Melpark Major is one of the favourites for Sunday's Group 2 WMT Horsham Pacing Cup
Grand, seasoned, star performer Melpark Major looks the major player in Sunday afternoon’s $60,000 (Group 2) Wimmera Mail-Times Horsham Pacing Cup.
The 8yo bay gelding is in the winner of 31 races and $830,000 in 6 years of racing at the elite level for his proud owner Don Smith and will be partnered on Sunday by his now regular driver Amy Tubbs.
Melpark Major been ultra consistent in his 10 outings this campaign and although his record shows just one victory, downing Im Themightyquinn in the Popular Alm FFA at Melton back in early December, two highly respectable 2nd placings at Tabcorp Park behind the champion Smoken Up and another close up 2nd to the rising star Bittobliss in The Legends, show that the old boy still packs plenty of punch.
The barrier gods have certainly shined for trainer Alan Tubbs and his daughter Amy, with Melpark Major following out the early speed from gate 9 in the Cup, while some of his main rivals Our Chain Of Command (8),, Decorated Jasper (10) and Arber (6) on paper at least, haven't fared as well.
Melton horseman Lance Justice was at home nursing a broken ankle when acceptances for the Cup were taken but the stable will have two runners on Sunday afternoon – the much travelled 8yo gelding Our Malabar (32 wins & $473k) and his new-kid-on-the-block, The Smiler which in just 7 months has gone from winning a C2/3 contest at Horsham on Invitation Drivers Day to contesting a $60,000 Group 2 event, and the 4th richest prize on the Choice Hotels Country Cups Carnival.
Of the pair, Our Malabar is a proven tough stayer with plenty of early toe and looks a real live chance on Sunday. He should enjoy the run of the race, given the services of legendary reinsman Gavin Lang and barrier 5 on the front line.
Our Chain Of Command is an exciting type from the astute Dean Braun camp. He went amiss back in June but graduated to top company during last summer, culminating with a close up mid-field finish in the $425,000 Big6 Hunter Cup behind the likes of Stunnin Cullen, Smiling Shard & Im Themightyquinn. The lightly raced 6yo has trialled well recently and if driver Chris Alford can edge away from the pegs in the final lap, the 6yo bay will be charging home at the finish.
Armstrong trained bay gelding Arber is the least experienced runner in the Cup with only 22 career starts under the belt. The Brooke Hansen -Tim O'Brien trained son of Village Jasper has stacks of talent and it will be interesting to see how he measures up against Sunday's quality opposition and also at his first try from the mobile gate at a distance beyond 2200m.
Grant Campbell would be hoping to secure a mid-field spot early on and would then be content to drive Arber for a bit of luck after and if he gets it,, the son of Villager Jasper won’t be too far away from them at the finish. Whatever happens on Sunday, the experience will be invaluable and Arber’s certainly a name to look out for in 12 months time.
Craig Demmler and his partner Jodi Quinlan return to Horsham on Sunday and no doubt are hoping for a repeat of last year when Christian Melody captured the Cup for their Parwan stable. However, in version 2102 they will be represented by another mare in Glenferrie Alexis which has already taken out both out the Maryborough & Yarra Glen Pacing Cups this season.
Last summer the talented daughter of Courage Under Fire finished close up behind Our Chain Of Command and Village Of Dreams in the $100,000 Tasmanian Cup that sort of form combined with barrier 4 in Horsham's feature contest,, puts her right in the mix.
Ballarat pacer Decorated Jasper is as honest as they come and has given loads of joy to trainer Paul Rowse and his connections. “Jasper” rates just short of Grand Circuit company and looks ideally suited in this Group 2 class and with a bit of luck from an awkward draw, Sunday could be his biggest payday to date. He was far from disgraced against the big guns in the recent SEW Eurodrive Victoria Cup and if young reinsman Greg Sugars can weave some of his magic
