The Meadows will host many of the fastest canine athletes in the land on Wednesday in what promises to be an electrifying edition of the Group 3 Speed Star.

Beginning at 5.59pm, Races 7, 8 and 9 will be staged as four head-to-head match races over 725m, 600m and 525m, with form expert The Watchdog especially excited about the middle distance series, rating it as the ‘Must Watch’ race of the day and with good reason.

The Watchdog has identified the key matches being Zac’s Entity, which has started only twice, taking on series favourite Collinda Patty, which broke Sandown’s 595m course at her last start, and Mepunga Warrior (3 from 4 Trk/Dst) clashing with Gypsy Wyong (3 from 3 Trk/Dst).

The headline act in the 525m series is Aston Rupee (2 from 5 Trk/Dst – 29.47sec PB), which is chasing back-to-back Speed Star titles after being victorious at Sandown Park in June.

Aston Rupee will duel with Weblec Blazer (29.65sec PB), while the match-up between last start G3 Cranbourne Classic winner Lala Kiwi (29.84sec PB) and two-time G1 winner Tiggerlong Tonk (29.74sec PB) promises to be a ripper.

Jeff Britton has the two leading fancies in the 725m event in the exciting Mepunga Ruby and recently-crowned State National Distance champion Hank The Hustler.

While the spotlight will be shining on The Meadows, there’ll also be plenty of talent on display at Ballarat with in-form National Draft graduate Untapped (7 from 23 – 3 of past 4 – 3 from 4 Trk/Dst) the testing material in the Enduro 545m final.

Other prominent Ballarat contenders include G1 finalist Burn Time (19 wins – 4 from 8 Box 8), with the talented stayer resuming over 660m, while Fantastic Raven (4 of past 5) is striving to continue her impressive form since relocating to Victoria.

Here’s an extensive analysis of today’s Must Watch Race, and be sure to scroll down further for ? The Watchdog’s $10 spend…

Every Speed Star match:

⏱ 5.59pm ? The Meadows ? 725m: Mepunga Ruby ? Major Sacrifice

⏱ 6.10pm ? The Meadows ? 725m: Five Star ? Empress Tears

⏱ 6.21pm ? The Meadows ? 725m: Knicks Bale ? Drako Bale

⏱ 6.33pm ? The Meadows ? 725m: Rock On Jimmy ? Hank The Hustler

⏱ 6.44pm ? The Meadows ? 725m: Captain Dynamite ? Fernando Frank

⏱ 6.53pm ? The Meadows ? 725m: Run Like Jess ? Shadow Mist

⏱ 7.01pm ? The Meadows ? 725m: Zac’s Entity ? Collinda Patty

⏱ 7.13pm ? The Meadows ? 725m: Mepunga Warrior ? Gypsy Wyong

⏱ 7.23pm ? The Meadows ? 725m: Chop Scotch ? Paddy Wants Pats

⏱ 7.32pm ? The Meadows ? 725m: Lala Kiwi ? Tiggerlong Tonk

⏱ 7.42pm ? The Meadows ? 725m: Aston Rupee ? Weblec Blazer

⏱ 7.52pm ? The Meadows ? 725m: Aston Cade ? Qwara Bale

? MUST-WATCH RACE: Group 3 Speed Star 600m (Matches 1 -4)

ZAC’S ENTITY ? COLLINDA PATTY

MEPUNGA WARRIOR ? GYPSY WYONG

? The Meadows ? Race 8 ? 600m ⏱ 6:44pm

 Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/699905018/race/8

The Watchdog says ?: The three Speed Star events are stacked, and this is one of the best instalments to date. The ZAC’S ENTITY (5) and COLLINDA PATTY (6) match up is the one I can’t wait to see. ‘Zac’ burst onto the scene with a breathtaking 29.25sec debut win at Sandown Park and had reportedly trialled even faster before making his debut He followed that up with a scorching 34.18sec trial here and his run home time was just remarkable. He is going to have his work cut out trying to reel in the trailblazing COLLINDA PATTY (6), however I can’t wait to see what he does when he makes the step up to 700m. ‘Patty’ is the favourite for the overall market and it’s hard not to pick her after her eye popping 33.56sec track record run at Sandown last time out. She went through the first marker in a sizzling 9.02sec and a similar performance today would see her cross early and set up a big break in the middle stages, and a sub 34 seconds run could be on the cards. The final matchup is another cracking event with MEPUNGA WARRIOR (7) expected to lead and GYPSY WYONG (8) having the last shot at him. I have always been a big fan of the ‘Warrior’ and he has simply gone to another level in his past three sub 34.30sec wins here. ‘Gypsy’ has won five of her past seven and is unbeaten in three tries over this track/distance. She has proven she can lead or come from off the pace, so it should be an enthralling battle throughout.

