Melton Race 8

Hip Pocket Castlemaine Free For All

Prize Money: $22,500

FIGHTER COMMAND (5) did a great job in coming from this barrier for a resuming win by 2m over race rival BULLETPROOF BOY here last time out. That was his first start since September and he has won three of four second-up attempts so improvement is likely. Up to a distance where he has won four of six attempts. Can strike again. BAY OF BISCAY (6) hasn't raced since coming from the back row for fifth in October's Victoria Cup and he won the Eureka in Sydney two starts earlier. May give away fitness to some of these but he owns a good fresh record and has been readied with two trials, winning the latest. BULLETPROOF BOY (3) has 2m to make on FIGHTER COMMAND through the last-start second but he draws lower and was very good in his NSW stint prior, winning the G2 Newcastle Mile. JILLIBY WILLOW (1) has won four of seven attempts at this circuit and distance and the ace draw may see her competitive.

Distance: 2240m
Class: No NR
Track: Good
Weather: OCAST
Surface: All Weather

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Jilliby Willow (Fr1) 8x34791555
Trainer: M A Lee, P Lee (Ecklin South)
Driver: Glen Craven
Prize Money: $176,736
Win / Place: 30% / 65%

Distance Specialist

Driver Flying

7 yo Bay Mare

Sire: CAPTAINTREACHEROUS (USA)

Dam: MISS DREAM STAR (AUS)

Rating

Stats

Career

40: 12-7-7

Distance

14: 5-2-2

Trk/Dst

7: 4-0-0

Track

16: 5-1-3

Season

8: 1-0-1

1st Up

5: 0-1-4

2nd Up

5: 2-2-0

3rd Up

5: 0-1-0

Metro

19: 5-1-5

Non-Metro

21: 7-6-2

Mobile

40: 12-7-7

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

40: 12-7-7

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:53.30

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

5: 1-2-2

Driver Last 50

50: 12-9-4

Comments

Last start 5th (Sr1) over 1650m at Bendigo beaten 10 m by Dangerous (1:57.20) in NR 65 or better on March 25 at $2.70. Two runs back 5th (Fr2) over 1720m at this track, at the bell was 6th-9.68 beaten 8 m by Fighter Command (1:59.00) in No NR on March 21 at $101. Can't recommend against this lot.

Expected Settling Position: Leader

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
5th of 8	25/3/26	Bendigo	1650m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr1	Jason Lee	1:57.20	1:54.3	10.1m	$2.70	4	NR 65 or better	$8,000	$240	1. Dangerous 2. Western Sonador 3. Dressed In Gold NZ
5th of 7	21/3/26	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr2	Lochie Cook	1:59.00	1:51.4	8.0m	$101	7	No NR	$22,500	$675	1. Fighter Command 2. Bulletproof Boy 3. Ghost Of Time
5th of 6	14/3/26	Mount Gambier	2190m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr5	Lochie Cook	2:43.60	2:00.2	15.1m	$4.60	12	NR 70 or better	$11,000	$231	1. Eastbro Chrissy 2. Springfield Affair 3. Crime Writer
1st of 8	2/3/26	Terang	1680m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr2	Lochie Cook	2:00.70	1:55.7	8.1m	$1.95f	16	NR 65 or better	$9,000	$5,130	1. Jilliby Willow 2. Hes All Torque 3. Emily Vincent
9th of 10	14/2/26	Melton	2760m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr2	Jason Lee	3:15.90	1:54.2	60.0m	$41	14	No NR	$150,000	$2,250	1. Captains Mistress NZ 2. Joans Rising Star NZ 3. Eye Keep Smiling
7th of 7	31/1/26	Cranbourne	2080m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr4	Jason Lee	2:26.90	1:53.7	29.5m	$51	7	No NR	$50,000	$1,000	1. Captains Mistress NZ 2. Eye Keep Smiling 3. Sweetnikkilou

Bubba Scrub Nz (Fr2) 69x0x14566
Trainer: Paul Parsons (Parwan)
Driver: Jackie Barker
Prize Money: $162,936
Win / Place: 20% / 46%

7 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: HES WATCHING (USA)

Dam: HIP POCKET (NZ)

Rating

Stats

Career

81: 17-11-10

Distance

13: 2-0-3

Trk/Dst

6: 1-0-0

Track

11: 1-0-0

Season

5: 1-0-0

1st Up

6: 1-3-0

2nd Up

5: 1-0-2

3rd Up

5: 1-0-0

Metro

30: 5-3-1

Non-Metro

51: 12-8-9

Mobile

80: 17-11-10

Standing

1: 0-0-0

All-Weather

79: 17-11-9

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

2: 0-0-1

Best Mile

1:51.30

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

4: 0-0-0

Driver Last 50

50: 5-8-6

Comments

Last start was well back in the run when 6th (Fr5) over 1650m at Bendigo, beaten 10 m by Dangerous (1:57.20) in NR 65 or better on March 25 at $31. Two runs back was driven from back in the field when 6th (Fr3) over 2570m at Geelong was 6th-10.62 at the bell, beaten 16 m by Jilliby Nitro (3:06.40) in No NR on March 13 at $151. Predicted to struggle.

