Moth ready to rekindle the flame

Damian Wilson expects to jump into the harness racing sulky behind a fitter Major Moth (Art Major) in the Group 3 City Of Melton Plate at Melton on Saturday night (Mar. 18).

The Emma Stewart trained five-year-old finished fifth when sent out a $1.70 favorite in the Horsham Pacing Cup won by his stablemate Like A Wildfire three weeks ago.

Wilson said he realised Major Moth wasn’t at the top of his game at Horsham when the field scored up behind the mobile.

“He didn’t feel 100 per cent and felt like he was battling a bit in the score up and he blew up over the back after the race, so it was a lack of fitness,” Wilson said.

Prior to Horsham, Major Moth hadn’t raced since December when he took out the Vicbred Super Series four-year-old entires and geldings semi-final before being involved in a float mishap on the way home from the track.

“Luckily he only got a few cuts and scratches in the float accident and x-rays showed there was nothing serious,” he said.

Major Moth ($1.85 fav) has drawn barrier six alongside noted front runner Outlaw Man (barrier 5) and Wilson expects the favorite to settle in the leading division.

“Outlaw Man has gate speed and Idyllic might charge across from the outside of the front but whatever happens we will be in the first four in the run,” he said.

“He will be much fitter for the run at Horsham.”

Wilson indicated the lightly raced pacer may head to Wagga in the coming weeks to contest the Riverina Championships which culminates with a $100,000 Final on Easter Saturday night.

Chariots Of Fire winner and Miracle Mile placegetter Better Eclipse ($2.60) who is returning from an unsuccessful Miracle Mile campaign is the lone horse off the second row in the City Of Melton Plate.

The Group 1 winning pacer A Gs White Socks is hoping to post back to back wins when he makes his debut over the 1200 metre trip in the Melton City Much More Stampede.

A GS White Socks chalked up his first win for the Jess Tubbs stable when he sat outside the leader and proved too strong for his rivals in The Geelong Rocket over the flying mile last Friday night.

The barrier draw conditions of the Stampede ensured A GS White Socks was allocated the outside front row draw in barrier nine while Inter Dominion Final runner up Torrid Saint comes out of barrier seven.

For complete race entries, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harness Racing Victoria