The Trots

Tim O’Connor has done the form for 10 races at Melton Entertainment Park on September 5. Race 1: OVERVIEW: What a race to start the night of the Vicbred Super Series semi-finals! Good luck guessing the speed map here because there are so many scenarios, with a host of the big guns drawn on the front row. Regardless of where he ends up, I’m siding with the unbeaten ENJOY LIFE (6).

Ella Moran’s harness racing journey has reached another exciting milestone, with the young driver gaining her trial licence and taking part in her first trial this week. Harness racing has always been a big part of Ella’s life, growing up in a family with strong connections to the sport. Her own journey began in the Pony Trots, where she developed a love for driving and horses before setting her sights on becoming a race driver. Congratulations to Ella on reaching this exciting milestone.

Defending champion James Herbertson will be joined by fellow Victorian reinsman Mark Pitt as the pair prepare to represent Victoria in the 2026 Australian Drivers Championship. The championship will be held at Globe Derby Park in South Australia on Saturday night, October 3, with the nation’s leading drivers set to go head-to-head. Herbertson returns as the defending champion after claiming his second Australian Drivers Championship in Hobart last year.

Harness Racing form guru Craig Rail noticed several standout performers at the recent trials. BACCHUS MARSH 29/08/26 Trial 1: – THE WOOL BROKER is a smart juvenile trotter, which has been runner up at his two starts to date. He was able to win the opening trial by a large margin and backs up in a heat of the Super Series at Melton this evening. NORTHERN SKYE is a 2yo filly by Zenith Stride USA out of the Group 1 winning mare Skye Rocket. She has had three trials for two seconds and a fourth.

Top driver Nathan Jack stopped by to join Dan Mielicki, Ryan Phelan and Tim O’Connor for a long look at Saturday night’s Vicbred Super Series semi-finals card at Melton. The agenda: The Niteshift won the fastest heat, but in the semi is he the one to beat? Craig holds the key in race three, but on which one should we be? The Moth can cave late, so do we still rate? Kahula will be deep in the red, so will she quickly put this to bed? Chances are you’re about to lose.

Tim O’Connor has done the form for the meeting at Melton on September 4. Race 1: OVERVIEW: KYVALLEY DRIFTER (1) did plenty wrong on debut at Melton on August 21, but ultimately got the job done in good style with a strong victory over LOLLY (5). She hails from the powerful and in-form Chris Svanosio stable, draws well in gate one and should have taken plenty of benefit from that experience.

Former trotting “King” Chris Lang is never long between good horses. The man who guided superstars like Sundons Gift, Skyvalley, Let Me Thru and National Interest to so many features wins looks to have found his next young star. Two-year-old gelding Verbici will be a hot favourite to stretch his unbeaten record to six wins in a heat of the Vicbred series at Melton on Friday night.

Thanks to the support of Pryde’s EasiFeed, Tim O’Connor, Ewa Justice and Andy Gath team up for a huge episode of the TOC’s Takeaways harness racing podcast! Make sure you answer this week’s question in the Facebook, X or Instagram comments, with the hosts’ favourite response winning a $50 voucher for Melton Entertainment Park!

Craig Rail has done the form analysis for Friday afternoon at Mildura Race 1: OVERVIEW: DREAMTIME NALA (5) possesses early speed and has been performing fairly well in the South-East. She led throughout to defeat Mynameisruby at a Melton victory on July 15, which is a good form pointer for this event. BOHEMIAN BRAIDS (7) performed below expectations when last of ten at Mildura last week.

Bronte Nieuwenburg has done the form for Thursday at Kilmore. Race 1: OVERVIEW: ESPERANZA (9) has been racing well recently. Last start, she didn’t have the most clear running late but seemed to run on okay. Her run prior was strong when racing in the breeze. She looks well placed here from barrier nine. VERY TEMPTING (10) has been racing okay and rarely puts in a bad run when he gets luck in running. If he can have a positive trip here, he could be the horse flashing home late.