Aetos Dynamis will be the least experienced runner in the field when he strives for Group 1 honours on Saturday night.
The squaregaiter has only raced three times in the lead-up to the Hygain Breeders Crown final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings, with the son of Skyvalley a narrow winner at Kilmore on October 12 before back-to-back fourth placings at Maryborough.
The most recent of those was in a heat of the Breeders Crown series behind $1.14 favourite The Locomotive and trainer Trish McVeigh holds an element of confidence heading into the final with James Herbertson to partner the horse from gate two.
“He’s good and I’m really happy with him,” McVeigh said.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better draw actually, it gives James some options as to whether he wants to get to the fence or look for cover.
“It puts us right where we want to be.”
McVeigh will leave race tactics up to Herbertson, who is the state’s leading driver this year with 233 winners.
“I don’t usually give James too many instructions, we usually just have a look at the field together and go through some options. He will definitely have permission to come out of the gate and try and get across,” she said.
“He will know how the horse feels and I’d be happy with that.”
McVeigh believes her gelding has shown in the past that he has good gate speed.
“He had a bit of gate speed at his first start at Kilmore, when Greg (Sugars) drove him, and he came out equal to the leader…,” she said.
“In his second start at Maryborough, James (Herbertson) just let him come out and it was his first drive on him in a race. I think he will potentially cross the one (At The Distance).”
The winner of the second heat, Queensland raider Not As Promised, is the current $1.80 favourite for the race from gate four, while The Locomotive, last year’s Victorian 2YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year, makes up the second line of betting at $3.20. Aetos Dynamis is one of the rank outsiders in the market at $151.
TUNE IN at MELTON on Saturday night
First Race: 5.52pm Last Race: 11.05pm
Racecaller: Dan Mielicki, Kirsten Graham, Bronte Nieuwenburg and Ryan Phelan
TrotsVision: WATCH LIVE
SEN Track: LISTEN LIVE
RSN 927: LISTEN LIVE
Winner of the Week
BETWEEN TWO THORNS, by Downbytheseaside out of Kiwi Rose, at Gloucester Park on November 17.
Breed your next winner with Woodlands Stud, supporter of Trots Centre
