Australian Harness Racing Preview – 16th September 2023

Twelve Group 1 races make for a huge night of racing for the Vicbred Super Series Finals at Melton on Saturday where the Emma Stewart yard is set to dominate the pacing divisions.

Amore Vita.
Amore Vita.

The stable has the hot favourite in four of the six pacing finals including boom colt Stormryder in the 2CG final.

The son of Captaintreacherous made it three wins from as many starts this time in when leading to land his semi final here last week.

That saw him unbeaten at both the venue and the distance and he'll be at peak fitness for this. He can push forward again from this draw so is the one to beat.

His danger could the stablemate War Dan Buddy who has had to come from back row draws in his two starts since a spell so has been far from disgraced.

He is building in fitness and is the only horse to have beaten Stormryder when winning the Gold Bullion Final in Sydney so a much better draw can see him produce that form.

Stewart's unbeaten filly Draw A Dream is the pick in the 2F final having really stamped her class in last week's semi when she drew the back row and raced three wide without cover before dropping her rivals to cruise home by 28m.

That was her first try at the circuit and the distance and she returns to the front line so will be hard to stop.

Stablemate Renewal suffered her first defeat when she sat parked and placed when fresh in the heats but progressed strongly last week with an easy win by close to 15m after racing wide in the latter stages.

She is likely to have come on again so is a threat from the good draw.

Stewart's Petracca has been impressive with big wins in the first two rounds of the 3CG series. He drew wide in last week's semi and raced deep before finding the front and drawing right away.

He is unbeaten at both the circuit and the distance and should be able to dominate from the ace draw.

Again the stablemates look the biggest dangers. Techys Watching was brave in winning the other semi and is drawn to get a trail while Perfect Class has yet to miss the top two this time in, winning his heat in good style and missing Techys Watching by a nose last week.

Top mare Amore Vita is one of eight for Stewart in the 4M Final. The multiple Group 1 winner has been too good in the first two rounds of the series, coming from wider draws each time.

She sat parked but drew away to land last week's semi by 4m, adding to her good records at the circuit and the distance. She is clearly the one they have to beat from this favourable draw.

Sahara Breeze is favourite in the 3F final for Team Quinlan from the ace draw. The reliable filly came from a wider barrier when runner up in last week's semi and had won six of her other seven starts this time in, twice beating big-gun rival Joyful.

That filly – last year's winner of the 2F division – is one of four in the race for Stewart, that team also including the unbeaten Sweet Bella so it looks one of the more competitive finals.

Aaron Dunn's Eyethink comes into the 4EG final on a six-race winning streak so looks hard to stop despite a wide draw but could be pressured by Solesseo Matuca who is drawn to advantage and Rubins Plight who has won four of his last five.

Last year's star juvenile The Locomotive can kick off the trotting races with a win in the 3CG division from a good draw while Arcee Phoenix and Aroha Koe could fight out the 4EG division.

Top filly Rockinwithattitude can add to a terrific season that has already seen her land the Oaks-Derby doubles in both Sydney and Brisbane by winning the 3F Final while the ace draw gives Revelstoke the chance for a minor upset in the 4M decider.

 

BEST BETS:

Menangle Saturday Race 1 #3 Dangerzone @ $3.00 – he's been working up to a win and is well placed in this line-up.

Melton Saturday Race 2 #1 Revelstoke @$3.80 – won a Vicbred final last year and the ace draw can see her do it again.


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