Punt like a Pro, without the know!
South Australia · Friday 7 August 2026
Our top pick won 2 of 7 races at Mt Gambier. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
top pick wonanother tip wonno tip won
Calm The Press is the most reliable winning chance in a moderate maiden. He placed on Heavy8 two starts ago and already has a place from three heavy-track runs, which is a significant edge in these conditions. The drop to 900m is a query, but barrier 4 and the testing surface should help him settle and finish over the top.
Hellfire Jess is the clear class runner, having contested Group 3 and Open company before dropping right back to maiden grade. If she handles the ground, she is the main danger.
She is improving quickly and gets every chance to control this 900m sprint from the front. Heavy ground is the unknown, but her recent wet-track placing is a positive.
Mai is the value runner building a niche around Mt Gambier 900m heavy tracks. After a 6th on Heavy8 she improved to 4th on Heavy10 over this course and distance.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | Hellfire Jess | 3 | Harry Grace | Tom Dabernig | 54kg | $2.45 |
| 2nd | 5 | The Muscle | 6 | Margaret Collett | Justin Pickering | 56kg | $2.45 |
| 3rd | 9 | Northern Gold | 9 | Dylan Caboche | James McNamara | 58kg | $101.00 |
| 4th | 3 | Mai | 5 | Jackson Murphy | Bob & Kane Post | 56kg | $17.00 |
| 5th | 7 | Immortally Lucky | 1 | Lauren Stojakovic | David Jolly & Justin Potter | 54kg | $7.50 |
| 6th | 1 | Calm The Press | 4 | Campbell Rawiller | S & J Jaensch | 58kg | $7.00 |
| 7th | 2 | Daisy Dreaming | 7 | Kayla Crowther | D I Dodson | 56kg | $61.00 |
| 8th | 4 | Moon Dog Dotty | 2 | Tom Madden | P A Chow | 56kg | $31.00 |
| Scr | 8 | Louella Fly | 12 | Will Price | Tom Dabernig | 54kg | |
| Scr | 10 | Sorcha | 11 | Sarah Robbins | M R Sharp | 56kg | |
| Scr | 11 | A Little Reward | 10 | Brendon Newport | S R Fisher | 58kg | |
| Scr | 12 | Nimbina | 8 | S R Fisher | 56kg |
Blackhill Boy is the best form runner in a very weak maiden. From barrier 1 with the same jockey and first-time visors, he maps to get every chance in a race lacking genuine speed. The 0-for-7 record is the obvious knock, but this looks a suitable opportunity to break through.
Piklemegranmother brings the strongest placed form into this maiden, highlighted by her Mt Gambier second on Soft6 in May. She is first-up, but she has placed when fresh before and clearly handles this track. The concern is Heavy 9: her two heavy runs have been well beaten. If she handles the sting out of the ground, her local knowledge and 56kg make her the main threat to Blackhill Boy.
He was not disgraced on Heavy10 at Warrnambool, and the addition of winkers plus a rise to 1300m may unlock sharp improvement for a strong stable. However, the form reference is thin and barrier 10 makes his map tougher in a slowly-run race.
Princess Chic is the value runner. She returned from a spell with a reasonable fifth at Murtoa on Soft7, and being second-up today gives her scope to improve.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Blackhill Boy | 1 | Campbell Rawiller | Tyler Donaldson-Aitken | 58kg | $3.60 |
| 2nd | 8 | Piklemegranmother | 7 | Harry Grace | Ms B O'Loughlin | 56kg | $2.70 |
| 3rd | 10 | Say It How It Is | 4 | Dylan Caboche | Rachel Samsonenko | 56kg | $26.00 |
| 4th | 12 | Peyton Jane | 9 | Wayne Walters | 56kg | $41.00 | |
| 5th | 5 | Prince Prestigious | 10 | Jack Hill | Tom Dabernig | 58kg | $4.00 |
| 6th | 11 | Spotlight On Curly | 5 | Melissa Julius | Rene Pompe | 56kg | $18.00 |
| 7th | 9 | Princess Chic | 3 | Caitlin Tootell | Rene Pompe | 56kg | $7.50 |
| 8th | 13 | Where's Ben | 11 | Sarah Robbins | Kaye Edwards | 58kg | $101.00 |
| 9th | 4 | Mychemicalromanze | 6 | Andrew Stead | Luke Williams | 58kg | $51.00 |
| 10th | 7 | Ballroom Blast | 12 | Kayla Crowther | D I Dodson | 56kg | $19.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Black Hex | 7 | Tammy Birnie | 58kg | ||
| Scr | 3 | Fomenter | 8 | Teagan Voorham | Michael Hickmott | 58kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Shujinko | 2 | Rochelle Milnes | P A Preusker | 58kg |
Emmooki Magic showed she handles genuine wet ground when winning at Balaklava on Heavy 8 last start, and her record on heavy—a win and two places from four starts—is the best wet profile in this field. Drawn barrier 2 in a 900m sprint where on-pace runners are favoured, she maps to control the race.
