Do you like your Jack’s ‘smart’ or handsome’? That’s the ‘sixty-four-dollar question’ at Ballarat tonight.

Speed machines Smart As Jack (18 from 45 – 3 from 6 Box 1) v Trending Air (6 from 29) v Rocket Boy (26 from 51 – 4 of past 5) v Handsome Jack (13 from 46 – 5 of past 8) face-off in what’s sure to be an enthralling contest.

And ‘smart’ – plus self-confessed ‘handsome’ – The Watchdog is tipping a ‘Jack’ 1-2.

Ironically, Smart As Jack (2^nd – Victorian Straight Track Championship) and Handsome Jack (Healesville Derby finalist) are better known for their exploits up the straight.

Short-course fliers Aston Minerva (9 from 21 – 3 of past 6) v Aubameyang (12 from 36 – 4 from 7 Box 6) should also be a thrilling affair, while the ultra-promising Mohawk Mork (3 from 5 – 2 from 2 Trk/Dst) is resuming.

Meanwhile, at Cranbourne tonight, G1 Maturity Classic runner-up Fernando Mick (9 from 34) looks head and shoulders above his rivals.

He was a last start second to Ultimate Avenger in the Simon Benson Memorial on G3 Warragul St Leger night and hasn’t finished out of the money at his past eight starts.

And, at The Meadows today, Hardcore Vibes and Living The Lie – younger half-sisters of G1 Melbourne Cup hero Hard Style Rico – make their race debut.

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: A1 Signage Mixed 4/5

SMART AS JACK ? TRENDING AIR ? ROCKET BOY ? HANDSOME JACK

? Ballarat ? Race 7 ? 450m ⏱ 8:59pm

 Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538456/race/7

The Watchdog says ?: A cracking affair loaded with some brilliant beginners and quite a few chasers who can push the 25sec barrier. ROCKET BOY (7) is the best credentialled chaser and although he loves a wide draw, the fact there is so much pace drawn around him means he’s a slight risk. He’s been setting the provincial circuit alight and if things go his way in the initial stages, he should make a significant impact. However, he’s likely to be slightly under the odds. SMART AS JACK (1) has won three of six from this draw and been runner-up on the other three occasions and his recent straight track form has been off the charts. With a clean getaway, he should have enough pace to punch through and hold the early lead and he’s a different chaser when in the clear. HANDSOME JACK (8) is another racing with tremendous confidence and is a near-faultless beginner. He doesn’t have a lot of experience from this draw but has blistering pace once balanced and should outside the ‘red’ for most of the journey. TRENDING AIR (5) is the interesting runner as she’s always done her best racing here and has gone 6.50sec to the first marker. If she can repeat that, she’ll be right in it as they head into the bend and an cause an upset.

Selections:  1 – 8 – 7 – 5

? THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT ?
? Wednesday 11 August

? $3.50 Multi

First ?: Place – PALESA BALE
? Meadows ? Race 9 ? Box 5 ? 525m ⏱ 2:57pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.35 Place (top two finish required)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538455/race/9

Second ?: Place – SODA FIZZ
? Meadows ? Race 10 ? Box 1 ? 525m ⏱ 3:17pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.35 Place (top two finish required)
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538451/race/2

Third ?: Win – NICE AND EASY
? Sale ? Race 12 ? Box 1 ? 350m ⏱ 11:52am
TAB fixed odds: $1.75 Win
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/680721730/race/12

The Watchdog says ? : PALESA BALE (5) recently sizzled in a trial here and with the lack of early pace in this event, she should get a cheap lead and a top two finish is on the cards. SODA FIZZ (1) is a powerful type and drawn to get all the breaks. He comes into this nice and fresh, so he should show a little more early zip than normal. NICE AND EASY (1) has been racing well in stronger company and drawn to make every post a winner.

Multi price: $3.20

? $3 Quaddie – 6.25% (48 combinations)
? Ballarat ? Races 5 – 8 ⏱ 4:52pm           ***Includes Must Watch Race***
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538456/race/5

?: 1,3,4,6
? ?: 2,3,4,6
? ? ?: 1
? ? ? ?: 2,3,8

The Watchdog says ? : The first leg is quite open, so we’ve taken a couple of on-speed chasers and a few stronger types. The second leg features quite a bit of mixed form, so we’ve gone wide there also. SMART AS JACK (1) has the right draw and looks a good anchor in the third leg, while the last leg should be dominated by EL CAZADOR (2), ROYAL DEED (3) and UNTAPPED (8).

? $3.50 Multi

First ?: Win – FERNANDO MICK
? Cranbourne ? Race 8 ? Box 1 ? 520m ⏱ 9:09pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.33 Win
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538457/race/8

 Second ?: Place – EL CAZADOR
? Ballarat ? Race 8 ? Box 2 ? 545m ⏱ 9:18pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.40 Place
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538456/race/8

Third ?: Place – RAHIM BALE
? Ballarat ? Race 9 ? Box 4 ? 450m ⏱ 9:38pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.35 Place
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538456/race/9

The Watchdog says ? : FERNANDO MICK (1) is all class and should be winning for fun. EL CAZADOR (2) should get a nice run through behind the ‘red’ early and will be very strong in the run home, so a top three finish looks likely. RAHIM BALE (4) has been huge in three of his past four runs and with an ounce of luck early, he should figure prominently.

Multi price: $2.50

? RECENT $10 INVESTMENTS ?
Tuesday 10 August: $23.40 (+134%)
Monday 9 August: $0 (-100%)
Sunday 8 August: $20.43 (+104%)
Saturday 7 August: $0 (-100%)
Friday 6 August: $15.30 (+53%)
Thursday 5 August: $29.65 (+197%)
Wednesday 4 August: $8.65 (-14%)

Past 7 days: $97.43 for $70 invested (+39%)

Past 14 days: $138.42 for $140 Invested (-1%)

Past 28 days: $262.22 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.

*Please gamble responsibly