Trent’s Tips – Saturday Harness Racing Preview 14th February

The Hunter Cup and Great Southern Star are the main attractions for Saturday’s harness racing action at Melton.

One of the biggest harness races of the year is here with the Group 1 AG Hunter Cup over 2760m. Last year’s winner Swayzee is back, and the placegetters from that, Leap To Fame and Republican Party, are also set to tackle the race. Leap To Fame won the race in 2024.

The trotters compete in heats of the Great Southern Star and then race again just hours later in the Group 1 Great Southern Star Final. Keayang Zahara is the dominant trotter in the series and the format could test the champion mare.

Support races on the program include the Group 1 Queen Of The Pacific, Group 3 4YO Bonanza, Listed 3YO Classic and Listed Mercury80 over 1200m.

Menangle has an outstanding 3YO race with the Listed Simpson Memorial featuring unbeaten colt Hollywood Strip clashing with Vicbred Super Series Final winner Soho Trump.

Northam will run the Listed Northam Pacing Cup, a standing start event over 2560m.

 

Saturday Harness Racing Preview February 14

 

Melton

Race 2

The first heat of the Great Southern Star (1720m) and it will come as no shock that KEAYANG ZAHARA (5) goes on top. First three get an automatic spot in the final so there’s no reason for early leader ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (4) to hold out the favourite. Will hand straight over and look to run second or third to make the final.

JILLIBY BALLERINI (10) could test stablemate KEAYANG ZAHARA (5) if the barriers had been reversed and will try and make one run in order to make the final. Last year’s winner WATTS UP PARTYTIME (9) has place claims.

Selections: 5-10-4-9

Trifecta: 5 / 4,9,10 / 4,9,10

 

Race 3

The second heat of the Great Southern Star (1720m) looks more competitive with ARCEE PHOENIX (2) trying to find the front. There is gate speed drawn outside him which makes the race interesting.

JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (5) finished second to Jilliby Ballerini last start in the Group 2 Kilmore Trotters Cup (2180m) and had won five-straight prior to that. She is going to be a serious player in the trotting ranks over the next 12 months and she can be dangerous if she can find a suitable trip throughout. Will put her on top just from ARCEE PHOENIX (2). Outside of the pair, IM BOBBY (8) is the other key winning hope and ALRIGHTY (3) has smaller claims. Could entertain him at a price in this.

Selections: 5-2-8-3

JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (5) to win

 

Race 4

The Group 3 4YO Bonanza (1720m) looks a terrific race on paper and due to the competitiveness, it won’t be easy narrowing this down to find the winner. There is good gate speed on the front line and I am not sure who the leader will be.

FORTY LOVE (10) is racing in excellent form and will be hoping some on the front line put some speed into the event. He has finished in the top three at his past eight runs, including three victories in that time. His placing in the Group 1 Ballarat Pacing Cup (2710m) was excellent and last start’s third in the Group 3 4YO & 5YO Championship (2080m) was really good also.

MY ULTIMATE BARNEY (9) has four-straight top two runs, including one win in that time, and should be running home strongly from the back row. SEATHESTARS (7) has a shocking draw first-up but has lots of speed. SOHO GUNSLINGER (2) and HESITATE (11) are right in the mix too. Great race, so sit back and enjoy.

Selections: 10-9-11-7

FORTY LOVE (10) to win

 

Race 5

The Listed Caduceus 3YO Classic (1720m) is another terrific race and a good lead-up before the big race itself. Luke McCarthy drives FUGITIVE NZ (5) who notched his first Australian win at Menangle when things almost didn’t pan out. He had excellent New Zealand form and looks to have a stack of upside.

EYENEEDTHAT (2) was carving out strong sectionals throughout the Vicbred Super Series, including a second to Moonlight Moth four starts ago in 1:54.5. Should have the gate speed to cross the inside horse and then trail QUATRO MOTH (3) or FUGITIVE NZ (5). The former has won all three career starts for trainer Emma Stewart who dominates the juvenile ranks in Victoria.

CO CAPTAIN (8) and BROOKLYN DAN (9) are also in the mix as this race has some nice depth to it.

Selections: 5-2-3-9

EYENEEDTHAT (2) each way

 

Race 6

The Group 1 Hunter Cup (2760m) is the perfect finale to HRV’s Summer of Glory as we see some heavyweights of the industry compete. WAR DAN BUDDY (4) can let rip when asked early and looks a huge chance to cross early before taking a trail on one of the favourites.

