RACE COMMENT

OVERVIEW: MECARNO (4) is one of trotting’s emerging excitement machines who closed his three-year-old season with three Group 1 wins, including trainer-driver Michael Bellman’s first in the Victoria Trotters Derby. While it’s never easy to step straight into open company and win, he has performed very impressively at the trials and has always shaped as a squaregaiter that would measure up well in this grade based on his strength and toughness last campaign. I’m concerned he might land in the breeze and from there it would be tough, but I’m a huge fan of this guy and can’t wait to see how far he can go. ARCEE PHOENIX (11) is on a mission for back-to-back Inter Dominion titles in Queensland during July and returns from a spell here. The multiple Group 1 winner wasn’t at the top of his game last campaign and actually hasn’t won a race since that Inter Dom grand final victory in 2025. However, he has trialled nicely for his return, including a 3m defeat by some handy pacers at Melton on May 26 and win over stablemate GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW (5) on Tuesday, and looks ready to run a forward race. IM BOBBY (6) sprint-laned to a good win last weekend at Melton and will be hard to run down if he spears across and finds the front here, while KEAYANG STUKA (9) looks next best despite a month between runs.