Tim O'Connor picks his favourite bits from the harness racing week that was and the one ahead...

THE HERO

Delizioso

An easy selection for this week's hero after one of the more feel-good results at Melton Entertainment Park last Friday night.

Delizioso, the $5000 “girls’ horse”, beat rivals with much bigger price tags to win the $200,000 Nutrien Equine Classic for two-year-old fillies.

It was an emotional success for Craig and Abbey Turnbull, who combined to win as a father-daughter trainer-driver combination.

Read the story here.

HOW GOOD WAS...

It would have been a rewarding result for trainer-driver Cameron Maggs when View The Art scored at Shepparton on Tuesday night.

Maggs produced the five-year-old mare first-up from a break of more than 850 days to score career victory one at start six.

The well-travelled mare had previously raced at Wagga, Yarra Valley, Melton and Leeton before claiming her maiden in Shepparton.

CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS!

The Aldebaran Park Bendigo Trotters Cup shapes as a great mid-week feature at Lord's Raceway on Wednesday, April 23.

The field includes Alex Ashwood's Group 1 winner Parisian Artiste (30m), in-form Emma Stewart-trained former Kiwi Harold Smith (20m) and Eddie Tappe's emerging gun Im Bobby (10m).

POP THIS IN YOUR DIARY

The next Gordon Rothacker Medallist, Living Legend and Victorian Horse of the Year will be among the winners revealed at a Melton Entertainment Park celebration on May 26.

Check out all the information on Victorian harness racing’s annual awards event here.

ONE FOR THE BLACK BOOK

Sweetnikkilou

A fading fourth beaten 13m might not find its way onto everyone's radar, but I thought the first-up performance from Sweetnikkilou on Saturday night was top notch.

She was caught parked in a hot free for all field and surged up to challenge around the corner before dropping back late after sizzling final quarters of 27.4 and 26.5.

She's very handy and the right barrier draw should see her back in the winner's stall.

SOMETHING TO PONDER...

There's no doubt a few tunes create some great atmosphere wherever you are, so could we incorporate some music into our meetings at Melton Entertainment Park?

How cool would it be to have drivers indicate their favourite song and have it played loudly when they return to the winner's circle for post-race interviews and photos?

Don't overdo it - let the pre-race analysis run its course and the action unfold - but when the race is run, then crank it up and let connections bask in a few moments of glory.

It would add something to the meetings at Melton where the PA is so good and help create an extra buzz around winning a race at our premier track.

Chances are you’re about to lose. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.

The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.