RACE COMMENT

OVERVIEW: Amazing edition of the time-honoured VHRC Holmfield, where the three-year-old trotters do battle in an intriguing contest. THE PREACHER (10) was brilliant from the front at Melton when winning by a big space on August 12, which followed a big triumph in the Warragul Trotters Cup off 30m. He ran a great race to beat MUNNY THE MUNSTER (7) in a heat of the Nutrien series at Wagga before that horse overturned the result in the rich final from the top. With a nice trailing draw, he looks a good each-way play. MUNNY THE MUNSTER (7) is first-up from that Nutrien series victory and heads here on the back of a solid trial at Cobram, where he placed third. Stacey Towers will likely press forward in a bid to find the top, and he’d be very hard to beat if he got there easily. PASTOR DUNBAR (9) is the Group 1 NSW Trotters Derby champion and trialled well against the pacers ahead of his return, as did NOTANOTHA NAUGHTY (8), who is now back in the care of Hugh Cathels, the trainer for his Group 1 Redwood Classic success as a two-year-old. UNCLAD (11) and HOWDY MATE (12) head the other chances, while TIMMY WHIZ (3), BROTHER MOUNTAIN (4) and HALLEBESOFINE (5) are all factors from the front line. BACK: THE PREACHER (10) – 1 unit (each-way)