Flying Zion looks the winner say rivals

Jodi Quinlan will look for more squaregaiting success this weekend with Sports Fantasy in the Group 3 Scotch Notch Memorial.

Lance Justice takes two runners into Friday night’s City of Melton Scotch Notch Memorial, but says the handicapper’s been too friendly to race favourite Mister Zion.

“If it had been Earl Of Mot he’d have been off 40m,” Justice said, remarking about the Geoff Webster-trained pacer-cum-trotter getting a handicap of 30m for the 2760m event.

Justice has out-of-form 11-year-old Just A Cracker and seven-year-old Motu Young Jacob into the time-honoured race, but admits it’ll be tough to knock over the up-and-coming Mister Zion.

“I’d be hoping they run along up front and make it hard for Mister Zion to make up the ground,” Justice said.

Jodi Quinlan, meanwhile, takes Sports Fantasy into the race on the back of three straight Melton victories.

But despite the impressive picket fence of form, Quinlan admits Mister Zion looks all but unbeatable tomorrow night.

“I think he’ll make up that handicap and he looks the winner,” she said when asked about the favourite.

But Quinlan is tickled pink about the form of her 10-year-old son of Keystone Salute.

“To be honest it wouldn’t matter if he didn’t win another race, he’s exceeded all our expectations,” Quinlan said.

“He’s done everything right, but he’s in another league tomorrow night. But he’ll be competitive.”