Punt like a Pro, without the know!
South Australia · Sunday 14 June 2026
Our top pick won 2 of 9 races at Balaklava. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
top pick wonanother tip wonno tip won
Arizona Dreamer stands out with proven form at this exact track and distance on soft ground, finishing 2nd just 25 days ago. Harry Grace's strong combination with the Jolly stable (40% strike rate) adds confidence.
However, the wide draw and poor soft track form are concerning factors that prevent him being the top selection.
Vega Now impressed winning her recent barrier trial and draws well in barrier 2. As a debut runner, she represents the unknown quantity that could surprise, though the lack of race experience and jockey's poor track record are concerns.
Her barrier trial form was competitive, and the jockey is in excellent recent form.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Caduceus | 11 | Ashvin Goindasamy | Paul Carey | 58kg | $12.00 |
| 2nd | 9 | Arizona Dreamer | 1 | Harry Grace | R & C Jolly | 57kg | $3.70 |
| 3rd | 12 | Vega Now | 2 | Kayla Crowther | Sarah Rutten | 56kg | $2.90 |
| 4th | 7 | Morlock | 6 | Caitlyn Munro | R & C Jolly | 56kg | $15.00 |
| 5th | 8 | Mountain Devil | 3 | Jackson Murphy | Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor | 58kg | $7.00 |
| 6th | 1 | Blandford Baron | 10 | Will Price | Travis Doudle | 60.5kg | $6.50 |
| 7th | 13 | Trillium | 7 | Ben Price | Travis Doudle | 55.5kg | $21.00 |
| 8th | 11 | Queen Dassie | 5 | Taylor Johnstone | A J Gluyas | 56kg | $16.00 |
| 9th | 5 | Luckydoorprize | 8 | Stacey Metcalfe | Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor | 58kg | $51.00 |
| 10th | 10 | Mount Wycheproof | 4 | Wesley Cave | Ms S Ratsch | 56kg | $101.00 |
| Scr | 3 | Chix Diggus | 12 | Jason Holder | S P Gower | 58kg | |
| Scr | 4 | Le Morne | 13 | Dominic Tourneur | P L Caboche | 58kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Mohatu | 9 | Brooke King | Peter & Belinda Blanch | 56.5kg |
The gear change removing ear muffs suggests connections expect improved focus, and his previous course form shows he handles Balaklava well. First-up fitness and the wide draw are concerns.
Belle Montagne showed significant improvement last start with a third at this exact course and distance on soft ground. Her soft track record and recent upward trajectory suggest she's finding her best form. The wide barrier and jockey's poor local record are negatives, but her proven ability at the track and distance makes her a solid each-way chance.
Polunin represents value as a debut runner from the respected Jolly stable with Harry Grace aboard. The trainer/jockey combination shows a strong 40% strike rate, and the inside barrier provides a significant advantage at Balaklava.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Polunin | 2 | Harry Grace | R & C Jolly | 57.5kg | $3.20 |
| 2nd | 4 | Katrina's Legacy | 4 | Stacey Metcalfe | G Dimitropoulos | 57.5kg | $14.00 |
| 3rd | 3 | Summertime Madness | 10 | Campbell Rawiller | W F Francis & G Kent | 58kg | $9.50 |
| 4th | 1 | Bel Ragazzo | 13 | Sophie Potter | David Jolly & Justin Potter | 56kg | $2.40 |
| 5th | 12 | Vatican Rose | 9 | Lauren Stojakovic | Kym Healy | 55.5kg | $151.00 |
| 6th | 8 | Belle Montagne | 12 | Kayla Crowther | Darren & Aimee Magro | 55.5kg | $5.50 |
| 7th | 10 | Lady Biv | 14 | Dominic Tourneur | Bob Richard | 55.5kg | $101.00 |
| 8th | 11 | My Cherie Amor | 8 | Caitlin Tootell | Jon O'Connor | 55.5kg | $71.00 |
| 9th | 6 | All Too Elegant | 7 | Andrew Stead | Ms R Day | 56kg | $41.00 |
| 10th | 13 | Nyeve | 6 | Jemma Gutte | Tracy Cox | 53kg | $151.00 |
| 11th | 2 | Sir Monica | 1 | Todd Pannell | Kristi Evans | 58kg | $17.00 |
| 12th | 7 | Twilight Tango | 3 | Tala Hutchinson | W F Francis & G Kent | 54kg | $41.00 |
| Scr | 9 | Bold Starlet | 11 | Matthew Chadwick | G Richards & D Moyle | 53.5kg | |
| Scr | 14 | Favours | 5 | T H Jolly | 55.5kg |
Hell's On Fire presents as the most reliable winning chance with excellent soft track credentials and consistent recent form. Two narrow seconds in last three starts, including at Balaklava, demonstrate readiness to break maiden status. Barrier 1 suits front-running style perfectly.
