Chris Alford will stick with the uber-talented Cover Of Darkness for his first foray into open class company this Saturday night at Tabcorp Park Melton.
The champion reinsman has decided to partner the Emma Stewart-trained excitement machine despite Sleepee – a horse prepared by his wife Alison – also being in the same race.
The two will clash in the Group 3 Woodlands Stud Noopy Kiosk Trotters Free For All, which has drawn a quality field of squaregaiters.
Joining Cover Of Darkness and Sleepee in the field is Matthew Craven’s multiple Group 1-winning mare Pink Galahs, while Big Jack Hammer (David Aiken) and Sparkling Success (John Meade) make up a star-studded back row for the 1720m sprint.
Cover Of Darkness returned from a spell and his only career failure to date with a slashing victory in the IRT Australia Trot at Melton on May 29, taking his record to nine wins from 10 starts and more than $80,000 in prizemoney.
Alford told thetrots.com.au Josh Duggan would take the drive of Sleepee this Saturday night.
The Noopy Kiosk is one of the highlights on the Melton card, with the Allied Express Blossom Lady another of the features worth $24,000. Michael Stanley-trained Iolanta looks the horse to beat after defeating top Kiwi mare Spellbound at her latest outing.
The meeting is one of three that will get expansive Trots Vision coverage this week, with Paul Campbell to host tonight’s Terang card and also Friday night’s Shepparton races, which include the $25,000 George Croxford Tribute for the three-year-olds.
THE WEEK AHEAD
TUESDAY
Terang (night)
Luke Humphreys will be joined by host Paul Campbell for an extensive night of Trots vision coverage from Terang, with the first of eight races set to go at 5.34pm.
WEDNESDAY
Bendigo (night)
Lachlan McIntosh is behind the microphone for the Lord's Raceway meeting, which gets underway with the first of 10 at 5.04pm.
THURSDAY
Ballarat (night)
Bray Raceway has racing for the first time since June 4, with Dan Mielicki to call the card.
FRIDAY
Mildura (day)
Another massive Friday of racing kicks off in the Sunraysia where Bernie Winkle goes in search of win 30 at Mildura. If successful, he will pass Sokyola (Moonee Valley, 29 wins) and Make Mine Cullen (Tabcorp Park Melton, 29 wins) on the modern era list of most successful horses at a single Victorian track.
Shepparton (night)
The George Croxford Tribute is the major highlight of the night meeting in the Goulburn Valley. The $25,000 race, first run in 1995, is for three-year-olds rated between 48 and 59. Paul Campbell will host the extended Trots Vision coverage, with Lachlan McIntosh to call all the action.
SATURDAY
Tabcorp Park Melton (night)
The Woodlands Stud Noopy Kiosk Trotters Free For All looks a mouth-watering battle and shares top-billing on the card alongside the Allied Express Blossom Lady for the NR 70-99 mares. Both races are worth $24,000.
Rob Auber and Tim O'Connor will be in studio to host the Trots Vision coverage alongside caller Dan Mielicki.
SUNDAY
Cranbourne (twilight)
Luke Humphreys saddles up for his third meeting of the week behind the binoculars, with Cranbourne again taking charge of its regular Sunday twilight timeslot.
MONDAY
Charlton (day)
Charlton gears up for its first meeting of the month, with Lachlan McIntosh to call the action throughout the afternoon.