Gatesys Gem. Photo by Club Menangle - Pacepix
Gatesys Gem will be looking to follow in the footsteps of fellow Victorian Keayang Zahara last year and complete the NSW Trotters Oaks and Derby double at Menangle on Saturday night.
The Glenn Hunter-trained filly is early favourite for what looks an even running of the $75,000 Group 1 NSW Trotters Derby and has Luke McCarthy driving again.
Gatesys Gem took advantage of the ace draw to lead and prove too strong for the fillies in last week's NSW Oaks at the same circuit and distance, hanging on to get home by a metre.
She tackles the boys this time and draws much wider but should be at her peak third-up and is a big talent.
Fellow Victorian Enchauffour draws wide but looks a danger.
He has been good from the back row in his two outings since a spell, last time beaten 2.7m into second at Geelong.
He won his lone third-up attempt so should be peaking now and showed his ability in winning last year's Breeders Crown final.
Last season's Vicbred Super Series winner Commodus showed improvement when runner-up at Ballarat last week and won his lone third-up attempt so is another that should be hitting peak fitness.
Lotus Louise is racing well at Menangle with placings in both starts since a fresh win, all from wider barriers. He draws to play a role while San Juan Mountain deserves respect after winning three of four starts at the circuit this time in.
Progressive gelding Vite Monet will have to overcome a back row draw again if he is to win Saturday night's other Menangle feature, the TAB Regional Final – Metropolitan.
Vite Monet did a good job for a resuming win by 3.2m in last week's heat, taking his record at the circuit and distance to three from three.
He may be relying on luck to get away from the pegs but he goes very well second up with three wins and a placing from four attempts.
Horn Player was solid when midfield in the Riverina Championships final two back before impressively winning last week's heat, leading from the same barrier and scoring by more than 10m. He should push forward again and could prove tough to catch.
Mister Bluechip did a good job to make a winning return after more than nine months on the sidelines, leading to win by almost 3m here last week.
He draws on the back row this time but is open to improvement while Tomahawk Bart deserves respect having added to a string of top-two finishes when runner-up to Vite Monet from a similar barrier last week.
