Bad by name, not by form

THERE is something about bad boys which holds an element of appeal.

The rebel without a cause James Dean, the original wild one Marlon Brando, even Dusty Martin…isn’t that right ladies!

For punters the appeal is winning form, which is what Urbadboy takes into Tabcorp Park Melton tomorrow night.

Successful in Ballarat during his previous outing, Urbadboy has scored at three of his last four starts for trainer Kelvin Barker.

“I’m very happy with him,” Barker said. “He’s a lovely horse, a bit of a surprise package, and seems to be improving all the time.

“He isn’t living up to his name, which he got because he was a bit of a bugger early on.

“The owner had two, one was a gem to do anything with and is a good boy, the other he couldn’t catch and is the bad boy.

“Now bad boy is putting it all together on the track while good boy is too big and awkward.

“He is in a massive long hopple as he’s a big striding horse which struggles to get around the corner and at the moment I’m trialling and teaching him to race.

“In comparison bad boy is an average size horse and made for racing.”

As for his pending assignment, Urbadboy will begin from barrier two, which has seen the son of Restrepo listed as a $1.65 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds.

Firerockfireroll is considered the main danger at $2.25 from the pole.

Trained by premier horsewoman Emma Stewart, Firerockfireroll has won his last two starts.

“He’s gotten up in grade reasonably fast so this will be a test,” Barker said. “He has drawn well and hopefully can make the most of it.

“I’ll leave the tactics up to Kate (Gath, driver) whether she goes forward or settles back.

“Kate understands him as he is not the easiest to drive and gets on well with him and that’s why I have her in the cart to make these decisions.”