In great news for Jax Bale fans, the reigning Cranbourne Cup winner makes his long-awaited return to the track for the first time since he took out a heat of the Warrnambool Cup two months ago.

Andrea Dailly’s star sprinter is heading straight for the big smoke to tackle a strong line-up in the first leg of tonight’s Quaddie at The Meadows.

Later on the card, a cracking middle-distance Gr8 Eight race will see Aston Gwen (G2 Laurels) v 6-time G1 finalist Christo Bale in the most anticipated race of the day.

And another fascinating clash will take place in Race 8, when the underrated Mr. Fix It lines up against Shima Classic and Eagles Nest Egg.

Here’s an extensive analysis of today’s Must Watch Race, and be sure to scroll down further for ? The Watchdog’s $10 spend…

? MUST-WATCH RACE: themeadows.org.au Free For All

SHIMA GLOW ? ASTON GWEN ? FERNANDO FRANK ? CHRISTO BALE

? The Meadows ? Race 6 ? 600m ⏱ 8:07pm

Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/565960243/race/6

The Watchdog says ?: CHRISTO BALE (6) has come back better than ever, and he has been enormous in his past two wins here. He began well last week and went into overdrive soon after, blowing away his Group 1 winning kennel mate Zipping Rambo in the middle stages before lighting up the clock in a scorching 34.17sec. He is awkwardly drawn again with a quick beginner on his outside, however he has another fast beginner drawn inside, so there is a chance he will get a nice cart across to the rail into the first turn. Group 2 Laurels winner ASTON GWEN (2) is near faultless at box rise, so from a suitable draw I am expecting her to pilot the field for the first 200 to 300m and, unless ‘Christo’ is on her heels, she may be able to steal the event. SHIMA GLOW (1) rounds out the serious winning chances. She has always shown loads of potential, however she has really put it all together in recent weeks and capped off a great stretch of form with a cracking 34.41sec win here. The draw is a big plus for her and, if the top two elects happen to make a mistake at box rise, she could be there to capitalise. FERNANDO FRANK (5) and ZIPPING TICKET (7) are both talented types, but they do their best work out in front and may have trouble getting across to the fence tonight.

Selections:  6 – 2 – 1 – 5

? THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT ?
? Saturday 26 June

? $3.50 Multi

First ?: Bundle Bet – 1,3,8
? The Meadows ? Race 3 ? Box 1,3,8 ? 525m ⏱ 7:07pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.35 Win  (any one of the three selections to win)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/565960243/race/3

Second ?: Win – JARICK BALE
? The Meadows ? Race 7 ? Box 1 ? 600m ⏱ 8:29pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.35 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/565960243/race/7

Third ?: Bundle Bet – 1,2,5,6
? The Meadows ? Race 10 ? Boxes 1,2,5,6 ? 525m ⏱ 9:38pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.26 Win  (any one of the four selections to win)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/565960243/race/10

Fourth ?: Bundle Bet – 2,3
? The Meadows ? Race 11 ? Boxes 2,3 ? 525m ⏱ 9:58pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.35 Win (any one of the two selections to win)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/565960243/race/11

The Watchdog says ? : BLAZER GLORY (1) and WEBLEC RANGER (8) are serious prospects and look well placed in Race 3. JARICK BALE (1) is airborne at present and drawn to get all the breaks. Race 10 is quite open, and I think HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE (8) is a big risk, so we have gone wide. KEEP IT BLUE (2) looks the goods in race 11, however ROXY OUZO (3) has been thrown in as a saver.

Multi price: $3.07

? $2 Place – UNCLE’S GIRL
? The Meadows ? Race 4 ? Box 5 ? 525m ⏱ 7:28pm
TAB fixed odds: $4.40 Place
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/565960243/race/4

The Watchdog says ? : She is not in my top four selections as I believe there are better winning chances, however at the $4.40 I think she is enormous value to run a place. There is a bit of pace drawn on her inside, so she should be able to drift across and take advantage of a rails run in the middle stages. She is just as talented as her rivals and her price is extremely attractive tonight.

? $3 Quaddie – 3.33% (90 combinations)
? The Meadows ? Races 5 – 8 ⏱ 7:48pm                  ***  Includes our Must Watch Race***
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/565960243/race/5

?: 1,2,3,4,6,8

? ?: 1,2,6

? ? ?: 1

? ? ? ?: 1,2,3,4,5

The Watchdog says ? : The first and last legs are quite open, so we have gone wide in the hope of snagging something at double figures. The main event on the card looks a three way battle between SHIMA GLOW (1), ASTON GWEN (2) and CHRISTO BALE (6), whilst JARICK BALE (1) is airborne and looks a moral in the third leg.

? $1.50 Win – BYRON BALE
? The Meadows ? Race 9 ? Box 5 ? 525m ⏱ 9:14pm
TAB fixed odds: $8.50 Win
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/565960243/race/9

The Watchdog says ? : BYRON BALE (5) has turned in some smart performances of late and he should get a nice cart across from GOING ALRIGHT (4) in the initial stages, he may be able to assume control mid race and is hard to get past when in the clear. He obviously meets a quality line-up here, but he has the talent to win an event like this and the $8.50 is a nice spoil.

? RECENT $10 INVESTMENTS ?

Friday 25 June: $18.36 (+84%)
Thursday 24 June: $4.20 (-58%)
Wednesday 23 June: $7.70 (-23%)
Tuesday 22 June: $7.50 (-25%)
Monday 21 June: $6 (-40%)
Sunday 20 June: $15.75 (+58%)
Saturday 19 June: $8.80 (-12%)

Past 7 days: $68.31 for $70 invested (-2%)

Past 14 days: $180.20 for $140 invested (+29%)

Past 28 days: $303.34 for $280 (+8%)

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