By Adam Hamilton
STUNNING young trotter Monbet faces yet another new and exciting challenge at Melton on Saturday night.
As dominant as the four-year-old has been so far this season, this could be his biggest test so far.
Monbet rises in class, is drawn outside some of his key rivals and comes back to a shortish 2240m trip in the $100,000 Group 1 Australian Trotting Grand Prix.
Sure he’s opened a $1.50 favourite on the Aussie TAB, but that looks skinny.
The Greg and Nina Hope-trained star may well have to sit parked to win.
That’s because the much-improved Glenferrie Typhoon has the drawn the pole and should have the early speed to use it and lead.
Even the ageing champ Keystone Del (gate three) has drawn inside Monbet, who starts directly outside him in gate four.
It’s a cracking race with the other glamour Kiwi trotter Speeding Spur facing a big challenge from gate six.
Even wider is former glamour Kiwi mare Habibti in barrier seven.
If Glenferrie Typhoon leads and runs up to his past two wins – especially Shepparton two starts back – Monbet will have to smash the clock to beat him.
At Shepparton, Glenferrie Typhoon led throughout to easily beat Keystone Del and company in a scorching 1min56.2sec mile rate for 2190m.
WHILE trainer Andy Gath was all smiles after Glenferrie Typhoon’s drawn, he was lamenting gate eight for Burnaholeinmpocket in the $100,000 Group 1 Bonanza (1720m).
It’s his one and only chance – and only a win will do it – to secure a spot in the Chariots Of Fire field.
Now, from inside the back row, luck will play as much of a run as ability in Burnaholeinmypocket’s chances.
It’s a ripping race with the exciting former Kiwi pacer Tact Tate – now with Amanda Turnbull and Nathan Jack – and Mark Purdon’s Its Bettor To Win sharing early Aussie TAB favouritism at $2.90.
Burnaholeinmypocket is a $3.80 shot.
Although Tact Tate has gate four, many think he gate speed Its Bettor To Win showed last week could be enough to eventually see him work to the lead from the zippy polemarker Tee Cee Bee Macray.
The race has so much depth, the gifted sit-sprinter My Kiwi Mate is a $12 shot from outside the back row (gate 11) at his second run back from a spell.
STAR mare Nike Franco should take advantage of a big class drop to overcome a wide draw and win Saturday night’s Group 1 Ladyship Cup (1720m) at Melton.
There was plenty to like about the five-year-old’s last 80m when she hit the line well for fourth to stars Yankee Rockstar and Itz Bettor To Win last Saturday.
Her major rivals look to be: Milly Perez (one), Bettor Downunder (five), Betabcool (six) and Berisari (eight).
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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