Just Like Lisa is the most reliable wet-track performer here, finishing a close second at Naracoorte on Heavy 8 two weeks ago. She has placed in five of her nine starts on heavy ground and maps well from barrier 4 in a race with little early pressure. She may struggle to convert her many placings into a win, but her consistency and fitness make her the clear second-string winning chance.
Nankeen is a genuine Mt Gambier specialist with two placings from four starts over today's 900m trip and a 40% place record at the track. He has performed well on heavy going in the past and gets the services of in-form jockey Harry Grace. He is rarely far away in these conditions, though his inability to win on heavy ground keeps him behind the top two.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | Shooting For Stars | 7 | Sarah Robbins | Brendon Newport | 56kg | $17.00 |
| 2nd | 3 | Tanna | 3 | Campbell Rawiller | R Daniel & T Stanbury | 59.5kg | $3.50 |
| 3rd | 5 | Just Like Lisa | 4 | Margaret Collett | Margaret Collett | 58kg | $3.70 |
| 4th | 4 | Nankeen | 6 | Harry Grace | Ms B O'Loughlin | 58.5kg | $3.90 |
| 5th | 2 | Crackle 'n' Burn | 8 | Andrew Stead | Luke Williams | 59.5kg | $15.00 |
| 6th | 8 | Unlimited Ability | 5 | Kate Walters | Wayne Walters | 55.5kg | $21.00 |
| 7th | 6 | Emmooki Magic | 2 | Caitlin Tootell | Scott Whittle | 56kg | $6.00 |
| 8th | 1 | Zuetoro | 1 | Jemma Gutte | Scott Whittle | 57kg | $15.00 |
Side Piece is the clear form anchor, having rattled off consecutive Heavy 10 wins at Warrnambool and Hamilton. His 10:4-2-2 heavy-track record is the best in the race and he has already placed at Mt Gambier. The 2050m is the main query, but under a patient ride his staying finish and wet-track aptitude make him the one to beat.
Pianta is the value stayer in the finish. He won this exact course and distance on Heavy 9 in June and has since produced a 2nd at Casterton and a 3rd at Mt Gambier over 2400m. His pattern suggests he often finds one better, but on a testing 2050m at his home track he should be right in the finish.
Wimmera Star showed a return to form with a close third at Murray Bridge on Soft 6, following a useful pattern of consistent winter runs. He has genuine staying credentials from wins over 2100m and 2200m, but faces a significant unknown on Heavy 9 with no wet-track starts. If he handles the surface he can run top three.
Badonkidonk is a veteran stayer who often finds one too good over 2050m, with four placings from 12 attempts at the trip.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6 | Pianta | 10 | Kate Walters | Wayne Walters | 58.5kg | $5.00 |
| 2nd | 2 | Wimmera Star | 3 | Campbell Rawiller | P A Preusker | 60.5kg | $4.60 |
| 3rd | 4 | Fuwari | 5 | Jack Hill | Andrew Bobbin | 58.5kg | $6.00 |
| 4th | 8 | Badonkidonk | 2 | Kayla Crowther | D I Dodson | 55kg | $14.00 |
| 5th | 1 | Side Piece | 7 | Tom Madden | Aaron Purcell | 61.5kg | $2.60 |
| 6th | 9 | Dodgy Element | 9 | Alysha Warren | D I Dodson | 54.5kg | $11.00 |
| 7th | 10 | Duhlata | 1 | Rochelle Milnes | Ms K Dufty | 56kg | $20.00 |
| 8th | 3 | Here Comes Ruby | 6 | Melissa Julius | Ms Jessica Tzaferis | 59kg | $19.00 |
| Scr | 5 | Initial Moment | 8 | Jade Smith | Shane Jackson | 55.5kg | |
| Scr | 7 | Hasta La Amnesty | 4 | Dylan Caboche | Ms S Murphy | 56kg |
Stargust has the strongest overall profile: two runner-up efforts on Heavy at Hamilton and Casterton in his current prep before a credible 4th in a BM62 at Warrnambool, and he now drops to Restricted 54. The 60kg and wide gate are negatives, but his class edge and consistent wet-track placings make him the most likely winner despite a modest career win count.
