Australian Analyst – Melton Vicbred Super Series Preview 12th September
Race-by-race Melton Vicbred Super Series Finals night preview.
A huge night of harness racing at Melton on Saturday with Vicbred Super Series night taking centre stage with more than $1 million in prizemoney up for grabs.
Eight Group 1 feature races will be staged as the Vicbred Super Series Finals are run for the 2YO and 3YO pacers and trotters.
Our focus will almost be entirely on the Melton program which also features the Group 3 VHRC Caduceus Classic for the free for all pacers.
At Menangle, Captains Knock will be looking to win again as he faces the resuming Nyack who performed admirably in the Inter Dominion Championship series.
Melton (Saturday, September 12)
Race 1
FIGHTER COMMAND (3) was unbelievable as he demolished rivals in the FFA at Melton on August 22. Sitting back, Kerryn Manning came with one run and the Jess Tubbs-trained gelding let down with a devastating sprint to win by 9.1m from Catch A Wave who had set the pace. He ripped home in 53.3 seconds and looks a huge chance to find the lead here. He looks the best bet on the program.
BULLETPROOF BOY (10) led and was beaten at his latest start. It’s not the first time that has happened and I think he tends to race better when he has something to chase. He will sit back and come with one run unless Herby decides to move to the breeze. BETTER ECLIPSE (2) has smaller claims, while most of the field is probably running for a minor placing, with SIR JIMMY (9) likely to get a nice trailing run in the moving line.
Selections: 3-10-2-9
FIGHTER COMMAND (3) to win
Race 2
ENJOY LIFE (2) is one of six Emma Stewart-trained runners (one is emergency) and this colt tasted defeat for the first time in the semi-finals. He was huge in defeat, beaten just 2.9m after racing outside the leader in 1:55.0, including a 26.7 third quarter. He looks a strong chance to lead and should prove hard to beat whether leading or racing in the moving line.
LE CARDINAL (3) was visually impressive winning his semi final and his victory in the heat was incredible too. Barrier three could be a little tricky as I don’t know where he ends up, but I want to have something on him too with his powerful finishing burst. MOST EXCITING (1) will get a gun run from the inside draw and beat Enjoy Life last start. He has each-way claims, while MAJOR BLITZ (8) and THE NITESHIFT (9) must also be respected. CARDIGAN DAN (4) carves out good sectionals and wouldn’t be a shock winner either but needs things to go right from barrier four.
Selections: 2-3-1-9
ENJOY LIFE (2) to win & LE CARDINAL (3) to win
Race 3
LAKE COMO (2) ran past Auston in the semi-final with James Herbertson timing the run to perfection. The Jess Tubbs-trained gelding has won twice from four starts and both defeats came behind Cardigan Sniper who has been scratched from the event. Barrier two gives Herby plenty of options and this two-year-old has a stack of speed. He should be close to them in the run and can finish strongly as he chases Group 1 glory.
AUSTON (1) finished third behind Lake Como and probably needs to be saved longer for one, short sprint at the field. With barrier one, he should get a chance to either try and set the pace or trail a suitable rival and use the sprint lane to try and win. SOME HIGH (10) looks more talented than Auston, it’s just a matter of whether he will be forced to face the breeze at some stage. SOHO BELLAGIO (4) is likely to run the gate again and try to lead. He was below his best last start but could bounce back. SMACK BANG BART (11) has smaller winning claims.
Selections: 2-1-10-11
LAKE COMO (2) to win
Race 4
QUEEN OF SEES (1) is a three-year-old trotting filly for the combination of Jess Tubbs and James Herbertson. She surrendered the lead last week to race behind Aldebaran Ada and sprinted straight past her to win under a hold. The best scenario looks to be showing enough speed to trail Hallebesofine who should run along at an even clip.
HALLEBESOFINE (3) is the most likely leader and Tina Ridis trains and drives this filly. She belted them last start and looks the main danger in the race. JILLIBY AURA (10) led and won her heat but will have to win this from a different position. Other winning hopes in the race are ADELAIDE RED (4), HARPERSEVEN (6), ALDEBARAN ADA (7) and GLADIATRIX (13).
