Max To Bring The Power For Meadows Mission

UNLIKE his AFL namesake and ownership group, which heads into Friday night's clash with the Western Bulldogs riding the crest of a club record nine-match winning streak, victories have been hard to come by for sprinter Max Power.

Max Power is raced by The Future Syndicate, which includes Port coach Ken Hinkley and Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines.

FIELDS AND FORM THE MEADOWS SATURDAY NIGHT

While Max Power, a son of Bella Infrared and Aston Selena bred by keen Port fan Ray Borda, has won just four of his 30 starts, his most recent success coming at Mount Gambier last October, he's run minor placings in nine of his past 13 assignments.

Looking to follow the "true Port Adelaide tradition" at The Meadows on Saturday night, Max Power is a $10 chance with TAB to break his drought when he exits box eight in the fourth event.

"I wish he was going as good as the footy side!" Group 1-winning trainer Dustin Drew laughed.

"He has been a bit of a frustrating dog, but at the same time he's been placed behind some class dogs like El Dorado and Valor Bale recently and he was a bit unlucky in both races.

"I'm not one to use box draws as an excuse, but he has been drawing some bad boxes too.

"No race is easy, but I reckon he finds a suitable race on Saturday night.

"I don't think box eight will worry him. Our other dog in the race, Aston Malle (box 5) is desperate for the fence, which should bring him over."

Aston Malle, trained by Drew's sister Aimee, is at $16, with Winnington Bale (box 3), trained by Daniel Gibbons, $3.80 favourite.

On Thursday night at Ballarat, Drew's 2022 G1 Sandown Cup heroine Untapped was victorious in her Sportsbet Pink Diamond Champion Distance heat (660m).

Saturday's Meadows meeting is headlined by a clash of the titans between dual G1 winner Amron Boy and country cups ‘Queen' Kelsey Bale in the Free For All Sprint (race 8, 8.58pm), as both tune up for Brisbane campaigns.

Amron Boy finished over the top of Kelsey Bale in stirring fashion when they met last start in the Group 3 Bill Collins Showdown match race at Sandown Park.

Brooke Ennis' Amron Boy (box 3) is TAB's $1.85 favourite to repeat the dose, with Kelsey Bale (box 2) $2.80.

"I was hoping Amron Boy would be up in Queensland!" Kelsey Bale's trainer Danny Gibbons quipped.

"I think Kelsey Bale races differently when she's in front and when she's coming from behind. She's been able to run down Amron Boy a couple of times at The Meadows (G3 Silver Bullet and Australian Cup Consolation).

"The Meadows suits us better, but I would've preferred to draw on the outside of Amron Boy because he crashes towards the fence.

"It is what it is. The main thing is that she gets around safely and is right to head up to Queensland for a Brisbane Cup prelude next week."

Prominent among Gibbons' other Meadows runners is Osanna Bale, a $3.50 chance in race 10 after a last start 10-length victory at the track.

"Osanna Bale is definitely capable of breaking ‘30' at The Meadows, but she keeps drawing bad boxes there," Gibbons said.