Melton Harness Preview – Friday, April 24

OVERVIEW: ZENARIO (10) is a progressive pacer from the McNaulty stable who resumed with a runner-up placing behind KOSIMO (12) at Melton on April 10. That was a funny-run race with Jilliby Illuminate tearing along in front, and KOSIMO (12) was able to enjoy a peg-line run before being presented at the right time by Jack Laugher. I fancy ZENARIO (10) can turn the tables here from the nice trailing draw and should be ready to fire second-up from a break. KOSIMO (12) is an opportunist who needs the speed on in his races but is suited to this grade, HITTHEROADJACK (9) is an honest customer who was only beaten 7.2m in a fast Geelong Rocket last Friday and TALERN LOFTY (3) looks a talented type from the David Miles yard who was held up at Cranbourne last time but had good form prior and might be aggressively driven for the front here. Other chances are headed by CRIME WRITER (8) and DESSIE GEE (11), who bring some class off the back row. 

SELECTIONS: ZENARIO (10), HITTHEROADJACK (9), KOSIMO (12), TALERN LOFTY (3) 

OVERVIEW: FRANCO NICKELBACK (13) had his unbeaten record broken after galloping at the start at Bendigo last time, but did a super job in defeat. He recorded a race-fastest 55.13 last half in running fifth, beaten just 9.2m. While I hate the draw over the 1720m trip, his prior wins have been outstanding and he looks a talent. LAMBRO MACH (1) is crying out to win a race, but ruined his chances at Geelong last Friday by making a break at the start. While he’s in danger of being crossed early here, he looks a great chance if not buried away on the fence. He’s in good form. EYENEEDTHAT (4) was beaten as a short-priced favourite at Hamilton, but was caught parked there and was only grabbed late, while GUNFORHIRE (8) ran well first-up in a hot race at Ballarat and can figure late if the breaks come his way. 

SELECTIONS: FRANCO NICKELBACK (13), LAMBRO MACH (1), EYENEEDTHAT (4), GUNFORHIRE (8) 

OVERVIEW: HAPPILY (10) looks a very exciting pacer from the Amy Day stable and shapes as the horse to beat in the third event of the night. She was a dominant winner in a maiden at Goulburn to start the preparation and then savaged the line in a slick last half behind Jilliby Dooley last time at Hamilton. That run had “back me next time” written all over it. WICKED WIZARD (11) dug deep to score a narrow win at Shepparton in late March and all his recent form is sound, ALWAYS A SHOWGIRL (8) closed off nicely out wide at Kilmore last time in an encouraging effort, while RANDOM MAHONEY (4) and HELLO POSSUMS (3) – who has trialled well ahead of her return – might be the best of the chances off the front row. 

BACK: HAPPILY (10) – 4 units (win) 

SELECTIONS: HAPPILY (10), WICKED WIZARD (11), ALWAYS A SHOWGIRL (8), RANDOM MAHONEY (4) 

OVERVIEW: Very tricky mares pace with varying formlines and first-up runners, but I liked what I saw from ALOT LIKE JEANNIE (9) in a soft trial at Shepparton recently. She cruised through the line for second under little driving and her form before a spell was pretty good, including a tough win when sprinting before the bell to find the top and digging deep to hold on. Fancy she might be an each-way price first-up from a break. FICTION FILE (4) chased hard in a solid return for second behind Mount Barker Boy at Geelong last week and looks above average, MY MARIONETTE (7) actually beat FICTION FILE (4) and HELENSHOPE (2) in a recent trial and the form last campaign was sound, while GIDGETT KAY (6) went rough at the corner behind Mount Barker Boy and finished last, but the prior two career runs were very good. Wide open event! 

BACK: ALOT LIKE JEANNIE (9) – 1 unit (each-way) 

SELECTIONS: ALOT LIKE JEANNIE (9), FICTION FILE (4), MY MARIONETTE (7), GIDGETT KAY (6) 

OVERVIEW: Another tricky event here for the three-year-old maidens where there’s a big watch on MAURLEN COMPASS (2) after an impressive trial performance at Cobram recently. There, she surged away from two rivals in the last lap to score by around 50m in a dominant display. She finished third in her one and only career start back in September when trained by a different stable, but was beaten a long way. She goes on top. BEAU BECA (9) showed good signs on debut when settling last and running past THE FINAL DANCE (7) to finish fourth at Melton on April 15, SEW HOPEFULL (4) has gate speed and would be a factor if she could find the top, while the aforementioned THE FINAL DANCE (7) has started favourite in all three runs this campaign and is certainly a winning chance despite the difficult gate. 

