Melton Harness Preview – Friday 9th October

OVERVIEW: LOLLY (6) looks a bright prospect for trainer Bill Milner who strikes a very suitable two-year-old trot to break her maiden. First-up, she was only beaten 4.1m by the handy Kyvalley Drifter and then chased home Majaro Girl (has won again since) for a close-up second in a heat of the Vicbred Super Series before dropping out in the Group 1 final. I think there’s some nice ability there and happy her way. Fancied THECANDYBARHEIRESS (5) on debut last Friday following some good trials and she was a hard luck story for Kylie Sugars, who never really got clear air until it was all over. She hit the line hard for second behind The Trout Cod and looms as the key danger. SERIOUSLY SAL (7) ran a great second in the Vicbred consolation at Ballarat last time and wouldn’t shock, while DELIGHTED (3) is a stablemate of THECANDYBARHEIRESS (5) who has been okay at the trials ahead of her first race start.

BACK: LOLLY (6) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: Think he will go around decent odds HANDLER (10), but I’ve always liked this lightly-raced pacer from the Rob O’Connell yard. I reckon the first-up run was more than satisfactory from an impossible position on straightening in a stronger race than what he meets here and he only got beaten 10m under little driving. There looks genuine tempo with some go-forward horses off the front and I’m hoping he can be hitting the line hard late. POPCORNFRIDAY (8) draws behind one of the quick beginners in YNOBE NOVA (1) and was very good first-up from a break when second at Kilmore on September 30. He ran up dead ends a couple of times and closed hard to be beaten 7.4m. Key chance. CELESTIAL ZODIAC (7) has a horror gate but is running in great form and is rarely beaten far, while BRINGSUSJOY (3) was outclassed last weekend at Geelong but went very close at big odds in the Vicbred consolation for four-year-old mares prior to that. The chances don’t stop there and include JUST AS WELL (4), strong last-start winner BLAZIN BY (6) and ANGELS WATCHING (9).

BACK: HANDLER (10) – 0.5 units (each-way)

OVERVIEW: I CHOOSE YOU (2) was outclassed in the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series final for three-year-old trotting boys last time, but ran well for second behind the handy Munny The Munster in a heat and won easily first-up at Ballarat prior to that. He should be able to find the fence early and from there looks the testing material. TRUSCOTTS ELEGANCE (1) is really going well of late, chasing home Queen Of Sees in a heat and final of the Vicbred series for three-year-old trotting girls before a good closing second last week at Ballarat, LITTLE MISS MORGAN (8) returned to the winner’s stall when leading a suitable race at Kilmore last week and has plenty of class, while AGAINST THE BRIDLE (4) won three races on end before being held up and still finishing well for third last Friday behind Romantic Nina. DEEJAY DEX (10) hasn’t won since 2024 but is knocking on the door, RASTAMON (3) is a speedy customer who might give them something to catch in front, THATS MY CARDIGAN (7) is another that flies the gate and is capable at his best, while MAJESTIC CHARMA (11) won well at Cranbourne recently and also wouldn’t shock.

OVERVIEW: THUNDERFIRE (6) has been in great form this campaign, and it all started with a big death seat win first-up at Cranbourne on August 16. He was badly held up behind Scooter Lou following that, then ran a great second in a Vicbred heat and did well to only be beaten 13.2m from last in the $100,000 final. Map looks awkward for him, but fancy he’ll go close with some luck. He’s a good horse. POPPY WAH WAH (9) hasn’t raced since May 2025, but hails from the Emma Stewart stable and showed good ability with three victories last campaign. The recent trial was okay despite not beating a runner home. SAVON DE ROCHE (3) is in great form for Kate Hargreaves with wins or narrow defeats in all six runs this preparation, while FERRIGNO (4) performed well at good odds when third last Saturday at Geelong behind Schwarz and is another that looks ready to win.

BACK: THUNDERFIRE (6) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: SOAP AND BUBBLES (8) is a very speedy mare who should appreciate the small field and drop back from the Vicbred Super Series four-year-old mares’ series where she ran well to finish midfield in the final behind The Art Of Success. Before that, she smoked home from a mile back to be beaten just 6.2m by SOHO DARKNSTORMY (5) in a race that saw WORDS (7) finish a close-up third after settling much closer in transit. The latter ran well for third in a hot race behind Cigano and Wicked Confession last week but the task is hard here from out wide, SOHO DARKNSTORMY (5) looks the likely early leader and did win over the track and trip on August 29 while beating key rivals, while CLYMENUS (4) hasn’t had much luck his last two but had been ready to win before that with three-straight runner-up placings. NSW visitor IMA BOXA (6) galloped out of play first-up at Wagga but looks to have good ability, while MITZI SAID (2) and WITH IN REASON (3) can also figure prominently.

BACK: SOAP AND BUBBLES (8) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: BIZZNESS CLASS (3) has had just the one win from his 25 ventures to Melton, but I’ll jump in his corner in a race where he should lob handy in the small field and appreciate what is likely to be a genuine tempo. Last time, he settled three fence and hit the line nicely for third behind Mount Barker Boy in a sizzling last half, and had been cruelled by bad gates in his two prior starts. He always finishes off his races and I’m hoping he can finally get back into the winner’s stall here at HQ. HITTHEROADJACK (7) led from wide on the front row at Melton on September 25 and bolted in so must be respected if he finds the top again, KOSIMO (1) is getting right back in grade, draws well and did close off nicely last weekend at Geelong for third behind Ollies The Boss, while NEATNTIDY (4) is a speedy starter who led and won first-up at Mildura and would be a big player if able to cross down to the pegs. Noting a small share in TIMBIMBOO (2), who was just fair first-up behind HITTHEROADJACK (7) but is open to improvement after surgery and a long break. They can all win without surprising.