Bumper weekend of racing in all Australian States

This weekend marks a hectic weekend of racing right around the national scene.

Highlighting schedule is Saturday night’s showpiece Victoria Cup meeting at Melton where five Group 1s will be staged.

The main event is the Group 1 SEN $250,000 Victoria Pacers Cup. And despite drawing a quality field the race looks Captains Mistress to lose after she drew perfectly in three (will come out of two with the scratching of the emergency). Fresh from her Inter Dominion success, Captains Mistress scored a hollow win at Menangle two weeks ago and if Cameron Hart is able to dictate the pace she should have too much class at the business end of the race. Kingman is coming along well for his New Zealand Cup campaign but he is awkwardly drawn on the inside of the second row. Trainer Jason Grimson’s other pair of Minos and Dangerous are on the second row while evergreen Max Delight is on the outside of the second row.

The Woodlands Stud Derby sees outstanding youngster Palladium favourably drawn alongside his rival Nymbal and both these New Zealand bred three year olds will take a power of beating but heat winner Brooklyn Dan has drawn the pole while Enjoy Life who scored a courageous heat win will need to come through on the second row.

The Prydes Easifeed Victoria Oaks showcases the brilliant filly Bettor Beach who ran a 25.8 seconds third quarter in her heat win up against her stablemate Willows Girl who looked strong winning her heat while the Mick Harvey owned pair of The Queens Gambit and Ripples will also be in contention.

The Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Sprint sees Lovemetoo drawn out in six against the likes of top mares I Am Wilma and Gatesys Gem while former Italian trotter Ghandi Mail who has been impressive at Menangle looks to be in with a reasonable chance if he can be prominent early.

The Mimosa Homes Trotters Oaks is the other Group 1 event and this is a wide open affair with Hallebesofine trying to win a major event up against Aldebaran Ada and the inform Harperseven who was impressive winning last week.

At Menangle, there are semi finals of the Nutrien Equine Series for the two and four year olds. In the two year old colts division Don Hunter is well drawn in two while in the other heat an interesting clash beckons with the presence of Disturbance and the Victorian Boystrous.

Star filly Birdsong is sure to start a hot favourite in her heat of the two year old fillies but Frith in Flight and Shes A Delaney are sure to provide opposition. The other fillies heat looks favourable for the Victorian filly Comeandsee.

The Nation’s favourite pacer Leap To Fame should have little more than an exercise workout when he steps out in a Free For All at Albion Park on Saturday night. Leap To Fame is being prepared for the New Zealand Cup at Christchurch in November.

At Hobart on Friday evening there are heats of the Evicus and Dandy Patch features for the two year old fillies and colts and geldings respectively.

In the first colts and geldings division Bettor Than Ready a winner of his last three starts looks well placed from the pole draw while in the second fillies heat Razzmatazz will be hard to be beat for her trainer driver Todd Rattray having won her only start.

At Gloucester Park on Friday evening the main contenders for the WA Derby are present in the Western Gateway stakes. Gary Hall Snr will have a strong hand with his pair of D Mac and Im Stealthy with the former drawing the coveted position with Im Stealthy out in six. The other major contender Havetimeformiki will have to contend with barrier nine but he is above average.

The three year old fillies race also marks the presence of a number of Derby contenders including the Oaks winner Skinny Dippin and her main rival Miss Leopatra but both are drawn wide. Oaks runner up Manuka Bay gets her chance from the pole draw.

Meanwhile at Globe Derby Park, there’s a huge eleven programme with heats of the Kevin and Kay Seymour South Australia Pacing Cup, South Australia Pacers Derby and South Australia Trotters Cup.

The first heat of the Pacing Cup sees a fascinating clash between the interstate pair of The Last Trip and Springfield Affair. Port Pirie Radiant winner Rockin Gemma is in Heat two.

The Pacers Derby second heat pits another interstate pair in Major Blitz and Luvtobeuptome while the first heat of the Trotters Cup has rising State star Reoffender facing his toughest task to date.

And for those who like their country circuit, on Sunday there’ll be the West Wyalong Cup meeting in New South Wales and an all trotters card at Marburg in Queensland.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink