Armidale galloper Melted Moments found a purple patch of form this time last year and trainer Paul Grills hopes the gelding can produce similar results when he chases back-to-back wins at Grafton on Monday.
A last-start winner of a Benchmark 66 Handicap (1600m) at Scone on August 7 as a $31 outsider, Melted Moments ($5.50 on TAB fixed odds) drops back to the 1400m of Monday's John Shelton Benchmark 66 Hcp.
A beaming Mikayla Weir returns on Melted Moments after winning at Scone. Image by Bradley Photographers
The Scone win was his first success since late last year when he scored over 1300m at Armidale in November.
The Armidale win completed a consistent run of four wins and two placings from his previous six starts between mid-August and November.
"We knew he was going well again leading into his Scone win the other day and it was very nice to get that result at the nice odds," said Grills.
"He was in great form this time last year and hopefully he can win a couple more over this same period this year. He's a horse who doesn't like the heat in the summer, so this time of the year is ideal."
Melted Moments has proved he is pretty versatile and Grills isn't too concerned about the drop back to 1400m in Monday's race. His wins last year were over 1900m, 1600m, 1710m and 1300m.
"It (the distance) doesn't seem to matter with him and he does like the Grafton track where he's run pretty well in the past," said Grills.
"I've booked Cejay Graham to ride him and she'll claim 1.5kg. Cejay knows him and has won on him before. You can't bustle him early, and hopefully with clear running in the straight, he should be hard to beat.
"At least he's coming off a last-start win, while the form of some of his rivals on Monday doesn't look that strong."
Ballina trainer Stephen Lee, who looks to have several good chances on the eight-race program, will have two runners lining up against Melted Moments in the Benchmark 66 - Galiano ($34) and Nothingforthepress ($2.80 favourite).
Nothingforthepress will find Monday's race more suitable than his first-up seventh to Happy Hooves over 1200m at Doomben on July 28. The five-year-old was a consistent performer last preparation, especially over 1400m.
Lee could have up to 10 runners lining up at Grafton, including Dukatti (race three, $5.50) who looks ready to break through after his last-start second at the Gold Coast
Several races on the Grafton program honour Clarence River Jockey Club's 2017-18 premiership winners - Kilner, senior rider Matt McGuren and trainer John Shelton.
McGuren is chasing a similar result on the Jim Jarvis-trained Tam O'Shanter ($3.20 fav) in the Matt McGuren Maiden Hcp (1700m). Ex-Victorian Tam O'Shanter is having his first run for Jarvis and looks hard to beat on his recent efforts at Cranbourne, Pakenham and Geelong.
View the final fields with full form & race replays for Grafton here