It would not be a Saturday night without harness racing from Melton and Menangle.
The best bets for both venues are in and it’s time to find those winners to make it a big long weekend.
Melton Race 2
#1 Fynn Frost
Taking on the odds-on $1.85 favourite Willie Go West and jumping firmly into the camp of Fynn Frost.
Kate and Andy Gath combine to guide this six-year-old gelding around the 1720-metre course at Melton and he gets a nice race shape to show his best.
With very little early pace engaged, we’re expecting Kate Gath to utilise the inside gate to full effect here and hold the front.
Hoping she can stack up the field enough so the favourite – who has drawn the second row – is held up for a run over this short course.
Suggested Bet: Fynn Frost each-way at $6 the win and $1.85 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 1, 10/ 1, 10/ 8, 9
Melton Race 3
#5 ZigZagZoo
The big query for this race is whether or not ZigZagZoo is ready to fire first-up off a 277-day spell.
He comes into this race without having a trial but that is not necessarily a bad thing.
The Gath stable have a knack of keeping their most talented horses under lock and key until race day which is what may eventuate in this case.
Going back to his last preparation, he raced in career best form by toppling the talented ImSetToGo at the very course and distance he races over on Saturday night.
Keep an eye on the markets, but if he is solid in betting and does not drift like bit of timber out to sea then he will likely be making a winning return.
Suggested Bet: ZigZagZoo win at $2.6
Suggested Exotic: Boxed F4 – 3, 4, 5, 8
Melton Race 5
#7 Spellbound
Sometimes you just have to put your tail between your legs and accept defeat graciously.
We have been against TanGoingWithSierra at her first two runs this campaign and she has gone to new heights this preparation but it we are going against her… again.
It may be a case of third time lucky, but this New Zealand pacing import Spellbound may be the very horse to knock her off.
Despite this trip being short of a distance range she peaks at, she may very well find the top here and have a map advantage over the current favourite.
If that does occur, she is strong enough to hold on to victory here.
Suggested Bet: Spellbound win at $3.3
Menangle Race 2
#1 Triple VC
Triple VC gets the ultimate chance to succeed in town having drawn a perfect gate.
His first-up winning effort when drawing awkwardly in the second row over 2125 metres at Penrith showed he returned in fine fettle.
However, it all went wrong for him last start after drawing the second row again and never looking comfortable in the run when dropping down in distance.
Now, he draws the marker pegs in the front row and can utilise his gate speed to hold the front with his main danger Kingmaker being drawn in gate 11.
If he gains a clear map advantage and sizeable early lead over Kingmaker then we will be in this for a very long way… hopefully all the way!
Suggested Bet: Triple VC win at $4.4
Suggested exotic: Quinella 1 & 11
Menangle Race 4
#11 Miss Ex
Miss Ex was brave in defeat behind Captain’s Queen last start.
She had to be eased back from a wide gate on the front row but did a great job to only be beaten 1.2 metres by Captain’s Queen – the $1.95 favourite to win this Gold Bullion Fillies Final.
Even though Miss Ex has drawn a wide gate again, there looks to be a lot of speed engaged for this final, especially with the Group 1 prize money on the line.
If driver Jack Douglass can ease back from the gate and avoid the speed battle, here’s hoping she can latch onto the tail of a rival to cart her up three wide with cover.
That should leave her with enough energy in the tank to explode down the outside late in the race.
Suggested Bet: Miss Ex each-way at $6 the win and $1.7 the place.
