Melton Harness Preview – Friday, April 10

OVERVIEW: GO EASY ON ME (9) looks a really promising pacer for young trainer Courtney Laker and she heads to Melton on the back of two great efforts in New South Wales. First-up, she produced a big run for third behind the smart Brooklyn Dan at Wagga and then thrashed her rivals in a 35.8m demolition job at Bathurst on March 27. She competed well through the Breeders Crown series late last year and this looks a winnable assignment from the back row. LAMBRO MACH (11) has run a couple of good races his last couple for runner-up placings at Ballarat and Cranbourne, IM DOWNBYTHEBEACH (7) makes his Australian debut on the back of a New Zealand win and big trial success at Bendigo, ISOLATION (3) might be the early leader and can give a sight from the front and LETS GO LORNA (6) is a nice mare returning from a break. 

BACK: GO EASY ON ME (9) – 2 units (win) 

SELECTIONS: GO EASY ON ME (9), LAMBRO MACH (11), IM DOWNBYTHEBEACH (7), ISOLATION (3) 

OVERVIEW: Here’s the final of heats run at Maryborough and Bendigo where I’m siding with a runner who comes through the latter of the qualifiers. MOUNT BARKER BOY (3) was a very impressive winner of the race at Lord’s Raceway when he sat parked for the last lap and drew clear to win softly on the line. It followed a good trial in the lead-up and he looks very hard to beat from the front line. He defeated the handy KEAYANG PASSION (13) and CAPTAIN MOLLY (12) there, with the latter finishing second to the smart Franco Nickelback at Wagga on Saturday night. COLOSIMO (2) won the other of the heats at Maryborough and might get the lovely trip in behind MOUNT BARKER BOY (3), while BLACK OPAL JACK (8) and ARZALI ROCKSTAR (4) both should be considered for the minor end of trifectas and First 4s after good runs behind COLOSIMO (2). 

SELECTIONS: MOUNT BARKER BOY (3), COLOSIMO (2), KEAYANG PASSION (13), CAPTAIN MOLLY (12) 

OVERVIEW: Will this be a repeat of Saturday night for CARDIGAN DAN (2)? At the weekend, he drew gate two, strolled to the front and ripped home in sizzling last quarter of 26.6 to win by a big space. He was left alone in front there, and without any pressure here, it’s hard to see any of these stopping him making it back-to-back wins to start the campaign. FEARLESS WRITER (1) draws to get a good trip in behind the likely leader first-up from a spell and can run well from there, while IN AN IDEAL WORLD (8), who worked to find the front and boxed on well for third behind Komodo last time, might land three fence and that looks a good place to be if the expected map eventuates. PLATINUM JIVE (6) was a very easy winner from behind the leader at Cranbourne on Good Friday, SPOOK CROCKER (4) is flying for Steve Fennell and heads across the border following a Mount Gambier Cup victory, while there’s a big watch on DONMARO (9) after two Australian starts where he has dropped out badly despite being well in the market. 

SELECTIONS: CARDIGAN DAN (2), IN AN IDEAL WORLD (8), PLATINUM JIVE (6), FEARLESS WRITER (1) 

OVERVIEW: THE PRIESTESS (6) has been disappointing her last few, including when finding the front in the Mount Gambier Country Trotters Cup, but the early part of the campaign after joining the Lee stable was ultra impressive. Taking a chance on her getting back to somewhere near her best as I fancy she’s got the most ability here. JACK SPRAT (9) was caught parked and dropped out last time, but ran well after an early break in the Charlton Trotters Cup and was a good third in a handy race before that when finding the top. NOBLE COUNT (5) is running well and came from last to grab fourth behind Bennie And The Jets last Saturday, KYVALLEY MICHAEL (10) won from the front three starts ago and has been well back on the fence in his races since, while a few others wouldn’t surprise such as likely early leader PIESRIDINGSHOTGUN (2), Mount Gambier Country Trotters Cup champ MUSCLE VALLEY (7) and BULLPARK BENO (11). 