Ludina offers excellent value as second-up runner with proven class. Wide barrier concerning but quality should overcome.
Or Am I represents solid each-way value with blinkers first time and proven distance ability.
Recent third placing suggests readiness to break maiden status, though wide barrier presents challenge.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 11 | Hell's On Fire | 1 | Ben Price | Michael Hickmott | 55.5kg | $1.75 |
| 2nd | 7 | Wealthy Winston | 2 | Taylor Johnstone | A J Gluyas | 57.5kg | $31.00 |
| 3rd | 9 | Sweet Kick | 8 | Matthew Chadwick | Chris Bieg | 54kg | $26.00 |
| 4th | 1 | Eagle Moon | 3 | Campbell Rawiller | J F Macmillan | 58kg | $18.00 |
| 5th | 14 | Or Am I | 11 | Harry Grace | Ms Jessica Tzaferis | 55.5kg | $7.00 |
| 6th | 3 | Kohala | 9 | Jason Holder | Kate Halliday | 58kg | $61.00 |
| 7th | 5 | Thavma | 6 | Dominic Tourneur | Kristi Evans | 58kg | $81.00 |
| 8th | 2 | Goldfields Grey | 4 | Kayla Crowther | M J Seyers | 58kg | $5.50 |
| 9th | 12 | La Petite | 5 | Lauren Stojakovic | R Daniel & T Stanbury | 55.5kg | $101.00 |
| 10th | 13 | Ludina | 13 | Will Price | R W Huxtable | 55.5kg | $9.00 |
| 11th | 8 | Karma Queen | 14 | Jemma Gutte | Will Clarken | 53kg | $21.00 |
| 12th | 10 | Bass Coast Flyer | 7 | Tala Hutchinson | Garret Lynch | 53.5kg | $151.00 |
| 13th | 4 | Son Of Vadamos | 12 | Margaret Collett | J Hickmott & C Riggs | 58kg | $151.00 |
| Scr | 6 | Shamastar | 10 | Todd Pannell | Michael Hickmott | 57.5kg |
Lightly-raced gelding with scope for improvement second-up. The Grace/Jolly combination is highly effective, and the moderate tempo should suit his forward racing style despite the wide draw.
Despite a poor first-up performance, the long break and gear changes suggest connections believe in improvement. Hutchinson's current form and the trainer combination statistics provide confidence.
Well-placed mare with the rail barrier providing a significant advantage on the soft track. Her second-up record includes a placing, and the gear change suggests connections expect improvement. The inside draw is crucial at Balaklava.
The trainer/jockey combination statistics are impressive, and the long spell with gear changes suggests a targeted preparation despite the challenging barrier.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 12 | Sahha Sweetie | 1 | Lauren Stojakovic | W F Francis & G Kent | 56kg | $6.00 |
| 2nd | 14 | Love Kaye | 15 | Jackson Murphy | Luke O'Connor | 55.5kg | $8.50 |
| 3rd | 2 | Radiant Knight | 2 | Stacey Metcalfe | Matthew Raymond Barkla | 58kg | $41.00 |
| 4th | 3 | Amical | 8 | Tala Hutchinson | R Daniel & T Stanbury | 55.5kg | $3.90 |
| 5th | 5 | Czech Republic | 17 | Emily Finnegan | Kirsten Mooney | 57.5kg | $61.00 |
| 6th | 11 | Resilient Ruby | 7 | Ashvin Goindasamy | A J Clarken | 56kg | $51.00 |
| 7th | 4 | Be Brief | 14 | Harry Grace | R & C Jolly | 57.5kg | $2.90 |
| 8th | 1 | Mr Ribtickler | 12 | Dominic Tourneur | Kristi Evans | 58kg | $9.50 |
| 9th | 6 | Finnbar Mccool | 16 | Jason Holder | Sarah Rutten | 57.5kg | $41.00 |
| 10th | 10 | First Feeling | 3 | Wesley Cave | Ms S Ratsch | 56kg | $151.00 |
| 11th | 15 | West Of The Wall | 10 | Campbell Rawiller | J Hickmott & C Riggs | 58kg | $26.00 |
| 12th | 7 | Let Me Shine | 4 | Todd Pannell | Kristi Evans | 57.5kg | $31.00 |
| 13th | 13 | Hunting Hard | 5 | Taylor Johnstone | A J Gluyas | 55.5kg | $18.00 |
| 14th | 9 | Firefinch | 13 | Kayla Crowther | Margaret Collett | 56kg | $101.00 |
| Scr | 8 | Winston's Pride | 11 | Caitlyn Munro | R & C Jolly | 55.5kg | |
| Scr | 16 | Liberty London | 9 | Emily Finnegan | Wayne Brown | 56kg | |
| Scr | 17 | Funny Feeling | 6 | T H Jolly | 56kg |
The track/distance record of 1-0-1 from 2 starts is compelling.
Sioux Warrior's exceptional track/distance record cannot be ignored. The barrier draw suits his racing pattern and he's proven on soft tracks.
Redwinelover brings strong recent form including a close second last start. Her distance record is solid and the Potter/Irwin combination is proven. However, her poor track record at Balaklava is concerning despite the class drop.
His soft track record is excellent and he's won first up before. The long spell is a concern but the class relief and conditions suit.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 13 | Sioux Warrior | 7 | Brooke King | J F Macmillan | 56.5kg | $6.50 |
| 2nd | 5 | Redwinelover | 2 | Sophie Potter | Ms N Irwin | 58kg | $4.80 |
| 3rd | 1 | Nostryia | 4 | Todd Pannell | Kate Halliday | 61.5kg | $5.50 |
| 4th | 15 | Whoops A Daisy | 11 | Dominic Tourneur | Kristi Evans | 55kg | $7.50 |
| 5th | 9 | Aloha Blue | 12 | Jason Holder | Kate Halliday | 57.5kg | $3.30 |
| 6th | 2 | Flying Ace | 10 | Kayla Crowther | Luke O'Connor | 60.5kg | $10.00 |
| 7th | 16 | River Clyde | 3 | Brett Campbell | 54kg | $71.00 | |
| 8th | 6 | Shikanic | 14 | Andrew Stead | Peter Nolan | 59.5kg | $26.00 |
| 9th | 3 | Casper De Lune | 9 | S H Sit | Kate Halliday | 58kg | $41.00 |
| 10th | 14 | Lord Morton | 13 | Lauren Stojakovic | Kate Halliday | 57.5kg | $41.00 |
| Scr | 4 | Koratora | 16 | Travis Doudle | 60kg | ||
| Scr | 7 | Tahnee Territory | 6 | Will Price | Travis Doudle | 59.5kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Gusty Way | 8 | Campbell Rawiller | S & J Jaensch | 59kg | |
| 10 | Be Brave | 1 | Stacey Metcalfe | Garret Lynch | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Zoutrail | 15 | R & C Jolly | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 12 | De Luca | 5 | Ben Price | Cody Reardon | 57kg |
Master Of Ceremony showed excellent form with a strong third at Strathalbyn last start and has proven soft track ability. Despite a modest overall record, his recent form trajectory and suitability to conditions make him the standout selection.
Bush Inference has an outstanding record at Balaklava over 2200m and showed his class with a recent third at this track and distance. His soft track credentials are solid, and the inside barrier draw is advantageous. Despite the jockey concern and last start disappointment, his track specialization makes him a strong each-way chance.
United Legend brings strong soft track credentials with a 25% win rate on the surface and recent form including a Class 1 win. Todd Pannell's booking is a positive, and the class drop helps. However, the inside barrier and top weight are concerns, along with his last start disappointment.
The gear changes and class drop are positives, though her soft track form and distance inexperience are concerns.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Eaglelou | 4 | Kayla Crowther | Darren & Aimee Magro | 60kg | $5.50 |
| 2nd | 10 | Jackson Run | 5 | Tala Hutchinson | Judy Streets | 53.5kg | $9.00 |
| 3rd | 11 | Master Of Ceremony | 7 | Harry Grace | J Hickmott & C Riggs | 55.5kg | $4.00 |
| 4th | 2 | United Legend | 1 | Todd Pannell | M J Seyers | 60kg | $6.50 |
| 5th | 13 | Prickly Poppy | 3 | Ashvin Goindasamy | Stephanie Lacy | 54kg | $21.00 |
| 6th | 7 | Bush Inference | 2 | Sophie Potter | Byron Cozamanis | 54.5kg | $10.00 |
| 7th | 3 | Whatsanamegeorge | 11 | Caitlyn Munro | R & C Jolly | 58kg | $9.00 |
| 8th | 12 | Blue Isles | 6 | Will Price | W J Smart | 55kg | $8.50 |
| 9th | 9 | Shadow Hawk | 8 | Caitlin Tootell | Bill W Williams | 56kg | $21.00 |
| 10th | 8 | Retourne | 12 | Dominic Tourneur | Ms C Rose | 56.5kg | $21.00 |
| 11th | 4 | Sandastan | 9 | Jemma Gutte | Garret Lynch | 55.5kg | $101.00 |
| 12th | 14 | Little Outlaw | 13 | Alyssa Webb | B J Davis | 51kg | $41.00 |
| 13th | 6 | Tembu Boy | 14 | Emily Finnegan | Glenn Dix | 57kg | $31.00 |
| Scr | 5 | The Highlander | 10 | Campbell Rawiller | Grant Young | 58.5kg |
Her proven wet track ability (2 wins, 1 place from 6 heavy/soft starts) and recent solid 4th at Morphettville on Soft 5 make her the logical choice despite jockey concerns.