Expected Settling Position: Pace

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
6th of 8	25/3/26	Bendigo	1650m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr5	Jackie Barker	1:57.20	1:54.3	10.2m	$31	12	NR 65 or better	$8,000	$160	1. Dangerous 2. Western Sonador 3. Dressed In Gold NZ
6th of 6	13/3/26	Geelong	2570m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr3	Jackie Barker	3:06.40	1:56.7	16.8m	$151	11	No NR	$20,000	$400	1. Jilliby Nitro 2. Mach Dan 3. Smoken Ace NZ
5th of 8	2/3/26	Terang	1680m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr1	Jackie Barker	2:00.70	1:55.7	12.3m	$21	33	NR 65 or better	$9,000	$270	1. Jilliby Willow 2. Hes All Torque 3. Emily Vincent
33 Day Freshen-Up
4th of 7	28/1/26	Globe Derby	2230m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr1	S K Hill	2:42.90	1:57.5	21.6m	$3.20	15	No NR	$5,000	$134	1. Bellezza Nera 2. Artillery 3. Classic Line
1st of 7	13/1/26	Globe Derby	1800m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr1	S K Hill	2:11.20	1:57.3	3.0m	$12	220	No NR	$3,500	$1,888	1. Bubba Scrub NZ 2. Artillery 3. Classic Line
220 Day Spell
3rd of 4	3/8/25	Kyabram	2130m			-	Bridgitte Hutchins	2:54.10	-	8.2m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Our Cheeky Devil 2. Casa Brillare 3. Bubba Scrub NZ

Bulletproof Boy (Fr3) 1411538172
Trainer: Scott Ewen (Port Gawler)
Driver: James Herbertson
Prize Money: $960,445
Win / Place: 22% / 46%

Driver / Horse Combo

Driver Flying

11 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: ART OFFICIAL (CAN)

Dam: MY RIVIERA GIRL (NZ)

Rating

Stats

Career

229: 52-31-23

Distance

77: 17-10-5

Trk/Dst

58: 10-7-2

Track

114: 21-17-9

Season

15: 5-3-2

1st Up

12: 2-3-2

2nd Up

12: 5-0-1

3rd Up

12: 3-4-1

Metro

160: 39-26-13

Non-Metro

69: 13-5-10

Mobile

225: 51-31-22

Standing

4: 1-0-1

All-Weather

229: 52-31-23

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:50.50

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

20: 8-3-3

Driver Last 50

50: 13-8-6

Comments

Improved last start with a good run when 2nd (Fr7) over 1720m at this track, at the bell was leading 1.3 beaten 2 m by Fighter Command (1:59.00) in No NR on March 21 at $1.55. Has the ability to take this out.

Expected Settling Position: Leader

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
2nd of 7	21/3/26	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr7	James Herbertson	1:59.00	1:51.4	2.0m	$1.55f	7	No NR	$22,500	$3,375	1. Fighter Command 2. Bulletproof Boy 3. Ghost Of Time
7th of 8	14/3/26	Menangle	1609m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr7	James Herbertson	1:49.00	1:49.0	11.8m	$26	15	No NR	$1,000,000	$30,000	1. Leap To Fame 2. The Janitor NZ 3. Don Hugo
1st of 8	27/2/26	Newcastle	1609m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr8	James Herbertson	1:50.50	1:50.5	1.5m	$10	13	No NR	$100,000	$55,000	1. Bulletproof Boy 2. Rakero Rocket NZ 3. Bainbridge
8th of 12	14/2/26	Melton	2760m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr7	James Herbertson	3:14.40	1:53.3	13.5m	$151	14	No NR	$250,000	$3,750	1. Swayzee 2. Leap To Fame 3. Republican Party NZ
1st of 3	10/2/26	Melton	2240m			-	James Herbertson	2:42.70	-	4.8m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Bulletproof Boy 2. Son Of Mac NZ 3. Justalittlesip NZ
3rd of 7	31/1/26	Cranbourne	2555m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr2	James Herbertson	3:02.70	1:55.1	5.4m	$12	7	No NR	$150,000	$15,000	1. Leap To Fame 2. Kingman NZ 3. Bulletproof Boy

