Saturday night’s Tabcorp Park Melton program shapes as a tantalising prelude to the Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup to be run Saturday week.

The Group 2 TAB Smoken Up Sprint, a race named in honour of the mighty Lance Justice-trained champion, will feature the modern-day pin-up pacer in Ride High who, despite drawing the extreme gate 11 over the 1720m, opened prohibitively short with TAB at $1.25 before easing to $1.33.

Ride High (pictured), aka 'Chainsaw', has only tasted defeat once in his 17-start career to date. And since that gutsy third in the Vicbred Super Series three-year-old final of July 7, 2018, the brilliant son of Art Major has built a picket-fence of 11 straight successes. 

And if he can overcome the alley and take his winning run to a dozen with victory on Saturday night, Ride High will only strengthen his hold on market top billing for the $300,000 Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup.

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Among his rivals on Saturday night, New South Wales visitor Cruz, a winner of 27 of his 77 starts, shapes as an interesting contender.

The speedster boasts a career-best 1:49.9 mark at Menangle and is drawn to take full advantage of his early gate speed in barrier two.

With four wins from his last five starts, including twice upstaging Queensland wonder horse Colt Thirty One, the six-year-old son of American Ideal from the Craig Cross camp has never raced better.

South-west Victoria's latest star pacer, Code Bailey, has drawn gate seven for his return, the Marg Lee-trained Bendigo and Terang Cup winner first-up since finishing sixth in the Miracle Mile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another highlight on Saturday night will be the Allied Express Jane Ellen Pace over 2240m, which has attracted a sterling line-up of mares.

Group 1 winners Kualoa, Dr Susan, Goodtime Heaven and No Win No Feed will all contest the $30,000 event. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the Aldebaran Park Chris Howe Trotters Free for All brings together a star-studded line-up of trotters, with Tornado Valley, Sparkling Success, Dance Craze and Sammy Showdown among the key contestants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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