Selections: 1-3-10-6
QUEEN OF SEES (1) to win
Race 5
PASTOR DUNBAR (10) captured the Group 1 NSW Trotters Derby at Menangle in May, narrowly beating Munny The Munster. That is part of a five-race winning streak, which included last week’s heat victory when leading throughout to defeat Mister Devereaux by 2.1m. Prior to that he sat parked to win the Group 3 VHRC Holmfield after breezing in 1:56.0. His versatility makes him the top pick for me.
HOWDY MATE (6) should keep pressing forward to find the lead and looks a strong chance to win again. He handed straight up in the heat and was then put three back on the fence but had plenty of room to make his run as he drew away to win comfortably in the end. KEAYANG BAZLENKA (9) was the dominant two-year-old, although he looks to have come back to the pack now. The heat didn’t pan out and will be much better in the final.
Selections: 10-6-9-5
PASTOR DUNBAR (10) to win
Race 6
VERBICI (9) is an unbeaten two-year-old gelding after six starts. He has already won the Nutrien Classic Sales Final and 2YO Trot NSW Final. He is very clearly the horse to beat but $1.20 is short enough and I don’t think he’s completely over the line.
REGAL GALA (7) has blistering gate speed and looks a huge chance to lead early. He may take cover in the final behind either Verbici or Insulator. He is also the most experienced trotter in the field with 12 starts and an upset is possible – happy to back him each-way. INSULATOR (5) caused a minor upset in the heat defeating Phoenix Rex who was unbeaten at the time and has been scratched for the final.
Selections: 9-7-5-2
REGAL GALA (7) each way
Race 7
KAHULA (5) gets the barrier draw advantage and the Emma Stewart-trained two-year-old filly did it easily in her semi-final, winning by 10m as a short-priced favourite. She should find the lead here and will take plenty of catching.
IDEAL FRANKIE (12) is the other winning chance in a race that looks lopsided for the rest of the field. Her horrible draws give the advantage to Kahula, although she is good enough to win. LA CANTATRICE (9) was game in defeat when second to Kahula and has strong place claims in the race. DECOUPAGE (2) has place claims too from a good draw but shouldn’t trouble the favourites.
Selections: 5-12-9-2
Exacta: 5 / 12
Trifecta: 5,12 / 5,12 / 1,2,4,9,10
Race 8
BUMPER CROP (2) is unbeaten in four starts for trainer Antti Ruokonen and driver Glen Craven will be hoping it is an armchair drive with this sensational filly. She did it easily last start from the breeze and should be able to lead here. As long as her manners are good, she will win this race for fun.
A stack of rivals could run the minor placings but there isn’t too much that separates quite a few of them. I would prefer to sit this one out as I have no strong place lean.
Selections: 2-11-13-12
Race 9
BETTOR BEACH (1) is the best filly in the race and draws barrier one. Her $1.15 price tag reflects that fact and this should, at least on paper, be a walk in the park for Emma Stewart’s smart filly. She has won by 13 and 9m in the heat and semi-final. She may win the final by just as far.
KEAYANG PASSION (8) and PRE EMINANT (9) could be behind leader and three back on the pegs and that will likely be the trifecta if that is how the speed map pans out. RACHELS LEGACY (4) is probably the only spanner in the works for the speed map as she can leave the gate quickly. If she did cross, she would hand straight up.
Selections: 1-8-9-4
Trifecta: 1 / 4,8,9 / 4,8,9
Trifecta: 1 / 9 / 8
Menangle (Saturday, September 12)
Race 6
CAPTAINS KNOCK (5) continues to dazzle since joining Jason Grimson, winning again last start in 1:48.8. If he continues his current form, he will just win again. He will be around $1.20 to do so and only has one danger in the race.
NYACK (3) looks the only conceivable danger in the race, coming off a successful Inter Dominion campaign where he ran second in both heats and third in the final. He will lead initially but should hand up to Captains Knock and will try to run him down in the straight.
Selections: 5-3-7-4
Trifecta: 5 / 3 / 4,7
For complete harness racing fields, click here.
by Trent Orwin for Harnesslink
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