Welcome to our harness racing preview and betting tips for racing at Albion Park, Menangle and Melton on Saturday, May 18th.
We've picked out our best bets from each track below with four selections in total, including the Group 1 Queen Of The Pacific at Melton!
Harness Racing Tips: Saturday, May 18th
Albion Park Race 3 – 6:15pm
A competitive field of eight runners contests this C4+ event over 2138m. (6) Argyle Beach is racing well with two wins and a second from her past three starts. The 5YO mare trained by Chantal Turpin was narrowly defeated by Tulhurst Ace in 1:52.4 last start. Her two wins came from stands but she looks the leading chance in this race. (5) Spike Bromac draws inside Argyle Beach which helps his cause. Most of the field are capable with the right run.
Melton Race 2 – 5:30pm AEST
Two starts ago (11) Bopper Jet won well to run down Jean Luc over track and distance. The smaller field certainly helped and this will be tougher with more horses to run past. The favourites form doesn’t jump off the page with Bopper Jet looking to have similar claims in the race. Double figures are a good enough price to back the 7YO gelding who was placed last start. (3) Our Sir Oliver looks the main danger from the good draw.
Melton Race 6 – 7:30pm AEST
This M1 Only race looks very competitive and happy to support former WA pacer (9) Arthur Lowe at odds from barrier two on the second row. He has been racing in claiming grade having notched two wins from his past four starts. Greg Sugars drives stablemate (3) Be Good Juddy who is a better chance, but the price difference is large between the pair. There are plenty of other chances in the race, with (6) Vinny Chase a likely improver with Kima Frenning picking up the drive.
Melton Race 7 – Group 1 Queen Of The Pacific – 8:08pm AEST
The main event of the evening is the Queen of the Pacific for mares over 2760m. (11) Tell Me Tales for Emma Stewart and Chris Alford looks hardest to beat with the 5YO mare suffering defeat behind stablemate (13) Berisari last time in the Group 3 Angelique Club Pace (2240m). Tell Me Tales gets a slight barrier draw advantage here which is important. This is her first start beyond 2600m; I don’t think the distance will bother her. If Tell Me Tales can use her class to find the lead, they won’t run her down. She can still sit parked and go very close.
Menangle Race 7 – 8:27pm AEST
I am not convinced about (5) Eye See Diamonds in the race who will spear across to lead. She has been costly for punters recently and I’d much prefer to be with (2) Du Vella who has been racing very well without winning. The Paul Fitzpatrick-trained 7YO mare was third last start in 1:50.8. Barrier two should ensure she races in the first half of the field and she should be finishing strongly in a wide-open race where I think the favourite is too short. (9) Come Cullect looks one of the better chances in the race also.
