THERE’S something slightly unsettling about the nine-race programme tonight at Tabcorp Park. 

Anybody that’s dedicated time and tears to the brutal art of punting knows that nothing is ever guaranteed; horse racing humbles like few other follies. 

But some puzzles are less predictable than others and few Melton meetings have been more mysterious or challenging than what we tackle tonight. 

It starts in race one where Powderkeg (pictured) is the best horse but resumes from a spell and is likely to be driven conservatively fresh. 

In the second event Willie Go West returns from a rollercoaster Tassie campaign that left fans with more questions than answers. 

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In the third former Kiwi Zigzagzoo returns without a trial, while one race later we have a juvenile feature with two debutantes, one a full brother to Poster Boy (Beach Villa), the other a half-brother to Safari (Commander Buzz). 

And if you think the danger has passed by half past seven; think again. 

The first leg of tonight’s quad features a former Kiwi named Spellbound with big wraps who hasn’t trialled since arriving on Aussie soil, the final leg has Boncel Benjamin, who  we must trust to maintain a stunning streak of improvement for the third straight start. 

Then, almost comically, the last on nine is arguably the hardest race to analyse anywhere in Australia, of any code this week. 

Intuitive decision-making is always crucial to succeeding on the punt but this evening it will be everything. 

Step right tonight and riches shall await, step wrong and you’ll suffer a far different fate. 

OUTSIDE of the Bledisloe Cup, the bitter yet tantalising trans-Tasman rivalry between Australia and New Zealand, which has helped to shape both nations, doesn’t feel as fierce anymore. 

Hopefully that changes for just short of two minutes at Melton this evening. 

One of tonight’s two co-features is the Ian Daff Memorial, a short course race for mares that looks a match race of sorts. 

Representing Australia is Tangoingwithsierra. 

Fast, ferocious and formidable she is unbeaten in eight starts over sprinting trips and seems to have returned from a long hiatus better than ever before. 

Representing New Zealand is Spellbound. 

Highly touted and well-credentialed with multiple Group 1 placings back home in NZ, she will improve on whatever she does here but draws far better than her Australian adversary. 

Both horses also carry significant background narratives into tonight’s stoush. 

As has been widely reported, Tangoingwithsierra’s popular trainer Gary Hoban is facing the fight of his life with Lymphoma at summoning strength for that battle every time his star mare salutes. 

Spellbound, on the other hand, is the flagship star of Nathan Purdon’s burgeoning stable and the one he hopes will pave the path for more Victorian success.