Melton's Magical Decider

Mark Pitt. Photo by Stuart McCormick.

DEFENDING champion Mark Pitt feels like the backmarker in the Stawell Gift, but he's not giving up hope of mowing down arch-rival Kate Gath to win the Victoria Metropolitan Driving title at the last meeting of the season.

Pitt, a runaway winner for his first title last season, has 51 wins this season, two behind Gath (53) heading into Saturday night's Melton meeting, where they both have eight drives.

Gath won the title back-to-back in 2020 and '21.

"I've got it all ahead of me. It's going to be hard to give Kate a couple (of wins) head start and catch her," Pitt said.

"I briefly hit the lead at one stage, but Kate's been in front most of the season."

"It's great it's been so close, and it comes down to the last possible meeting to decide it. There are so many great drivers in Victoria; it's great to be one of the two fighting it out."

Pitt does look to have a slightly better book of drives, headed by the talented Chynchylla, for his wife, Lisa, in race two.

"It's a drop in grade; she's racing really well and gets barrier one. I think she'll lead and be very, very hard to beat," he said.

Proven feature race performer Beyond Delight returns from a short break and is the class runner in the Sokyola Sprint (race eight).

"He's got form in some of the best races. He's as good as anything in the race, but he will need a bit of luck from that draw (inside back row, gate eight)," Pitt said.

Pitt also drives Beyond Delight's stablemate, Idealrockidealroll, from outside the front row (gate seven) in the opening race.

"He's a nice horse but hasn't raced for a long time. If he's near his top, he'll give it a shake even from that draw," he said.

"Paradise Valley is another of my best hopes. I don't know if she'll find the front, but she's racing really well and will be right in the finish, however it plays out."

Pitt's other drives are: Specta (race three); Sophies Scooter (race four); Egret (race six) and Hesallmuscle (race nine).

Gath isn't so sure her two-win lead will be enough.

"I can see it being close," she said. "I've been expecting 'Pitty' to catch me all season, so it's a bit of a surprise to be leading into this last meeting."

"I've got to hope I can get a winner or two out of my lot to have a chance of holding him off. I can see him driving a few."

Gath rates talented former Kiwi pacer Coravalley Star (race eight) as her best winning chance.

"He's improved with each run and drawn well. It looks like a good race for him, and he's clearly my best winning hope," she said.

"Our Saydie Kay also has a great hope in race four, while Outlaw Man is never far away, but he's in a strong race."

"I've also picked up the drive on Revelstoke in race six, but that's a really strong trotting race."

THE SHOWDOWN
Kate Gath and Mark Pitt – race by race on Saturday night.
RACE NO./GATH'S DRIVE/PITT'S DRIVE
Race 1: Sly Terror/Idealrockidealroll
Race 2: Cool Night/Chynchylla
Race 3: NO DRIVE/Specta
Race 4: Our Saydie Kay/Sophies Scooter
Race 5: Outlaw Man/Beyond Delight
Race 6: Revelstoke/Egret
Race 7: Paradise Valley/Le Belle Bijoux
Race 8: Corravalley Star/NO DRIVE
Race 9: Central Otago/Hesallmuscle
Race 10 – NOT A METRO CLASS RACE

·      Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.