SELECTIONS: MAURLEN COMPASS (2), BEAU BECA (9), SEW HOPEFULL (4), THE FINAL DANCE (7) 

OVERVIEW: SAMMY HALLER (1) sat three pegs and hit the line nicely for second last week in a race four of these horses contested and he might even be able to settle a position closer here. Just from the draw, he’s fancied over the talented but frustrating SHINELIKETHESUN (10), who ran a couple of cracking races early in the preparation but has been a little plain her last couple. She had a lovely trip last time, but could only manage fourth in the race SAMMY HALLER (1) finished runner-up in. ALDEBARAN JAZMINE (9) has started the campaign with two placings but is unlikely to be on the fence like she has in those races, while HEIR JAURDON (2) has good gate speed and was able to win her maiden last week at Kilmore when favourite Pipalicious galloped turning for home. A few others wouldn’t shock, but they look the main players. 

SELECTIONS: SAMMY HALLER (1), SHINELIKETHESUN (10), ALDEBARAN JAZMINE (9), HEIR JAURDON (2) 

OVERVIEW: Just about all of these could win with the right luck in running, but let’s throw a dart and side with KENNYS SON (10). First-up in the care of trainer Brent Lilley, he found the front and surged clear to win under minimal driving by a big space. It was only a maiden, but he looks capable of running well in this type of grade. ALLWATFUNJINGLES (6) has shown some encouraging signs his last few, including a strong-finishing second last Friday when charging home from midfield. KYVALLEY JENNY (2) can run well if she crosses to the fence as expected, while the best version of STEADY DREAM (1) would be competitive here. He was in a striking position last Friday at Geelong before galloping at the corner. The chances don’t end there! 

SELECTIONS: KENNYS SON (10), ALLWATFUNJINGLES (6), KYVALLEY JENNY (2), STEADY DREAM (1) 

OVERVIEW: KISS ME MINI (3) had a nice run and beat home SUMTHIN ELSE (1) and TAPPY (5) three starts ago at Melton, was caught parked at Cranbourne after that but wasn’t beaten far and then stormed home for second behind the smart Seaside Boy at Geelong last Friday. She looks to be the horse in the best form here. TAPPY (5) never got a look at them at Maryborough last time and was caught parked in that race KISS ME MINI (3) won so is capable of turning the tables with the right trip, LETS GO LORNA (2) made the Vicbred and Breeders Crown finals last season but was a shade plain on resumption despite a tough trip, and SCHERGER THAT (6) might be next best in another race with plenty of hopes. 

BACK: KISS ME MINI (3) – 1 unit (win) 

SELECTIONS: KISS ME MINI (3), TAPPY (5), LETS GO LORNA (2), SCHERGER THAT (6) 

OVERVIEW: ALLGOOD VINNIE (2) was hammered in the lead and grabbed late by AVEIRO (8) last time at Ballarat, with a big margin back to third. It was a brave run given the pressure he copped and his prior form is good for a race like this. If he leads, he looks very hard to beat. OUR BELLA LUCIA (5) produced a huge turnaround in form to win by a mammoth margin at Melton last week and must be respected off that effort, FLYING SPARKS (4) is one of the gate speed runners who looms as a chance, HURRICANE HOOLY (9) was no match for OUR BELLA LUCIA (5) two back but did run well for third at Maryborough on Monday, while AVEIRO (8) must be some hope given he beat our top selection last time, but did have everything in his favour. 

SELECTIONS: ALLGOOD VINNIE (2), OUR BELLA LUCIA (5), FLYING SPARKS (4), HURRICANE HOOLY (9) 

OVERVIEW: Going to have a little throw at the stumps here on a horse that I think will come up big odds. VIVA STORM (8) was knocked over and taken out of play at Ballarat first-up on April 9, but chased hard and did a good job to beat two rivals home. A look at the sectionals suggest he recorded the fastest last two quarters of the race, getting home in a sharp 56.79. Worth a little play on the each-way in an open event. SHIRALEE (2) has started favourite her last four starts, won one of them and placed runner-up in another two. She has been parked in all of those and gets a great chance if she can cross FREAK OUT (1). PRECIOUS BELLE (5) beat a few key rivals that reoppose last time out at Ballarat and her prior form was really good, while WOODLEA DIEGO (4) is going along well without much luck and can be thereabouts. 

BACK: VIVA STORM (8) – 1.5 units (each-way) 

SELECTIONS: VIVA STORM (8), SHIRALEE (2), PRESCIOUS BELLE (5), WOODLEA DIEGO (4)