Rating out of ten – Strengths and Weaknesses and Unknowns.

1. ROTHERA Rating 7:

• S: Loves wet ground, with leading top trainer Peter Moody and jockey Luke Nolen.
• W: Never won with 59kg, never raced over 2200m.
• U: Never raced over 2200m or at Ballarat.

2. ILLUSTRIOUS BLUE Rating 2:

• S: Can stay the distance.
• W: Never won on a wet track, Unplaced in all 13 starts since arrving in Australia. Hasn’t won for over a year.
• U: First start at Ballarat.

3 TINSELTOWN Rating 8:

• S: Can stay the distance. Has won third up on three occasions and is third up today. Handles wet and dry.
• W: An eight year old
• U: First start at Ballarat.

4 PADDY O’REILLY Rating 7:

• S: In form, likes wet tracks. Down in class. Trainer Robert Smerdon in form.
• W: Drawn barrier 17. Can mix form.
• U: First start at Ballarat.

5: BOOM N ZOOM Rating 5:

• S: Runs the trip. Cranbourne Cup winner, down in class.
• W: Not won on slow or heavy track. Back from 2600m to 2200m.
• U: First start at Ballarat.

6.RED BUTTONS Rating 7:

• S: Run the trip. Likes it wet, good draw.
• W: Failed last start when Kyneton Cup fav. (previous form good).
• U: First start at Ballarat.

7: DOMESKY Ratings 7:

• S: Still lightly raced. Group 2 winner, Ran well last start, has placed at Ballarat, good draw.
• W: Not won beyond 2100. Not won on a slow or heavy track. Only won two races.
• U: nil.

8. FOXHAM Rating 6:

• S: Good draw. Placed at Ballarat. Has won on slow track. Had excuses last start.
• W: Not won beyond 1800m.
• U: Unraced above 2050m.

9 STOLE Rating 6.

• S: Placed in Group 2 last start. Good beyond 2000m.
• W: Never won on a slow or heavy track. (Placed three times on slow). Mixes form
• U: First start at Ballarat.

10. CHARTREUX  Rating 3.

• S: Has won on slow, can run the distance. Good draw.
• W: Failed lone start Ballarat. Recent form average. Hasn’t placed since April 2010.
• U: Nil.

11: APPREHEND Rating 3

• S: Can run the distance. Has won in the wet.
• W: Poor recent form. Class factor. Failed lone start at Ballarat.
• U: Nil.

12: MUSICAL HIT Rating 6.

• S: Lightly raced on the way up. On minimum weight. In form.
• W: Not won on slow or heavy track.
• U: First start at Ballarat. Not raced beyond 2000m.

13: SEAN BAILE MOR Rating 6.

• S: Lightly raced. Loves Ballarat (four wins), Runs the distance. Likes wet track.
• W: Drawn wide. Faded out of race last start. Drawn wide.
• U: Class factor.

14. NIPTIOUS Rating 4

• S: Runs distance. Likes wet tracks.
• W: Had 97 starts, Placed once in four Ballarat starts. Class Factor.
• U: Nil.

15 ULUNDI Rating 8

• S: Likes wet tracks, Good last two starts, Well weighted, Good draw.
• W: Doesn’t win out of turn – Three wins in 20 starts.
• U: First start at Ballarat. The 2200m – bred to get it.

16 NOBLE DESTINY Rating 5

• S: Runs the distance. Likes wet tracks.
• W. Class factor. Inconsistent.
• U: First start at Ballarat.

TIPS: ULUNDI 1, TINSELTOWN 2,  PADDY O’REILLY 3,  DOMESKY 4.