Ballarat Women's Gift 120m

One of the highlights of the year is watching how the interstaters travel to trial against the Vics in a big one. They don't come much bigger than this weekend. It is also becoming increasingly difficult for tipsters to vote for who they think will win when some athletes scratch and some obviously enter on the day. Good luck with the tips anyway.

MADDIE COATES

Angela Byrt

Kayla Bunevicius

Sophie Taylor

Bridget Powell

Stephanie Mundy

Taylah Perry

Kate Jones


1st Perry
2nd Coates
3rd Taylor

Ballarat Final for Mine

Coates - Lucky not to suffer the same fate as Domaschenz at St Albans for mine. Will Final if not tied up with Nitro Aths

Payne - Fantastic performances in placing in all Womens Gift finals since her Bay win. Handy 0.5m lift puts her right in this one

Bunevicius - Legs will be going in all different directions going down the Ballarat Straight. Been absent from the Women's Events but usually goes at 100% May drop short for me though

Taylor - Loves chocolate but maybe not Ballarat Chocolates. Been running well in Open Gifts but won't win here for mine

Richards - Poker Faced athlete with loads of potential. Hasn't featured in a major Womens Final as yet but it would be interesting to see how she would handle the pressure in the last 20m. Maybe just a short track specialist or an Easter Bunny. Jury is out!

Perry - Looked very controlled at Wangaratta. Another ready to unleash and with a 0.5m lift looks about ready to pounce on another big win. A Pocket Rocket with a huge chance here.

Stevens - Another runner who will welcome the half metre lift. 10m now so primed for a much deserved Classic victory. If she is in front hitting the downhill they may not catch her.

Keating - Won Wang easing down and coming back 1.5m may not be enough to slow her down. Interstate Raider who looks very hard to beat again

Winner Keating
Second Stevens
Third Payne

Ballarat Women's 120m now gift has always been a quality female race. Since its inclusion in the program we have seen numerous girls take the big race on offer instead of the chook lotto that is Stawell. Now that Stawell has a very good purse it may be slightly different. Let's take a look.

Maddie Coates 2m 10% - Maddie would want a better showing that her last run where she seemed disinterested. The bigger prize may bring out her best. With Payne just in front we may see a gap widen before the long strides catch up. We need the quality athletes running each week however we also want to see them go hard. Final chance.

Sophie Taylor 5.25m 10% - Taylor is back to being a threat here. She has been skipping the women's events probably because she doesn't want to win a small one. Well Sophie, here is your big one. Will likely be chasing hard to get an outmarker and will need to hold off a fast finishing Payne and Coates. Final.

Stephanie Richards 6.75m 10% - Richards is another with gift form but no women race form as she simply does not run them. I must admit that I am totally confused by her lack of running, she could have won a race and got her mark back by now. Maybe she is waiting for Trinity Gift? I cannot put her in the final but I cannot discount her as her form over 102m is alright but no one knows her 113.25m form.

Kirsty Stevens 10m / Anna Pasquali 10.5m 12% - Both ladies here are a chance and it is a safe vote when they are together. Stevens is playing ducks and drakes. I said once before she has stepped out of her brother's shadow and is a very good athlete in her own right now but needs a big win to cement it in my books. Can she take out her partner in the voting is my question. Lots has been made of Pasquali's form, mark and ability over the recent weeks. She will run here and go close. I think she will place, I am just not sure which place on the podium she will fill.

Perry is another who will final and I like the look of.