Emerging Narrandera star Nerano will chase a second Victorian feature race success in less than a week when he tackles Saturday night’s City Of Melton Plate.
The Ellen Bartley-trained five-year-old took out Sunday’s Wangaratta Pacing Cup and has drawn barrier six for the weekend’s Group 2 over the 2240m trip.
A winner of 10 races from 28 starts, the gelding will be driven by top NSW reinsman Blake Jones.
Russell Jack’s Hi Manameisjeff has gate five and is sure to be among the fancied contenders in the $50,000 race for four and five-year-olds, as will stablemate Boots Electric.
Wangaratta Cup runner-up Rick Reilly is one of three starters from the Julie Douglas yard along with Captain Confetti and Ozzie Battler.
CITY OF MELTON PLATE XXXIII (GROUP 2)
1 57351 TELEMACHUS Nathan Cahir Nathan Cahir
2 41542 CHEROKEE JOE Jess Tubbs James Herbertson (C)
3 86323 CAPTAIN CONFETTI NZ Julie Douglas Jack Laugher (C)
4 03351 HES UNDER WRAPS NZ Andy Gath Kate Gath
5 91213 HI MANAMEISJEFF NZ Russell Jack Nathan Jack
6 12361 NERANO NZ Ellen Bartley Blake Jones
7 25962 RICK REILLY NZ Julie Douglas Jack Laugher (C)
------------------------------ Second Row -----------------------------
8 31227 OZZIE BATTLER Julie Douglas Jack Laugher (C)
9 81401 DENIS WILLIAM S M Walker, A D Walker Simone Walker
10 22005 JILLIBY SYLVESTER Margaret Lee Glen Craven
11 14304 BOOTS ELECTRIC NZ Russell Jack Nathan Jack
The Saturday night Melton card features Group 1 events, with two divisions of the Aldebaran Park Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic for three year-old trotters.
Heats for both fillies and colts and geldings were staged at Bendigo on March 9.
ALDEBARAN PARK VICBRED PLATINUM HOME GROWN CLASSIC (3YO TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS) FINAL (GROUP 1)
1 27211 HES A HAMMER David Aiken Chris Alford
2 49s23 GAELIC LAD Terry Young Jason Ainsworth
3 215 HEPHAESTUS PHOENIX Chris Svanosio Chris Svanosio
4 5 BACARDI SPIRIT Jason Hackett Greg Sugars
5 13s12 SIR EROS Danny O'Brien Anthony Butt
6 2s1 EE BE MAC Maree Campbell Kerryn Manning
7 29s6 FENOMENAL (Em 1) Wayne Potter SCRATCHED
------------------------------ Second Row -----------------------------
8 862s2 MAORI MUSCLE Michael Stanley Michael Stanley
9 6s24 ITS DIAMOND CREEK Jenny Johnson Daryl Douglas
10 3s163 HESANAVENGER Chris Angove James Herbertson (C)
11 844 INSPIRE Nigel Milne Nigel Milne
ALDEBARAN PARK VICBRED PLATINUM HOME GROWN CLASSIC (3YO TROTTING FILLIES) FINAL (GROUP 1)
1 0s213 MUMPAYSTHEBILLS D P Barnes, B D Barnes Craig Demmler
2 s6s14 ILLAWONG LARAJAY Jess Tubbs James Herbertson (C)
3 6s33 ICEEYALOOKIN Ron Comben Ross Payne
4 50s51 ATEGO DAWN Neil Rowley Rodney Petroff
5 55532 BOUTIKA B W Ainsworth, A A Ainsworth Ashley Ainsworth
6 34685 AUZZIE SPIRIT Richie Caruana Richie Caruana
7 36 ACOOL INVESTMENT (Em 1) Ron Comben Ross Payne
------------------------------ Second Row -----------------------------
8 11 BE MY STAR Nathan Purdon Josh Dickie
9 442 KEAYANG ZENDAYA Paddy Lee Glen Craven
10 s45s5 GARDENA RONDA Blake Fitzpatrick Greg Sugars
11 74 KARAS DREAM Faye McEwan Josh Duggan
The other highlight of the meeting is the Event 720 Scotch Notch Memorial, where Andy Gath’s highly-touted Kiwi import Chinese Whisper lines up for his second Australian start.
The horse galloped and lost all chance as a short-priced favourite last week at Melton, but is back to tackle six rivals in the $24,000 Group 3.
EVENT 720 SCOTCH NOTCH MEMORIAL (GROUP 3)
1 04939 SUNDONS COURAGE Chris Angove James Herbertson (C)
2 24448 ALWAYS READY Anton Golino Jack Laugher (C)
3 3s684 JUST BELIEVE Michael Hughes Rodney Petroff
4 77311 TEETREETOMMY Michael Barby Anne-Maree Conroy
5 36314 ALDEBARAN CRESCENT David Aiken James Herbertson (C)
6 4s439 CHINESE WHISPER NZ Andy Gath Kate Gath
7 20228 KYVALLEY CHIEF NZ Brent Lilley Chris Alford
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