Western Sonador, the highly-talented gelding from the Rebecca Bartley and Stephen O’Donoghue stable, is back and ready to take things to the next level.
He is one of the intriguing runners set to line up during Saturday night’s Bendigo meeting, which kick-starts a month-long stint of metropolitan racing away from its traditional home of Tabcorp Park Melton.
Harness Racing Victoria form analyst Jason Bonnington will make the trip to Lord’s Raceway to join Kirsten Graham and Lachlan McIntosh for the supercharged Trots Vision coverage this weekend.
Through July, Cranbourne, Geelong and Kilmore will also host Saturday night metro cards.
Western Sonador ran some great placings through the 4YO Vicbred Super Series, including a third to Lochinvar Art in the final on New Year’s Eve, and was then tested in some more elite level events through the early part of 2021. He would race in Group 1s on three more occasions before his preparation ended, with a second placing in the Newcastle Mile followed by a sixth in the Schweppes Sprint and fourth in the Ainsworth Free For All at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
He has prepared with two trial wins at Shepparton in recent weeks and Bartley will take the reins in the Simonds Homes Bendigo Pace.
The feature on Saturday night’s card is the Aldebaran Park Touch Merchant Trotters Free For All at Group 3 level.
Another big week is planned on Trots Vision, with the Bendigo and Friday Tabcorp Park Melton meetings to get expansive coverage via thetrots.com.au.
THE WEEK AHEAD
TUESDAY
Tabcorp Park Melton (night)
Dan Mielicki is your caller as racing returns to Victorian HQ for an eight-race card.
WEDNESDAY
Shepparton (night)
Lachlan McIntosh is behind the binoculars for the 10 races out of the Goulburn Valley.
THURSDAY
Ballarat (night)
The debut of Colin Holloway-trained La Mesh is an exciting runner at Bray Raceway, with the youngster a half-brother to the highly-performed Quick Draft and Catch A Moment.
A first-starter out of 2010 Victoria Trotters Derby Final winner Jingling Silver, named Hammer Son, will also step out for Andy Gath.
FRIDAY
Mildura (day)
Luke Humphreys has a rather quiet week on the microphone, but takes up his regular spot in the heart of the Sunraysia for 11 races at Mildura.
Tabcorp Park Melton (night)
Friday night racing is back at Melton, with Dan Mielicki locked in to bring you all of the action alongside Rob Auber, who will be in studio for Trots Vision.
SATURDAY
Bendigo (night)
Lord’s Raceway picks up a superb card of racing, including the Aldebaran Park Touch Merchant Trotters Free For All.
SUNDAY
Charlton (day)
Dan Hibberd will call all of the action from the afternoon meeting at Charlton, which is only the club’s third since mid-April.
MONDAY
Yarra Valley (day)
The new week fires up at Yarra Valley, with the card headlined by the eighth heat of the Alabar Vicbred Platinum Mares Sprint Championship. The $10,000 qualifier leads in to a $40,000 final at Melton on August 7.
