OVERVIEW: Awfully tricky start to the night at Melton where there’s a stack of winning chances over the 1720m, but I was really taken by the recent trial and subsequent win of HOORAH PHILTRA (5). First-up for the Ashleigh Herbertson yard on May 2, he sat parked on a solid speed and proved too good for a handy field. He might have improved since the stable change and looks a good chance here. SAVON DE ROCHE (12) is a really nice pacer for Kate Hargreaves and heads here on the back of a slick win at Bendigo and brave runner-up effort to the handy Midnight Moth at the same track. The gate is tough, but she will be storming home. BIZZNESS CLASS (6) had some outstanding sectionals, including the best last half despite covering stacks of extra ground in a race four of these contested at Melton last weekend and must rate as a hope if the speed is genuine, while OZZIE CORKA (2) ran well at massive odds in that same event and draws to find the top early here. The chances certainly don’t end there…

OVERVIEW: JUSTALITTLESIP (9) has been going really well this campaign, but has either been slightly outclassed or poorly draw. That appears to change here, and he is certainly up to winning a 0-105 event from the nice trailing draw in a race where the tempo looks genuine with many winning hopes. His form around Bulletproof Boy and My Ultimate Barney reads really well and he might come up each-way odds. The progressive JACKS ULTIMATE FURY (7) is a winner of 12 from 20 and resumed from a break in dominant fashion at Wagga on May 8, SOAP AND BUBBLES (1) is the lowest-rated horse but gets the good draw as a result and possesses a very quick sprint, while SWEET IDEAL (3) did incredibly well to get so close when last at the bell and wide through the last lap first-up on Saturday. She can win, as can others like METEOR MOTH (10) and OUR LUCIANO (8).

BACK: JUSTALITTLESIP (9) – 1.5 units (each-way)

OVERVIEW: KEAYANG WASABI (10) has really hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks and he looks well placed to secure his third win since mid-April. Last time out, he was driven aggressively to beat a handy field at Terang, which followed a couple of line-smashing efforts at Melton that had him appearing ready for victory. The tempo should be on enough for him to close hard from the wide back row gate, with REPELLING (7) likely to spear forward and set the speed. He was in trouble a long way from home last weekend, but the drop back from 2240m to 1720m could be telling as he did lead and win over that trip at Melton on April 4. USYK (5) was unlucky last Saturday when held up in a 4.5m defeat to All Blazing Guns, MY UNCLE STAN (8) is a good horse returning from a spell, there’s a watch on NSW raider SHADES OF MIKI (3), and THE STATESMAN (6), TOORAM MAGIC (1) and BIG BAD OSSIE (2) wouldn’t shock either.

BACK: KEAYANG WASABI (10) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: It’s great to have one of the country’s most improved horses in IM BOBBY (1) back at the races, and the random barrier draw has been very kind. He comes up with the pole, has good gate speed and is clearly classy enough to go all the way. He hasn’t had a trial for this, but his best is right up there with the best in the country and he goes happily on top. LOVEMETO (4) sat parked, put away the leader and was only beaten by stablemate REMUS PHOENIX (7) last time at Melton in what was a great run. He’s in the zone at the moment and gets a great chance here, as does REMUS PHOENIX (7) despite the wide gate and likely settling position back in the field. ALDEBARAN ACRUX (8) should get a lovely run in behind the likely leader and heads here on the back of a third placing to Rockinwithattitude in the Group 1 Macarthur Mile.

BACK: IM BOBBY (1) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: MOUNT BARKER BOY (2) is a progressive pacer from the Emma Stewart stable who has won all three starts back from a spell. He has found the top his last two and been able to win decisively, and that map looks likely again for him here. I’m not sure he’s a star, but he does look well placed in this grade from the draw. LAMBRO MACH (1) had been banging the door down and broke through with a dominant front-running success on April 24, but was perhaps a shade disappointing when he led and only managed fourth at his latest effort in early May. In saying that, he was only beaten 2m and can certainly contend here from the good gate. It looks as though it might be a pegs affair and for that reason ISOLATION (8) must come into calculations, while KISS ME MINI (5) was good from off the pace in a leader-dominated race at Melton last weekend and most of her recent form is sound.

OVERVIEW: THE ART OF SUCCESS (8) won well at Melton on April 25, beating four rivals that reoppose here. It’s really hard to see any of those horses turning the tables given how dominant she was and she must go on top for the powerhouse Emma Stewart stable. The only concern is the sticky inside back row gate, but Mark Pitt usually finds a way clear and expect her to power forward shortly after the start. She will be short, but deservedly so. TIZZY LIZZIE (9) has been running so well from the chair in recent starts in NSW and is a mare in great form, SHEER VITALITY (2) was held up but hit the line nicely in the race against THE ART OF SUCCESS (8) back on April 25 and can run well if she crosses down to the fence, while OUR ULTIMATE GRACY (3) has gate speed and should be thereabouts.

OVERVIEW: Two in-form trotters meet here in LITTLE YANKEE (5) and STOCKMAN PETER (6) for what shapes as a great clash. LITTLE YANKEE (5) has smashed the line his two runs back from a break, with a win at Bendigo on April 18 and third placing to Quirky Character at Melton on May 2 setting him up well. He should be going close. STOCKMAN PETER (6) hails from South Australia and just missed victory in his Melton return last weekend when second to the Group 1 winner I Am Wilma. His two victories back home before that were outstanding and he’s a major winning chance. TWEEDLEDEE (1) put in a good run to finish third to I Am Wilma last weekend (he also raced at Ballarat on Thursday night) and draws the pole, while MAC FLICK (4) is a last-start winner but the times suggest he’d need to improve to beat the top two picks.

BACK: LITTLE YANKEE (5) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: MUSKEE (4) disappointed last time at Melton when a well-fancied favourite, but his first-up win was commanding and he deserves another chance in this type of grade. That victory on April 22 was brilliant from the chair and followed some really good efforts in elite three-year-old races from his prior campaign. He easily accounted for PRETTYBOY HARRY (3) there, but he appears to have gone to a new level since joining Ash Manton, who has been aggressive off the arm and was never headed in an all-the-way victory at Kilmore on May 7. Those tactics appear likely again and he looks a key danger. I really liked KYVALLEY MICHAEL (6) last weekend at Melton on the back of some good efforts, but he broke early and lost all chance. He can win at his best. OUR MARVELLA (2) and PROHIBITED GRACE (5) head the other chances.