Punty's Live Updates
LIVE🏁 Ballarat pace read (6 in): Had a look at the runs so far and we're tracking nicely. No bias, no dramas — the speed maps are doing their job. Fire away for the last 2 🔥
🏁 Ballarat track read: Closers running riot — 3/4 from behind. Back-runners to follow: Colour Our World (R5 $4.00), Terrortorian (R8 $4.00), Breathless Spirit (R5 $4.40), High Tempo (R5 $5.00) 📡
Meeting Stats
Punty's Early Mail
For all of Punty's tips for Ballarat, head to https://punty.ai/tips/ballarat-2026-05-24
Rightio Loose Units, Ballarat's serving up a Soft 5 with the rail out 6m, a bit of drizzle about the place and a tailwind up the straight, so this card has got that sneaky "look easy on paper, punch you in the nose at the business end" vibe. The maidens are a mix of crawl-and-sprint dramas and proper map races, and once we get into the back half of the card it turns into one of those meetings where the smart money has to know when to stand up and when to sit on its hands.
MEET SNAPSHOT
Track: Ballarat, 1000m-2024m card
Rail: Out 6m Entire Circuit
Official going: Soft 5 (expected to play fair early, with closers getting a late sniff)
Weather: Shower or two, 12°C, humidity 79%, wind 22km/h NNE (watch for gusts and a possible late squall)
Early lane guess: On-pace and handy runners should get first crack; late tailwind helps anything swooping wide
Tempo profile: A couple of crawlers early, then genuine speed in the middle races and a proper chaos finish to the day
Jockeys to follow:
Billy Egan — keeps popping up on the right sort of map horses and gets a few live rides across the card
Declan Bates — plenty of chances with runners that can sit the first four or five and punch late
John Allen — if the money is following him, it usually means the stable means business
Stables to respect:
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes (7 runners) — plenty of ammunition and a few well-backed types scattered through the meeting
Henry Dwyer (4 runners) — has a couple with the right setup, and the market keeps sniffing around them
T & C McEvoy (3 runners) — not here to muck about, especially where the map and class line up
Punty's take: Ballarat's the sort of joint that can make a good punter look brilliant and a mug punter look like they've been hit with a shovel. The rail being out and the wind helping late means the backmarkers aren't dead, but if the tempo dawdles in the sprints, the horses sitting handy can absolutely pinch a break and make the swoopers do all the chasing. That's why the early races are map races, not talent contests.
Race 1 is a baby sprint where the money has already had a big old sniff around Aston, Mountjoy and Strength Within, but the model still wants to play it safe around the placings rather than go rogue. Race 2 looks more honest on pace, so the handy types get their shot, while Race 3 and 4 are your classic "short favourite looks right, but don't die on the hill if one of the others bobs up" maidens. Once we hit Race 5, it turns into a proper pub debate: hot speed, a few in-form types and enough pressure up front to make the race collapse or explode depending on who blinks first.
From Race 6 onward, the card gets very much into "who gets the right run?" territory. That's where the place side starts doing the heavy lifting, because these are the races where one bad step, one held-up run, one awkward sit and you're cooked. The straight and the wind are enough to keep you interested in the closers, but this isn't a day to get too cute with every roughie just because they're paying lipstick. If the map doesn't back it, leave it in the pocket and let someone else wear the licks.
What it means for you: Keep the bravery for the races where the map gives you a clear path, not the ones where you're praying for three miracles and a bloke in the grandstand to drop his pie. Early on, lean on place plays and let the hot favourites carry the load where they look solid. In the open handicaps, don't be afraid to say "no thanks" to a skinny favourite if the race shape has got its number.
The quaddie and Big 6 are fun, but on a card like this they're more beer-money than mortgage-buster. The best way through is to bank the clear shapes, widen only where the race is a proper dog's breakfast, and not let the shiny market moves bully you into backing a horse just because the bagman has been busy. Place bets are the groove today, and if a roughie lands, it needs a genuine road map to get there, not wishful thinking and a scarf full of hope.
PUNTY'S BIG 3 + MULTI
These are the three bets the day leans on.
1 - Best Terms (Race 3, No.1) — $1.60
Why Looks the class of the maiden, keeps finding the line, and from the map he gets every chance to control it without burning too much petrol.
2 - Baltic Blizzard (Race 4, No.1) — $1.75
Why Resumes with the right sort of race shape, has the runs on the board, and if he settles close enough this looks his to lose.
