Racing returned to Laidlaw Park yesterday for a competitive eight-race card of action hosted by the Stawell HRC.
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Ararat reinsman Michael Bellman aimed continue his campaign for Prostate Cancer Awareness, sporting the PCFA blue and white silks in five events with every winner seeing a $500 donation from HRV to the foundation.
Bellman has hit the tally board hard during the past week with a winning double at Ballarat last Wednesday night ($1000) and a treble ($1500) at Horsham on Thursday afternoon.
He continued the run of success with Shady Dancer ($500) at Maryborough on Monday afternoon.
"I'm honoured to be part of it, particularly joining John (Caldow) as fellow ambassador is something special. The support has been overwhelming with the Horsham, Ararat and Stawell clubs in my region all backing it through donations and individuals with their social media accounts," Bellman said.
Bellman's best winning chances today look to be the Owen Martin trained pair, Ideal TJ and Aerodyne Guy which race in the fourth and fifth events along with an upset hope in the "lucky last" with Wanted Lady.
Harness supporters can also support this worthwhile cause by contacting their local club, through social media or online at www.pcfa.org.au.
Tabcorp Park Melton is set to stage the first of three successive weeks of feature racing on Saturday night, leading to the $300,000 Victoria Cup meeting on October 10.
Saturday will be the first occasion that trainers, drivers and horses from outside metropolitan Melbourne have been able to compete at Victoria's harness racing headquarters since covid-19 restrictions were enacted.
The Minuteman FFA will hopefully see the long-awaited clash of our local pacing stars Ride High and Lochinvar Art, if connections of both horses decide to accept.
Ride High has been declared "the best pacer in the world" and the "most talked about thing on four legs" by fellow trainers and broadcasters, having crushed track records while building a streak of eleven straight victories.
Lochinvar Art, the Shepparton superstar lost no-admirers in a recent defeat at Bendigo and holds the honour of being Victoria's fastest ever pacer for his 1:48.6 victory at Melton in January's 4YO Bonanza.
Saturday night also sees the The Sumthingaboutmaori Trotters FFA with classy mares Red Hot Tooth, Pantzup, Pink Galahs and Imsettogo to battle for honours.
Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) advises that meetings conducted from September 26 will no longer carry regional racing restrictions, except in the case of Mildura. Interstate nominations will also be accepted.
Mildura will remain in a regional racing structure until after its October 2 meeting and of course all COVID-19 protocols must be strictly adhered to.
Trainers, drivers and stablehands are reminded of the need to carry a current worker permit at all times when travelling within metropolitan areas (including Cranbourne and Melton).
They're off at: Stawell (D) Wednesday October 21, Charlton (D) Monday October 28; Terang (N) Wednesday October 30 and Horsham (D) Wednesday October 7.
WEST SIDE WIMMERA WALLY's TIPS
Best bet: R6 No.6 Steam Punk $ 6 win
Value bet: R4 No. 3 Ideal TJ $4 each way
Flexi bet: R8 box quinella Nos. 1,2,5,8 spend $6
Last return: $36.50 @ Horsham Trots
Balance: $308.95
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