Friday afternoon’s spotlight will be focused firmly on Cranbourne where three of the biggest names in the sport – Koblenz, Aston Fastnet and Qwara Bale – will headline the G3 Cranbourne Classic heats.

After taking all before him in a sensational 11-race winning streak, freakish speedster Koblenz (15 from 27 – 2 from 2 Box 8) has run second at 3 of his past 4 starts, including last Saturday’s G3 Warragul St Leger final.

He’ll feature in The Watchdog’s ‘Must Watch’ race, facing Plan Ahead (7 from 33), Lala Kiwi (9 from 23) and Mepunga Reject (10 from 29).

Koblenz’s Warragul St Leger conqueror Aston Fastnet (11 from 23) will be all the rage in heat two, having won his only start at his home track in a near-record 29.69sec.

The testing material in the third and final heat is ‘Queen’ Qwara Bale (19 from 33 – 2 from 3 Box 8), which also contested the Warragul St Leger decider, finishing fourth.

The dual G1 winner’s main threat could come from Hill Top Jack (13 from 32), which ran 4^th to Qwara Bale in the G1 Maturity Classic last month.

The Classic heats are the focus at Cranbourne but punters can whet their appetites earlier in the card in the Cranbourne Sprint final, where undefeated youngster Aston Geneve (3 from 3 Trk/Dst) will clash with in-form Coolant (13 from 21 – 8 of his past 10 – 5 from 10 Trk/Dst).

There’s also no shortage of class engaged at Geelong, where the ‘main event’ is a showdown between prolific Fortuna Bale (28 from 66 – 7 from 14 Box 1), Jason Thompson’s exciting NSW import Overshadowed (10 from 23 – 5 of past 7) and promising younsger Distinguish (5 from 8 – 3 from 3 Trk/Dst).

Other notable Geelong contenders include last start Warragul St Leger finalist Hennessey (7 from 16) and the classy Immunity (15 from 23 – 2 from 4 Box 2).

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: Cranbourne Classic Heat 1

PLAN AHEAD ? LALA KIWI ? MEPUNGA REJECT ? KOBLENZ

? Cranbourne ? Race 6 ? 520m ⏱ 5:04pm

Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538528/race/6

The Watchdog says ?: It’s going to be a cracking G3 Cranbourne Classic series and this heat features one of the pre-post favourites in the exciting KOBLENZ (8). He’s won a staggering 17 of 25 to date and since stepping up to the elite level, he’s turned in some mighty performances. Last time out he was runner-up in the G3 Warragul St Leger final and his performance was huge in the fact he worked overtime in the initial stages and after burning plenty of petrol, he still hit the line well. With his dynamic early speed, he should have no trouble crossing at the first bend and if he handles the track, he’ll go well under the 30sec barrier. PLAN AHEAD (2) has been racing in consistent style and looks perfectly drawn on the inside. He’ll get back early on; however, he does scrape the paint and will be very strong in the run home. He may have trouble winning the event, but he could be a good anchor in the exotics. LALA KIWI (6) has not fared well with the box draw but is a gifted chaser and if she steps on terms, she could make the favourite work hard for the entire journey. SHIMA BOLT (1) and MEPUNGA REJECT (7) round out the chances. Both are hit or miss early but possess a great turn of foot and with some luck in running, they could get into the money.

Selections:  8 – 2 – 6 – 1

? THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT ?
? Friday 13 August

? $3.50 Multi

First ?: Place – SKY FLIX
? Healesville ? Race 5 ? Box 6 ? 350m ⏱ 12:04pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.55 Place
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538462/race/5

Second ?: Win – TOYED
? Healesville ? Race 7 ? Box 8 ? 350m ⏱ 12:37pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.50 Win
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538462/race/7

Third ?: Win – IMMUNITY
? Geelong ? Race 7 ? Box 2 ? 460m ⏱ 9:05pm

TAB fixed odds: $1.30 Win
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538461/race/7

Fourth ?: Place – HELLO KEEN
? Horsham ? Race 12 ? Box 2 ? 410m ⏱ 10:35pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.35 Place (top two finish required)
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538524/race/12

The Watchdog says ? : SKY FLIX (6) returned from a long time off the scene with a handy performance here and will be much better for the run, so a top three finish looks likely. TOYED (8) is perfectly boxed out wide and is expected to make every post a winner. IMMUNITY (2) is a genuine star and should win with ease, while HELLO KEEN (2) has a serious motor and should go with the ‘red’ in the initial stages, and may prove too strong late. The top two finish option is just to be safe.

Multi price: $4.10

? $2 Place – ASTON PROFIT
? Cranbourne ? Race 4 ? Box 4 ? 525m ⏱ 4:14pm
TAB fixed odds: $2.40 Place (top two finish required)
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538528/race/4

The Watchdog says ? : She’s a near-faultless beginner, and has won three of four this track/distance. She meets a couple of good ones in ASTON GENEVE (2) and COOLANT (8); however, I think she has superior early speed and although she may get reeled in late, a top two finish looks likely at solid odds.

? $2 Quaddie – 4% (50 combinations)
? Cranbourne ? Races 5 – 8 ⏱ 4:42pm    ***Includes Must Watch Race***
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538528/race/5

?: 1,2
? ?: 8
? ? ?: 1,3,4,5,6
? ? ? ?: 3,5,6,7,8

The Watchdog says ? : The ‘Omega’ brothers appear well drawn in the first leg and I think the winner will come from one of them. KOBLENZ (8) is a ridiculous talent and should lead throughout. ASTON FASTNET (3) and QWARA BALE (8) are the big guns but well under the odds, so we’ve gone wider in those two legs.

? $2.50 Win – MEPUNGA GERTIE
? Geelong ? Race 11 ? Box 8 ? 460m ⏱ 10:28pm
TAB fixed odds: $3.30 Win
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538461/race/11

The Watchdog says ? : Her form doesn’t read that well, but she’s a highly talented chaser and I expect her to atone for her recent luckless runs. She normally possesses good early speed but can stay wide in her races. So, with an even getaway, she can head into the bend in the top two or three and can then assume control as they bunch underneath. She can carve out serious time when in the clear and this looks her race.

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