3 - Our Wynd Chymes (Race 7, No.5) — $4.10
Why Debut win was all class, the map looks kind, and if the straight speed duel gets messy he's the one who can sit handy and finish it off.
Multi (all three to win): $10 × ~11.48 = ~$114.80 collect
Race 1 – The Baby Dash
Race type: Maiden Plate, 1000m
Map & tempo: Slow pace; if they dawdle, the handy runners get first use of that tailwind up the straight
Punty read: This is a crawl-and-sprint sort of opener where the map matters more than heroics. Nicctini has drifted but still lands in the right spot for a place play, Aston and Mountjoy have been absolutely napped by the market, and the roughie Victimised needs the race to fall apart to get involved. Sezzle is the backmarker who'd love an honest tempo, but this looks more like a picnic than a war.
Top 3 + Roughie ($11.00 pool)
1. Nicctini (No.15) — $4.00 / $1.70
Bet $5.50 Place, return $9.35
Prob 15.8% | Place: 56.2% | Value: 0.86x
Why The drift is a concern, but the form of the race says handy enough to stick around, and in a slow-run maiden that can be worth more than a flashy on-pacer.
2. Aston (No.1) — $4.70 / $1.95
Bet $4.00 Place, return $7.80
Prob 14.6% | Place: 52.9% | Value: 0.86x
Why He's been smashed in betting for a reason and maps to get a nice enough run without having to cart the field around like a pack horse.
3. Mountjoy (No.9) — $4.08 / $1.75
Bet $1.50 Place, return $2.62
Prob 14.5% | Place: 52.7% | Value: 0.86x
Why Massive market push says someone likes him, and if he's not left with too much work early he should be right in the photo.
Roughie: Victimised (No.13) — $9.35 / $3.00
Bet Tracked
Prob 9.7% | Place: 37.5% | Value: 1.14x
Why Can bob up if the tempo gets messy and the leaders overdo it, but this is a nibble-not-a-smash kind of roughie.
Race 2 – The Speed Burn
Race type: Maiden Plate, 1000m
Map & tempo: Genuine pace; there's enough pressure here to make the leaders work and give the on-pacers something to chase
Punty read: Proper speed map race. Light Filled and Hegely should be right there banging on the door, Havana Moon's got the market respect but might have to do a bit of work, and Immortal Truth is the roughie who can stalk the speed and make a late claim if the front end goes too hard. Pico Bella has been backed like the mail's been delivered, but the model's not falling in love with the setup.
Top 3 + Roughie ($23.00 pool)
1. Light Filled (No.9) — $4.90 / $1.80
Bet $15.50 Place, return $27.90
Prob 19.4% | Place: 68.7% | Value: 0.99x
Why Maps to be in the right part of the race and should get every chance if the leaders take each other on early.
2. Hegely (No.7) — $4.35 / $1.65
Bet $5.50 Place, return $9.07
Prob 17.0% | Place: 62.6% | Value: 1.02x
Why Barrier helps, the map suits, and this isn't the kind of maiden where you want to be giving away too much ground.
3. Havana Moon (No.6) — $3.33 / $1.37
Bet $2.00 Place, return $2.74
Prob 16.8% | Place: 61.9% | Value: 0.94x
Why The market's had a nibble the wrong way, but if John Allen gets this horse rolling in the right rhythm he'll be right in the finish.
Roughie: Immortal Truth (No.8) — $13.25 / $3.40
Bet Tracked
Prob 7.9% | Place: 33.1% | Value: 1.70x
Why Needs the hot tempo to turn into a proper setup, but if that happens he's the one sweeping down the outside like a late Marvel cameo.
Race 3 – The Maiden Waltz
Race type: Maiden Plate, 1500m
Map & tempo: Slow pace; the leaders get first go and the rest need luck or a serious turn of foot
Punty read: Best Terms is the obvious boss of the race and the one they'll have to catch, but the crawl means one bad ride can open the door for something else. Le Beau Gosse is the clear danger, Tourello is the improver with the gear switch, and Popeye is the sort of roughie who only gets a slice if the race turns into a sit-and-sprint dogfight.
Top 3 + Roughie ($25.00 pool)
1. Best Terms (No.1) — $1.60 / $1.14
Bet $15.00 Win, return $24.00
Prob 42.5% | Place: 80.0% | Value: 0.85x
Why Straight up class act in the maiden, and if he holds a spot near the speed, they may as well start packing the float.
