OVERVIEW: With LOWRIDER (6) out scratched, this race opens right up. FICTION FILE (5) struggles to win but often runs well and did just that when second in a race three of these contested at Ballarat last week. She got home in a pretty quick last half for this grade – as she did in the two runs prior – and James Herbertson might press forward in a bid to dictate the race. Looks ready to win. CALEDONIAN RANGER (4) hasn’t raced since a narrow second in the Warragul Pacing Cup Final and might have the speed to cross down to the pegs here. From there, he might prove really hard to beat. The in-form JANIEBQUICK (7) got her well-deserved victory last Friday from a good draw at Melton but this is harder from wide on the front row, while MONSIEUR FLAMEL (3) and JILLIBY KYMY LOU (2) were third and fourth respectively in the race FICTION FILE (5) ran second in at Ballarat and are the other chances.

BACK: FICTION FILE (5) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: KEAYANG ZIA (1) is a lightly-raced mare out of Keayang Yankee, which makes her a half-sister to megastar stablemate Keayang Zahara. And while she isn’t showing signs of being the next Zahara, Zia does find a very suitable race to land her first career win. She ran well for second on debut at Ballarat last Thursday and was fair when fourth at Terang on Sunday, with this set to be her third start in nine days. Her rivals almost have no form to speak of, so she simply must go on top from the good barrier one draw. ISLAND RUBEE (3) is a relatively new acquisition for the Rory Coverdale stable, and while she isn’t setting the world on fire, she hasn’t been far behind KEAYANG ZIA (1) in those two most recent runs. LEZAMA (5) is third-up from a break and did manage third despite a late break last time out, and MAJESTIC PHILLY (2) makes a long-awaited appearance at the races after a stack of trials since joining Fred Spiteri.

OVERVIEW: It has been a losing sequence of 43 starts for TWEEDLEDEE (6), but this really does look a good race for him to land a first win since July last year. Despite being out the back in a wet old affair last weekend, Steve Alexandrou’s charge has been competitive in much stronger races than this of late and just needs to bring that sort of form to the table here to be giving this a real shake. His 18 career wins are one less than the rest of the field combined, and he gets in 11 rating points under the threshold given his $8000 claiming price tag. While he won’t map well, he might be too good. LADY MANCHE (3) is a lightly-raced filly from the Jess Tubbs stable who charged home from well back first-up here a fortnight ago and looks very capable in this grade, NIGHT FLIGHT (1) has great gate speed and has been very competitive of late so must be respected from the pole draw, while MET WITH A SHRUG (2) won an easier race in dominant fashion at Kilmore last week and looks in good form this campaign.

BACK: TWEEDLEDEE (6) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: THE FINAL DANCE (5) absolutely blew his rivals away first-up for the Emma Stewart stable when winning his maiden at Ballarat on June 11 and then had no luck from a sticky gate at Geelong last time out when a beaten favourite. He looks set to start very short in this race, where he appears clearly the class runner and I expect Mark Pitt to drive an aggressive race in the small field. His dangers might be running for second, but BETTORPATCHMEUP (1) has the nice gate, speed to hold a prominent position and some sprinklings of form, the roan BLUE MIKI (3) was badly held up at Ballarat last week and probably should have won, while CALEDONIAN TERRA (2) might have the speed to cross to the fence and hasn’t been far away in recent runs.

OVERVIEW: PIQUE (3) has returned from a break in fine fettle for the flying Murphy stable, with a narrow miss at long-odds first-up here at Geelong before a strong win from the front at Ballarat last week. He showed speed to lead in that race and driver Brent Murphy might look to adopt the same tactics here from gate three. ASPEN BELLE (6) looks pretty handy and might be the one that has the most scope. She ran really well after bombing the start at Cranbourne, then won softly at Charlton last time. Big danger! THE FASHIONISTA (5) is very hard to trust, but a fourth at Bendigo to Banos and fifth at Maryborough to Fremarks Peggy – beaten less than 15m on both occasions – read pretty well for a contest such as this, and ARGYLE MUSE (4) is a chance, particularly given she might have the speed to find the front.

OVERVIEW: Not much would surprise in the final event of the night, but STEADY DREAM (3) does look ready to land her fourth career win. She hit the line nicely for second after being held up turning for home last time out behind the handy Spirited Lass, and before that ran another second to Manda Kyvalley. Her last win in April was an absolute ripper at Melton, where she came from near last at the turn and rounded up her rivals to score. Something similar would probably be too good here. THE FIERY SUNSET (6) returned from a long period away from the races to score first-up here on July 3 and must be a good chance based off that effort, LOW LIE THE FIELDS (1) looked to have every possible last Friday when leading and dropping out to last at Melton but gets the good gate, while I fancied SILENT REVERIE (4) here a fortnight ago and he was a disappointing third after leading in the race won by THE FIERY SUNSET (6).

BACK: STEADY DREAM (3) – 4 units (win)

10-UNIT GAME PLAN

R1 #5 FICTION FILE – 3 units (win)

R3 #6 TWEEDLEDEE – 3 units (win)

R6 #3 STEADY DREAM – 4 units (win)

EARLY QUADDIE

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

QUADDIE

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