OVERVIEW: LIBERTY STAR DUST (9) competed through the heats of the Vicbred Super Series at his latest start, and while well beaten, he certainly wasn’t disgraced in hot company. Before that, he won decisively at Kilmore after an eye-catching first-up run from the tail of the field at Melton. He draws well here on the second line and looks a progressive horse for Jodi Quinlan. Should run well. NINEDOLLA TOASTIE (3) has fought out the finish in her two runs since resuming in this grade and should run a forward race once again, the veteran LENARD ESS (5) has won his last two in dominant fashion in easier races than this but is clearly in good form, while CITY ROCKSTAR (8) draws to follow out the potential early leader in FIRESIDE (1) and her runner-up placing to Mount Barker Boy at Ballarat back in mid-July reads well for this. She has had excuses her past two and might be a good roughie. Most of the others have claims in a race where not many would surprise.

BACK: LIBERTY STAR DUST (9) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: SEA FURY (3) won his trial at Shepparton in preparation for this first-up assignment and returns following a string of placings to close his most recent campaign. He ran good races for second to nice types such as Odin, Hitch To His Star and Intrusion before a break, with his last win being in the Wangaratta Pacing Cup during March. There’s some speed to his outside here, but if he’s able to work forward and wrestle the front, he’d prove hard to run down. He doesn’t win out of turn, but I’m a big fan of GUNFORHIRE (9) and his last two starts have been fast-finishing runner-up placings. He’s very talented and can certainly prevail with the right trip, with the small field set to suit his run-on style. FERRIGNO (8) draws inside the back row and hasn’t been far away in recent starts, nor has RANGER RICK (4), who looks another of the gate speed runners off the front. He had a softer trip than GUNFORHIRE (9) last start at Terang, but was easily beaten home into third. KEAYANG PAYTON (5) and OH SWEET CREATURE (2) look next best.

OVERVIEW: Concerned about getting crossed and buried away at the start here with RUBYS DREAM (1), but going with her on top first-up for the powerhouse Lee stable. Her two trials since joining the camp have been good, with a win over stablemate KEAYANG LAVITA (6) and a close-up third to pacer Sweetheart Bart and top trotter Hoppy. Looks to be going well and just needs to hold a prominent position from one to be a key winning hope. Stablemate KEAYANG LAVITA (6) overcame a 20m handicap to win narrowly first-up from a break and is very talented when she does it all right, ALDEBARAN SUSANNE (2) has good gate speed and becomes a winning factor if she gets to the fence like she did when scoring narrowly last time out at Melton, while DICHOTOMY (9) has cost herself with gallops her past two, but a faultless display would have her right in this. THUNDA STRUCK (3) also flies the gate and while his first-up fifth was just fair, he’s a factor along with a few others headed by KEAYANG GYPSY (8).

BACK: RUBYS DREAM (1) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: ZANDA MAN (7) finished last campaign with a string of good efforts in strong company, including a couple of Saturday night wins at Melton. He returned from a break with a midfield finish in a heat of the Vicbred Super Series at Kilmore late last month, and while well beaten, it was a nice effort from off the fence. The draw is sticky, but he’s quite progressive and might be the class runner in this clash. CAPTAIN PINS (8) returned from a spell with a big win at Charlton and another good closing effort from last for sixth at Melton, while WHERE IS WOODY (1) was a great winner from three back the fence last time at Maryborough and might land a position closer here behind likely early leader PISTOL PEARCE (2), who was a bit outclassed last time but had been running well prior and maps for a good trip. Others to consider are ISOLATION (4), who trialled well for his return with a soft recent win at Melton, and TARA VICTORY (6), who won an easier race at Shepparton on September 1.