2. Le Beau Gosse (No.2) — $2.66 / $1.25
Bet Tracked
Prob 27.9% | Place: 63.4% | Value: 0.98x
Why Honest as the day is long and keeps finding the line, so he's the obvious one to keep Best Terms honest if the favourite gets a touch brave.
3. Tourello (No.5) — $12.00 / $3.50
Bet Tracked
Prob 9.2% | Place: 23.9% | Value: 1.53x
Why Gear changes can sharpen these types right up, and if he improves off the new setup he's the one who can poke through late.
Roughie: Popeye (No.3) — $14.50 / $3.90
Bet Tracked
Prob 7.4% | Place: 19.3% | Value: 1.31x
Why Has to lift, but if the race turns ugly and the leaders overcook it, he can sneak into the minor money.
Race 4 – The Soft-Track Grinder
Race type: Maiden Plate, 1400m
Map & tempo: Slow pace; handy horses get the jump and the tailwind gives the swoopers a late look
Punty read: Baltic Blizzard looks the one they've all got to run down, Cumulate is the honest on-pacer who keeps showing up, and Faith In Zadar has been crying out for a cleaner run after the market forgot him a bit. Wings Of Love is the roughie with a bit of room to improve, but this still looks like a race where the top few should dominate.
Top 3 + Roughie ($9.50 pool)
1. Baltic Blizzard (No.1) — $1.75 / $1.13
Bet $3.00 Win, return $5.25
Prob 36.0% | Place: 84.0% | Value: 0.80x
Why Resumes with a proper engine under him and the map says he gets the first crack at dictating terms.
2. Cumulate (No.2) — $5.95 / $1.70
Bet $5.00 Place, return $8.50
Prob 17.5% | Place: 60.8% | Value: 0.87x
Why Honest map horse who's been knocking on the door, and in a slowly run maiden that's half the battle.
3. Faith In Zadar (No.3) — $6.80 / $1.95
Bet $1.50 Place, return $2.92
Prob 12.9% | Place: 48.6% | Value: 1.09x
Why The drift is the only worry, but the underlying form says he's not far away if he gets the right cart into the race.
Roughie: Wings Of Love (No.10) — $9.90 / $2.30
Bet Tracked
Prob 8.4% | Place: 33.8% | Value: 1.14x
Why Needs a touch more luck than the top few, but if they slacken in front he can run on into the trifecta frame.
Race 5 – The Chaos Cup
Race type: Benchmark 66, 2024m
Map & tempo: Hot pace; the front end looks set to light itself on fire and that brings the swoopers into the picture
Punty read: This is where the card gets spicy. High Tempo's got the right map for a race like this, Staunch is the sort of honest grinder who can pick up the pieces, and Colour Our World is the one who could look a million bucks if the leaders start throwing haymakers. Whisky Moon is the blowout for the brave, but this is more about timing the collapse than trying to predict a parade.
Top 3 + Roughie ($10.50 pool)
1. High Tempo (No.10) — $5.40 / $2.15
Bet $10.50 Each Way ($5.25W + $5.25P), return $28.35 (wins) / $11.29 (places)
Prob 12.2% | Place: 37.8% | Value: 0.84x
Why Hot speed suits, the map is right, and if he gets a clean run he can be the one still punching when the others are gasping.
2. Staunch (No.4) — $10.40 / $3.30
Bet Tracked
Prob 10.3% | Place: 32.7% | Value: 1.37x
Why Hard fit and tough enough to absorb pressure, so if the leaders turn it into a flogging he's the sort to keep coming.
3. Colour Our World (No.7) — $4.15 / $1.70
Bet Tracked
Prob 9.8% | Place: 31.5% | Value: 0.52x
Why The market has been sniffing around, but the price says you're already paying for the good opinion.
Roughie: Whisky Moon (No.5) — $20.25 / $4.80
Bet Tracked
Prob 9.8% | Place: 31.4% | Value: 2.54x
Why If the front half melts down and this bloke gets a nice tow into it, he's the one who can blow the place divvy sky high.
Race 6 – The Handicap Horror Show
Race type: Benchmark 62, 1200m
Map & tempo: Moderate pace; enough pressure to sort the pretenders but not enough to guarantee the swoopers a free ride
Punty read: Bella Pietra gets the right sort of map and the stable has one rolling, Zoulette is the value saver with the right setup, and Barari is the short one the market has already chewed on to the point of exhaustion. Buzitup and Ville De Lumiere are the ones that can make life awkward if they get the right run, but the model's happy to sit on Bella and let the others sort themselves out.
