Maryborough Race 4

Aldebaran Park Trot

Stake: $7,200

POPPY POPSTAR (4) has been very consistent and added to a string of top-three finishes when second here last start. Draws wider but came from a similar barrier to this in winning her previous two outings so is tough to knock. DEEP LOVE NZ (5) placed from the back line at Kilmore two starts ago then had this barrier when fourth here last start. Looks suited going up to a distance where he has recorded a win and a placing in two attempts. GATESYS MATE (7) draws wide but must be considered after top-three finishes in his last three outings, highlighted by a win at Cranbourne. THE CHOOK (1) is first up for 12 weeks but has won fresh before. Gets the ace draw so can open this campaign with a positive effort.

Distance: 2190m
Class: NR 47 to 51
Track: Good
Weather: FINE
Surface: All Weather

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The Chook (Fr1) 008433730x
Trainer: T J Fellows (Junortoun)
Driver: Alex Ashwood
Prize Money: $77,100
Win / Place: 13% / 43%

Driver Flying

8 yo Bay Mare

Sire: LIFE SIGN (USA)

Dam: MY CLASSICAL BELL (NZ)

Owners: T J Fellows

Rating

Stats

Career

82: 11-10-15

Distance

59: 9-7-9

Trk/Dst

17: 2-1-4

Track

20: 2-2-5

Season

12: 1-1-4

1st Up

7: 1-1-2

2nd Up

7: 1-2-1

3rd Up

7: 1-0-2

Mobile

76: 11-10-13

Standing

6: 0-0-2

All-Weather

82: 11-10-15

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:59.60

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

46: 6-6-10

Driver Last 50

50: 12-5-7

Comments

Returns from the paddock. Previously first up won by 1.3 m (Sr3) at this track (2:47.70) beating Black And Gold in on October 26 at $4. Draws for a good return.

Expected Settling Position: Leader

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
10th of 10	25/3/26	Bendigo	2150m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr1	Alex Ashwood	2:42.10	2:01.3	12.75L	$3.00f	9	NR up to 49	$4,800	$144	1. Jackies Gift 2. Jessicas Story 3. Always Skye High
3rd of 10	16/3/26	Maryborough	1690m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr7	Alex Ashwood	2:05.40	1:59.4	1.78L	$14	12	NR 45 to 50	$4,800	$498	1. Blackrange Glory 2. Midnite Muscle 3. The Chook
7th of 11	4/3/26	Bendigo	2150m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr1	Alex Ashwood	2:42.10	2:01.3	4.24L	$19	21	NR 48 to 52	$7,200	$168	1. Noble Count NZ 2. Just Abit Dusty 3. Dels Destiny NZ
3rd of 9	11/2/26	Maryborough	2190m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr4	Jordan Leedham	2:51.10	2:05.7	2.30L	$7.50	14	NR up to 50	$7,200	$720	1. Fremarks Peggy 2. Manda Kyvalley 3. The Chook
3rd of 10	28/1/26	Maryborough	2190m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr5	Alex Ashwood	2:47.00	2:02.7	1.56L	$3.60	7	NR up to 49	$4,800	$498	1. Black And Gold 2. Fremarks Peggy 3. The Chook
4th of 8	21/1/26	Bendigo	2150m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr5	Alex Ashwood	2:41.50	2:00.9	2.64L	$7.00	17	NR up to 50	$7,200	$360	1. Waikare Adrienna 2. Fremarks Peggy 3. Hold That Magic

Apex (Fr2) 6476589x47
Trainer: John Hurrell (Percydale)
Driver: Jackie Barker
Prize Money: $56,424
Win / Place: 10% / 39%

Driver / Horse Combo

7 yo Brown/Black Gelding

Sire: BETTING LINE (USA)

Dam: DIAMOND ROCK (AUS)

Owners: J B Hurrell

Rating

Stats

Career

73: 8-12-9

Distance

39: 7-5-6

Trk/Dst

6: 1-0-2

Track

10: 1-1-2

Season

14: 0-0-1

1st Up

6: 0-1-0

2nd Up

6: 0-1-1

3rd Up

5: 0-1-1

Mobile

60: 5-10-6

Standing

13: 3-2-3

All-Weather

73: 8-12-9

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

2:02.70

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

9: 4-2-0

Driver Last 50

50: 5-7-9

Gear Changes

[Hutton Headcheck ON, Buxton ON, Halter/Headcollar ON, Hutton headcheck OFF]

Comments

Didn't do much at the last run, 7th (Fr4) over 2180m after showing early pace at Kilmore, beaten 13 m by Sammy Haller (2:50.00) on May 21 at $19. Before that 4th (Sr2) over 1690m at this track, at the bell was 4th-6.5 beaten 12 m by Ai Sedhai (2:06.10) on May 11 at $14. Not keen on his chances in this line-up.

