OVERVIEW: KYVALLEY DRIFTER (1) did plenty wrong on debut at Melton on August 21, but ultimately got the job done in good style with a strong victory over LOLLY (5). She hails from the powerful and in-form Chris Svanosio stable, draws well in gate one and should have taken plenty of benefit from that experience. There looks to be a motor there, and she’s happily on top in a race where manners will play a major role in the outcome. MISS MUSCLE (8) has a bit more experience on her side and draws to trail the leading selection. She hasn’t done much wrong at all in her four starts, which includes a good win in July. She was beaten last time out by MAJARO GIRL (9), but was forced to do a bit of work early there as a short-priced favourite and was only grabbed late. MAJARO GIRL (9) has shown gradual improvement since joining the Andy Gath barn and was a good winner last time out, while LOLLY (5) ran a ripper for second behind KYVALLEY DRIFTER (1) first-up from a spell and is a contender with the right trip.

BACK: KYVALLEY DRIFTER (1) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: Wide-open heat for the two-year-trotting fillies where plenty have claims. KYVALLEY DIXON (1) looks a decent play given her good gate and recent form, which includes back-to-back wins at Melton in July and Maryborough just last week. She should settle in front or on the leader’s back, and would likely be going close on her best behaviour. ZIPPIN PAST (2) is first-up from a break, has the gate speed to challenge for the top and showed good ability with three front-running triumphs in her first campaign, while BUMPER CROP (8) is an unbeaten talent from the Antti Ruokonen stable who heads here on the back of a nice trial and big success in the rich Nutrien final at Wagga in late May. She beat three rivals (all made breaks) there that reoppose here and is a great chance. ALDEBARAN EMJAY (4) looked set to challenge KYVALLEY DIXON (1) for victory first-up at Maryborough, but galloped in the concluding stages and was relegated to third. They look the key hopes, but not much would surprise.

OVERVIEW: HALLEBESOFINE (6) has been very impressive in all three runs this campaign and might ultimately find the top here with her gate speed. She led and was only beaten 6.6m in a strong Holmfield by star squaregaiter Pastor Dunbar on August 22, and before that led and won at Geelong. She has competed well in a number of big features across her career and looks hard to beat with the right trip. ADELAIDE RED (7) turned her form around in a big way when she charged to the front, handed up and sprint-laned to victory at Melton on August 21. She was a Group 1 winner as a two-year-old and brings plenty of class to this clash. IJUSTCANTSEEIT (9) did a power of work and dropped out as favourite in the Shepparton Trotters Oaks last time but was a huge Kilmore winner before that and has good ability, while PIPALICIOUS (8) looked set to challenge last time at Ballarat but was checked and broke after winning her maiden in dominant fashion at Maryborough.

BACK: HALLEBESOFINE (6) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: GLADIATRIX (2) is a Group 1-winning trotter from New South Wales who heads back to Victoria looking to make amends for two disappointing results in the Vicbred and Breeders Crown finals as a two-year-old during 2025. She won the elite-level NSW Trotters Oaks in May and was a beaten short-priced favourite when caught parked last time out in the Group 2 Trot NSW Final in early July. She might be able to work to the top here, and from there would be hard to run down. ALDEBARAN ADA (1) is a classy trotter who won a heat and final of the rich Nutrien series at Wagga during May before being freshened for this assignment. From the good draw, she’s a key danger. QUEEN OF SEES (5) wasn’t beaten far in a recent trial at Melton and looks to have some good ability, while TRUSCOTTS ELEGANCE (8) charged late from the one-one to run down PURPLE MOON (7) and win in good style at Maryborough last week. They’re outside winning hopes, but certainly factors for trifecta and First 4 players along with the fast beginner ARGYLE MUSE (3).

BACK: GLADIATRIX (2) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: JILLIBY AURA (2) was a Nutrien final winner as a two-year-old and presents here first-up from a third placing in the three-year-old decider of that series at Wagga in May. She was narrowly beaten as favourite in the Group 1 NSW Trotters Oaks before that and probably has the speed to find the front. She’s the one to beat. HARPERSEVEN (3) won the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series final last season at massive odds and ran a solid third first-up at Melton on August 21. She’s the other class runner of the field on exposed form. MAJESTIC YANKEE (7) and SO SKEPTICAL (9) ran first and second respectively in the Shepparton Trotters Oaks last time out, and while they might not have the ability of the top two selections, are certainly talented and can threaten with the right run. The first-up ZOOLU (5) looks the other key player as a three-time winner from 10 starts.

