Dashman's harness look ahead - October 4

Look ahead to this weekend's harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.

Queensland interest will be in three states across the weekend, with feature racing in Victoria at Melton and plenty of high energy action from both Menangle and Albion Park.

Australia’s best pacer, Leap To Fame, will be at Melton as will a pair of Chantal Turpin-trained three-year-olds contesting heats of the Victoria Derby and Oaks, respectively.

Father-and-son combination Daren and Angus Garrard will be represented in six races at Menangle, while at 'The Creek' there will be eight race cards on both Friday and Saturday night.

'LARRY' ON THE ROAD

Leap To Fame has arrived in Victoria ahead of what looks like a two-week campaign that will take in the Smoken Up Sprint and the Victoria Cup.

Grant Dixon’s champion has drawn outside the front line for the 1720 metre sprint trip, and with a strong field assembled, will need to be at his best to overcome the wide gate.

Despite the draw and strength of opposition, Leap To Fame opened at a quote of $1.70 and has met with support in the early markets, firming to $1.60 and it is hard to go against the Queensland champ who has won 18 of his past 19 starts.

The market suggests it is a two-horse battle with Catch A Wave on the second line of betting at $3.70.

The pair last met in the Hunter Cup back in February where Leap To Fame scored in emphatic style, while Catch A Wave finished at the tail of the field.

THE JANITOR LOOKING TO CLEAN UP

The Chantal Turpin stable will have one runner in each of the Victorian Derby and Oaks heats, with The Janitor stepping out in race three, the first of the Derby heats.

After a luckless effort in the Queensland Derby during the Queensland Constellations, the gelding was sent for a freshen with an eye to a Victorian trip.

Resuming with a pair of Albion Park victories at both the 2138 and 1660 metre distances, he earned the trip south where he has drawn inside the second line.

He will follow out the Aaron Dunn-trained and driven Dee Roe, who possesses good gate speed but will be resuming from a spell.

Needing some luck, a strong tempo will assist The Janitor who will need to finish in the top six to progress to next week’s Victorian Derby Final.

CAN AARDIE PLUNDER THE OAKS RICHES?

Queensland Oaks winner Aardie B Miki opened favourite in race five, the first of the Victoria Oaks heats and has met with further support since the market went live.

Drawn in the middle of the line in gate five, the all-conquering Emma Stewart stable has drawn barriers one, two and three, presenting Pete McMullen with a difficult task in the early stages.

Like her stable mate, the daughter of Always B Miki was given a freshen following the Constellations and returned with a win against older company in a mare’s qualifier before finishing second from a tough draw behind the airborne Chynchilla.

With two heats of the Oaks, the filly will need to run in the top six, but with just eight runners in her heat, she should be progressing to the Final.

GARRARDS ALL OUT MENANGLE ASSAULT

Daren and Angus Garrard have a team of seven campaigning in New South Wales and could potentially have all seven lining up on Saturday night.

Nicks Pick is the only runner yet to be finalized, the six-year-old listed as the emergency in the last race of the card where another of their runners, R Eleven Art will start from gate one if Nicks Pick is not required.

The Vicar Of Dibley has a win and two minor placings since being at Menangle for the Garrards campaign.

The Vicar Of Dibley will line up in the Frith Stakes where she will have her work cut out in overcoming a strong field which includes the ultra-smart Aardies Express, who has drawn gate one.

Classie Washington will start from barrier eight in the opening race of the night, Regazzo Di Tilly will start from two in race two, while last start winner Catseye Beach has landed the inside gate in race three.

CHYNCHILLA SET TO SIZZLE

At Albion Park on Saturday night, the Donny Smith-trained Chynchilla will be looking to add another open mares pace to her form card.

A winner at six of her past seven starts, her only defeat came at the hands of Wasa Heat Seeker who will be out to make it a perfect four from four since arriving in Queensland in the opening race of the night.

Chynchilla, meanwhile, has won all three open mare events she has contested, the most recent when stomping out a 1.51.1 mile, pulling clear to a 16.5 metre margin in defeating the three-year-old Aardie B Miki.

Drawn gate six in that victory, she will face the same gate once again, with Its Ebonynivory looking the main threat, if there is one.