LEAP TO FAME (6) is chasing a $1 million bonus if he can win the Hunter Cup and his form is exceptional as you would expect. He has won his past three starts – the Ballarat Pacing Cup (2710m), Cranbourne Pacing Cup (2555m) and Kilmore Pacing Cup (2180m). He is either going to find the front from a horse such as WAR DAN BUDDY (4) or will race in the breeze outside of his half-brother SWAYZEE (2).

Speaking of SWAYZEE (2), driver Cam Hart knows he needs to keep the Jason Grimson-trained champion ahead of LEAP TO FAME (6). Either of those two leading, and they immediately have the advantage in the run. Should be another thrilling clash between the pair.

KINGMAN NZ (10) hasn’t had an ideal prep, with long float trips, and then a truck fire on the way to the Cranbourne Cup. The five-year-old can be forgiven for his defeat in the Cranbourne Cup as we don’t know the extent of the truck fire on the mindset of the star pacer. He has a poor draw to contend with here and sometimes that can be a blessing in disguise as more fancied rivals pick each other apart in the run. He will likely come with one run three-wide just as he did to win the New Zealand Trotting Cup (3200m).

Place claims for New Zealand visitor REPUBLICAN PARTY NZ (1) but I can’t see how he turns the tables on the bigger names here.

Selections: 6-2-10-4

LEAP TO FAME (6) to win

 

Race 7

The Group 1 Queen Of The Pacific (2760m) looks to be at the mercy of CAPTAINS MISTRESS NZ (7) who can lead and prove hard to catch. She is obliterating good fields, and 18 seems to be her favourite number right now – all three Australian victories since joining Jason Grimson have come by 18m. Don’t think she wins by as far this time, but it is hard seeing how she gets beat.

Stablemate TOKYO ROSE NZ (6) has been brilliant too. If you took the favourite away, I would be very keen on this mare to get the job done here, but not confident enough to back her against the stablemate.

Place hopes to LUX AETERNA (8), STENO (9) and EYE KEEP SMILING (10).

Selections: 7-6-10-8

Exacta: 7 / 6

Trifecta: 7 / 6,8,10 / 6,8,9,10

 

Race 9

This will be short and sweet, HI MANAMEISJEFF NZ (8) should win this Mercury80 1200m race. He was brilliant winning the Group 2 Sunshine Sprint (1660m) last year in 1:49.3 and most recently, proved too good for Don Hugo in 1:49.3 at Menangle.

Not keen on the race from a betting standpoint so happy to just see the favourite record a 25th victory.

Selections: 8-4-5-6

No Tip

 

Menangle

Race 7

The much-anticipated return of Brad Hewitt’s HOLLYWOOD STRIP (6), the winner of all five career starts, including NSW Breeders Challenge 2YO Colts & Geldings Final (1609m) in 1:50.6. He recently had a 1:54.8 trial around Goulburn and whatever he does in the Listed Simpson Memorial (1609m), he will only get better following the run. He must be some risk of being beaten at his return and around $1.95 on offer is probably a little thin at this stage of the campaign.

SOHO TRUMP (2) has won three of his four starts and the Michael Stanley-trained colt was last seen in November capturing the Group 2 Vicbred Super Series 2YO Colts & Geldings Final (2240m). He looks the most likely leader in the race.

Outside of that duo, SHOWMETHETANLINES NZ (9) has won four from six, including a 1:51.5 victory in the Listed Tatlow Stakes (1609m), and ZEUS LIGHTNING NZ (7) is a former Kiwi having his first Australian run. Trialled superbly against SOHO TRUMP (2) as they rated 1:50.7.

Selections: 2-6-9-7

SOHO TRUMP (2) to win

 

Northam

Race 5

The Listed Northam Pacing Cup (2560m) looks an interesting race on paper with the class runner MAUNGATAHI (12) coming off a 40m handicap. He was a winner off the 40m at Gloucester Park last start when making a three-wide run. The race was run to suit which helped his cause but it was still a terrific effort to reel in the leader who came off the front line.

MY LITTLE BIG MAN NZ (6) comes off the front line and has been racing really well, winning two of his past five starts and was third behind Star Casino two starts ago in a Pinjarra stand – that winner has since won a FFA at Gloucester Park. Hoping to get an each-way price in the Cup.

Both Chris Voak horses OUR VINNIE (9) and NORTHVIEW DANCE NZ (10) could win from their 10m handicaps, while ECLIPSE LINE (2), DOURADO (4) and MY COPY NZ (8) aren’t without hopes either. The handicaps make this a great race.

Selections: 6-12-10-8

MY LITTLE BIG MAN NZ (6) each way

 

For complete Saturday night harness racing fields, click here.

by Trent Orwin for Harnesslink