OVERVIEW: KEAYANG BAZLENKA (4) hails from the powerhouse trotting barn of Team Lee and started a $1.20 favourite in the Group 1 NSW Trotters Derby during May but ruined his chance with a break. He heads here first-up on the back of a trial win and he’s already a two-time elite-level victor, having beaten HOWDY MATE (1) in both the Breeders Crown and Vicbred Super Series finals as a two-year-old during 2025. HOWDY MATE (1) has a lovely draw, good fitness base and great winning chance. Two starts ago, he led and looked the winner into the straight but galloped late and allowed Unclad to run past him. Last time out, he was trapped five back the fence in a hot Holmfield and absolutely rattled late to finish fourth and just 7.3m behind Pastor Dunbar. A serious danger. THE PREACHER (2) was a great winner first-up in easier grade and then ran well when fifth in the Holmfield, SUPERIOR STRIDE (6) is a classy NSW visitor who competed in The Great Square in Queensland and did a good job to win at Menangle last time out when pressured in front, while TIMMY WHIZ (8) looks above average and the other key player from inside the back row.

OVERVIEW: PASTOR DUNBAR (1) is a star three-year who landed the Group 1 NSW Trotters Derby in May and returned from a break in brilliant style when he won the Holmfield at Melton on August 22. There, he sat parked and powered clear around the turn to beat a cracking field arrogantly. He’s fitter, draws gate one and is almost impossible to oppose. I’m a big fan of MISTER DEVEREAUX (2), who seems to be getting better and better this season. Last time out, he was nailed four back the pegs at Maryborough and savaged the line late to be beaten 2.2m in a slick last quarter. I’ve loved all his recent performances and he can run well at likely decent odds. UNCLAD (3) has returned a lovely three-year-old for Alison Alford and won two starts back at Melton before only a fair effort in the Holmfield, while IM HAVINTOTROT (7) was narrowly beaten first-up at Ballarat but did some work early and is a classy customer who has raced in features galore throughout the early part of his career.

BACK: MISTER DEVEREAUX (2) – 3 units (place)

OVERVIEW: MUNNY THE MUNSTER (3) was right in the market first-up from a break when just a fair seventh in the Holmfield, but his run before a spell in late May was a dominant victory in the rich Nutrien series final at Wagga. He ran a narrow second in the Group 1 NSW Trotters Derby last campaign as well, and presents here in heat three as the horse to beat. PASS THE SALT (9) was a really tough winner from the chair first-up at Kilmore and was perhaps a little plain after that but has trialled well since, ITZ CLASSIC GOLD (10) is a nice trotter for veteran horseman Ray Cross and won well at Maryborough two back before being outclassed in the Holmfield latest, while the consistent REVERAND BOB (7), last-start winner and NSW raider I CHOOSE YOU (5), SA visitor IDEOLOGY (1) and dominant maiden victor JET PLANE (2) are some others that could figure with the right trip.

OVERVIEW: VERBICI (5) is a star two-year-old trotter who is undefeated from five career starts and heads here as one of the horses to beat in the series. He had a freshen after his victory in the Group 2 NSW Trot Final in early July and returned in glamourous style with a dashing win from the one-one at Melton on August 22. He was driven confidently by Chris Lang and speared past leader REGAL GALA (7) with a slick last half and quarter to win. He’s very good. KYVALLEY DIABLO (1) was trapped parked in that race and dropped out late but had trialled well behind VERBICI (5) before that, won incredibly well on debut in June and draws well here, REGAL GALA (7) has really improved with experience and probably has the gate speed to lead this contest, while KEAYANG MARCUS (3) won on debut at Terang on July 12 when leading, beating home subsequent winner Miss Muscle. He’s a factor, along with the returning THE WOOL BROKER (8), who was a big trial winner at Bacchus Marsh, and PASTOR CASH (9), who was sound when second on debut. Monitor the markets for first-starter MISTER FUNDADA (4), who trialled really nicely with a come-from-behind win at Maryborough latest.

OVERVIEW: Like Verbici in race nine, PHOENIX REX (5) is one of the big guns in the two-year-old trotting series for the boys and looks awfully hard to hold out in heat two. He heads here after a short, sharp Queensland campaign where he snared Group 2 success with a simply ridiculous win in the QBRED Final. He made two breaks in that race and lost a huge amount of ground, but still managed to get up and win. He’s five from five to start his career and he’s a very good horse. I’ve got a bit of time for INSULATOR (1), who did things wrong first-up from a break but ran well for a close-up third to Verbici last time out. He draws well and is a key danger to the favourite. CLOUDY CANYON (4) led, ended up three fence and rattled late to be beaten 1.7m by Kyvalley Dixon last time out, ORLANDO VEYRON (8) made a mistake first-up from a break but showed good ability in his first campaign, while SUMTHIN DIFFERENT (7) heads here after a third to Verbici in the Group 2 NSW Trot Final and is a key runner despite the wide gate.

10-UNIT GAME PLAN

R1 #2 KYVALLEY DRIFTER – 2 units (win)

R3 #6 HALLEBESOFINE – 2 units (win)

R4 #2 GLADIATRIX – 3 units (win)

R7 #2 MISTER DEVEREAUX – 3 units (place)

EARLY QUADDIE

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

QUADDIE

2,3/1,2,4/1/3