AFTER a winning double at Shepparton this week, Keith Cotchin will head to Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday hoping to capitalise on the momentum of a good month
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The Elmore trainer will have three runners on a quality 11-race program, starting with the relative stable newcomer Gooddealehemily in the NR 70 to 79 pace.
Next up will be the consistent Brackenreid in a tough Group 3 Alabar Vicbred Championship Final before the appearance of Rocknroll Noah in a heat of the Battle of the Claimers.
Cotchin has been a bit of a roll of late with five winners this month.
Two of those were added at Shepparton on Monday when Rossini prevailed in the NR 55 to 60 pace and Credit To Chris notched his second win in three starts in the NR up to 51 trot.
Cotchin viewed Rossini's 4.6m win as perhaps proof the four-year-old gelding was beginning to mature and develop a winning mentality.
"He sort of switches himself on and off a bit, but he won and in good time," he said.
"He's still a little bit immature in the old brains department, but we are getting there with him.
"You'd like to think he has better than average ability, so when he gets down against the better horses and he learns how to race, he will be more than competitive.
"He can win, but there are times when he should be eight or 10m in front and just knocks off. He's just not quite sure what it's all about yet."
He added it might not be long before Rossini was given a crack at a metropolitan-class race should he continue to improve.
Cotchin hopes Credit To Chris is back on track after following his win at Maryborough on Humbletonian Day by badly missing the start and finishing at the rear of the field at Charlton before Monday's win.
"He's an improving type and improving all the time - we're very happy with him," he said.
"He had no hope at Charlton after that start, but he looks like he's back on track again.
"I might just freshen him up a little bit and give him a couple of quiet weeks and then I'll look around and see what I can find.
"The (Vicbred) starts for him in September, so we'll give him a quieter month before that."
The four-year-old gelding has now had six starts for Cotchin since his arrival from James Rattray's stable in Sydney. for a pair of wins.
Cotchin nominated Gooddealehemily as arguably his best chance on Saturday night.
The mare is another of Rattray's horses to make her way to Elmore and will be having her second start for Cotchin following a nice third at Melton two weeks ago.
"She is going along well and should be right among the finish," he said.
"Brackenreid has got a tough field, but went well last week and, hopefully, Rocknroll Noah can run a place and get into the final of the Battle of the Claimers.
"If they run it as a true run race, I'll back him to be running home."
Ryan Duffy, who picked up the double on Rossini and Credit To Chris will drive Rocknroll Noah, while Greg Sugars will take the steer on Gooddealehemily and Michael Bellman on Brackenreid.
A strong contingent of Bendigo region trainers with horses in action at Melton includes Julie Douglas with Torrid Saint, who is cashing back-to-back at headquarters following a win Friday week ago, and Pocket Thedeal, Greg Norman (Cee Cee In America), Trevor Monk (Terrorleen), Peter Cole (Major Jodi), Dylan Marshall (Barbie Mattgregor and Imthe Golden Child), and Shaun McNaulty (Guptas Cullen).
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