Expected Settling Position: Pace

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
7th of 10	21/5/26	Kilmore	2180m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr4	Ewa Justice	2:50.00	2:05.5	4.94L	$19	10	NR 47 to 51	$7,200	$168	1. Sammy Haller 2. Shaq The Anvil 3. Deep Love NZ
4th of 9	11/5/26	Maryborough	1690m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr2	Kerryn Manning	2:06.10	2:00.1	4.76L	$14	147	NR up to 50	$7,200	$360	1. Ai Sedhai 2. Midnite Muscle 3. Bettor Man
147 Day Spell
9th of 12	15/12/25	Maryborough	2190m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr1	Ewa Justice	2:43.90	2:00.5	17.62L	$9.00	11	NR 49 to 53	$7,200	$168	1. Stately Salome 2. Bar Tab 3. Charlies Tactics
8th of 12	4/12/25	Ballarat	2200m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr2	Ewa Justice	2:42.50	1:58.9	8.62L	$21	14	NR up to 50	$7,200	$168	1. Abbie 2. Waikare Adrienna 3. Piesridingshotgun
5th of 12	20/11/25	Ballarat	2200m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr1	Ewa Justice	2:45.10	2:00.8	3.72L	$41	9	NR up to 55	$7,200	$216	1. Fling It Rainbow 2. Abbie 3. Oopzee Daizee
6th of 8	11/11/25	Echuca	2160m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr2	Reagan Clarke	2:47.50	2:04.8	5.24L	$8.00	9	NR up to 49	$4,800	$144	1. Coconut Mickey 2. Betsy Anne 3. Madge Egan

Poppy Popstar (Fr3) 7112223112
Trainer: T M McNamara (Wedderburn)
Driver: James Herbertson
Prize Money: $74,802
Win / Place: 11% / 35%

Driver In Form

7 yo Bay Mare

Sire: DANNY BOUCHEA (AUS)

Dam: WINDSOR BLOCK (AUS)

Owners: J Mcnamara, T M Mcnamara

100

Rating

Stats

Career

107: 12-10-16

Distance

48: 8-3-6

Trk/Dst

19: 3-0-3

Track

37: 5-4-4

Season

28: 7-6-2

1st Up

3: 0-0-0

2nd Up

2: 0-1-1

3rd Up

2: 0-0-0

Mobile

92: 12-10-13

Standing

15: 0-0-3

All-Weather

107: 12-10-16

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:58.40

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

21: 6-5-3

Driver Last 50

50: 6-13-7

Comments

Last start solid effort when 2nd (Fr2) over 1690m after showing early pace at this track, beaten 8 m by Artigas (2:03.50) on May 31 at $6.50. Two runs back won by 25 m as favourite after showing early speed, (Fr5) at Horsham (2:48.80) beating Champagnes in on May 25 at $1.25 at the bell was leading 6.4. Strong claims.