Impending Diamond offers significant value with a massive class drop and proven wet track credentials.
Canny Defense brings proven Balaklava form with a win here on Soft 5. The class drop and good barrier position provide solid chances despite jockey concerns and limited distance experience at 1200m.
Her proven Balaklava record and soft track form suggest she's capable of much better than recent results indicate.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | Impending Diamond | 2 | Sophie Logan | Jason Cannon | 58kg | $5.00 |
| 2nd | 10 | Stolen Kiss | 10 | Polly Brewster | Ms Jessica Tzaferis | 54.5kg | $12.00 |
| 3rd | 1 | Canny Defense | 4 | Sophie Potter | Raharna McDonald | 58kg | $3.00 |
| 4th | 5 | Sangue Rosso | 8 | Emily Finnegan | Kirsten Mooney | 58.5kg | $51.00 |
| 5th | 9 | Kushan Khanivale | 6 | Alyssa Webb | Grant Young | 54.5kg | $11.00 |
| 6th | 3 | Copper Bullet | 9 | Harry Grace | Sarah Rutten | 59kg | $8.00 |
| 7th | 4 | Tanna | 5 | Tala Hutchinson | R Daniel & T Stanbury | 57kg | $7.50 |
| 8th | 16 | Astromancer | 3 | Ms H J Smith | 54kg | $81.00 | |
| 9th | 14 | Off The Cuff | 1 | Ashvin Goindasamy | Hannah Bryce | 54.5kg | $51.00 |
| 10th | 12 | Refreshing | 11 | Alyssa Webb | Grant Young | 54kg | $7.50 |
| 11th | 18 | Star Decorum | 15 | Danny Penna | 54kg | $101.00 | |
| 12th | 17 | Scandalist | 12 | Jackson Murphy | Peter Nolan | 54kg | $31.00 |
| 13th | 15 | Last War | 13 | Brooke King | P Huserot | 54.5kg | $41.00 |
| 14th | 11 | Firebolt | 16 | Lauren Stojakovic | Kate Halliday | 57kg | $151.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Gwan So | 17 | Taylor Johnstone | Kylie McKerlie | 59.5kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Dougal Mckeen | 18 | Dominic Tourneur | J F Macmillan | 58kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Prancethrulife | 14 | S H Sit | Jon O'Connor | 56kg | |
| Scr | 13 | Mondello | 7 | Caitlyn Munro | R & C Jolly | 53.5kg |
Silver Chaos presents the strongest winning chance with excellent recent form including a close 3rd at higher grade. Her outstanding soft track record (70% place rate) and class drop make her ideally positioned. The mare has shown consistent improvement and maps perfectly from barrier 5 to settle handy in the moderate tempo.
Rocktagon offers excellent value despite soft track concerns.
His proven distance record and quality connections suggest he can overcome the fitness concerns, though the soft track and top weight present challenges.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 8 | Silver Chaos | 5 | Brooke King | Ms R Day | 56.5kg | $3.40 |
| 2nd | 4 | Boltonova | 4 | Ashvin Goindasamy | Brett Campbell | 58.5kg | $15.00 |
| 3rd | 11 | Just Like Lisa | 9 | Margaret Collett | Margaret Collett | 57kg | $12.00 |
| 4th | 9 | She Rex | 6 | Jackson Murphy | Cody Reardon | 57.5kg | $16.00 |
| 5th | 12 | Rocktagon | 12 | Alyssa Webb | Ms L Treloar | 54kg | $12.00 |
| 6th | 13 | Press Express | 10 | Caitlin Tootell | W F Francis & G Kent | 56.5kg | $26.00 |
| 7th | 2 | Justica's Bonus | 13 | Shayne & Chelsea Cahill | 59.5kg | $11.00 | |
| 8th | 5 | Allegedly | 16 | Sophie Potter | Ms E Hubbard | 56kg | $26.00 |
| 9th | 14 | Just A Jewel | 18 | Harry Grace | J Hickmott & C Riggs | 54kg | $21.00 |
| 10th | 6 | Fashion Dog | 7 | Jason Holder | W F Francis & G Kent | 58kg | $10.00 |
| 11th | 7 | Intacto | 1 | Todd Pannell | Hannah Bryce | 58kg | $26.00 |
| 12th | 10 | Vexatious Choice | 15 | Campbell Rawiller | Ms N Irwin | 57.5kg | $10.00 |
| 13th | 3 | Sethnique | 14 | Emily Finnegan | Wayne Brown | 59kg | $101.00 |
| 1 | Tottori | 8 | Taylor Johnstone | R & C Jolly | 60kg | ||
| Scr | 15 | Unwind | 2 | Dominic Tourneur | Kristi Evans | 54kg | |
| Scr | 16 | Hot Off | 3 | Ms S Ratsch | 54.5kg | ||
| Scr | 17 | Deploy And Destroy | 17 | Ms H J Smith | 54kg | ||
| Scr | 18 | Chilko Lake | 11 | Shuichi Terachi | Danny Penna | 54kg |
The inside barrier draw suits Balaklava's leader bias, and trainer Sarah Rutten has him fit and ready after a recent placing.
Belle From Hell represents solid each-way value with the strong Hutchinson/Lynch combination and recent close placing at this track. Her maiden win came at 1600m and the light weight provides an advantage. While soft track form is concerning, her recent Balaklava placing suggests she can handle the conditions when fit.
Goindasamy's excellent recent form adds confidence, and while her soft track record is poor, the gear change could spark improvement at a suitable distance.
Reciprocal represents speculative value dropping significantly in class after contesting Group and Listed races. While his first-up record is poor and the wide barrier is concerning, the class drop is substantial and he has shown ability at higher levels.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Ioane | 20 | Andrew Stead | Kym Healy | 61kg | $31.00 |
| 2nd | 12 | Belle From Hell | 4 | Tala Hutchinson | Garret Lynch | 54.5kg | $7.50 |
| 3rd | 15 | Lady Lupara | 10 | Ashvin Goindasamy | Stephanie Lacy | 55kg | $7.00 |
| 4th | 14 | Geetee Forty | 17 | Caitlin Tootell | G Richards & D Moyle | 56.5kg | $10.00 |
| 5th | 3 | I Am Ralph | 2 | Jason Holder | Sarah Rutten | 60.5kg | $3.00 |
| 6th | 13 | Cowley's Creek | 3 | Lauren Stojakovic | T L Day | 56.5kg | $151.00 |
| 7th | 4 | Cracken Good Time | 6 | Brooke King | Peter Nolan | 58.5kg | $31.00 |
| 8th | 6 | Reciprocal | 18 | Harry Grace | R W Huxtable | 59.5kg | $18.00 |
| 9th | 5 | I'm Kenny | 1 | Alyssa Webb | Darren & Aimee Magro | 56.5kg | $5.50 |
| 10th | 8 | Lettemgo | 11 | Polly Brewster | T L Day | 55.5kg | $201.00 |
| 11th | 17 | Canyon Wind | 12 | Taylor Johnstone | Caitlin Davey | 56kg | $71.00 |
| 12th | 1 | Blakmax | 5 | Sophie Potter | Raharna McDonald | 61kg | $15.00 |
| 13th | 18 | Covert Witness | 8 | Hannah Bryce | 54kg | $20.00 | |
| 14th | 11 | Peerless Lad | 7 | Matthew Chadwick | D E Oxlade | 55kg | $21.00 |
| 15th | 16 | Roll Start | 15 | Caitlyn Munro | Bill W Williams | 52.5kg | $71.00 |
| 16th | 7 | Valor Bound | 13 | Wesley Cave | Matthew Raymond Barkla | 59.5kg | $201.00 |
| Scr | 9 | Make Me A Star | 16 | Kayla Crowther | M J Seyers | 58.5kg | |
| Scr | 10 | Hallstatt | 19 | Campbell Rawiller | Hannah Bryce | 58kg | |
| Scr | 19 | Gumeracha Cracker | 9 | Bob Richard | 54kg | ||
| Scr | 20 | I Love This Song | 14 | Margaret Collett | J F Macmillan | 54kg |
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