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Australian Harness Racing Preview – November 16, 2024

3 minute read

Trainer Emma Stewart has made a habit of winning Breeders Crown races and while she looks set to win a few more on finals night at Melton on Saturday she may not have things all her own way.

Hesitate.
Hesitate. Picture: HRV

Stewart has the early favourite in three of the four pacing finals but the markets suggest she'll have strong opposition in the two-year-old colts and geldings decider where Hesitate heads the betting.

The Damien Burns-trained Hesitate brings strong form into the contest, overcoming a second row draw for a Listed win in the Tatlow Stakes at the circuit and distance two back before using the sprint lane for a narrow win in his heat last week.

The good draw gives him every chance to land the hat trick.

The lightly-raced but promising Fairplay heads Stewart's team and is hard to knock having made it two from two when saluting first-up in the heats. He cops an awkward draw but has plenty of upside

Stablemate Arsenio is still a maiden but pushed Hesitate when he came from the back line for second in the heats. That was his first outing for eight weeks so he should be improved.

Viney had to settle for third as a hot favourite in the heats but won well after covering ground when fresh two back and draws for a nice trail.

Stewart's Let Her Roll is a hot favourite in the two-year-old fillies final despite copping a wide draw.

She was dominant in the heats when she led and cruised home by more than 8m at this circuit and distance. The wider draw creates more of a challenge but the last outing was her first for eight weeks so she'll be better for it.

She has never missed the top-two and was brave from a tough draw when runner-up in the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series Final two back. She'll be hard to stop.

Menangle-trained filly Namaka has shown her fair share of talent in Sydney and was runner-up to Let Her Roll in her first visit to this circuit in the heats.

She has ground to make up on that rival but gets the benefit of the ace draw.

Sugar Pie Honey copped a back row draw when fourth to Let Her Roll last start but returns to the front line and scored a Group 1 win in the NSW Breeders Challenge Final in Sydney two back.

Bay Of Biscay.
Bay Of Biscay. Picture: HRV

Stewart has a very strong team of six in the three year-old colts and geldings race.

Eureka runner-up Bay Of Biscay returned to the winner's list in last week's heats, drawing a couple of spots wider and using the sprint lane to score narrowly.

That took his record at the circuit and distance to three from five and the low draws give him every chance to back that up.

Some American has been ultra consistent without winning of late, putting together a long string of placings. He led and was edged out by just a nose by Bay of Biscay last week and was beaten the same margin at his previous two outings.

He has been runner-up in both the Victoria Derby and Vicbred Super Series Final this campaign so deserves a big win.

Miki To Success draws on the back row but his form is strong, winning the Vicbred Final and recording two wins and a placing in three starts since while Kingman was a beaten favourite when placed in the heats but dominated the Tasmanian Derby two back and has talent.

Stewart has five in the three-year-old fillies decider where Kiss is favourite despite a wide draw.

She drew the inside and used the sprint lane for a 3.2m win over stablemate and race rival Waterfront last week. Saturday's barrier poses more of a challenge but the last-start win continued her consistent form that included a second in the Victoria Oaks two back so she is a capable filly.

Waterfront stretched her winning streak to nine when she dominated the Tasmanian Oaks two back then returned to the mainland and chased Kiss in the heats. She draws inside that rival tonight and that gives her the chance to turn the tables.

Eureka Jo led and kept going when winning her heat last week. She draws to trail Waterfront and has been going well this campaign including a narrow defeat in the Vicbred final.

Stitched Up Dan placed behind Eureka Jo last week but beat that rival in a blanket finish when runner-up in the Vicbred Final. She draws for a trail so has first four claims.


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