Melissa Kate is a genuine Mt Gambier wet-track regular with 3 Heavy wins and a strong 5-placings-from-6 record over this 1300m track and distance. She beat Stargust home when winning at Casterton Heavy8 on 5 July, and has since run two 4ths in similar company. Barrier 5 and a patient on-pace style fit the likely slow tempo. Age and a modest jockey strike rate are the main concerns, but her consistency and local knowledge make her the clear second pick.
So Grand showed she handles testing ground with a 2nd at Naracoorte Heavy8 last start and previously won a Heavy10 maiden at Mt Gambier. Low weight of 54.5kg and a middle draw give her every chance to settle and produce a sustained finish. Her overall record is poor with only 1 win from 29, and she lacks a 1300m start, but her heavy-track aptitude and recent form put her ahead of the unproven dry-track runners.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Stargust | 10 | Tom Madden | Joanne Mugavin | 60kg | $3.00 |
| 2nd | 11 | So Grand | 6 | Alysha Warren | Kylie Schulz | 54.5kg | $6.00 |
| 3rd | 7 | Melissa Kate | 5 | Kate Walters | Wayne Walters | 57kg | $4.20 |
| 4th | 8 | Royal Telephone | 9 | Dylan Caboche | Vicki O'Connell | 57kg | $19.00 |
| 5th | 9 | Urbanise | 12 | Jemma Gutte | Jyi Lukey | 54kg | $11.00 |
| 6th | 4 | Detnaw | 8 | Campbell Rawiller | Bob & Kane Post | 58kg | $12.00 |
| 7th | 6 | Bad To The Bone | 4 | Ashlee Stone | W A Bogarts | 53.5kg | $10.00 |
| 8th | 5 | Lapilli | 1 | Caitlin Tootell | Shayne & Chelsea Cahill | 58kg | $12.00 |
| 9th | 12 | Our Ellie Rose | 3 | Wayne Walters | 54kg | $16.00 | |
| Scr | 1 | Belmasai | 11 | Rochelle Milnes | Erin Maher | 60kg | |
| Scr | 3 | Dark Harmony | 7 | Jack Hill | Aaron Purcell | 59kg | |
| Scr | 10 | Artpark | 2 | Harry Grace | P A Preusker | 56.5kg |
Hidden Bounty's form is the standout in the race: she won her last start on Heavy 8 ground in a stronger BM58 contest, boasts a perfect 1-win-1-place record from two heavy-track starts, and drops in grade today. Her only Mt Gambier start was a win, and Kayla Crowther has partnered her for two wins from four rides. Topweight and a likely forward tempo role are the main risks, but her sustained finishing ability on heavy ground should see her overcome both.
No runner matches Robert The Puss's specific affinity for today's exact conditions - he has already won and run second at Mt Gambier over 1550m on Heavy ground in his last two course starts. His overall record is modest, but this course and heavy ground consistently bring out his best, and the speed map projects him as the sole backmarker - the positional profile that has produced the strongest results at this track recently.
