RENOWNED smart beginner Fascinate Mel should only need to reproduce her usual box manners to lead throughout at Wentworth Park on Saturday night and take her tally over the past fortnight there to two wins and two placings from four outings.
Fascinate Mel, who led throughout to win a fourth and fifth grade in a nippy 29.97 at Wentworth Park on December 30, has box six in the identical class gapnsw.com.au Stakes over 520m.
After that win Fascinate Mel contested a Free-For-All at Wentworth Park on Wednesday and was third all the way, beaten three lengths by Ties That Bind and Tarawi Ferrari.
Her trainer Noelene Holloway said: "When I nominated her for Wednesday's meeting I didn't realise she would be in top grade so I was happy with her run.
"Fascinate Mel jumped fairly well but can begin a lot better than she did in that race and I'm not worried about her backing up on Saturday as she pulled up well after Wedneday's race.''
Saturday's Ladbroke It! Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, looks a match between Lochinvar Kewell (box four) and Lagoon Gunn (box seven) but their trainers are unhappy about their draws.
Lochinvar Kewell was checked at the start and the first turn when fourth, as a $1.35 favourite, from box four at Wentworth Park on December 30, while at the same meeting Lagoon Gunn was skittled going into the catching pen when a $1.50 hotpot before finishing second to Cumbria Dave in slow time.
Ruth King, trainer of Lochinvar Kewell, said: "He is a fast dog but is not real smart.
"Lochinvar Kewell just gets out and goes and doesn't think about what he's doing.
"At his last start, from box four, Santa Fe Trail, who had box six, ran in and collided with my dog when they jumped and they have the same draws again.
"I'm just hoping Lochinvar Kewell can miss Santa Fe Trail in the run to the first turn.''
Lagoon Gunn's trainer Ray Webster said: "Box seven is no help because my dog badly wants an inside draw.
"He has a lot of ability but lacks early pace and while a dog can get away with coming from behind from an inside draw it's a lot harder from a wide box.''
Best bet on Saturday should be Tommy Kade, one of four top chances trained by Jodie Lord, Wentworth Park's leading trainer for 2022.
Saturday's weak fifth grade NSW GBOTA Welcome Stakes looks an easier assignment, as in his maiden win Tommy Kade defeated Rockstar Gunnar, who won at Wentworth Park at his next start.
Sir Banjo had box two when second to National Derby prospect Rockstar Apollo at Wentworth Park on December 28 but lost ground through veering to the right and colliding in the early stages.
Lord's other good chances on Saturday are Coast Model, chasing her 18th Wentworth Park win in the 520m Free-For-All and her newcomer Max Rocha, who has box six in the Ladbrokes Switch Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Max Rocha is making his first appearance since joining Lord's kennels but was impressive winning his past two starts for western districts trainer David Pringle, scoring at Dubbo and Goulburn by a combined total of 13 lengths.
