Middle-distance stars get their opportunity to secure a berth in the $75,000 to-the-winner Group 1 Hume Cup final (600m) with six great heats taking place at The Meadows tonight.

The fifth heat is extremely open as The Watchdog’s selection, multiple Group finalist Mepunga Warrior (3 from 5 Trk/Dst), faces fellow Group finalists Zipping Alabama, Highly Explosive (9 from 23) and Jarick Bale (2 of last 4).

G1 Sandown Cup champion Zipping Rambo (19 from 40 – 34.16sec PB) is against Zipping Ontario (4 of last 6) and Aston Amigo (9 from 19 – 3 from 4 Box 8) in the first heat.

Group finalists Paddy Wants Pats (2 of last 3), Bobby The Brute (2 of last 4 – G1 placed), Fernando Frank (4 of last 5) and Aston Ulysses (34.12sec PB) clash in the second heat.

G1 Rookie Rebel winner Fernando Cazz (34.04sec PB) battles G3 placegetter Knicks Bale and King Of Calypso in the third heat, while dual G1 placegetter Tyler Durden v Untapped v G3 runner-up Bounce Back (2 of last 3 – 5 from 11 Box 5) v G2 finalist Drako Bale highlight the fourth heat.

G3 winner Gypsy Wyong (12 from 22 – 6 from 7 Box 2) faces G1 finalists Persian Goddess (3 of last 6) and Midnight Flash, plus G3 runner-up Enter The Son and Zipping Virginia (3 of last 6), in the sixth heat.

G2 Sydney Cup winner Miss Ezmae (13 from 20 – 3 from 4 Box 5) v G3 placegetter Zac’s Entity (won last 2) is an amazing start to the meeting, while G2 winner Jungle Deuce (16 from 27) lines up against track specialist Javi (4 from 7 Box 2) and One Night Only.

At Geelong this evening, Aston Bel Air and the promising Shake And Treble (3 from 6) are both expected to prevail according to The Watchdog.

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: Hume Cup Heat 5

ZIPPING ALABAMA ? MEPUNGA WARRIOR ? HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE ? JARICK BALE

? The Meadows ? Race 8 ? 600m ⏱ 8:58pm

Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539100/race/8

The Watchdog says ?: It’s going to be a cracking series and this heat features two of the ‘big guns’ in MEPUNGA WARRIOR (2) and JARICK BALE (8). I give the edge to the ‘Warrior’ based on the box draw and his reliability. He has turned in some monster performances in recent months and in August he recorded three devastating wins on the spin over this track and distance. With the lack of early speed from ZIPPING ALABAMA (1), he should have no trouble finding the rail soon after box rise, and he should get a nice sit on likely leader ASTON LAVINIA (3) for most of the journey. The last 200m is where he does his best work, so if he is within three lengths of the leader, he should be too strong in the run home. The gifted JARICK BALE (8) has been impressive since resuming from a spell and if he can get through the first turn unscathed, he can make a big impact. He has not had a lot of luck in his three tries over this journey, but he has obliterated the clock at Sandown Park over this distance range and he has a good record from this draw. The first 50m will be crucial and he will need to step, however even if he does slightly miss away, MT. VIEW EMMA (7) may give him a nice cart across. HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE (4) is another star chaser and she is going to be well fancied by punters, however she has drawn awkwardly again and with pace on either side, she may get crowded in the initial stages. It should be a keenly contested affair and it would not surprise me if the winner of the Group 1 final on November 1 came out of this heat.

Selections:  2 – 3 – 8 – 1

? THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT ?
? Saturday 23 October

? $2 Multi

First ?: Win – ZAC’S ENTITY
? The Meadows ? Race 1 ? Box 7 ? 725m ⏱ 6:35pm
TAB fixed odds: $2 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539100/race/1

Second ?: Place – KANJI HEIGHT
? The Meadows ? Race 11 ? Box 2 ? 525m ⏱ 10:00pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.75 Place
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539100/race/11

Third ?: Place – TRENDING QUARTER
? The Meadows ? Race 12 ? Box 7 ? 525m ⏱ 10:23pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.95 Place
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539100/race/12

The Watchdog says ? : ZAC’S ENTITY (7) will have a great battle with star Sydneysider MISS EZMAE (5), however with the smaller line-up, both should gain a clear passage and ‘Zac’ should have a clear edge late. KANJI HEIGHT (2) is far better than his form indicates, and he does his best racing here, so with AMERICANO MISS (1) expected to lead, he should be able to follow her through at the bend and figure in the finish. TRENDING QUARTER (7) returned to the winners list here on Wednesday and he should have enough pace to cross and lead at the bend and a top three finish looks likely.

Multi price: $6.82

? $4 Win – MEPUNGA WARRIOR
? The Meadows ? Race 8 ? Box 2 ? 600m ⏱ 8:58pm     ? Must Watch Race ?
TAB fixed odds: $2.80 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539100/race/8

The Watchdog says ? : He has turned in some amazing performances in recent months and he looks perfectly drawn tonight. New South Wales visitor ZIPPING ALABAMA (1) possesses very little early speed, so he should have no trouble clearing her early and with ASTON LAVINIA (3) expected to spear the lids and lead, he should be able to settle on the heels of the leader in a very threatening position. He has the ability to go sub 34.20sec and although he takes on star chasers HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE (4) and JARICK BALE (8), he should have too much mid-race brilliance.

? $4 Win – GYPSY WYONG
? The Meadows ? Race 9 ? Box 2 ? 600m ⏱ 9:17pm
TAB fixed odds: $2.50 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666539100/race/9

The Watchdog says ? : She is one of the most versatile chasers in the game and she is expected to fire after three weeks off. Her most recent racing has been over 700m and beyond, however she has won three-of-four over this track and distance and with the freshen up, she is expected to show a little more early speed tonight. PERSIAN GODDESS (1) should pounce on the lead and give ‘Gypsy’ a nice run through and if she can be within three lengths of her mid race, she should prove too strong in the run home.

? RECENT $10 INVESTMENTS ?

Friday 22 October: $25.24 (+152%)
Thursday 21 October: $0 (-100%)
Wednesday 20 October: $0 (-100%)
Tuesday 19 October: $0 (-100%)
Monday 18 October: $15.40 (+54%)
Sunday 17 October: $19.55 (+96%)
Saturday 16 October: $10.20 (+2%)

Past 7 days: $70.39 for $70 invested (Even)
Past 14 days: $139.47 for $140 invested (Even)
Past 28 days: $258.11 for $280 invested (-8%)

? MONTH x MONTH RECORD

September 2021: $220.69 for $300 (-26%)
August 2021: $262.63 for $310 (-15%)
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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