The return of Im Bobby headlines Saturday night metropolitan harness racing at Melton Entertainment Park.
The much-loved Goulburn Valley squaregaiter hasn’t been seen at the races since mid-March, but lands the perfect draw for a return victory in the Aldebaran Park Free For All Trot.
He comes up with the pole, has good gate speed and is clearly classy enough to go all the way. He hasn’t had a trial for this, but his best is right up there with the best in the country.
Last season at age six, he won 12 races for $149,525 in prizemoney and stamped himself as one of Australia’s best trotters. A trip to Brisbane for the 2026 Inter Dominion carnival through July is on the cards and this is an important kick-off point.
The first of Saturday night’s eight races is scheduled for 4.52pm, and you can catch the wall-to-wall coverage of the night with host Bronte Nieuwenburg on Sky Racing Active or at thetrots.com.au.
BEST BETS
R2 #9 JUSTALITTLESIP
Has been going really well this campaign, but has either been slightly outclassed or poorly draw. That appears to change here, and he is certainly up to winning a 0-105 event from the nice trailing draw in a race where the tempo looks genuine with many winning hopes. His form around Bulletproof Boy and My Ultimate Barney reads really well and he might come up each-way odds.
Prediction: Each-way
R3 #10 KEAYANG WASABI
Has really hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks and he looks well placed to secure his third win since mid-April. Last time out, he was driven aggressively to beat a handy field at Terang, which followed a couple of line-smashing efforts at Melton that had him appearing ready for victory. The tempo should be on enough for him to close hard from the wide back row gate.
Prediction: Win
R4 #1 IM BOBBY
He comes up with the pole, has good gate speed and is clearly classy enough to go all the way. He hasn’t had a trial for this, but his best is right up there with the best in the country and he goes happily on top.
Prediction: Win
R7 #5 LITTLE YANKEE
Has smashed the line his two runs back from a break, with a win at Bendigo on April 18 and third placing to Quirky Character at Melton on May 2 setting him up well. He should be going close, with Stockman Peter his key danger.
Prediction: Win
EARLY QUADDIE
Playing very wide here, with stacks of chances through the first three races.
1,2,4,5,6,12,13/1,3,7,8,9,10/1,5,6,7,8,10/1,4,8
QUADDIE
A much skinnier play than the Early Quaddie, with The Art Of Success the anchor as a likely short-priced favourite in leg two.
1,2/8/5,6/2,3,4,6
Fancy a play at Melton on Friday afternoon? Here’s the best bets on a tricky punting card.
FRIDAY MELTON BEST BETS
R1 #6 TEERDEE – (win)
R2 #8 AVEIRO – (each-way)
R8 #6 BOULEVARD BART – (win)
EARLY QUADDIE
3,4,6/1,3,7,8/1,3,4,5/1,2,5,9,10
QUADDIE
1,3,7,8,10/5,8,9,10/2,4,7,11/6,8