Top 3 + Roughie ($10.50 pool)
1. Bella Pietra (No.11) — $7.80 / $2.75
Bet $10.50 Each Way ($5.25W + $5.25P), return $40.95 (wins) / $14.44 (places)
Prob 11.6% | Place: 35.7% | Value: 1.18x
Why Right sort of map, right sort of stable vibe, and the fresh gear look says they're trying to get the most out of her.
2. Zoulette (No.5) — $11.75 / $3.70
Bet Tracked
Prob 11.1% | Place: 34.4% | Value: 1.70x
Why Gets a lovely enough run from the draw and has the sort of profile that can make a liar out of the market if things line up.
3. Barari (No.8) — $3.55 / $1.65
Bet Tracked
Prob 9.2% | Place: 29.3% | Value: 0.43x
Why The market's already all over it, but the price is skinny and the race doesn't look clean enough to go in hard.
Roughie: Icy Pole (No.3) — $16.25 / $4.60
Bet Tracked
Prob 7.3% | Place: 23.9% | Value: 1.55x
Why If the tempo gets a bit wonky and the leaders start copping pressure, he's the one who can lob late and make a nuisance of himself.
Race 7 – The 1000m Punch-Up
Race type: Benchmark 62, 1000m
Map & tempo: Moderate pace; leaders on paper, but the pressure could shift fast and make this a proper split-second race
Punty read: Our Wynd Chymes is the sexy one on the map, Done Leavy is the honest front-half runner who keeps turning up, and Mistifyzou is the roughie with the sort of price that can make a grown man grin like he's just nicked the boss's parking spot. Pacific Glamour has had the market love, but the model's not just following the cash for the sake of it.
Top 3 + Roughie ($21.00 pool)
1. Our Wynd Chymes (No.5) — $4.10 / $1.55
Bet $9.00 Each Way ($4.50W + $4.50P), return $18.45 (wins) / $6.98 (places)
Prob 20.6% | Place: 68.2% | Value: 1.09x
Why Debut win said plenty, the tongue tie might sharpen him up, and the map should keep him in the firing line.
2. Done Leavy (No.9) — $4.75 / $1.70
Bet Tracked
Prob 11.6% | Place: 44.2% | Value: 0.71x
Why Honest sprinter who keeps finding a way to be in the finish, even when the market isn't shouting his name.
3. Mistifyzou (No.14) — $18.25 / $3.90
Bet $3.00 Place, return $11.70
Prob 11.5% | Place: 43.9% | Value: 2.72x
Why Big price, but if the top end overcooks it he can swoop late and make the exotics look smart.
Roughie: Shamateur (No.6) — $22.75 / $4.80
Bet Tracked
Prob 9.4% | Place: 36.7% | Value: 2.76x
Why First-up with the winkers on can spark a rise, but this is the sort of sprint where one bad step and you're done.
Race 8 – Late Card Lunacy
Race type: Benchmark 62, 1500m
Map & tempo: Moderate pace; there are pace horses, but not enough certainty to make this a straightforward puzzle
Punty read: This is the race where the pen gets put down and the coffee gets a second look. Compressing and Eishaa have the right sort of profile, License To Excite is handy enough, but the market's done a proper late-card tug-of-war and the model's telling us to watch rather than force it. Way Up High is the roughie with a bit of gear tinkering, but this is a no-such-thing-as-a-free-lunch race and the best play might be to keep your wallet zipped.
Top 3 + Roughie ($0.00 pool)
1. Compressing (No.4) — $10.90 / $3.30
Bet $15.00 Each Way ($7.50W + $7.50P), return $81.75 (wins) / $24.75 (places)
Prob 12.7% | Place: 39.9% | Value: 1.80x
Why Resumes with enough ability and the market has respected him, but the price still asks a fair question.
2. Eishaa (No.6) — $10.40 / $3.20
Bet Tracked
Prob 12.4% | Place: 39.0% | Value: 1.68x
Why Has the right sort of closing profile, but the race shape doesn't scream "must-bet" with the way the market's moved.
3. License To Excite (No.9) — $4.95 / $1.95
Bet Tracked
Prob 10.7% | Place: 34.6% | Value: 0.69x
Why Honest enough, but the price has sucked all the juice out of the orange.
