A provincial flying ‘fab four’ takes flight in a FFA (410m) at Horsham this afternoon.

Kraken Tex (20 from 105) v Fortuna Bale (28 from 65) v Benchester (25 from 68) v Oriental Amber (21 from 45) pits a country champ quartet in a must-see tussle!

G2 Ballarat Cup finalist Oriental Amber (5 from 10 Trk/Dst) is Horsham’s 410m TR holder (22.64sec), while Fortuna Bale (4 of past 8) is a dual Ballarat Cup finalist – 2020 (3^rd) and 2021 (2^nd).

Benchester (4 from 5 Trk/Dst – 3 of past 6) – a former 410m TR holder here – has been a finalist in the past two G2 Shepparton Cups, while Kraken Tex (4 of past 6 – 15 from 59 Trk/Dst) is a cult idol here.

Meanwhile, on the same program, Mepunga Knight (14 from 34) should be cavalier in a Mixed 4/5 (485m). His task has been made easier due to the scratching of Braemar Prince.

Mepunga Knight (4 from 6 – Box 6) – a Provincial Plate finalist at Sandown Park late last year – has also won 4 of his past 8.

And, at Warragul tonight, keep an eye out for Sneaky Mojo (13 from 36 – 5 of past 6) who has regained his ‘swagger’.

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: Vale Stan Nicholson Free For All

KRAKEN TEX ? FORTUNA BALE ? BENCHESTER ? ORIENTAL AMBER

? Horsham ? Race 6 ? 410m ⏱ 4:52pm

Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538429/race/6

The Watchdog says ?: Great line-up which features a former and current track over this track and trip. FORTUNA BALE (5) has won a staggering 28 races from 65 attempts and she generally pings the lids for fun. Two runs back she returned to the winner’s list with a dynamic 23.78sec Bendigo win and she scorched through the first marker in a blinding 6.42sec. If she can produce something similar today, she will prove hard to hold out. BENCHESTER (6) is a former track record holder over this Track/Distance and he is racing with tremendous confidence at present. He has speared the lids and been dominant in his past two wins and he is expected to keep ‘Fortuna’ honest in the initial stages. ORIENTAL AMBER (8) currently holds the time standard here with a scintillating 22.64sec run and, although beaten in her past three runs, she has been far from disappointing. The first 50m is going to be crucial for her and, with so much pace drawn inside, she can’t afford to make any mistakes at box rise. KRAKEN TEX (1) is a track specialist and although not as naturally gifted as his bigger name rivals, he will scrape the paint throughout which will allow him to save plenty of ground and turn for home in a threatening position. RAVE ON (4) also needs a mention. He has been a marvellous chaser and winner of 36 races from 129 starts. He is still racing with confidence and the fact that he will be one of the outsiders in the event indicates just how strong this line-up is.

Selections:  5 – 6 – 8 – 1

? THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT ?
?  Tuesday 3 August

? $4 Multi

First ?: Win – SPEEDY BLUE
? Healesville ? Race 4 ? Box 8 ? 300m ⏱ 11:35am
TAB fixed odds: $1.40 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538427/race/4

Second ?: Place – SLINGSHOT REAPER
? Healesville ? Race 9 ? Box 8 ? 300m ⏱ 1:04pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.18 Place (top two finish required)
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538427/race/9

Third ?: Win – ELECTRIC MICK
? Healesville ? Race 11 ? Box 2 ? 300m ⏱ 1:44pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.85 Win
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538427/race/11

The Watchdog says ? : SPEEDY BLUE (8) is armed with an electric turn of foot, and he appears to have a fair bit on his rivals. He will get plenty of room to balance up and he looks a moral. SLINGSHOT REAPER (8) has a great record here and he has raced well from this draw previously, so with a clean getaway a top two finish looks likely. ELECTRIC MICK (2) is a track specialist, and this is the easiest race he has contested for a while.

Multi price: $3.05

? $3 Quaddie – 25% (12 combinations)
? Horsham ? Races 5 – 8 ⏱ 4:37pm         ***includes Must Watch Race***
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538429/race/5

?: 1,4
? ?: 5,6,8
? ? ?: 1,8
? ? ? ?: 6

The Watchdog says ? : The kennelmates are expected to dominate the first leg, whilst one of the three ‘big guns’ is expected to take out the second leg. RUN AND CARRY (8) looks the goods in the third leg, however we have included SADIKI BALE (1) as a saver. MEPUNGA KNIGHT (6) is airborne at present and looks the goods in the last leg.

? $3 Multi

First ?: Place – BON YOGI
? Warragul ? Race 3 ? Box 1 ? 400m ⏱ 7:29pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.50 Place (top two finish required)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538430/race/3

Second ?: Win – HUGO
? Warragul ? Race 8 ? Box 3 ? 460m ⏱ 9:18pm
TAB fixed odds: $2.50 Win
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538430/race/8

The Watchdog says ? : BON YOGI (1) is on the up and should have a cracking battle with PROPELLED (2) throughout and a top two finish looks likely. HUGO (3) has turned in some tremendous performances of late and, from the favourable draw, he should get a nice sit in the early stages and then run past them as they turn for home.

Multi price: $3.75

? RECENT $10 INVESTMENTS ?
Monday 02 August: $5.40 (-46%)
Sunday 01 August: $13.28 (+33%)
Saturday 31 July: $0 (-100%)
Friday 30 July: $0 (-100%)
Thursday 29 July: $15.11 (+51%)
Wednesday 28 July: $7.20 (-28%)
Tuesday 27 July: $6.35 (-37%)

Past 7 days: $47.34 for $70 invested (-32%)

Past 14 days: $115.59 for $140 Invested (-17%)

Past 28 days: $261.93 for $280 Invested (-6%)

? MONTH x MONTH RECORD

July 2021: $309.18 for $300 (+3%)
June 2021: $324.38 for $300 (+8%)

NOTE: June was the first full-month of the new-look Daily Mail, in which The Watchdog has a $10 daily spend.

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