Melton Harness Preview – Friday 24th July

OVERVIEW: ALL THINGS SPICY (9) has returned from a break in good fashion, with two impressive third placings at Cranbourne and Melton where she has hit the line hard from off the speed. I loved her finale last time when rounding up a large portion of the field behind Janiebquick, and she gets a nice back row trailing draw here. Keen she runs well. BAYSTYLE (10) is the two-year-old taking on older horses, but looks a pretty smart customer from the Geoff Webster barn. He chased from out the back in a fast last half at Ballarat last time, and has a good second to top juvenile Comeandsee in the Rising Star at the same track to his name. BREATHE EASY (3) is among a few off the front row that like to go forward and some of his recent form is good, while the consistent BETTORSWEETVICTORY (2) and in-form BONA KHAN (4), who is shooting for four-straight, are others that can win in a wide-open event.

BACK: ALL THINGS SPICY (9) – 1 unit (each-way)

OVERVIEW: Two-year-old MISS MUSCLE (5) started odds-on on debut at Terang on July 12 and looked the winner at the corner before just missing to stablemate Keayang Marcus. It was a great first-up appearance at the races, and she strikes a very winnable assignment against a field that has had plenty of goes at trying to break the maiden tag. PIPALICIOUS (6) is first-up from a break, and while her recent trial was hard to gauge given the thick fog at Maryborough, she has shown plenty of ability in her 12 career starts. Her manners are a huge concern, but if she trots throughout, she is a clear danger. WAR DAN PHOENIX (1) had every possible when leading last week at Kilmore but gets the good draw to be a factor again, while MI BOW (2) and LEZAMA (3) appear other leading contenders.

OVERVIEW: BLUE MIKI (3) was trapped outside the leader last week at Geelong and faded late into fourth, but his prior run at Ballarat was very good and you could make a case he would have won with clear air earlier in the straight. In a wide-open race, he goes on top for the in-form Murphy stable. PRECIOUS BELLE (6) is a get-back, run-on type who flashed late in crowded room for third last week at Melton and has been in good form of late, the beautiful grey SPUN SILVER (4) has electric gate speed and was able to lead all the way when beating a slightly easier field (based on NR) last time out, and MIDNIGHT MOJO (8) is an honest mare who closed off nicely when fourth behind Janiebquick on July 10.

OVERVIEW: ROSBERG (8) hasn’t been seen at the races since late March, but had been competitive in stronger events than this last campaign and I’ll take a chance on him first-up from a break. He won his most recent trial at Bacchus Marsh in late May, and the inside second row draw might work out well given pole-marker PICKLE IT (1) has good gate speed and looks the likely early leader. AVEIRO (4) rattled late to just miss two runs back at Melton and is a key chance, REALLY SMARTIE (9) made up good ground when second last after bombing the start at Kilmore on July 2 and can win on his best behaviour, while last-start runner-up place-getters HAVADASH JOH (3) and PICKLE IT (1) are next best.

BACK: ROSBERG (8) – 2 units (each-way)

OVERVIEW: EZRA KAI (6) is a classy type stepping out for his first run as a four-year-old and brings good form to the table from last preparation, which concluded with a start in the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series final. He has trialled up nicely to my eye with second placings at Bendigo and Shepparton, and he’s good enough to win on resumption. Have been on DOSSIER (1) her past couple of starts and things just haven’t worked out, including last weekend when she looked in a striking position behind the leader who then galloped and knocked her out of play. She draws well here, should get a lovely trip on the fence and will take plenty of holding out. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT (4) might be the early leader and is an honest mare who wouldn’t surprise, while JACK SPRAT (5) is capable and some hope with the right trip, as is stablemate SIR EROS (8) despite not firing yet this campaign.

OVERVIEW: LOWRIDER (4) makes his reappearance here after two starts as a two-year-old in which he won on debut and then ran second to the smart Soho Park Avenue in a heat of the Vicbred series. His recent trial was sound, and he goes on top from the powerful Emma Stewart stable, which continually produces horses like this to win first-up. SECRET SERVICE AGENT (8) is a nice three-year-old from the Craig Demmler camp who won well from the front at Melton two back and then chased home very handy rivals when third at Geelong last time, KEAYANG SEASIDE (5) performed really well for third from a bad draw and with a tough trip in the breeze first-up at Terang on July 12, and the first-up MY MARIONETTE (2) trialled nicely when winning at Melton on July 14 and ran some nice races last campaign.

OVERVIEW: Two-year-old PHOENIX REX (3) won his maiden in a dominant fashion on debut at Melton on June 26, charging clear of his rivals to score by a 14.2m. He trialled nicely after that and finds another suitable race to continue the unbeaten start to his career. DANCE FIGHTER (8) hasn’t raced since January, but her last campaign included a big victory in the $20,000 Vicbred Platinum Homegrown final and a really good second to the smart Alrighty in a Vicbred Silver final at Melton. She must be a hope based off that form. PIQUE (1) galloped when under pressure behind the leader at Geelong last Friday, but draws well and ran a good second first-up before a win at Ballarat, while MAJARO GIRL (4) is first-up for master trainer Andy Gath and has been very consistent in her runs as a two-year-old at Menangle this season.

BACK: PHOENIX REX (3) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: REMEMBRANCE TIME (6) looks a handy enough two-year-old for the Andy Gath stable and produced a dominant win on debut at Geelong back in early June. She made a mistake at Cranbourne when $1.10 favourite, but ran well when only grabbed late by Kyvalley Dixon recently at Melton. She has more scope than these rivals and goes on top. FLING IT RAINBOW (1) has hit form, draws well, has good gate speed and is the logical danger, SILENT REVERIE (7) led and was run down by that aforementioned rival last Friday at Geelong but has claims despite the wide gate, and ALLWATFUNJINGLES (4) is competitive in this type of grade but doesn’t win out of turn.