Melton Harness Preview – Wednesday 9th September

OVERVIEW: FROSTY DROP (1) was unlucky at her last start at Kilmore in the Vicbred Super Series heat won by Bettor Beach. She restrained to last and ran home well but couldn’t make up much ground in a 26.7 quarter. So although she finished last, it wasn’t a bad run. She has the ace barrier here and enough gate speed to lead. She should be hard to beat. COOL STORY (9) was quirky last start, hanging and racing a bit greenly. He got well back but was still able to run home well for sixth. His runs prior were consistent. He should map well. ANIMADO (4) is second-up here and will improve with fitness from his first-up fifth at Shepparton last week. In that run, he settled second-last and ran home well. POSTERIZED (10) is a smart performer but has to overcome a sticky barrier here. Also respecting the emergency JUST PEDRO (11), who will be a winning chance if he gains a start in this event. 

SELECTIONS: FROSTY DROP (1), COOL STORY (9), ANIMADO (4), POSTERIZED (10).  

OVERVIEW: BLUE MIKI (1) has not drawn barrier one since March 2025. He has been racing well and should have enough gate speed to hold a forward position here. PRECIOUS BELLE (8) will be the horse on his back and she is racing well. She has a nice turn of foot and will get the run of the race. ALLHEARTNOHEIGHT (4) has won twice at this track in his last four starts. He was held up until late last start at Kilmore but ran home really well. MIDNIGHT MOJO (6) will be hoping to slot into a good position here from the awkward barrier, but if he does, expect him to be running home well late. Also respecting TED BEAR (10) and the emergency LORIMERMAJOR (7) if he gains a start. It’s his 200th start and he is second-up. 

BACK: BLUE MIKI (1) – 2 units (win) 

SELECTIONS: BLUE MIKI (1), PRECIOUS BELLE (8), ALLHEARTNOHEIGHT (4), MIDNIGHT MOJO (6). 

OVERVIEW: This is an interesting race full of inexperienced performers. INDULGEME (4) is a brilliantly bred colt who trialled well before his debut last week. Unfortunately, he got it wrong with his manners in his race attempt. If he gets it right here, he will be hard to beat. LACE AND LEATHER (3) is an Art Major-sired debutant who was second in an Echuca trial behind Ozzie Diamond. We will learn more about him here. COCO MILLER (10) is similar to INDULGEME (4). She is a well-bred filly with great trial form who got it wrong with her manners on debut. She gets another chance here but from a sticky barrier. ARZALI SHACARRI (2) was beaten 10 metres behind Letitrideluv in a Geelong trial. Letitrideluv went on to compete very well in the Vicbred Super Series Semi-Final. The other debutants in this field, we will learn more about here but they deserve respect, AMANDO (1), EDGAR BROMAC (5) and SIR KITT (8). 

BACK: INDULGEME (4) – 4 units (win) 

SELECTIONS: INDULGEME (4), LACE AND LEATHER (3), COCO MILLER (10), ARZALI SHACARRI (2) 

OVERVIEW: What a cracking race this is. JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (9), the star mare, is back in action in Victoria. She won the Group 1 The Great Square at Albion Park three starts ago, then competed in the Inter Dominion last start but was unfortunately checked. She’s achieved so much already in her career. She has some tough opposition here, which could make her vulnerable first-up. But she is a classy horse. GATESYS GEM (3) is one of the best young trotters in the country and she can make her own luck. She won the NSW Oaks and Derby double last year and at her best is very hard to beat. She will likely look to find the fence here. But there is a gate speed threat from the horse drawn to her outside, KEAYANG KURKI (4). KEAYANG KURKI (4) was the winner of the Breeders Crown last year. She also won the Vicbred Super Series Final as a two-year-old. Without a doubt, she has ability, but she hasn’t won this year. She can fly the gate, but she will need to find her best form to beat the two top mares in this field. NO MONEY NO HONEY (2) is an interesting horse. When she trots, she is a very talented type. However, her manners are a massive query. She did everything right when winning her last start in July. 

