Group 1 harness racing returns to Melton on Saturday night as we delve into the 11-race program as well as the eight-race card at Menangle.
Plenty of value to be found with the best bets this weekend in an attempt to fill those betting accounts up with cash!
Melton Race 5
#8 ideal Pleasure
Ideal Pleasure looks to be the one who will have the last crack at them here and she may very well defeat the odds-on pop Techys Angel.
Her first-up record reads strongly having won twice and placed three times.
She started a heavily backed $1.70 favourite when first-up last preparation at this track and distance, now we’re getting $5 to find out if she can return a winner.
Kerryn Manning will guide her around the track here and from the second row, Manning will need to be at her very best to manufacture a run.
Suggested Bet: Ideal Pleasure win at $5
Suggested Exotic: Exacta – 5 & 8
Melton Race 6
#8 Kanena Provlima
This race looks like it will set up for a swooper to launch over the top and nab the race in the concluding stages.
The horse to pin down our hopes to do that is Kanena Provlima.
He drops back in distance to 1720 metres after being defeated in higher grade last start over 2240 metres at Melton but that should be of no issue at all.
Despite drawing the second row, there looks to be a lot of pace engaged in this race and that should allow the field to string and gift him the opportunity to get into clear room.
If they go like the clappers, as expected, he will be flying home late and hopefully it’s a winning run.
Suggested Bet: Kanena Provlima each-way at $10 the win and $2.8 the place
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 6, 8/ 2, 6, 8/ 2, 6, 8
Melton race 7
#6 Fourbigmen
Racing on the six-day back up, this could be the night Fourbigmen finally gets his chance to turn the tables on star trotter Wolf Stride.
Wolf Stride has had the measure of Fourbigmen at their last four contests against each other in much more difficult races than tonight but this race looks well set up for the Emma Stewart-trained horse to win.
Fourbigmen had a very tough time of it in the Charlton Pacing Cup when he was inconvenienced by a galloping runner early in the race, pressed forward to lead but was unable to cross.
He did a great job to hold on for second and is a huge chance to go one better tonight with a bit more luck when the arms fold back.
Suggested Bet: Fourbigmen win at $3.5
menangle RACE 5
#11 Ignatius
Going against Cruz in this and siding with Ignatius who brings the King of Swing form line into this race.
Cruz and Double Encounter cut each other up in the lead last start and it looks as though the same will occur again.
With plenty of speed engaged early in this race, trainer and driver James Rattray can bide his time and find an nice spot in the run.
It’s a big step down in class from the Group 1 mile he contested a fortnight ago and on talent alone he could win this race quite easily.
He is ready to run a huge race and is a massive threat to run down Cruz.
Suggested Bet: Ignatius win at $4
Suggested Exotic: Exacta 7 & 11
Menangle Race 7
#9 Arnold
Arnold looks one of the better bets on the program at Menangle on Saturday.
Everything went wrong for him when he raced in the Group 1 Trotters Mile at Menangle a fortnight ago but it is the start prior that we will focus on.
Two starts ago he started a $3.2 elect in the Group 3 Keystone Del Trotters when he was beaten a half neck by Revy Jay who started five times his price.
Arnold just had to do a little bit too much work in the early part of the race to find the front and was gunned down late but it was an effort that would be good enough to win this race.
There does not look to be too much drawn inside of him this time and he should get to the front of his own accord and give a big kick at the top straight that proves too hard to run down.
Suggested Bet: Arnold win at $3.6