OVERVIEW: SOHO DARKNSTORMY (7) is the key runner and form reference in a great little race to start the main Quaddie. He led from this draw over the 2240m at Melton on August 22 and was beaten home into fourth by PESCI (6), GOOD TOBE LOCKSLEY (4) and CLYMENUS (2) who all reoppose. Last time out, over the 1720m trip, he led again and actually held on to beat HITTHEROADJACK (1), OUR VINCENT CAN GOGH (3), PESCI (6) and ATA RANGI (5). So what happens here? Well, you’d assume he leads again and gives a great sight, but perhaps gets tired in the concluding stages and gives his rivals a chance. Given it’s over the middle trip again, I’ll side with HITTHEROADJACK (1), who is one-paced but going well and draws for a great trip on the fence. GOOD TOBE LOCKSLEY (4) charged late from three back the fence for second behind PESCI (6) last time, while CLYMENUS (2) rarely runs a bad race and needs things to go his way, but is a winning factor.

OVERVIEW: MY UNCLE STAN (7) was held up badly and absolutely rocketed late when fourth, beaten just 4.2m, behind Ollies The Boss at Melton on August 29 in what was the run of a coming winner. You can excuse his start prior when he galloped out of play, and his effort before that when burning early, finding the front and boxing on for second to the smart I Am The Storm was also very good in a fast mile rate of 1:52.3. Small field suits and he’s going good enough to run over the top here. Big fan of the mare MITZI SAID (1), who could have finished even closer than her 6m fourth first-up at Melton with more luck. She had no chance from out the back in a fast last quarter at Wagga latest, and she can win from gate one if she’s not buried away too far. IMA TERMINTOR (2) can be a player if he crosses to the fence as expected, BLAKE BOLAC (6) was a good second to New Shuffle at the trials ahead of this first-up assignment and is a handy type, ALL BLAZING GUNS (4) is poking along alright at present and can figure with the right trip, while PLAINS IN HEAVEN (3) finished midfield in a Victoria Cup this time last year and a return to that form is obviously good enough.

BACK: MY UNCLE STAN (7) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: If you are a regular backer of SPIRITED LASS (5) then she’s probably given you a couple of grey hairs, but also plenty of thrills along the way. She’s talented, but her manners are very dicey as evidenced by her past couple of starts when she’s galloped in the run. Scott Ewen’s mare loomed to win last weekend as a $1.45 favourite at Cranbourne but went off stride, and before that just couldn’t find clear running and ultimately went up in the air when well fancied in a good race on a Saturday night. If she trots here, I think she wins. FLYIN TIME (3) hasn’t won yet this campaign, but is knocking on the door and heads here after a runner-up placing at Kilmore when she kicked clear at the corner before being hauled in by Aldebaran Denbay. There was a big margin back to third there and she looks the potential early leader. Key danger. AGAINST THE BRIDLE (6) has won his past two in easier grade with the master James Herbertson aboard, while WHY NOW (4) broke his maiden in good style at start three last week at Ballarat and should run a forward race.

BACK: SPIRITED LASS (5) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: Very even looking contest, but fancy SCAR (5) is running the best of these at present and I’ll lean his way in a wide-open contest for the 57-67 rated trotters. He sat parked last start and looked in trouble at the corner, but dug deep to beat QUEEN KIZEN (2) and co. at Kilmore. He was very brave in a couple of runs from the chair prior to that, and was beaten just 3.7m by Hallebesofine at his last appearance at Geelong. That horse is well fancied in a Group 1 Vicbred final on Saturday night. Reads well. TICTOK (1) is going along okay and draws well in a race where she is expected to lead or be leader’s back. Last weekend at Melton, she sat in the one-one and managed to finish third to Vici Bloom. From the pole, she must be a chance. PARIS KAY (4) beat home TICTOK (1) last time out and did win a race of this grade from the front at Melton in mid-July, while RARITY ROCK (3) was a very good winner at Cranbourne two back before only a fair display last time at Geelong when settling well back in the running line. All of these can win with the right trip, so don’t be afraid to go wide in the last leg of the Quaddie.

10-UNIT GAME PLAN

R1 #9 LIBERTY STAR DUST – 2 units (win)

R3 #1 RUBYS DREAM – 2 units (win)

R6 #7 MY UNCLE STAN – 3 units (win)

R7 #5 SPIRITED LASS – 3 units (win)

EARLY QUADDIE

3,5,9/3,4,5,8,9/1,2,6,8,9/1,7,8

QUADDIE

1,2,4,6,7/1,2,6,7/3,5,6/1,3,4,5