Selections:  6 – 7 – 5 – 8

? THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT ?
? Wednesday 25 August

? $4 Multi

First ?: HEAD TO HEAD – MEPUNGA RUBY
? Meadows ? Race 7 – Matchup 1? 725m ⏱ 5:59pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.22 (head to head market)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/699905018/race/7

 Second ?: HEAD TO HEAD – FIVE STAR
? Meadows ? Race 7 – Matchup 2 ? 725m ⏱ 6:10pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.50 (head to head market)
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/699905018/race/7

 Third ?: HEAD TO HEAD – FERNANDO FRANK
? Meadows ? Race 8 – Matchup 1 ? 600m ⏱ 6:44pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.14 (head to head market)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/699905018/race/8

 Fourth ?: HEAD TO HEAD – RUN LIKE JESS
? Meadows ? Race 8 – Matchup 2 ? 600m ⏱ 6:53pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.14 (head to head market)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/699905018/race/8

The Watchdog says ? : MEPUNGA RUBY (1) is airborne at present and she should lead throughout in her heat. FIVE STAR (3) is proven over this distance range and he will be suited to this format, EMPRESS TEARS (4) will lead him up, but with pressure being applied mid race, she may fold in the closing stages. FERNANDO FRANK (2) is racing in great style and should be leading from go to whoa and RUN LIKE JESS (3) should do the same in his heat.

Multi price: $2.60

? $2 Multi

First ?: HEAD TO HEAD – KNICKS BALE
? Meadows ? Race 7 – Matchup 3 ? 725m ⏱ 6:21pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.85 (head to head market)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/699905018/race/7

Second ?: HEAD TO HEAD – PADDY WANTS PATS
? Meadows ? Race 9 – Matchup 1 ? 525m ⏱ 7:23pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.80 (head to head market)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/699905018/race/9

Third ?: HEAD TO HEAD – LALA KIWI
? Meadows ? Race 9 – Matchup 2 ? 525m ⏱ 7:32pm
TAB fixed odds: $2.25 (head to head market)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/699905018/race/9

The Watchdog says ? : This is the wide multi for today. KNICKS BALE (5) should be able to hold DRAKO BALE (6) out in the initial stages and should be able to out grind him in the run home. PADDY WANTS PATS (2) should sit outside CHOP SCOTCH (1) for most of the journey and he should be a little too strong in the closing stages. I’m a big fan of LALA KIWI (3) and she has really gone to the next level in recent weeks, She takes on the champ TIGGERLONG TONK (4), but I think they can go stride for stride in the initial stages and she may be able to take advantage when he moves wide through the bend. There won’t be much in it late, but I think she represents some value.

Multi price: $7.49

? $4 Multi

First ?: HEAD TO HEAD – FERNANDO FRANK
? Meadows ? Race 8 – Matchup 1 ? 600m ⏱ 6:44pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.14 (head to head market)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/699905018/race/8

Second ?: HEAD TO HEAD – COLLINDA PATTY
? Meadows ? Race 8 – Matchup 3 ? 600m ⏱ 7:01pm     ***Includes Must Watch Race***
TAB fixed odds: $1.30 (head to head market)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/699905018/race/8

Third ?: HEAD TO HEAD – MEPUNGA WARRIOR
? Meadows ? Race 8 – Matchup 4 ? 600m ⏱ 7:13pm     ***Includes Must Watch Race***
TAB fixed odds: $1.75 (head to head market)
Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/699905018/race/8

The Watchdog says ? : FERNANDO FRANK (2) is the anchor of the day; he should be leading throughout in his heat. COLLINDA PATTY (6) takes on a good one in ZAC’S ENTITY (5), however she did break the 595m Sandown Park track record last time and if she steps on terms, she can make every post a winner. MEPUNGA WARRIOR (7) should be able to hold GYPSY WYONG (8) out at the first bend and that should be the difference.

Multi price: $2.59

? RECENT $10 INVESTMENTS ?

Tuesday 24 August: $0 return (-100%)
Monday 23 August: $9.60 return (-4%)
Sunday 22 August: $23.30 (133%)
Saturday 21 August: $8.40 (-16%)
Friday 20 August: $0 (-100%)
Thursday 19 August: $8.40 (-16%)
Wednesday 18 August: $16.28 (+63%)

Past 7 days: $65.98 for $70 invested (-6%)
Past 14 days: $100.16 for $140 Invested (-28%)
Past 28 days: $238.58 for $280 Invested (-15%)

? 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.

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