SELECTIONS: JILLIBY DREAMLOVER (9), KEAYANG KURKI (4), GATESYS GEM (3), NO MONEY NO HONEY (2) 

OVERVIEW: I AM WILMA (4) returned a winner last start impressively. She was the winner of this series as a three-year-old. She is always consistently running strong races and she’s one of the winning chances for the final next Saturday night. SKYBELLA (3) is a smart trotting mare when she is at her best. Two starts ago, she won at Melton, and then last start she got well back but ran home well. She does appear to be performing a little below her best, but even if she’s not at her best, she’s still one of the top mares in this age group. CALABASAS (7) is still figuring out what racing is all about, but if she gets a good run, I expect her to be running home well. ALDEBARAN SUE (10), LITTLE MISS VALLEY (8) and PROHIBITED GRACE (5) are quality mares, but they will need to overcome sticky barriers. 

SELECTIONS: I AM WILMA (4), SKYBELLA (3), CALABASAS (7), ALDEBARAN SUE (10) 

OVERVIEW: I AM HELLBOUND (3) is currently one of the best young trotters in New South Wales, trained by Scott Hewitt. He has got better with age. He rarely puts in a bad run and gets a good barrier here. MUSKEE (6) is a progressive, talented trotter for John and Ewa Justice. He won really impressively at Melton three starts ago. He will need to bring his best. CLAUDYS HERO (4) is second-up here and will improve with fitness from his first-up fifth at Melton, where he got well back but hit the line really well. He is a versatile type. ALDEBARAN ABEL (8) is a smart trotter that can make his own luck, but he has a challenging barrier here. Also strongly respecting ZARSKI (5) and KARBINE (7) here. 

SELECTIONS: I AM HELLBOUND (3), MUSKEE (6), CLAUDYS HERO (4), ALDEBARAN ABEL (8)  

OVERVIEW: This is another brilliant race full of talent. ALRIGHTY (2) is a trotter who has found new heights this year. He runs in the famous Maori’s Idol colours. His three recent starts and wins have a cumulative 44.4-metre winning margin. He should be able to map well here from barrier two and will be hard to catch. IJUSTCALLEDTOSAY (9) is a talented trotter who can sometimes get his manners wrong. Barrier nine suits as he has time and space to settle here. He looks the main rival to ALRIGHTY (2). SAM NIEN (1) looks to be performing a little below his best, but he has great gate speed and will be able to map well here and get the run of the race. SKY SPIRIT (5) is a lightly raced trotter with a lot of ability. He was fourth when first-up here last start behind THE PREACHER. He will improve from that run with fitness. 

SELECTIONS: ALRIGHTY (2), IJUSTCALLEDTOSAY (9), SKY SPIRIT (5), SAM NIEN (1) 

OVERVIEW: This race does look to be the toughest to figure out on this card, with a few of these horses out of form. ALPHA CRUCIS (8) is second-up after a first-up fourth when facing the breeze at Cranbourne. It was not a bad run, and expect improvement with fitness. The barrier makes it hard. DI ANGELO (2) hasn’t had much luck recently, but he hasn’t been performing poorly. With the barrier, he finds a race where he can change his form. ZWICK (10) does have winning form, taking out his last start at Terang. He led and won in this event, however, it was not in fast time, and he will need to overcome a sticky barrier here. SHEZABLUECHIP (3) has had some very tough runs recently. So she’s racing a bit better than her form looks on paper. Barrier three could help her change her form. GOODTIME MAE (7) has the best sectional times in this event but a sticky barrier. 

SELECTIONS: ALPHA CRUCIS (8), DI ANGELO (2), ZWICK (10), SHEZABLUECHIP (3) 

OVERVIEW: ELLEEGANT LANE (5) has been racing well and has the best sectional times in this event. The barrier is a concern. TASTE IT (3) was a winner first-up last start when she was able to find the front. She was strong to the line and should improve here second-up with fitness. SPUN SILVER (7) is a fast mare who is in great form. I do prefer her over the short trip, however, and the distance is a concern from her awkward barrier as she’s unlikely to find the fence early. FOUR EVER A STAR (4) could be an improver here second-up after being on the sidelines since 2023. I also have respect here for CINQUANTA (2) from the barrier. 

BACK: ELLEEGANT LANE (5) – 2 units (win) 

SELECTIONS: ELLEEGANT LANE (5), TASTE IT (3), SPUN SILVER (7), CINQUANTA (2)