Melton Race 7

Garrards Horse & Hound Free For All Trot

Prize Money: $22,500

HOPPY NZ (5) has returned in fine order and made it two in a row last week when he came from wider and worked before he got the cash by 2.7 metres. Meeting a deeper field this time but he is building a good record here and is yet to miss a place at this distance so can take the next step. GATESYS GEM (3) suffered atrial fibrillation in her only outing of the season back in May but was readied for this with a trial win. Unbeaten at this circuit and distance and has won three of five fresh attempts. Can go close if at her best. PLYMOUTH CHUBB (6) hasn't raced for a year but should be ready to go off a trial win and is up to this with his A-game. IRON WOMEN (2) looks close to a win after a string of placings and draws better than when runner-up last week. WITH APLOMB (1) deserves respect having followed a string of wins with a second to Hoppy from this draw last week.

Distance: 1720m
Class: No NR
Track: Good
Weather: -
Surface: All Weather

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With Aplomb (Fr1) 0011041112
Trainer: S B Cleave (Nulla Vale)
Driver: John Caldow
Prize Money: $64,313
Win / Place: 17% / 32%

Driver / Horse Combo

Distance Specialist

5 yo Bay Mare

Sire: WISHING STONE (USA)

Dam: MAORI APLOMB (AUS)

Rating

Stats

Career

62: 11-3-6

Distance

11: 4-0-0

Trk/Dst

4: 1-0-0

Track

12: 2-1-0

Season

24: 8-2-2

1st Up

1: 0-0-0

2nd Up

1: 0-0-0

3rd Up

1: 0-0-0

Metro

32: 7-1-2

Non-Metro

30: 4-2-4

Mobile

55: 11-3-6

Standing

7: 0-0-0

All-Weather

62: 11-3-6

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:57.50

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

17: 8-2-1

Driver Last 50

50: 8-3-7

Comments

Last start game effort when 2nd (Fr1) over 2240m at this track, at the bell was 6th-8.12 beaten 2.75 m by Hoppy (2:48.20) on July 4 at $5.50. Two runs back won by 2 m as favourite (Fr6) at this track (2:46.70) beating Nakedtruth in on June 20 at $3.70 at the bell was leading 4.7. Can be competitive from this draw.

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
2nd of 11	4/7/26	Melton	2240m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr1	John Caldow	2:48.20	2:00.8	2.7m	$5.50	14	NR 69 to 84	$17,500	$2,625	1. Hoppy NZ 2. With Aplomb 3. Fouroutoffive
1st of 9	20/6/26	Melton	2240m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr6	John Caldow	2:46.70	1:59.8	2.0m	$3.70f	15	No NR	$20,000	$11,400	1. With Aplomb 2. Nakedtruth 3. Carla Pixie NZ
1st of 9	5/6/26	Geelong	2100m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr4	John Caldow	2:36.20	1:59.7	0.1m	$1.70f	5	0W/15 0K stake	$7,000	$2,520	1. Carla Pixie NZ, With Aplomb 2. 3. Leanne Leeann
1st of 8	31/5/26	Maryborough	1690m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr1	John Caldow	2:05.50	1:59.5	6.4m	$2.50f	11	NR 52 to 56	$6,000	$3,320	1. With Aplomb 2. Watch And Act 3. Dels Destiny NZ
4th of 12	20/5/26	Bendigo	2150m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr5	Steve Cleave	2:43.00	2:02.0	7.8m	$13	21	NR 56 to 64	$7,000	$350	1. Karbine 2. Tictok 3. Watch And Act
11th of 12	29/4/26	Bendigo	1650m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr6	John Caldow	1:59.00	1:56.0	111.7m	$4.60	9	NR 56 to 64	$7,000	$140	1. Im Havintotrot 2. Prettyboy Harry 3. Bullapark Beno

Iron Women (Fr2) x815106232
Trainer: Andy Gath (Long Forest)
Driver: Kate Gath
Prize Money: $80,730
Win / Place: 19% / 58%

Distance Specialist

4 yo Bay Mare

Sire: QUAKER JET (FR)

Dam: VAL GARDENA (AUS)

Rating

Stats

Career

31: 6-7-5

Distance

11: 4-3-1

Trk/Dst

9: 3-2-1

Track

21: 4-4-3

Season

19: 3-4-4

1st Up

3: 0-1-0

2nd Up

3: 1-0-1

3rd Up

3: 2-0-0

Metro

26: 6-5-5

Non-Metro

5: 0-2-0

Mobile

31: 6-7-5

Standing

0: 0-0-0

All-Weather

31: 6-7-5

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:57.07

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

28: 5-6-5

Driver Last 50

50: 7-8-5

Comments

Two back was beaten by 9 m finishing third after a quick start, behind Hoppy at this track over 1720m on June 27 at $6. Then a handy effort when a close second behind Howdy Mate at this track over 2240m on July 4 at $8. A good draw can see her continue the good form.

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 11	4/7/26	Melton	2240m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr4	Jordan Leedham	2:48.20	2:00.8	0.2m	$8.00	7	NR 58 to 68	$10,000	$1,500	1. Howdy Mate 2. Iron Women 3. Rarity Rock
3rd of 8	27/6/26	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr3	Kate Gath	2:05.20	1:57.1	9.8m	$6.00	14	NR 69 to 79	$15,000	$1,500	1. Hoppy NZ 2. Mitchell Wrap 3. Iron Women
2nd of 10	13/6/26	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr1	Kate Gath	2:03.20	1:55.3	4.2m	$15	7	NR 70 to 85	$17,500	$2,625	1. Crackerjack NZ 2. Iron Women 3. Vytis
6th of 9	6/6/26	Melton	2240m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr1	Kate Gath	2:47.50	2:00.4	10.5m	$6.00	14	NR 58 to 68	$10,000	$200	1. Mitchell Wrap 2. Ringer Wells 3. Paris Kay
10th of 10	23/5/26	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr4	Kate Gath	2:05.70	1:57.7	18.6m	$9.50	14	NR 60 to 75	$15,000	$300	1. Pastor Dunbar 2. Just As I Am 3. Sam Nien
1st of 10	9/5/26	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr6	Kate Gath	2:05.10	1:57.1	4.4m	$8.50	7	NR 60 to 69	$10,000	$5,700	1. Iron Women 2. Tictok 3. Mitchell Wrap

Gatesys Gem (Fr3) 2222313x0x
Trainer: G A Hunter (Trafalgar)
Driver: Chris Alford
Prize Money: $271,732
Win / Place: 47% / 90%

Unbeaten The Track / Distance

Recent Trial Winner

1st Up Record

4 yo Brown Mare

Sire: ALDEBARAN EAGLE (USA)

Dam: GATESYS GIRL (AUS)

Rating

Stats

Career

21: 10-7-2

Distance

2: 2-0-0

Trk/Dst

2: 2-0-0

Track

8: 4-2-1

Season

9: 2-4-2

1st Up

5: 3-1-0

2nd Up

3: 2-1-0

3rd Up

3: 1-1-0

Metro

15: 7-5-1

Non-Metro

6: 3-2-1

Mobile

19: 10-6-2

Standing

2: 0-1-0

All-Weather

21: 10-7-2

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:57.20

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

0: 0-0-0

Driver Last 50

50: 7-6-10

Comments

Resuming after nine weeks off the scene. Ran only once last campaign running when well beaten into eleventh behind I Am Hellbound at Menangle over 2300m on May 9 at $2.60. Readied with a trial win and is unbeaten at this circuit and distance.

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
1st of 4	30/6/26	Melton	1720m			-	G A Hunter	2:05.90	-	4.1m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Gatesys Gem 2. Aldebaran Susanne 3. Heza Gun
11th of 12	9/5/26	Menangle	2300m	Standing	All Weather	10m	Nathan Jack	2:50.90	1:59.6	100.2m	$2.60f	147	No NR	$25,000	$500	1. I Am Hellbound 2. Courage Stride 3. Imperial Monarch NZ
147 Day Spell
2nd of 3	28/4/26	Melton	1720m			-	Nathan Jack	2:04.20	-	3.1m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Susan Is Her Name 2. Gatesys Gem 3. Ollivici NZ
3rd of 12	13/12/25	Melton	2240m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr4	Nathan Jack	2:45.80	1:59.1	4.8m	$2.90	10	No NR	$60,000	$6,000	1. Keayang Kurki 2. I Am Wilma 3. Gatesys Gem
1st of 7	3/12/25	Bendigo	2150m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr4	Nathan Jack	2:44.30	2:03.0	6.2m	$1.05f	12	No NR	$10,000	$5,000	1. Gatesys Gem 2. Aldebaran Sue 3. Shes Sky High
3rd of 11	21/11/25	Addington	2600m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr7	L A McCarthy	3:13.60	1:59.8	13.2m	$7.40	7	-	$172,370	$15,789	1. Habibti Pat NZ 2. Meant To Be NZ 3. Gatesys Gem

Fouroutoffive (Fr4) 38x15552x3
Trainer: N A O'connor (Scotts Creek)
Driver: Nicholas O'Connor (C)
Prize Money: $59,950
Win / Place: 16% / 50%

6 yo Brown Gelding

Sire: MUSCLE MASS (USA)

Dam: ALDEBARAN KIRI (AUS)

Rating

Stats

Career

36: 6-5-7

Distance

9: 1-1-2

Trk/Dst

6: 1-0-1

Track

21: 2-0-4

Season

6: 1-1-1

1st Up

6: 1-1-2

2nd Up

5: 1-1-1

3rd Up

5: 2-0-0

Metro

24: 2-2-5

Non-Metro

12: 4-3-2

Mobile

34: 6-4-7

Standing

2: 0-1-0

All-Weather

36: 6-5-7

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:56.90

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

33: 6-5-6

Driver Last 50

50: 2-9-3

Comments

Racing consistently with minor placings at his last two starts at this course. Placed last start 3rd (Fr5) over 2240m after racing wide at this track was 5th-4.79 at the bell, beaten 3 m by Hoppy (2:48.20) on July 4 at $34. Before that 2nd (10m Fr4) over 2660m at Hamilton was 3rd-4.6m 2WWC at the bell, beaten 1.2 m by Meadow Valley Star (3:20.10) on January 11 at $5. Might need easier.

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
3rd of 11	4/7/26	Melton	2240m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr5	Nicholas O'connor	2:48.20	2:00.8	2.9m	$34	174	NR 69 to 84	$17,500	$1,750	1. Hoppy NZ 2. With Aplomb 3. Fouroutoffive
174 Day Spell
2nd of 4	22/6/26	Geelong	2100m			-	Nicholas O'connor	2:37.60	-	0m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Sweet Lady Lou 2. Fouroutoffive 3. Ride High Captin
5th of 6	16/6/26	Terang	2180m			-	Nicholas O'connor	2:47.30	-	2m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Nancys Boy NZ 2. Jilliby Dreamlover 3. Keayang Kurki
2nd of 7	11/1/26	Hamilton	2660m	Standing	All Weather	10m	N A O'connor	3:20.10	2:00.6	1.2m	$5.00	8	No NR	$12,000	$1,800	1. Meadow Valley Star 2. Fouroutoffive 3. Stockman Peter
5th of 8	3/1/26	Cranbourne	2080m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr6	N A O'connor	2:32.30	1:57.8	32.8m	$31	7	No NR	$22,500	$675	1. Jilliby Ballerini 2. Rockinwithattitude 3. Our Marvella NZ
5th of 12	27/12/25	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr3	N A O'connor	2:03.70	1:55.8	14.9m	$23	7	NR 69 to 85	$17,500	$525	1. Jilliby Dreamlover 2. Ebonys Avenger 3. Imperial Command NZ

Hoppy Nz (Fr5) 231129x311
Trainer: Matthew Craven (Ecklin South)
Driver: Matthew Craven
Prize Money: $63,804
Win / Place: 35% / 80%

Driver Flying

Going for the Hat-Trick

5 yo Brown Gelding

Sire: ANDOVER HALL (USA)

Dam: CHEVRON MUSCLE (NZ)

100

Rating

Stats

Career

20: 7-7-2

Distance

6: 2-3-1

Trk/Dst

3: 1-1-1

Track

8: 3-2-2

Season

6: 3-1-1

1st Up

6: 1-3-1

2nd Up

5: 1-2-1

3rd Up

4: 3-0-0

Metro

13: 4-4-2

Non-Metro

7: 3-3-0

Mobile

17: 6-6-2

Standing

3: 1-1-0

All-Weather

20: 7-7-2

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:57.10

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

18: 6-6-2

Driver Last 50

50: 10-5-5

Comments

Five-year-old gelding is racing in fine form. Won his last two outings at this track. Last start came from midfield and won by 2.75 m as favourite (Fr7) at this track (2:48.20) beating With Aplomb in on July 4 at $1.80 at the bell was 2nd-0.13. Recent form hard to fault and could land the hat trick.

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
1st of 11	4/7/26	Melton	2240m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr7	Matthew Craven	2:48.20	2:00.8	2.7m	$1.80f	7	NR 69 to 84	$17,500	$9,975	1. Hoppy NZ 2. With Aplomb 3. Fouroutoffive
1st of 8	27/6/26	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr1	Matthew Craven	2:05.20	1:57.1	6.5m	$2.00f	21	NR 69 to 79	$15,000	$8,550	1. Hoppy NZ 2. Mitchell Wrap 3. Iron Women
3rd of 10	6/6/26	Melton	2240m	Mobile	All Weather	Sr4	Matthew Craven	2:41.30	1:55.9	11.3m	$51	245	No NR	$22,500	$2,250	1. I Am Wilma 2. Im Bobby 3. Hoppy NZ
245 Day Spell
1st of 4	26/5/26	Terang	2180m			-	Matthew Craven	3628:48.00	-	12m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Hoppy NZ 2. Keayang Tweetybird 3. Lain NZ
2nd of 5	13/5/26	Terang	2180m			-	Matthew Craven	3528:00.00	-	25m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Colosimo 2. Hoppy NZ 3. Perfectly Rogue
9th of 11	4/10/25	Melton	2760m	Standing	All Weather	Fr2	Matthew Craven	3:28.00	2:01.3	44.6m	$16	12	No NR	$30,000	$600	1. Jilliby Ballerini 2. Pinnie 3. Remus Phoenix

Plymouth Chubb (Fr6) 583332375x
Trainer: Peter Manning (Great Western)
Driver: Jodi Quinlan
Prize Money: $406,145
Win / Place: 33% / 62%

Recent Trial Winner

7 yo Bay/Brown Gelding

Sire: MAJESTIC SON (CAN)

Dam: POCKET FANTASY (AUS)

Rating

Stats

Career

56: 19-8-8

Distance

15: 4-2-5

Trk/Dst

13: 3-2-4

Track

27: 7-3-5

Season

0: 0-0-0

1st Up

5: 1-1-1

2nd Up

5: 2-1-0

3rd Up

5: 4-0-0

Metro

43: 14-6-6

Non-Metro

13: 5-2-2

Mobile

49: 17-8-7

Standing

7: 2-0-1

All-Weather

56: 19-8-8

Slushy

0: 0-0-0

Grass

0: 0-0-0

Best Mile

1:56.00

Driver Stats

Driver/Horse

0: 0-0-0

Driver Last 50

50: 6-1-4

Comments

First up. At the last run he was well back in the run when 5th (Fr4) over 1720m at this track, at the bell was 5th-17.1m on the pegs beaten 16 m by Im Bobby (2:02.70) on July 19 at $7. Hasn't raced for a year but could be ready to fire off a trial win.

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
1st of 6	29/6/26	Maryborough	2190m			-	Kerryn Manning	2:46.20	-	0m	$0.00	-	Trial	$0	-	1. Plymouth Chubb 2. Hez Notthe Messiah 3. Daretodance
5th of 7	19/7/25	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr4	Kerryn Manning	2:02.70	1:54.8	16.2m	$7.00	28	No NR	$22,500	$675	1. Im Bobby 2. Mufasa Metro NZ 3. Imperial Monarch NZ
7th of 8	21/6/25	Melton	2240m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr4	Kerryn Manning	2:45.20	1:58.7	22.7m	$10	14	No NR	$22,500	$450	1. Arcee Phoenix 2. Harold Smith NZ 3. Im Bobby
3rd of 8	7/6/25	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr1	Kerryn Manning	2:04.70	1:56.7	2.2m	$3.20	7	No NR	$22,500	$2,250	1. Watts Up Partytime 2. Parisian Artiste 3. Plymouth Chubb
2nd of 10	31/5/25	Melton	2240m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr4	Kerryn Manning	2:44.70	1:58.3	0.1m	$4.00	7	No NR	$22,500	$3,375	1. Aldebaran Zeus 2. Plymouth Chubb 3. Parisian Artiste
3rd of 8	24/5/25	Melton	1720m	Mobile	All Weather	Fr5	Kerryn Manning	2:05.10	1:57.0	6.9m	$8.00	14	No NR	$22,500	$2,250	1. Watts Up Partytime 2. Harry Stamper NZ 3. Plymouth Chubb

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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