OVERVIEW: Plenty hinges on the start here in my opinion, and if HITTHEROADJACK (1) can burrow through and do enough to lead, then he has a great chance in the first on Cup night. He’s a one-paced horse who lacks push-button speed, but he was able to work to the top last Friday at Melton and they couldn’t get near him as he carved out good sections in the run home to score by a big margin at good odds. He will be hard to run down over 1609m if he gets things his own way. MISS ARI (9) is a very classy mare who just missed Group 1 glory last time out when a narrow second to star rival The Art Of Success in the Vicbred Super Series final and she looms as a key danger from the nice back row draw, MY UNCLE STAN (3) led, handed up and just missed ROYAL APPOINTMENT (8) last weekend but is flying and might be the horse that tries to cross HITTHEROADJACK (1), while CLYMENUS (4) had no chance in that same race from out the back but he’s knocking on the door and looks ready to win. Another to consider is BLAKE BOLAC (5), who dead-heated first-up at Geelong with MY UNCLE STAN (3).

OVERVIEW: Very open trot here where you can make a case for most, but I’ll take a small chance on JACK SPRAT (3) for the fact I think he can work to the front. Last time at Melton, he led over 2240m and was only grabbed late by the in-form Sebastians Boy in what was a solid effort. The drop back to 1609m suits at a track he loves, with four of his seven career wins coming at this venue. KEAYANG LAVITA (8) has had excuses in recent runs, including Sunday when she made up huge ground from the 60m handicap to only be beaten 5.1m at Terang. If PROHIBITED GRACE (1) holds the front, she’d be the one to beat. I liked FREIGHT SHAKER (6) each-way last weekend and he ran well for fourth, but will benefit from the outing as trainer Chris Svanosio hinted that he was perhaps a little underdone there, while SKY FLAIR (10) ripped through the line late from a hopeless position in the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series final for four-year-old trotting mares and she’s been going really well this campaign. The chances don’t stop there…

OVERVIEW: FERRIGNO (3) ran an absolute cracker for third from a mile back in a race six of these horses contested at Geelong on September 11 and then seemed to ruin his chances by racing too keen at Echuca last time. Happy to take a chance on him at likely a decent price as he looks ready to win. SCHWARZ (10) won a string of races in Tasmania by big margins before coming back across to the mainland for a heat of the Vicbred Super Series for four-year-olds, and he ran well to just miss the final. He draws wide on the back row, but has the Emma Stewart polish and looks to have plenty of scope. TELEMACHUS (8) ran well in a strong race for third at Terang on Sunday and should get a lovely trip behind fast-starter ASMILEANDAWINX (1), who had to work too hard last time but can improve drawn on the fence here.

BACK: FERRIGNO (3) – 1 unit (each-way)

OVERVIEW: DISTANT SUN (9) looks to strike a very suitable 0-55 grade event where he draws nicely on the back row. Last time at Shepparton, he came with a wide run in the last lap, and while well beaten by Centurion Dream, he held a big margin back to third. That horse won last Saturday night at Melton, so the form stacks up. He was actually only beaten in a photo for second and third by that same horse two runs prior when 2.5m behind the in-form Karbine, who has also won again since. Happily on top. MUSCLE VALLEY (7) was a good runner-up behind Itz Classic Gold two back and was competitive in a strong Need For Speed Prince heat last time out, CONSTANT (5) is always running home strongly in her races and is a major contender with the right trip, while stablemate DANCE FIGHTER (1) has been outclassed her past couple but did start a $2 favourite prior to that and can be a factor from the good draw.

BACK: DISTANT SUN (9) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: ISOLATION (9) has been in red-hot form this campaign for Patrick Tomkinson with back-to-back wins at Geelong and Melton followed by a close-up fourth placing at HQ last weekend behind Royal Appointment. It was a good run considering the race was dominated by those on the fence and he didn’t get a lot of clear air in the straight. There looks some tempo on paper, and he should give this a real shake. Surprised if he’s not fighting out the finish. MAAS BETTING AGAIN (3) probably needs to lead to win but she’s fast off the arm and won three races from the front with slick last halves through June and July, OLLIES THE BOSS (1) led and beat KOSIMO (2) and CAPTAIN PINS (6) when scoring in a similar grade at Melton on August 29 and has been outclassed his past two, while TOPSIES BLING (7) has produced big finales to win easier races at long odds but is going well and will be closing off late.

BACK: ISOLATION (9) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: Ripping edition of the Geelong Pacing Cup where MINOS (5) is fancied to score first-up from a break. He has had the two trials in preparation for this and heads here for his first outing since a fourth placing behind Captains Mistress and Leap To Fame in the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final at Albion Park in July. He won a heat and placed second in another before that and looks a good chance of rolling across to the front for Lochie Cook, who is looking to add a second Geelong Cup to his mantlepiece after scoring with JILLIBY NITRO (4) in March this year. BULLETPROOF BOY (2) hasn’t raced since a slightly disappointing display at Melton on August 29 but is a star and gets a great chance if he’s able to find the fence, NEW SHUFFLE (1) ran two brilliant races through the recent Vicbred Super Series and draws to run well here, while SIR JIMMY (8) was only grabbed in the shadows of the post by Catch A Wave last time and should be a factor from inside the back row.

BACK: NEW SHUFFLE (1) – 3 units (place)

OVERVIEW: ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (7) is one of the country’s premier trotters and lines up for just the second stand start of her career as she looks towards a New Zealand campaign that will include a run in the time-honoured Dominion Trot there in early November. It’s hard to see how a 30m handicap will stop her here if she steps cleanly, which she has done in three recent trials leading up to her dominant first-up win at Melton on September 19. IMPERIAL MONARCH (6) ran well for second behind Hoppy last weekend at Melton and gets the 10m head start on ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (7), Ararat Cup winner MORE WANTED (4) is first-up here since July, and while he rarely wins, is a very honest type at this level, and JOHNS BOY (3) returns from a couple of Menangle runs but did beat ANTONOV (2) with a bigger handicap in his last Victorian outing at Maryborough. MEADOW VALLEY STAR (5) is first-up in the care of Tom Rundle and has place claims.

OVERVIEW: A SPECIAL OCCASION (4) placed third in the prestigious Northern Derby in New Zealand before being shipped across to join the Michael Stanley stable here in Australia. He stepped out as a short-priced favourite at Ballarat on September 23 and absolutely bolted in, and I fancy he’s the class here in the last of the night. THE FINAL DANCE (1) draws to lead and is a talented type from the Emma Stewart barn who performed creditably through the heats, semis and final of the Vicbred Super Series for three-year-old colts and geldings, ANGELS WATCHING (8) made an early break but still got up to win impressively from three fence at Echuca last time and is a factor from behind the likely leader, while THE NAKED ART (7) has a horror gate but is a mare in form with two recent Melton Saturday night wins under her belt. BRINGSUSJOY (2), BETTORLEFTALONE (3) and FIRE MARSHALL (6) are perhaps others worth considering for the back end of trifectas and First 4s.

BACK: A SPECIAL OCCASION (4) – 1 unit (win)

10-UNIT GAME PLAN

R3 #3 FERRIGNO – 1 unit (each-way)

R4 #9 DISTANT SUN – 2 units (win)

R5 #9 ISOLATION – 2 units (win)

R6 #1 NEW SHUFFLE – 3 units (place)

R8 #4 A SPECIAL OCCASION (4) – 1 unit (win)

EARLY QUADDIE

1,3,4,9/1,3,5,6,7,8,10/3,10/5,7,9

QUADDIE

1,3,9/1,2,5/7/1,4