The $34,000 Classique Landscapers Silk Road Final for trotting fillies and mares has drawn a terrific field full of form this Friday night. As is often the case at Alexandra Park the Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett team dominate the trotting races numerically and have three very good chances this week.
Two of those, Courmayeur and Melsadele have differing form lines and share the co back mark of 25m as they clash for the first time in their respective campaigns. The former galloped and took no part last week whilst Melsadele was a dominant winner of the TAB Metro Final .
‘’Courmayeur was the victim of the false starts and got very wound up so it would be best to forgive her on that and go on her excellent 2nd behind Halberg a fortnight earlier. She has to be driven for her speed so requires a bit more luck than Melsadele who has been super in both of her runs this time in. She was 2nd in both the NSW and NZ Derby’s and can really stay so Todd (driver) has more options so is the top pick of our three”.
The third of the training couple’s runners is Shesgold who is three weeks between runs but gets in off the front. “We are happy with her and she races well in a fresh condition. She will be driven by Benjamin Butcher.
Of that stable’s opposition, Sans Au Revoir is well placed being off the front and gets another 15m off Melsadele compared to last time when she was 3rd. The Roydon Downey trained 7yo was a winner the week earlier and has struck up a good association with gun junior driver Harrison Orange. Ocean Eyes is the only filly in the race but has won two of her last three and was driven on both occasions by her driver tonight Zachary Butcher whilst you can never count out the former oaks winner Con Grazia Love who had little luck last time but had been very good in her previous two attempts.
Earlier in the night American Me gets a chance to repay the punters in the IRT.Your Horse Our Passion Handicap Pace. The Brett and Tim White trained 8yo was a dominant winner first up in his northern campaign but was a victim of circumstances when beaten and short odds over the shorter 2200m last time. He’s back to the 2700m this week, generally steps very quickly and is only 10m behind his biggest threat Mantra Blue.