OVERVIEW: MECARNO (4) is one of trotting’s emerging excitement machines who closed his three-year-old season with three Group 1 wins, including trainer-driver Michael Bellman’s first in the Victoria Trotters Derby. While it’s never easy to step straight into open company and win, he has performed very impressively at the trials and has always shaped as a squaregaiter that would measure up well in this grade based on his strength and toughness last campaign. I’m concerned he might land in the breeze and from there it would be tough, but I’m a huge fan of this guy and can’t wait to see how far he can go. ARCEE PHOENIX (11) is on a mission for back-to-back Inter Dominion titles in Queensland during July and returns from a spell here. The multiple Group 1 winner wasn’t at the top of his game last campaign and actually hasn’t won a race since that Inter Dom grand final victory in 2025. However, he has trialled nicely for his return, including a 3m defeat by some handy pacers at Melton on May 26 and win over stablemate GOTFEELINGSYOUKNOW (5) on Tuesday, and looks ready to run a forward race. IM BOBBY (6) sprint-laned to a good win last weekend at Melton and will be hard to run down if he spears across and finds the front here, while KEAYANG STUKA (9) looks next best despite a month between runs.

OVERVIEW: SEASIDE BOY (10) is a smart three-year-old from the Emma Stewart stable who has led and won all three starts this season in easy fashion. He draws the back row here, but looks to have plenty of gears left from what we’ve seen so far. He’s the horse to beat. HOORAH PHILTRA (5) has good gate speed and looms as one of the likely leaders along with OZZIE CORKA (3). He has a win and runner-up placing to his name since joining the Ashleigh Herbertson barn and would be hard to run down from the front. I’ve got a lot of time for HAPPILY (8), who came from well back to score effortlessly in a much easier race at Horsham on May 25 and appears to have really good ability, while ALL BLAZING GUNS (2) ran another nice race last time when sprinting from last in a sharp last half.

OVERVIEW: PRETTYBOY HARRY (2) is flying for new trainer Ashley Manton and secured his second win since joining the camp with an easy all-the-way success against stronger opposition than this at Maryborough on Sunday. He loves to lead, looks very likely to find that role here and will take plenty of catching over the short trip of 1720m. Keen. CLAUDYS HERO (5) hasn’t raced since he was knocked over early by a galloping rival and battled away for seventh on May 9, but had been running some really good races prior to that and is the key danger despite the short freshen. KAMARAN (4) went back and hit the line hard for third behind Johns Boy last weekend and all his form recently has been sound, while THE SKY IS THE LIMIT (7) is ticking along well with a win and two placings from her past three.

BACK: PRETTYBOY HARRY (2) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: SWEET IDEAL (9) ran another great race in defeat when third last weekend to Soap And Bubbles when things just didn’t really work out for her. The field went single file early and then the horse she was trailing in the final lap didn’t take her into the race far enough. Despite that, she reeled off a race-fastest last half of 54.4 – which was more than half a second quicker than all her rivals – to finish third. She’s a really high-quality horse, the small field should suit and she looks awfully hard to hold out late. THE ART OF SUCCESS (1) is a very exciting young mare who has won her past four starts and gets the good draw. It’s hard to know exactly how much gate speed she has given she’s only ever been used off the arm once, but she’s classy and looks destined for a bright future. DAY TWO (7) ran a cracker for second behind Some American two back and then brought up the running line when only beaten 7.4m in that Soap And Bubbles race, while TOORAM MAGIC (3) is flying with a Melton win and top Bendigo second in a slick last half to his name in recent starts.

OVERVIEW: Victoria Derby champion FOX DAN (1) is back from a little freshen-up following the Mildura Pacing Cup, which he ran second in back on April 11. While there are some question marks around his ability to lead this race, I think he is fast enough to hold up if that’s what connections desire. He’s a very good horse and deserves to run the short-priced favourite. Stablemate OLIVER DAN (3) scored a well-deserved victory when he settled behind MY ULTIMATE BARNEY (4) and out-dashed him in the home straight a fortnight ago at Melton. If he was able to lead, he’d be a serious winning chance as all his form this campaign has been strong in good company. MY ULTIMATE BARNEY (4) is one of the speed runners on the front line whose chances would improve greatly if he crossed to the fence, DANGEROUS (8) might get the right trip behind FOX DAN (1) and was good winning his last start at Wagga, while ULTIMATE VINNIE (2) is going really well and shouldn’t be discounted for the minor end of trifectas and First 4s despite his starting price.

OVERVIEW: Genuine raffle where all of these could win without surprising, but I’ll side with RINGER WELLS (4). The former Andy Gath trotter has now joined the Michael Cole stable and won his last trial at Bacchus Marsh in preparation for this. He produced some good performances last campaign, including a second to Mister Blindside in a heat of the Vicbred Super Series, and looks to have the class to really give this a shake. MITCHELL WRAP (3) is a consistent type of horse who usually does things right and something like his best will have him right in this, MAJESTIC TOOTH (2) might be able to cross the stablemate PARIS KAY (1) and get down to the pegs where she is sure to be competitive in this type of grade, while IRON WOMEN (8) has done her best racing out in front during recent months but beat a number of these rivals in a recent victory at Melton on May 9.

BACK: RINGER WELLS (4) – 1 unit (win)

OVERVIEW: Awesome three-year-old contest here where we see the return of highly-promising youngster LUVTOBEUPTOME (5). He was one of the best juveniles in the state last season, closing his campaign with an incredibly brave third in rapid time from the chair behind Loucasso in the Breeders Crown final. His most recent trial was good at Melton and he looks ready to fire in 2026. LE CARDINAL (7) was a tragedy beaten last weekend when buried away on the fence and then blocked for a run in the straight when fourth to Medina, MOST EXCITING (6) is two from two this campaign but has just strolled to the front on each occasion and it won’t be so easy here, while SOLS ME NAME (3) has also won both starts this campaign in easier company at Kilmore and Cranbourne but has been impressive in doing so.

BACK: LUVTOBEUPTOME (5) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: The progressive I AM THE STORM (1) looks hard to beat here after coming up with the pole-marking draw. He ran second in a NSW Derby heat and ninth in the final before a spell last year and returned in dominant fashion with a front-running win at Terang on May 18. He looks to have a decent ceiling and will likely start a short-priced favourite here. PERUN (8) was a good winner at Melton two back and battled away well in the breeze when fourth to Major Blitz in a fast last half at Bendigo recently, ODIN (9) backed up some eye-catching runs with a whopping 17.7m triumph at Melton last Friday and KARTIARE (11) was massive coming from last at the bell to win first-up from a break, but the drop in trip from this gate makes things tough.

OVERVIEW: MISS ARI (6) is a really nice mare from the Gary and Debbie Quinlan yard who hasn’t been seen at the races since finishing out the back as a $9 chance in the Group 1 NSW Oaks last May. She defeated some good rivals while winning a heat of the series before that and I absolutely loved her most recent trial when she came from last to be beaten just 3.7m by Luvtobeuptome. I think she can sprint over the top in the small field. DYNAMITEDAN (2) is a handy customer from the Emma Stewart barn who heads here after a disastrous Gold Chalice Consolation at Bathurst in March when he locked wheels and was retired, KEAYANG SWEETHEART (5) hasn’t done much wrong with three wins and three placings from six career starts, while STARZINHEREYES (3) might have the speed to find the front early, and while she has been running well of late, is probably not in the same class as some of her rivals here.

BACK: MISS ARI (6) – 3 units (win)