SELECTIONS: THE PRIESTESS (6), JACK SPRAT (9), NOBLE COUNT (5), KYVALLEY MICHAEL (10) 

OVERVIEW: Tricky little race here, but leaning towards the second-up IRON WOMEN (3) for Andy and Kate Gath. Her first run as a four-year-old in late March was a very good one after showing gate speed and sitting parked from barrier seven. She only got tired in the concluding stages and did a good job to only be beaten 8.5m by the very handy Bennie And The Jets. Tipping she might be able to find the top here and give a great sight over the 1720m. RAPID RETURN (5) hasn’t won since claiming the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series final as a four-year-old in September 2024, but is getting very close and produced a great run for second behind Mac Flick last weekend. She should go close. MITCHELL WRAP (9) was seventh in that same race and HEZA GUN (7) third after showing good speed to lead before handing up and sprinting again in the straight. Most could win without surprising, particularly the in-form KYVALLEY JETSTREAM (4). 

BACK: IRON WOMEN (3) – 1 unit (each-way) 

SELECTIONS: IRON WOMEN (3), RAPID RETURN (5), MITCHELL WRAP (9), HEZA GUN (7) 

OVERVIEW: Cracking 0-1 contest here where we see SISTER MOLLY (9) step out for her debut. She has won all three of her trials, including the most recent one at Terang since joining the powerhouse Lee stable. She thrashed Island Rubee there by 50m and looks a handy type. She has a great chance here, but I just love what I’m seeing from SHINELIKETHESUN (7). She broke and was off the charts running fourth two starts ago at Melton and then struggled to keep up early last time at Bendigo, but savaged the line in a race-fastest last half of 55.93 off the fence. She’s good and I’ll lean her way at probably better odds. CHARLIES TACTICS (4) was only grabbed late in a strong race at Melton last time and might find the front again here, while fellow fast beginner ALDEBARAN JAZMINE (5) led and beat home SHINELIKETHESUN (7) when second first-up at Bendigo last week. 

BACK: SHINELIKETHESUN (7) – 2 units (each-way) 

SELECTIONS: SHINELIKETHESUN (7), SISTER MOLLY (9), CHARLIES TACTICS (4), ALDEBARAN JAZMINE (5) 

OVERVIEW: A race for the free-for-allers over the 1200m dash and all eyes are on who gets to the front first. GHOST OF TIME (5) looks the most likely to cross and for that reason I’ll jump into his corner. Two starts ago, he led, handed up and finished third in a close go behind Fighter Command and Bulletproof Boy. He was a brave second behind Meteor Moth last time when unable to find the pegs and he’s in great form. SURFINGMAKESCENTS (4) returns to the races for Kerryn Manning following a last-start win in the $50,000 Ladyship Cup back in October. She’s a fast beginner with good talent and looks right in this first-up from a break. WESTERN SONADOR (3) was left flat-footed when second to Dangerous at Bendigo on March 25, but rattled late in what was a good effort. He’s in this from the inside gate (if the emergencies don’t gain a start), while TRIPLE EIGHT (10) and OLIVER DAN (7) might be the best of the closers. Wide-open and intriguing race! 

SELECTIONS: GHOST OF TIME (5), SURFINGMAKESCENTS (4), WESTERN SONADOR (3), TRIPLE EIGHT (10) 

OVERVIEW: Good race to close the card where I think THESTATESMAN (4) can run well second-up from a break. On resumption last weekend, he hit the line hard from three back the pegs in an encouraging effort and I fancy Josh Duggan might look for the top here. His last win was in the same grade of race as this when he led, dictated and bolted in back in September. The key danger is ZENARIO (9), who is a very talented type from the McNaulty stable. He produced a cracker for fourth in the hot Vicbred Super Series final before an unlucky run in the Southern Cross Series decider at Globe Derby before a break. KOMODO (7) claimed a deserved victory last time at Melton after a string of good efforts, while opportunist KOSIMO (1) gets a nice draw and will be hitting the line late. Noting a small ownership share in TIMBIMBOO (8), but he looks up against it here. 

BACK: THESTATESMAN (4) – 1 unit (each-way) 

SELECTIONS: THESTATESMAN (4), ZENARIO (9), KOMODO (7), KOSIMO (1)