Justalittlesip Nz (Fr4) 6515618x63
Trainer: Joe Pace (Harkness)
Driver: Adrian Pace
Prize Money: $143,104
Win / Place: 28% / 48%

Driver / Horse Combo

7 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: FRANCO LEDGER (NZ)

Dam: JUSTASIP (NZ)

Rating

Stats

Career

50: 14-3-7

Distance

23: 7-2-3

Trk/Dst

18: 5-1-2

Track

33: 7-1-3

Season

9: 2-0-1

1st Up

8: 1-0-0

2nd Up

8: 2-0-2

3rd Up

6: 1-0-1

Metro

34: 7-1-4

Non-Metro

16: 7-2-3

Mobile

50: 14-3-7

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

50: 14-3-7

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:53.61

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

8: 4-2-1

Driver Last 50

50: 4-6-4

Comments

Last start 3rd (Fr6) over 2240m at this track, at the bell was 6th-9.55 beaten 8 m by Meteor Moth (2:39.50) in NR up to 100 on March 28 at $12. Two runs back was well back in the run when 6th (Fr6) over 2240m at this track, at the bell was 7th-20.34 beaten 11 m by Triple Eight (2:37.50) in No NR on February 28 at $34. Better off looking to others.

Expected Settling Position: Off Midfield

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
3rd of 8	28/3/26	Melton	2240m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr6	A Pace	2:39.50	1:54.6	8.1m	$12	28	NR up to 100	$17,500	$1,750	1. Meteor Moth 2. Ghost Of Time 3. Justalittlesip NZ
4th of 4	14/3/26	Bacchus Marsh	1940m			-	Adrian Pace	2:20.60	-	3m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Just As Well NZ 2. Platinum Jive NZ 3. Nakula NZ
6th of 7	28/2/26	Melton	2240m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr6	A Pace	2:37.50	1:53.2	11.8m	$34	140	No NR	$22,500	$450	1. Triple Eight NZ 2. Catch A Wave 3. Louie Lou I NZ
140 Day Spell
3rd of 3	10/2/26	Melton	2240m			-	A Pace	2:42.70	-	4.9m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Bulletproof Boy 2. Son Of Mac NZ 3. Justalittlesip NZ
8th of 8	11/10/25	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr2	A Pace	1:58.80	1:51.1	27.3m	$151	14	No NR	$30,000	$600	1. Bulletproof Boy 2. Leap To Fame 3. Miki Pins NZ
1st of 6	27/9/25	Melton	2240m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr3	A Pace	2:43.40	1:57.4	0.2m	$26	14	No NR	$22,500	$12,825	1. Justalittlesip NZ 2. Hes From Heaven NZ 3. Sahara Breeze

Fighter Command (Fr5) 14352120x1
Trainer: Jess Tubbs (Myrniong)
Driver: Jason Lee
Prize Money: $213,640
Win / Place: 54% / 70%

Track Specialist

Driver Flying

2nd Up Record

5 yo Bay Horse

Sire: ALWAYS B MIKI (USA)

Dam: SPITFIRE ROSE (AUS)

100

Rating

Stats

Career

24: 13-2-2

Distance

6: 4-0-1

Trk/Dst

6: 4-0-1

Track

13: 7-2-2

Season

4: 2-1-0

1st Up

5: 3-0-0

2nd Up

4: 3-0-0

3rd Up

4: 3-0-1

Metro

20: 10-2-2

Non-Metro

4: 3-0-0

Mobile

24: 13-2-2

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

24: 13-2-2

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:51.40

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

1: 1-0-0

Driver Last 50

50: 18-5-5

Comments

Resumed from a 196-day break with a strong win by 2 m when driven back in the field, (Fr5) held up early, at this track (1:59.00) beating Bulletproof Boy in No NR on March 21 at $4.20 at the bell was 4th-5.35. Good win first-up and with further improvement to come he is the one to beat.