Loose Lip Lloyd is a deeply proven Mt Gambier heavy-track specialist, with 8 wins from 19 starts at this course and a 27% win rate from 22 career heavy-track runs, including a win two runs back in similar conditions.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 11 | Limosa | 9 | Harry Grace | Maddie Raymond & Patrick Bell | 58kg | $8.50 |
| 2nd | 5 | Robert The Puss | 6 | Andrew Stead | Kylie Schulz | 60.5kg | $7.50 |
| 3rd | 2 | Hidden Bounty | 8 | Kayla Crowther | D I Dodson | 61kg | $4.60 |
| 4th | 6 | Ahvejay | 1 | Caitlin Tootell | R V Nicholson | 60kg | $21.00 |
| 5th | 4 | Akitu | 3 | Dylan Caboche | Joanne Mugavin | 60.5kg | $17.00 |
| 6th | 10 | Tallapoosa | 13 | Jack Hill | P A Chow | 59kg | $4.00 |
| 7th | 9 | Loose Lip Lloyd | 11 | Jade Smith | Ms B O'Loughlin | 56.5kg | $6.00 |
| 8th | 8 | Heart's Embrace | 10 | Sarah Field | Andrew Bobbin | 58kg | $21.00 |
| 9th | 1 | Bit Of A Rebel | 12 | Ashlee Stone | David Jolly & Justin Potter | 60.5kg | $13.00 |
| 10th | 3 | Surfy Pete | 2 | Teagan Voorham | P A Preusker | 61kg | $13.00 |
| 11th | 7 | Unique Poet | 4 | Campbell Rawiller | Jason Post | 60kg | $19.00 |
| Scr | 12 | Elsie Girl | 15 | Rochelle Milnes | Ms B O'Loughlin | 54.5kg | |
| Scr | 13 | Black Bugatti | 5 | Tom Madden | L A Creek | 56kg | |
| Scr | 14 | Fast 'n' Forward | 7 | Wayne Walters | 54kg | ||
| Scr | 15 | Fight For Freedom | 14 | W A Bogarts | 55.5kg |
Gusty Way is the standout on raw form: back-to-back wins on heavy tracks, one at today's exact class and one at today's exact venue, with an unbeaten placed record on heavy (4:2-1-1). Good gate, in-form rider continuity and a stamina-friendly profile suit the moderate tempo expected. The main knock is a modest overall strike rate, but recent trajectory and demonstrated suitability to today's exact conditions make this the most reliable winning chance.
Terralight arrives in career-best form with back-to-back heavy-track wins, one already at BM62 grade and one at Mt Gambier itself. Her rapid improvement curve and proven wet-track aptitude make her a genuine threat to Gusty Way, though her small sample size and modest barrier temper full win confidence. Each-way/place appeal is strong given the upward trajectory.
Its heavy-track record (2 wins, 1 placing from 4) and track affinity at Mt Gambier are strong positives.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Naralinga | 12 | Kayla Crowther | D I Dodson | 59kg | $2.70 |
| 2nd | 5 | Bancoora | 6 | Campbell Rawiller | P A Preusker | 58.5kg | $15.00 |
| 3rd | 7 | Aquaholic | 11 | Rochelle Milnes | R J Wilson | 58kg | $4.40 |
| 4th | 1 | Halliwell | 14 | Teagan Voorham | Ms Jessica Tzaferis | 61.5kg | $9.00 |
| 5th | 6 | Terralight | 8 | Tom Madden | Tom Dabernig | 58.5kg | $8.50 |
| 6th | 9 | Min Kiata | 1 | Kate Walters | Wayne Walters | 58kg | $21.00 |
| 7th | 3 | Gusty Way | 4 | Harry Grace | S & J Jaensch | 59.5kg | $9.00 |
| 8th | 13 | The Guava | 5 | Caitlin Tootell | Shayne & Chelsea Cahill | 58kg | $14.00 |
| 9th | 8 | Frosty Night | 9 | Sarah Field | Jamie Barry | 56.5kg | $61.00 |
| 10th | 2 | Shout Me | 2 | Jackson Murphy | Bob & Kane Post | 60kg | $19.00 |
| 11th | 11 | Stoops | 10 | Ashlee Stone | W A Bogarts | 52kg | $31.00 |
| Scr | 10 | Lots Of Torque | 13 | Melissa Julius | S V Gebert | 56kg | |
| Scr | 12 | Aqua Storm | 15 | Jack Hill | Shane Jackson | 58kg | |
| Scr | 14 | Ironbar | 3 | Alysha Warren | Gary Boyce | 58kg | |
| Scr | 15 | Symphonite | 7 | Will Price | Tom Dabernig | 55kg |
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