Expected Settling Position: Leader

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
2nd of 9	31/5/26	Maryborough	1690m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr2	James Herbertson	2:03.50	1:57.6	2.97L	$6.50	6	NR 46 to 51	$7,200	$1,080	1. Artigas 2. Poppy Popstar 3. Im Eddie
1st of 7	25/5/26	Horsham	2200m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr5	James Herbertson	2:48.80	2:03.5	9.85L	$1.25f	12	NR up to 45	$4,800	$2,400	1. Poppy Popstar 2. Champagnes 3. Lady Suspicious
1st of 6	13/5/26	Bendigo	1650m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr4	James Herbertson	2:01.40	1:58.4	5.20L	$1.25f	7	NR 43 to 47	$4,800	$2,400	1. Poppy Popstar 2. Allwatfunjingles 3. Giggle Water
3rd of 12	6/5/26	Bendigo	1650m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr3	James Herbertson	2:02.30	1:59.3	2.83L	$2.10f	14	NR up to 45	$4,800	$498	1. Montana Muscle 2. Jessicas Story 3. Poppy Popstar
2nd of 10	22/4/26	Bendigo	1650m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr1	Jack Laugher	2:02.60	1:59.5	0.59L	$4.80	14	NR up to 45	$4,800	$768	1. Montana Muscle 2. Poppy Popstar 3. Louieville Lass
2nd of 8	8/4/26	Bendigo	2150m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr1	James Herbertson	2:40.40	2:00.0	1.78L	$1.50f	9	NR 42 to 47	$4,800	$768	1. Kyvalley Anthony 2. Poppy Popstar 3. Thats Your Opinion

Deep Love Nz (Fr4) 361144834
Trainer: Brent Lilley (Bolinda)
Driver: Chris Alford
Prize Money: $16,682
Win / Place: 22% / 44%

3 yo Brown Gelding

Sire: WHAT THE HILL (CAN)

Dam: SOMEBODY TO LOVE (NZ)

Owners: R J Paterson, L A Paterson

Rating

Driver/Horse

4: 1-0-1

Driver Last 50

50: 8-3-7

Comments

Last start was driven from back in the field when 4th (Fr5) over 1690m after showing early speed at this track beaten 14 m by Artigas (2:03.50) on May 31 at $6.50. Before that, a good run when 3rd (Sr3) over 2180m at Kilmore, beaten 2.5 m by Sammy Haller (2:50.00) on May 21 at $2.40. Likely to play a major role.

Expected Settling Position: Leader

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
4th of 9	31/5/26	Maryborough	1690m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr5	Chris Alford	2:03.50	1:57.6	5.50L	$6.50	10	NR 46 to 51	$7,200	$360	1. Artigas 2. Poppy Popstar 3. Im Eddie
3rd of 10	21/5/26	Kilmore	2180m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr3	Chris Alford	2:50.00	2:05.5	0.89L	$2.40f	14	NR 47 to 51	$7,200	$720	1. Sammy Haller 2. Shaq The Anvil 3. Deep Love NZ
3rd of 9	12/5/26	Melton	2240m			-	Chris Alford	2:49.60	-	1.75L	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Verbici 2. Aldebaran Ada 3. Deep Love NZ
8th of 8	7/5/26	Kilmore	1690m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr3	Chris Alford	2:06.10	2:00.1	21.86L	$2.50f	40	NR 50 to 55	$7,200	$168	1. Bullapark Beno 2. Piesridingshotgun 3. Dels Destiny NZ
40 Day Freshen-Up
2nd of 6	28/4/26	Melton	1720m			-	John Caldow	2:11.90	-	1.64L	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. The Preacher 2. Deep Love NZ 3. Fritsch
4th of 10	28/3/26	Bathurst	1730m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr5	Cameron Hart	2:06.40	1:57.6	5.46L	$3.30f	8	No NR	$72,000	$4,320	1. Notanotha Naughty 2. Gladiatrix 3. Im Havintotrot

Victree Vic (Fr5) 006x516
Trainer: David Miles (Monegeetta)
Driver: David Miles
Prize Money: $7,776
Win / Place: 16% / 16%

4 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: VOLSTEAD (USA)

Dam: SWEET PRETENSE (NZ)

Owners: J A Slater, I M Slater, C J Slater, M J Driscoll, F R Clarke, E M Clarke

Rating

Driver/Horse

6: 1-0-0

Driver Last 50

50: 9-3-5

Comments

Failed to impress last start; 6th (Sr1) over 1690m at Shepparton, beaten 25 m by Little Miss Valley (2:09.10) on June 2 at $6.50. Showed ability the outing before when he won by 3 m as favourite (Fr2) at Kilmore (2:07.90) beating Gym Queen in 4yo+ on May 7 at $2. In the mix.