Roughie: Way Up High (No.13) — $22.25 / $5.00
Bet Tracked
Prob 6.4% | Place: 23.6% | Value: 1.86x
Why If the blinkers tweak does the trick and the race falls apart in front, he can sneak into the finish at a nasty price.
SEQUENCE LANES — SINGLE OPTIMISED TICKET
EARLY QUADDIE (Races 1-4)
Smart: 15, 1, 9, 13, 7 / 9, 7, 6, 12, 11 / 1, 2, 5 / 1, 2, 3, 10 (300 combos x $0.17 = $50) — 17% flexi
Two open legs up front keep it honest, then the two clearer maidens tighten the screws. Balanced enough for a nibble, but still a proper sweat if one of the slow races gets messy.
QUADDIE (Races 5-8)
Smart: 10, 4, 7, 5 / 11, 5, 8, 4 / 5, 9, 14, 8 / 4, 6, 9, 10 (256 combos x $0.27 = $69) — 31% flexi
Four open legs, four chances to get mugged. This is wide, lively and more entertainment than certainty, so don't pretend it's a banker just because you've got a schooner in your hand.
BIG 6 (Races 3-8)
Smart: 1 / 1 / 10 / 11 / 5 / 4 (1 combos x $2.00 = $2) — 200% flexi
Skinny as a rake with the early favourites doing the heavy lifting. Great for a bit of fun, but if one of the open legs spits the dummy, you're cooked.
NUGGETS FROM THE TRACK
1 - Tailwind turbo on the straight
That NNE breeze up the straight is no joke. It helps the closers get home, but only if the tempo's strong enough to let them build momentum. If they crawl, the handy types can still pinch it.
2 - The market is shouting, but not always wisely
Aston, Mountjoy, High Tempo, Buzitup and a few others have been hammered, but Ballarat has a habit of making the market eat humble pie when the map doesn't line up. Back the setup, not just the noise.
3 - The late races are where the trench warfare starts
Races 6 to 8 are full of horses with a case, but not many with a clean enough lane to the line. That's where place betting and disciplined no-bets do the real work, while the brave degenerates can have the crack at the roughies.
THE DEGEN DEN
Bit of a card for the thinkers, this one — not the blokes who fling darts at the screen and hope for a miracle. Keep your head, back the horses with a map, and don't let the last race convince you you're a genius if the card's already had a chew on your wallet. Gamble Responsibly.
Punty's Wrap-Up
The Wrap Ballarat - Handy horses had the juice
Ballarat played like a proper map day, not a day for dreamers hanging out the back and praying for a miracle. Baltic Blizzard, High Tempo, Mountjoy, Hegely, Havana Moon and a few other handy types kept the lights on, while the deep swoopers mostly needed a cigarette and a miracle by the time they got their crack. The big headline: position mattered more than heroics, and the shorties were a mixed bag rather than a free hit.
It wasn’t a full bloodbath, but it sure as shit wasn’t a card that handed out easy hugs either. We found a few winners, got clipped by a couple of skinny ones, and the back end of the day was all about clean runs and timing rather than raw ability. Proper battler’s meeting, that one.
How It Unfolded
The day started almost exactly how the map suggested it would: handy runners got first use, the leaders weren’t under savage heat in every race, and the horses sitting in the first four or five had the jump on the rest. In the early maidens, if you were midfield-back and needed a dozen things to go right, you were already on the ropes before the home bend.
By the back half, the track stayed fair enough, but it never turned into some magical swooper highway. A few closers got their look late, but only the ones with a genuine run and a bit of class could finish it off. That confirmed the original read: Ballarat wanted horses in the right spot first, then the ones who could sustain it when the pressure went on.
The Scoreboard
Winners (Straight-Out)
- R1 Mountjoy — $1.50 place @ $2.20 → +$1.80
- R2 Hegely — $5.50 place @ $1.65 → +$2.75
- R2 Havana Moon — $2.00 place @ $1.10 → +$0.20
- R4 Baltic Blizzard — $3.00 win @ $1.50 → +$1.50
- R4 Cumulate — $5.00 place @ $1.90 → +$4.50
- R4 Faith In Zadar — $1.50 place @ $1.30 → +$0.45
- R5 High Tempo — $10.50 each way @ $2.40 place leg → +$2.10
Big 3 Multi Result
Missed. Best Terms in Race 3 got rolled by Le Beau Gosse, Baltic Blizzard in Race 4 did his bit, and Our Wynd Chymes in Race 7 ran second — close, but not close enough to keep the ticket alive.
