Melton Harness Preview – Saturday 29th August

OVERVIEW: Ripper race to start proceedings at HQ where the New Zealand import WORDS (10) looks to get a great chance. His first-up run here on our shores was a cracker when he speared to the front, ran strong sections and bolted in for an 8.8m victory over ZENARIO (6). He was then very competitive when only beaten 4.3m into third by Fairplay at Melton last time and there looks enough tempo – with SOHO DARKNSTORMY (5) likely to fly the arm and keep running – for him to work into this race off the back row. MISS ARI (3) is a wonderfully talented mare who was perhaps a shade disappointing when only fourth last start, but all her prior form is outstanding, HITTHEROADJACK (1) gets the good gate, and while he lacks point-to-point speed, he’s a real trier and hasn’t been beaten far in his runs since a Melton victory over last weekend’s winner PESCI (11), who is another with a good hope alongside stablemate ZENARIO (6), who has been runner-up his past two and like GOOD TOBE LOCKSLEY (7), ATA RANGI (9) and SOAP AND BUBBLES (12), just needs the right trip to strike.

OVERVIEW: THE NAKED ART (9) worked to the chair and sat parked to win a heat of a NMW series here on August 15 in what was a brilliant display, and then had her chances cruelled by a bad gate in the final yet still managed to close hard for fourth behind The Last Trip. She’s been flying for a some time now and looks poised to run another big race from the nice trailing draw. HIGHLANDHARTBREAKA (10) landed the one-one and wore down his stablemate to win over 1200m last Friday night and is a handy type who is often running home soundly, LOUGLE (12) was brilliant coming from the back of the field for third behind THE NAKED ART (9) in that aforementioned heat and backed it up with another close-up third from the front in the final, while TALERN LOFTY (1) draws to hold the front if David Miles desires and can give a sight over the 1720m. Others wouldn’t shock, including KING SAINT (4), SAVON DE ROCHE (5) and ROYAL APPOINTMENT (11).

BACK: THE NAKED ART (9) – 1 unit (win)

OVERVIEW: BULLETPROOF BOY (9) was first-up from a break without a trial and had the extreme back row draw last weekend in a hot free-for-all at Melton, but he ran really well to grab third. He was beaten 10.8m in the end, but it was a great effort given all those circumstances and this looks a shade easier from a better gate with some added fitness on his side. The one they have to beat. CALEXICO (1) finished seventh in that same race last Saturday from three back the pegs, but maps to hold the front here and could certainly run an improved race if he was able to control things at the top. MY ULTIMATE BARNEY (8) is first-up from a big Bendigo win in easier company on July 1 and is a very talented pacer, while the veteran TRIPLE EIGHT (6) rarely wins these days but is hard to discount as he’s a powerful finisher and is always one to consider for trifectas and First 4s.

OVERVIEW: FARROKH (10) is flying at the moment for Chris Lang and Sonia Mahar, with an eye-catching third in stronger grade than this last weekend behind Ijustcalledtosay and another great effort from last for fifth behind SKY FLAIR (8) back on August 1. He beat a few of these rivals when he last won at Kilmore and I fancy he’s the testing material once again. SKY FLAIR (8) has been brilliant this campaign and made it back-to-back victories when she sprinted over the top from the running line to score on August 15, DISTANT SUN (3) was a touch disappointing last start when fancied behind Kyvalley Michael but the two runs prior were very good efforts at Kilmore, and CENTURION DREAM (2) can improve on last weekend’s effort where she was clearly outclassed and should be able to cross the honest SAMMY HALLER (1), who is some chance along with a few others like KARBINE (6) and ALDEBARAN SUE (11).

BACK: FARROKH (10) – 1 unit (each-way)

OVERVIEW: THUNDERFIRE (8) had every reason to be beaten first-up from a spell at Cranbourne on August 16 when caught parked, but dug deep and scored a tough victory in a sizzling 55.9 last half. It was the performance of a very talented pacer, who boasts a career record of four wins from seven starts. He should be fitter for that run and looks a good chance of landing leader’s back here over the 1720m trip with pole-marker SCOOTER LOU (1) a likely front-runner. With even luck, he looks very hard to beat. EVILEYE (3) was so brave from the chair last time when third behind The Final Dance and she’s going much better than her numerical form would suggest, MONTANA PRIDE (6) had a softer run in transit and charged late for second in that same race and all his recent form is good, while MITZI SAID (10) is first-up from a break and trialled nicely for second in decent time at Kilmore recently. She was very competitive in higher-graded races than this last campaign and is a genuine contender with the right tempo.

BACK: THUNDERFIRE (8) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: Very tricky race to work out, but KYVALLEY MICHAEL (10) is going really well and broke through for a big win in easier grade last Friday at Melton when he was able to roll around and find the front. He’d run a number of other good races prior to that, and with the expected solid tempo here, he can be a major factor late. SPIRITED LASS (1) was caught parked and dropped out late in her bid for three-straight wins last time at Melton but can improve sharply from gate one, ARTIGAS (8) won a recent trial at Maryborough ahead of this assignment and did score well three times in-a-row before a freshen, while the consistent ROCKY VALLEY (6), the first-up CLAUDYS HERO (7) and fast-starting pair ALDEBARAN SUSANNE (4) and PROHIBITED GRACE (3) headline the others that can threaten with the right luck. Wide Quaddie leg!

OVERVIEW: DRESSED IN GOLD (10) brings strong formlines to this race, with a good third to the talented Lambro Mach last time despite being parked and a front-running second in a similar 0W/15.0K stake event when nailed late by Keayang Payton with a good margin back to third. He’s narrowly fancied in a wide-open race where there’s a few key winning chances. ROCKELLA (8) sat parked for the last lap and did a great job to win narrowly in a slick 55.9 last half at Ballarat on August 19, KATUNGA EXPRESS (7) charged late to only be beaten 3.8m at Wagga last week and hit the line similarly well at Melton when third prior to that, while BETTOR PUNTER (4) looks pretty progressive and backed up his good wins at Cranbourne and Melton with strong placings at Kilmore and Ballarat.