Expected Settling Position: Off Pace

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
2nd of 2	11/6/26	Shepparton	2190m			-	David Miles	3:01.70	-	0.07L	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Mason Jolie 2. Victree Vic 3.
6th of 7	2/6/26	Shepparton	1690m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr1	David Miles	2:09.10	2:02.9	10.15L	$6.50	26	0-1 WIN	$7,200	$168	1. Little Miss Valley 2. Walkin Understarz 3. Money Talks
1st of 8	7/5/26	Kilmore	1690m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr2	David Miles	2:07.90	2:01.8	1.12L	$2.00f	9	MAIDEN	$7,200	$3,984	1. Victree Vic 2. Gym Queen 3. Desert Royale
5th of 6	28/4/26	Shepparton	2190m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr2	David Miles	2:51.70	2:06.1	16.32L	$2.15f	215	MAIDEN	$7,200	$216	1. Farstar 2. Miss Kommunication 3. Gym Queen
215 Day Spell
1st of 6	21/4/26	Melton	2240m			-	David Miles	2:52.20	-	0.59L	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Victree Vic 2. Lovenus 3. Watts Up The Hill
5th of 5	7/4/26	Melton	2240m			-	David Miles	2:53.80	-	37.92L	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. With Aplomb 2. Bar Tab 3. Gym Queen

Gatesys Mate (Fr6) 97x9x76213
Trainer: Rodney Petroff (Lancefield)
Driver: Rodney Petroff
Prize Money: $14,544
Win / Place: 13% / 40%

6 yo Brown Gelding

Sire: PEAK DNK (AUS)

Dam: GATESYS GIRL (AUS)

Owners: J L Petroff

Rating

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

2:00.60

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

15: 2-2-2

Driver Last 50

50: 4-9-5

Comments

Last start solid effort when 3rd (Sr1) over 1690m at Kilmore was 6th-10.89 at the bell, beaten 2.25 m by Te Amo (2:10.30) on June 4 at $31. Two runs back tracked on the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 3.5 m (Fr4) at Cranbourne (2:00.60) beating Whats The Tea in on April 19 at $5 at the bell was 3rd-7. Draws wide but with luck he is capable of taking this out.

Expected Settling Position: Pace

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
3rd of 10	4/6/26	Kilmore	1690m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr1	Rodney Petroff	2:10.30	2:04.1	0.82L	$31	46	NR 48 to 53	$7,200	$720	1. Te Amo 2. Deejay Dex 3. Gatesys Mate
46 Day Freshen-Up
1st of 6	19/4/26	Cranbourne	1609m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr4	Rodney Petroff	2:00.60	2:00.6	1.38L	$5.00	9	NR up to 49	$4,800	$2,400	1. Gatesys Mate 2. Whats The Tea 3. Fling It Rainbow
2nd of 8	10/4/26	Melton	2240m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr3	Rodney Petroff	2:51.90	2:03.5	3.23L	$26	9	0-1 WIN	$7,200	$1,080	1. Charlies Tactics 2. Gatesys Mate 3. Aldebaran Jazmine
6th of 7	1/4/26	Bendigo	1650m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr6	Rodney Petroff	2:02.70	1:59.7	4.01L	$9.50	15	0-1 WIN	$7,200	$168	1. Woman To Love 2. Sammy Haller 3. Butlers Wharf
7th of 12	17/3/26	Shepparton	2190m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr2	Rodney Petroff	2:44.60	2:00.9	11.49L	$31	523	0-1 WIN	$7,200	$168	1. I Am Harro 2. Shinelikethesun 3. Jilliby Topgun
523 Day Spell
3rd of 6	5/3/26	Shepparton	2190m			-	Rodney Petroff	2:51.60	-	2.60L	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Pastor Dunbar 2. Banos 3. Gatesys Mate

Race Review Abbreviations

Brk: Broke, Blkd: Blocked or held up, 1 x 1: One-out, one-back, Prkd: Parked, 3bk otr: 3 back on the outer, 3bk inr: 3 back on the inside, two horses behind the leader, trld: Trailed, Gt spd: Showed gate speed, 3wd: 3-wide postd: Caught wide without cover, Held up: Held up, no gaps or few gaps: If they don't see any clear air in the straight, Inr-mid-wd -position: On the inside, mid = 1-off, wd = 3-wide or wider, flew hm wd: Flew home wide, dashd inr: Sprinted well on the inside, Chkd: Checked, Slow: Slow away at the start, Wltd: Wilted or got tired, Fdd: Faded late, Urgd: driver asking horse for extra effort

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