Race by Race — How'd We Go?
- R1: Nicctini — 5th, never really got the crawl-and-sprint shape he wanted and the better-positioned runners got first lick.
- R2: Light Filled — 4th, had enough speed to be in the race but not enough punch when the heat went on.
- R3: Best Terms — 2nd, got taken on a proper sit-and-sprint and Le Beau Gosse nailed him late after the dawdle.
- R4: Baltic Blizzard — won, right map, right run, did the job like the class horse he was supposed to be.
- R5: High Tempo — 2nd, had the right setup but Breathless Spirit proved the tougher bastard in the grind.
- R6: Bella Pietra — no return, never really got into the race and the market faith didn’t translate on the day.
- R7: Our Wynd Chymes — 2nd, honest as they come but Bear Champ had the better dash when it counted.
- R8: Compressing — 4th, never found the launch pad and the better-timed horses got over the top.
What We Learned — The Factors That Mattered
Map and position were the story of the day, full stop. On a Soft 5 with the rail out and a bit of breeze up the straight, you still didn’t want to be doing all the donkey work from the back unless you had the right tempo to collapse into. The horses that sat handy and saved ground were the ones getting the best of it, which is why Baltic Blizzard, Hegely, Havana Moon, Mountjoy and High Tempo all had a crack at the cheque.
Class still mattered, but it wasn’t a magic shield. Best Terms looked the right sort of horse in Race 3, but when the race turned into a chess match instead of a stamina test, Le Beau Gosse got the jump on him. Same story late with Compressing in Race 8 — nice enough profile, but if you’re relying on a bloke else to make the race for you, you’re at the mercy of the tempo and the ride.
The market was useful without being gospel. It got a few right — Baltic Blizzard and Barari were there for a reason — but some of the shorties were too skinny for the return, especially when the race shape wasn’t perfect. Best Terms and Compressing were the sort of runners people love to talk themselves into at the pub, but Ballarat made them earn every inch.
The factor that defined the day was positioning. If you were in the first half of the run with a clean lane, you were in business; if you were buried, needing luck, or waiting on a tempo melt, you were basically asking for a Brad Pitt-in-Fury miracle. Next time Ballarat turns up Soft with the rail out and a bit of rain around, keep backing the horses that can park handy, travel sweetly and kick off that spot. Don’t get seduced by the pretty swooper unless the speed map is screaming collapse.
Track Read — How The Map Played Out
The map held up well early and stayed pretty honest through the middle. Leaders and handy runners got their chance to dictate, and in the sprint races especially, the horses close to the speed were the ones controlling the story rather than chasing it. That’s why the likes of Mountjoy, Hegely and High Tempo were able to hang around the action, while the backmarkers were left praying for a steam train that never quite arrived.
Late in the day, the track didn’t suddenly flip to one lane or become a dead set outside highway — it was more a case of horses needing to be in the right spot and then quickening properly. A couple of closers did run on, but the day never fully abandoned the on-pace brigade. So the original read was basically confirmed: Ballarat wanted map horses first, class horses second, and miracle swoops third.
Quick Hits (Race-by-Race)
- R1: Mountjoy ($2.20) — BANG Place +$1.80; Nicctini ran 5th and never got the right rhythm.
- R2: Hegely ($1.65) — BANG Place +$2.75, Havana Moon ($1.10) — BANG Place +$0.20; Light Filled ran 4th.
- R3: Best Terms ran 2nd — got mugged by Le Beau Gosse after the crawl.
- R4: Baltic Blizzard ($1.50) — BANG Win +$1.50, Cumulate ($1.90) — BANG Place +$4.50, Faith In Zadar ($1.30) — BANG Place +$0.45.
- R5: High Tempo ($2.40) — BANG Each Way +$2.10; just missed and gave us a proper squeeze.
- R6: Bella Pietra no return — never landed a blow, while Barari won the race.
- R7: Our Wynd Chymes ran 2nd — honest run, but not enough to save the each-way.
- R8: Compressing ran 4th — never got the right tow into it.
Not a disaster, not a triumph — just a gritty old day where the map mattered more than the sermon. We banked a few, got clipped by a few, and learned that Ballarat in this setup wants you sitting handy and travelling sweetly, not hanging back like you’re waiting for a Marvel post-credits scene.
We go again next week with the same rule: back the shape, not the dream. And if the market tries to mug you with a skinny one that’s got no map, tell it to piss off and keep your powder dry.
Gamble Responsibly.