ATHLETICS: Menz chasing big finish to season

Simon Menz wants to bow out of this Victorian Athletic League season with a big finish.The Maryborough Gift on New Year's Day and the Daylesford Gift on Monday are Menz's last chances to capture a sash in what looms as a bumper weekend of racing.Menz, who hails from Willaura, moves in mid-January to Perth to study paramedics.And he is determined to claim a win before he leaves."That's it _ I don't have much more of a chance so there's a bit of incentive there," Menz said."It's good to know if you don't have success at Maryborough you can have another crack at Daylesford." The Rob Lehmann-trained sprinter is touted as his stable's best chance for a gift win this long-weekend.Menz has gone from strength-to-strength since joining the Lehmann stable, including a Stawell Gift semi-final bout and runner-up finish in the Ararat Gift last season.He placed third, behind Ballarat veteran winner Rod Mathews, in this season's Terang Gift and won a VAL sash for the 400m open final at Northcote earlier this month.But Menz is yet to reach a Gift final at either Maryborough or Daylesford.The 20-year-old will start this R running off nine metres in heat four at Princes Park.Menz’s trainer Rob Lehmann will also contest a strong 120m Maryborough Gift field, which will feature 18 interstate runners vying for the title.Stable-mate Narelle Lehmann is in the running for the Women Necklace at Princes Park.