Expected Settling Position: Off Pace

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
1st of 7	21/3/26	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr5	Jason Lee	1:59.00	1:51.4	2.0m	$4.20	196	No NR	$22,500	$12,825	1. Fighter Command 2. Bulletproof Boy 3. Ghost Of Time
196 Day Spell
1st of 3	10/3/26	Melton	2240m			-	Craig Demmler	2:43.60	-	0.2m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Fighter Command 2. Bay Of Biscay 3. Beach Diamond
1st of 2	3/3/26	Melton	2240m			-	James Herbertson	2:51.30	-	0.1m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Fighter Command 2. Smoken Ace NZ 3.
10th of 10	6/9/25	Menangle	2300m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr7	James Herbertson	2:41.00	1:52.6	25.3m	$4.20f	14	No NR	$1,980,000	$45,000	1. Bay Of Biscay 2. Fox Dan 3. Hesitate
2nd of 8	23/8/25	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr5	James Herbertson	1:59.70	1:52.0	0.2m	$1.95f	21	No NR	$22,500	$3,375	1. Catch A Wave 2. Fighter Command 3. Keayang Tokyo
1st of 10	2/8/25	Hobart	2090m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr5	James Herbertson	2:29.50	1:55.1	25.9m	$1.14f	14	No NR	$80,000	$40,000	1. Fighter Command 2. Bettablack Tiger 3. Barbary Tales

Bay Of Biscay (Fr6) 11x134145x
Trainer: Emma Stewart (Cardigan)
Driver: Mark Pitt
Prize Money: $1,846,580
Win / Place: 44% / 77%

Track Specialist

Driver / Horse Combo

Driver Flying

5 yo Brown Horse

Sire: SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE (USA)

Dam: NIKE FRANCO (NZ)

Rating

Stats

Career

27: 12-7-2

Distance

7: 3-1-1

Trk/Dst

7: 3-1-1

Track

16: 6-3-1

Season

5: 1-0-1

1st Up

6: 3-1-1

2nd Up

5: 3-1-1

3rd Up

5: 2-2-0

Metro

24: 10-6-2

Non-Metro

3: 2-1-0

Mobile

27: 12-7-2

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

27: 12-7-2

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:49.10

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

6: 3-1-1

Driver Last 50

50: 11-11-7

Comments

Resumes. Finished off last campaign when well beaten into fifth behind Kingman at this track over 2240m in a G1 No NR on October 18 at $16. Previous preparation first-up won by a nose as favourite when quickly away, (Fr5) at this track (2:00.10) beating Triple Eight in No NR on June 28 at $1.50. Going okay so keep him safe.

Expected Settling Position: Midfield

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Start	Surface	Barrier	Driver	Race Time	Mile Rate	Margin	SP	Days	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Result
1st of 3	17/3/26	Melton	2240m			-	Kate Gath	2:40.90	-	3m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Bay Of Biscay 2. Fox Dan 3. Uniquely Ideal
2nd of 3	10/3/26	Melton	2240m			-	Mark Pitt	2:43.60	-	0.2m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Fighter Command 2. Bay Of Biscay 3. Beach Diamond
5th of 12	18/10/25	Melton	2240m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr3	Ryan Sanderson	2:36.20	1:52.2	11.0m	$16	7	No NR	$250,000	$6,250	1. Kingman NZ 2. Hi Manameisjeff NZ 3. Leap To Fame
4th of 8	11/10/25	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr6	Ryan Sanderson	1:58.80	1:51.1	13.7m	$9.00	35	No NR	$30,000	$1,500	1. Bulletproof Boy 2. Leap To Fame 3. Miki Pins NZ
35 Day Freshen-Up
1st of 10	6/9/25	Menangle	2300m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr9	Cameron Hart	2:41.00	1:52.6	1.5m	$5.00	14	No NR	$1,980,000	$1,000,000	1. Bay Of Biscay 2. Fox Dan 3. Hesitate
4th of 8	23/8/25	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr2	Mark Pitt	1:59.70	1:52.0	2.9m	$3.30	21	No NR	$22,500	$1,125	1. Catch A Wave 2. Fighter Command 3. Keayang Tokyo

Race Review Abbreviations

Brk: Broke, Blkd: Blocked or held up, 1 x 1: One-out, one-back, Prkd: Parked, 3bk otr: 3 back on the outer, 3bk inr: Same as above, but on the inside, trld: Trailed, Gt spd: Showed gate speed, 3wd: 3-wide postd: Caught wide without cover, Held up: Held up, no gaps or few gaps: If they don't see any clear air in the straight, Inr-mid-wd -position: On the inside, mid = 1-off, wd = 3-wide or wider, flew hm wd: Flew home wide, dashd inr: Sprinted well on the inside, Chkd: Checked, Slow: Slow away at the start, Wltd: Wilted or got tired, Fdd: Faded late, Urgd: If the driver is getting stuck in

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