Friday night racing at Geelong will be headlined by two heats of the Winter Cup, with reigning G2 Geelong Cup champion Weblec Jet ‘taking off’ in pursuit of another feature event on his home track.

A member of the flying Jeff Britton kennel, Weblec Jet (13 from 37 – 2 from 2 Trk/Dst), won the Geelong Cup in brilliant fashion in April and is the testing material in the opening heat.

Form expert The Watchdog has identified the second heat as today’s ‘Must Watch’ race, with the key contenders G1 Sapphire Crown finalist Junk Food Junkie (16 wins) and Carry On Star (10 wins), along with Mepunga Reject (10 from 30) and Bobby The Brute (13 from 46).

Another event not to be missed is the Grade 5 final featuring recent G3 Warragul St. Leger finalist Hennessey (7 from 17 – 2 from 3 Box 3), the lightly-raced and promising Eat My Dust (5 from 10 – 2 from 3 Trk/Dst) and high class Immunity (16 from 24).

In addition to Immunity, champion trainer Jason Thompson has strong chances in In The Spotlight, an eye-catching winner on debut at Sale, and the in-form Louie Lou (8 from 15 – 3 of past 4).

There’s also great quality on display at Bendigo, with the ‘main event’ shaping as the duel between Made Me Blind (19 from 44 – 5 of past 6 – 4 from 6 Box 1) and evergreen veteran Run Baba Run (24 from 130 – 2 from 3 Trk/Dst).

Other key runners on the Bendigo card include G1 finalist Earn The Answers (12 from 36 – 4 from 6 Box 8) and prolific speedster Lots Of Chatter (27 from 75 – 4 of past 6).

At Sale, track specialist Omega Dodge (10 from 33 Trk/Dst – 3 from 6 Box 8) looks set to boost his impressive stats at his home venue.

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: Winter Cup Heat 2

JUNK FOOD JUNKIE ? CARRY ON STAR ? MEPUNGA REJECT ? BOBBY THE BRUTE

? Geelong ? Race 9 ? 520m ⏱ 9:44pm

Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538484/race/9

The Watchdog says ?: BOBBY THE BRUTE (7) has turned in some brilliant performances since resuming and he will appreciate the smaller line-up tonight. He has been placed in all three tries over this track/distance with one of those being runner up in the Group Two Geelong Gold Cup Final. With an abundance of early speed drawn inside, ‘Bobby’ should be able to drift across and get a nice sit in the early stages and be there to pounce as they turn for home. MEPUNGA REJECT (4) is the clear and obvious danger, he has won here previously in a sizzling 29.67sec and if he can reproduce his 5.39sec first section from Cranbourne last time out, he should be able to settle in the top two and that will allow him to figure in the finish. CARRY ON STAR (2) is far better than her form indicates, and she could be the value runner in the event. She sizzled in a trial here in July and after three luckless runs since, she will be looking to make amends. Her winning chances will rely on JUNK FOOD JUNKIE (1) being able to hold the top at the bend and if that occurs, she is a real live chance. The ‘red’ runner is another who is clearly better than her form indicates. She has always been competitive in races of this calibre and with a clean getaway tonight she may be able to regain some much needed confidence. It should be a keenly contested affair throughout, and next week’s final should be an absolute cracker.

Selections:  7 – 4 – 2 – 1

? THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT ?
? Friday 20 August

? $3 Multi

First ?: Place – ANOTHER VENDETTA
? Healesville ? Race 10 ? Box 8 ? 300m ⏱ 1:37pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.12 Place
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538485/race/10

Second ?: Win – DODD’S JOY
? Sale ? Race 3 ? Box 2 ? 440m ⏱ 7:31pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.35 Win
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538483/race/3

Third ?: Place – ASTON BEL AIR
? Sale ? Race 10 ? Box 7 ? 440m ⏱ 9:55pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.50 Place (Top two finish required)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538483/race/10

Fourth ?: Place – UNATHI BALE
? Geelong ? Race 12 ? Box 1 ? 400m ⏱ 10:42pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.50 Place (Top two finish required)
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538484/race/12

The Watchdog says ? : ANOTHER VENDETTA (8) is ideally drawn out wide and he was brilliant here last week, so a similar performance today can see him figure prominently again. DODD’S JOY (2) has been enormous since resuming and she looks the goods in tonight’s event. ASTON BEL AIR (7) will appreciate the smaller line-up. She is armed with blistering mid race pace, so with an ounce of luck in running she can finish in the top two. UNATHI BALE (1) has amazing acceleration once balanced and looks very suitably graded tonight, so with a clean getaway he should make a big impact.

Multi price: $3.40

? $3 Multi

First ?: Place – MICK’S KIMMY
? Geelong ? Race 2 ? Box 4 ? 680m ⏱ 7:28pm
TAB fixed odds: $2 Place (Top two finish required)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538484/race/2

Second ?: Place – WEBLEC JET
? Geelong ? Race 4 ? Box 2 ? 520m ⏱ 8:05pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.28 Place (Top two finish required)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538484/race/4

Third ?: Place – BOBBY THE BRUTE
? Geelong ? Race 9 ? Box 7 ? 520m ⏱ 9:44pm                    ***Must Watch Race***
TAB fixed odds: $1.70 Place (Top two finish required)
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538484/race/9

The Watchdog says ? : MICK’S KIMMY (4) has been impressive in three of her past four and she will appreciate the smaller line-up tonight. She can run all day, so with an ounce of luck in running, she can feature in the top two. WEBLEC JET (2) is the reigning Geelong Cup champ and he should be in the firing line throughout, whilst BOBBY THE BRUTE (7) should get a nice sit in the early stages, and he can run over the top in the closing stages.

Multi price: $4.34

? $4 Win – SANDY GEM
? Sale ? Race 6 ? Box 4 ? 440m ⏱ 8:39pm
TAB fixed odds: $2.00 Win
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538483/race/6

The Watchdog says ? : SANDY GEM (4) has always done his best racing here and he will find this easier than his most recent racing. With the empty draw on his outside, he should get every chance to balance up and assume control soon after box rise. If he finds the top, he should prove too classy in the run home.

? RECENT $10 INVESTMENTS ?
Thursday 19 August: $8.40 return (-16%)
Wednesday 18 August: $16.28 (+63)
Tuesday 17 August: $0 (-100%)
Monday 16 August: $29.38 (+194%)
Sunday 15 August: $0 (-100%)
Saturday 14 August: $0 (-100%)
Friday 13 August: $4.80 (-52%)

Past 7 days: $58.86 for $70 invested (-16%)

Past 14 days: $117.99 for $140 Invested (-16%)

Past 28 days: $226.67 for $280 Invested (-19%)

? 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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