consistent form lines suit fast tempo favoring backmarkers per bias. Good 4 proven. Barrier 8 workable.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Jet Jitsu | 11 | Linda Meech | Andrew Bobbin | 64kg | $5.00 |
| 2nd | 4 | Rampazetto | 10 | John Keating | N J Dyer | 62kg | $18.00 |
| 3rd | 8 | Vincentina | 7 | Eoin Walsh | C Maher | 60kg | $4.80 |
| 4th | 3 | Mallee Gold | 5 | Jack Hill | Andrew Bobbin | 64kg | $10.00 |
| 5th | 5 | Tyndrum Gold | 2 | Melissa Julius | Nathan Hobson | 62kg | $19.00 |
| 6th | 6 | Hydrogen Power | 8 | Neil Farley | Nathan Hobson | 61kg | $5.50 |
| 7th | 7 | Pharoah's Glory | 1 | Liam Riordan | P Kearney | 60.5kg | $3.60 |
| 8th | 1 | Mercurial Boy | 3 | Zac Moore | Brent Stanley | 62kg | $8.00 |
| 9th | 12 | Stormyfriendship | 6 | Makisha Salter | Mark Ashby | 52kg | $101.00 |
| 10th | 11 | Gypsy King | 9 | Paul Gatt | K J Kelly | 55.5kg | $101.00 |
| Scr | 9 | Short Reply | 4 | Ryan Hurdle | Niki O'Shea | 59.5kg | |
| Scr | 10 | Designs Of Eight | 12 | Christopher Pang | Maddie Raymond & Patrick Bell | 57kg |
Chosen Venture tops form assessment with barrier 2 perfectly suiting Donald's leader bias (24% leaders win rate) and fast tempo.
Good track record (32:5-8-3) proven on Good 4, barrier 6 ideal midfield for Donald's pace bias. Fast tempo favours late strength.
Improving 3yo with barrier 4 suiting Donald bias, recent maiden win at 1307m Good 4 shows readiness for class rise. Solid jockey/trainer combo (16% strike).
Assessed as solid contender on form (recent BM62 2nd, good record) but wide barrier 12 major negative at leader-biased Donald. Value if drifts further, but form prefers inside-drawn rivals.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Freak Of Nature | 12 | Adam Mc Cabe | Jason Warren | 59.5kg | $2.25 |
| 2nd | 11 | Vores | 8 | Christine Puls | Nell Carter | 55kg | $15.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | Krasnoludek | 4 | Ryan Hurdle | Robert Hickmott | 58.5kg | $11.00 |
| 4th | 5 | Bama Slama | 10 | Eoin Walsh | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 58kg | $6.50 |
| 5th | 6 | Olivia's Scandal | 6 | Chelsea Taylor | Jordy Coffey | 56.5kg | $5.00 |
| 6th | 1 | Eight Under | 13 | Jack Hill | Mathew Smerdon | 60kg | $31.00 |
| 7th | 8 | Chosen Venture | 2 | Milos Bunjevac | Nathan Hobson | 56kg | $6.50 |
| 8th | 10 | Thoughtful | 3 | Sheridan Clarke | Nell Carter | 56kg | $51.00 |
| 9th | 9 | French Lolly | 7 | Brittany Button | Olivia Osborne | 54.5kg | $41.00 |
| 10th | 7 | Bellakai | 5 | Liam Riordan | Ms H Burns | 56kg | $61.00 |
| 11th | 13 | Shasam | 11 | Chelsea Thompson | Stephen Lenehan | 50kg | $101.00 |
| 12th | 12 | Cesar Bessan | 9 | Tayla Childs | D P Dwyer | 54kg | $151.00 |
| Scr | 3 | Somebody Told Me | 1 | Tom Madden | J P Salanitri | 59.5kg |
Barrier 1 gives Minesite massive Donald sprint advantage (inside win rate key). Very fast tempo and on-pace bias suit forward run.
Lychee Green Tea maps prominently from barrier 4 in leader-biased Donald sprint. Very fast tempo suits tactical speed.
Recent 2nd in Rest.56 then 4th shows form; slight class drop helps. Wide draw issue in tight track but track bias weak and fast tempo may collapse leaders.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 8 | Over Shady | 8 | Linda Meech | Kate Goodrich | 57.5kg | $4.60 |
| 2nd | 9 | Viperion | 5 | Dylan Dean | C J Cassar | 56kg | $9.50 |
| 3rd | 10 | Redemption Time | 6 | Makisha Salter | M Sell | 54.5kg | $14.00 |
| 4th | 2 | Cool The Jets | 16 | Polly Brewster | Jyi Lukey | 58kg | $7.00 |
| 5th | 12 | Factually | 15 | Neil Farley | C J Cassar | 56kg | $9.00 |
| 6th | 1 | Becauseyou're Mine | 11 | Zac Moore | Shane Jackson | 57kg | $4.00 |
| 7th | 7 | Lychee Green Tea | 4 | Chelsea Taylor | Ms H Burns | 57.5kg | $13.00 |
| 8th | 3 | Minesite | 1 | John Keating | J D Pearson | 60kg | $11.00 |
| 9th | 11 | Simply Luscious | 9 | Milos Bunjevac | Nathan Hobson | 56.5kg | $18.00 |
| 10th | 4 | Rain Lord | 13 | Tom Madden | Andrew Angelone | 58.5kg | $13.00 |
| 11th | 6 | The Mariner | 10 | Chelsea Thompson | Stephen Lenehan | 54kg | $91.00 |
| 12th | 5 | French Love | 12 | Tayla Cameron | Ms A Blackburn | 54kg | $41.00 |
| Scr | 13 | Raging Monkey | 2 | Christine Puls | L E Robertson | 58kg | |
| Scr | 14 | Spinhof | 7 | Alana Kelly | Shay Keating | 57kg | |
| Scr | 15 | Majestic Maremma | 14 | Brittany Button | Olivia Osborne | 53kg | |
| Scr | 16 | Beaukati | 3 | Jordy Coffey | 54kg |
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