Tuesday Digest

Fresh Freddy

IF HE’S to break through first up from a three month spell at Bendigo tonight, Smooth Freddy will need to go one better than his trials approaching the race.

Adam Kelly’s exciting four-year-old has been to the trials three times in the past month and finished second on each occasion.

The good news is two of the horses who have beaten him in Djibouti and Freemason have recorded subsequent victories and the other, Chancellor Cullen, is one of Australia’s best four-year-old pacers.

Harness Racing Victoria form expert Michael Polster has assessed Smooth Freddy a $1.60 favourite in the Len ‘Curly’ Orwin Pace from barrier two tonight.

Track specialist Kremlin ($4.50) and the poorly drawn but talented George Street Lad ($9) are the other runners under double figures.

Dasher delivers

EXCITING six-year-old Dasher VC has confirmed his status as Western Australia’s pre-eminent pacer in work by claiming the Brennan Memorial last weekend at Gloucester Park.

A Golden Nugget and McInerney Classic winner at four, Dasher VC finished a narrow second to WA’s greatest pacer of the past decade, Im Themightyquinn, in January’s WA Pacing Cup.

Mixed results in this year’s Inter Dominion series saw the son of Washington VC transferred from Peter Tilbrook to Andrew De Campo.

First up success for the new barn was followed by a pair of near misses but after four straight wins, including his last start victory over Mysta Magical Mach, Dasher VC is finally fulfilling his potential.

Champion Perth pacer Im Themightyquinn is also progressing well in his comeback from injury.

Melton Plate

FRESH from dominating some of Victoria’s best open class pacers, Caribbean Blaster will back up in the Group 2 City of Melton Plate this Friday night at Tabcorp Park.

Victoria’s unofficial early season championship for four and five-year-old pacers, the City of Melton Plate has been a breeding ground for some of the finest local pacers of the modern era.

Tailamade Lombo, Shakamaker, Sokyola and Robin Hood are just a few who have saluted in the 2240m feature since 1998.

Caribbean Blaster is likely to start a short priced favourite at his second last run before crossing the Tasman for November’s New Zealand Cup but he will face some worthy rivals this weekend.

Gifted Ballarat based five-year-old Savesomtimetodream and former Kiwi four-year-old Chancellor Cullen will also line up along with underrated Bendigo pacer Saint Flash.

Returning star

THE CITY of Melton Plate won’t be the only highlight this weekend with the return of Renaissance Man also a feature of Friday night’s Tabcorp Park card.

A stablemate of Caribbean Blaster at Andy Gath’s Long Forest barn, Renaissance Man was considered one of Australia’s most exciting juvenile pacers two years ago.

He has been off the scene for more than 12 months but was impressive winning a recent Tabcorp Park trial and may be back to his breathtaking best.

Another star nominated for Victoria’s major meeting of the week is Mister Zion, who will be searching for his fifth squaregaiting win in the Group 3 Scotch Notch Memorial.