Big names return for Our Maestro FFA

Metropolitan harness racing returns to Melton this Saturday (Aug. 5) and an array of stars will tackle one of the night’s features first-up from a breaks.

The Waste Sense Our Maestro Free For All sees Jess Tubbs-trained stablemates Triple Eight (American Ideal)and Better Eclipse (Betterthancheddar) engaged, while Emma Stewart’s top-liner Hurricane Harley (Bettor’s Delight) resumes following his last-start victory in the Lazarus FFA in early June.

Those three horses occupy outside back row draws, with Joe Pace’s emerging talent Justalittlesip (Franco Ledger) landing barrier two – one if emergency Pull The Other Leg doesn’t gain a start – for the fast class event at Victorian harness racing headquarters.

Triple Eight and Better Eclipse both raced in New Zealand through April and tuned up for their comebacks in a trial at Melton last week.

Among their rivals is giant killer Yambukian (Bettor’s Delight), who returns following his shock victory over stablemate Catch A Wave on July 22, and Scott Ewen’s Bulletproof Boy, who backs up after his scintillating effort at Ballarat last weekend.

The $40,000 Alabar Vicbred Platinum Mares Sprint Championship Final is another highlight on Saturday night’s card, while two heats of the Winter Trotters Cup will set up a $30,000 final at Melton on August 12.

The first event of the night kicks off at 5.34pm, with the last scheduled to go at 9.36pm.

The 10th induction in the Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame will also take place Saturday night at Melton, when more legends will join an elite shortlist of inductees.

Held in a special ceremony trackside in the Skybox, the Hall of Fame inductees will also be revealed and celebrated through the evening’s TrotsVision coverage.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria