RACE COMMENT

OVERVIEW: Painful watch for punters that piled in on RUN FOREST RUN (6) last weekend at Melton when he was off the map first-up for the Alex Ashwood stable. He looked full of running in the breeze and appeared ready to power clear of his rivals before making a break at the turn. He had performed well at the trials before that, has had plenty of stand start practice in his home country of New Zealand and looks the testing material here. There is a host of other hopes in this intriguing Birchip Trotters Cup, with MAESTRO (9) looking among the best of them. He appeared set for victory despite an early mistake in the Boort feature last weekend, but just couldn’t get past The Dark Thunder. He has been running very well without winning in recent weeks. FREMARKS PEGGY (2) was actually good finishing fourth in an on-pace dominated Central Vic Trotters Championship won by TENSION SEEKER (1) last Sunday and can figure back on the front mark for James Herbertson, while SONARMI JOH (8) has been tackling huge handicaps bravely of late and must be among the leading chances. BACK: RUN FOREST RUN (6) – 3 units (win)