The Feature race on a big night of trots at Melton on Saturday is the Group 2 City of Melton Plate and trainer Vince Vallelonga is hopeful his star pacer Major Crocker can use it as a stepping stone to gaining a start in this year’s Inter Dominion in Perth.
“We paid the first payment the other day so we will go there if we can. I’m hopeful we can win Saturday Night to sneak up the rankings a bit,” he said.
Vallelonga hasn’t ruled out a trip to Queensland if needed to help him gain a start but would prefer to qualify in his home state.
“If he doesn’t win Saturday Night we will look at other options like the QPC next week. Ideally I don’t want to travel that far then have to come back and then go to Perth.”
A terrific run last week finishing off well in a blistering last half behind Philadelphia Man Vallelonga is extremely happy with how the horse pulled up from that run.
“He is going good, he came through it really well and I am pretty happy with him.”
He is the only horse drawn the second line on Saturday night so driver Greg Sugars will have options early and Vallelonga will leave it all up to him.
“Once they’re out there things can change so I’ll just leave it up to Greg, he has driven enough races to know what to do and he knows the horse inside out.”
Vallelonga has two other runners engaged on the program including the luckless Stunning Grin in the first, who is racing very consistently and would thoroughly deserve his M0 win, and also Manuka Man in Race 6, who has been freshened after having issues with his feet but has drawn well for the claim of Jason Lee.
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