Trots Centre: Morning and night Melton's calling for Maree

With her first runner at 9.15am and the last at 8.30pm, trainer Maree Caldow's day will be more than a little unusual, but being trackside at Tabcorp Park Melton near her vast trots 'family' is a welcome support.

Along with husband John, the Caldows are close friends of Meagan Lang and her late husband, brilliant reinsman Gavin. Their training bases are only a short drive apart and Maree said she had a deep feeling of sadness that would be with her for some time.

"I just walk in to Melton and look over where he had his horses and just feel sad. There's just going to be a sadness and emptiness for a long time," she said. "He's a hero to so many. John grew up idolising him and (has) then been best mates with him. It's just really, really sad."

John will be well-placed a pay tribute to Lang today on the track, with all four horses having tricky draws and likely to be kept quiet for a late pounce in true Group 1 Gav style.

The Caldows quartet are evenly split across Melton's morning and night sessions, and while Maree said "it's going to be an early start for sure on Saturday, but if that's where the punters are going to be following us, we've got to go where we've got to go".

Today is the first of three weeks Melton will host Saturday morning meetings, with racing to run from 8.30am to 10.45am and then resume at 5.03pm for the night session.

Plenty will be tuning in on Trots Vision and Sky Racing throughout today, in addition to the US audience taking in the Saturday morning racing, and among those sure to be watching the coverage during covid-19 trackside restrictions will be the many connections of the Caldow entrants.

"The hardest thing for us is we miss our owners. We've got wonderful owners that come and watch their horses race all the time," she said. "I do try to Facetime and send photos and videos, but not having them there is not the same."

Maree will prepare Meziah for the Alderbaran Park Trot (2240m, NR 46 to 55) and Ian Raymond for the Empire Stallions Pace (1720m, NR 52 to 55) in the morning Melton meeting before returning to the track in the evening with Bye Bye Barbie for the Allied Express Pace (1720m, mares NR 57 to 69) and Our Sportscaster for the Hyland Racing Colours Pace (2240m, NR 70 to 77).

Here are her thoughts on her four runners for Trots Centre:

Morning:

R3 N9 Meziah: "He's been going quite well, three thirds in his last five starts, so he's been thereabouts. He's got a following through draw, sometimes with trotters you don't know what's going to happen in front of you, but he's got a good chance if he does everything right."

R5 N8 Ian Raymond: "I think he's got a good show. Same again, he's got a following through draw, the one (Itsokbeingbetter) hopefully if it can hold up we will get a good run on its back. He was really pleasing last start, his owners up in Ouyen, they are the sort of people who would come all the time to watch their horse. They will be watching with pride and it would be awesome if he could get the winner for them."

Night:

R2 N6 Bye Bye Barbie: "It's a bloody tough field. There are some really nice mares around at the moment. She's drawn awkwardly in six, we have jut got to hope that John can slot in their somewhere and she's the sort of girl that can come off the speed and with a bit of luck she could do her best. She always tries her best. Hopefully the speed's on and she's doing her best at the end."

R8 N7 Our Sportscaster: "He won four starts, he's been going really good - last two (starts were) seconds. He does go good when the speed's on, drawn seven he will probably have to go back. There are some nice hores in it, Two Times Bettor and some pretty handy ones, so hopefully someone puts a bit of speed on and Our Sportscaster will be coming home at the end as well."

TALKING TROTS ON SENTRACK:

Hosts Jason Bonnington and Blake Redden will guide listeners through the wins, near-misses and opportunities with a Talking Trots on SEN Track double, running from 9-11am and 5.30-9.30pm.

Aired on SEN 1116AM and 1377AM in Melbourne, 657AM in Perth and 1575AM in Wollongong, you can also click here to listen live online and for links to download the SEN app.