Lance Justice wins a Tabcorp Park Melton Cup heat aboard Franco Ambassador last Friday night. Jason Hackett will be in the cart in tonight's final with Justice to partner Hollywood Bromac
Lance Justice’s decision to drive Hollywood Bromac in tonight’s Shire Of Melton Tabcorp Park Melton Cup underlines the opinion he has of the four-year-old.
Although the gelding was beaten in last week's heat and has drawn worse than under-rated stablemate Franco Ambassador, an upset winner of the other heat, he has retained his trainer-driver’s services for the $25,000 final.
“I had to think about who I was going to drive, but Hollywood Bromac is a pretty classy animal,” Justice said.
“He’s not that far behind the top-liners I’ve got. Franco works with the top-liners, but he’s always just that extra little bit behind them.”
Jason Hackett replaces Justice behind Franco Ambassador. He has the advantage of barrier four in the 2240-metre mobile, at 8.42pm, with Hollywood Bromac to start off the back row in gate 11.
That’s one spot inside his conqueror from last week, Our Chain Of Command, who is the $2.70 favourite in the market of HRV price assessor Bill Hutchison, who has Hollywood Bromac at $3.50 and Franco Ambassador $15.
“I think Hollywood Bromac is a bit better chance, but the way Franco Ambassador went last week, he’s not out of it and shouldn’t be taken lightly,” Justice said. “If he can find the front again they’ll find it hard to get past him.”
Completing Justice’s impressive Tabcorp Park Melton Cup contingent is Promises Kept, who will have her last run for Justice before returning to her native New South Wales. She will start from gate nine and has the services of Tanya Dyer.
Tonight has the potential to be a stellar night for Justice, who has millionaire pacer Smoken Up engaged in the night’s co-feature, the $20,000 Bolinda Publishing My Lightning Blue Free-For-All.
The Inter Dominion placegetter has the outside-front-row barrier and a star-studded field to contend with in the 1720-metre scamper, but Justice has noticed improvement since his devastating Our Maestro FFA win on July 23.
“He likes the wide draw, he loves barrier seven, it’s his favourite barrier,” Justice said facetiously. “But he’s probably won more races from there than anywhere.
“It’s going to be a very hard race, but he’s come back better than ever and whatever beats him will be the winner.”
The My Lightning Blue FFA, which also contains Grand Circuit winners Melpark Major, Cincinnati Kid and Bold Cruiser, is Race 7 and will be run at 9.42pm.
