Group One mare looks well-placed in Metro Final
Garrick Knight - Raceform • June 27th, 2025 9:00 AM • 3 min read
As a two-time Group One placegetter, Melsadele looks very well-placed to return to the winner’s circle at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
The Waiuku trotter is second up after more than a year away from the track due to injury, but a resuming second was enough to see her open co-favourite for the $35,000 TAB Metro Series Trotters Final.
“I was pretty happy with her first-up run given she’d only had one trial,” said Michelle Wallis, who trains her in partnership with husband, Bernie Hackett. “We knew she’d go into that race a bit short, but she went really well.
“It’s a bit disappointing going back 10m this week for only running second, but it is what it is.”
It’s an even but not overly strong line-up and Melsadele, with 2023 Group One placings in both the New Zealand and New South Wales Trotting Derbies, is easily the best-credentialled runner.
Wallis says this series wasn’t a target, just a happy coincidence when the daughter of Orlando Vici was ready to return to the races.
“We hadn’t targeted the series, but the heat timed well, and we want to race her fortnightly at first.”
Wallis said the stable is “quietly confident” that Todd Mitchell can rein her to the winner’s circle.
Joining her on the back mark is stablemate and last-start winner, Maro Mackendon, who opened $3.60 co-favourite with her on Tuesday.
“He’s not the most tractable horse yet but he is getting better. The run he gets will determine how he goes.”
The stable has half the field in the $20,000 Border Fencing Services Handicap Trot, including last week’s winner, Hillbilly Blues ($2.60), who stays on the same rating thanks to a ‘freebie’.
“It’s no harder this week – apart from Ocean Eyes – and he’s such a good beginner that he’ll end up in the right spot.”
Wallis felt Courmayeur ($5) was a chance to go one better than her last-start second, though noted she “isn’t the quickest beginner and off 10m might get buried away”.
Halberg ($5.50) is always competitive but faces a 20m back mark while Iron Love ($9.50) was clearly the least-fancied of their quartet.
Later in the night, the stable has three runners in the maiden-front trot, including the debut winner Manchester’s Moment (opened $4.40 second favourite).
“She’s a nice filly that got a bit lost with the big step up in grade last time. Todd (Mitchell, driver) was happy with her though and she’ll continue to learn this week.”
Maiden Happy Hill ($7) continues to begin fast and lead, but has galloped under pressure in the straight in two of his last three starts.
“He did trot a lot better last time, but he pulled really hard. So we ‘beat’ him, but then he found another way to ‘beat’ us. He’s an enigma.”
Rounding out the team is recent stable addition Grace N Elegance ($6), who was purchased cheaply out of the Brian and Gareth Hughes stable.
“She’s just a horse, no superstar.”
