Lance Justice holds a narrow margin in the metropolitan trainers premiership.
It’s not unusual to see Lance Justice have a bevy of chances at Tabcorp Park Melton, in fact, with less than a month left in the season he currently leads the Taylors metropolitan trainer premiership.
A quartet of hopes in the dual-feature races on the night will hold the key to Justices’ hopes of shooting clear of his nearest rival, David Aiken.
The Tabcorp Park Melton Pacing Cup may turn into a staying test and with plenty of speed drawn wide on the front row, namely out of the Melton trainer’s stable.
Fiery Achiever, drawn five, and Toulouse Lautrec, drawn seven, both have good gate speed and the early tactics will no doubt play a part in the pair’s chances.
“I do think Fiery Achiever will find the pegs first. He does actually go better with a trail but it’s really hard because he has to trail a horse that it still running,” Justice said.
“He can’t muster a good sprint so he just keeps winding up. He’ll be a top four finisher I would have thought. Toulouse Lautrec is flying; I’m hoping he can get out of the gate good enough to take it to Fiery Achiever and find the front and just run at very good sections.”
TAB fixed odds bookmakers rate Fiery Achiever a $7.50 chance while Toulouse Lautrec is considered the more likely of the two at $5.50 with the in-form Washmepockets the $4.60 outright favourite.
In the co-feature of the night, the My Lightning Blue Free For All, the race has changed dramatically with the scratching of Bitobliss. One of the stars of the past few seasons pulled up with an elevated temperature earlier in the week.
That has left the leading trainers pair, Im Barney Rubble and The Smiler with vastly improved hopes; however, they will still have to get past Restrepo who has drawn the pole for Emma Stewart.
There is a chance that may occur at the start though, with The Smiler showing plenty of toe in his races, giving Justice, and driver Chris Alford, the option of testing the likely favourite early.
“Have A Bender held Im Barney Rubble last time they went around together but The Smiler is a bit quicker than Im Barney Rubble so I don’t really know. It’s a pretty hard race but I guess 1700 metres down the back straight probably gives the outside horse the best chance of sling-shotting across,” he said.
“One thing with Im Barney Rubble is that he is definitely a much better leader than he is sitting in the field, that’s for sure.”
Restrepo remains the clear-cut favourite with HRV form expert Jason Bonnington at $1.90 however Have A Bender ($4.50), Abettorpunt ($6) and Motu Crusader ($6) are all well in the market.
Im Barney Rubble ($12) and The Smiler ($26) will both have to defy the odds to continue Justice’s stellar season on the city racing scene.
To see Justice’s thoughts on all his runners at tonight’s meeting, simply click here this afternoon for the #GoodForm blog and Tabcorp Park Trainer Talk.