OVERVIEW: Wide-open start to the night where I think THESTATESMAN (3) gets his chance to show us how he’s really going. He has seemingly been running okay from unsuitable positions in transit for some time, including last Saturday night when he settled near last and held his own in an on-pace dominated race. He draws to work forward and find the fence, and from there should run well. He’s by no means a moral, with a host of other winning chances. The talented ZENARIO (9) looks sure to fight out the finish from the nice back row alley, HITTHEROADJACK (6) is likely to be sent forward in a bid to find the front and is a one-paced horse who would be a big threat if he was able to control things at the top, while MITZI SAID (8) looks one that will bob up at odds in the near future when things pan out to suit. She’s been running home nicely of late and just needs the breaks to go her way. SEA FURY (11) can be forgiven for the first-up effort after getting caught parked there at Geelong, IMA TERMINATOR (4) and CAPTAIN PINS (10) are threats with the right trip and noting a small ownership share in TIMBIMBOO (5), who is first-up and will likely need the run. 

BACK: THESTATESMAN (3) – 1 unit (each-way) 

OVERVIEW: MAXIMEZ (9) was first-up from a break in a race four of these horses contested last week at Ballarat and he only went down narrowly in a photo after racing in the chair for the last lap. It was a good performance after a stint away from the races, and from the nice back row draw he looks to be one of the leading contenders. AMOUR MATERNAL (1) settled three fence and charged late to run third there, and while she rarely wins, draws for another economical trip on the pegs. She’s sure to be closing hard and can prevail if the breaks come her way. South Australian visitor IDEOLOGY (4) has made breaks in both starts here in Victoria – including last week at Ballarat when he hit the front in the straight – but had a big picket fence going before that, and TICTOK (10) is running consistently well of late and is among the other chances headed by LORD LOGAN (7), OX KNOX (5) and WALLIS (6). 

OVERVIEW: BLAZIN BY (4) won first-up this campaign and has run a couple of great races in defeat since then. Last time, he ripped home in a slick last half at Ballarat to just miss Posterized in a photo and before that was only beaten 4.6m at Kilmore by Owen The Saints, who has won again since. Happy in his corner. WEONA OUR RIGHTS (2) was outclassed in a heat of the Vicbred series but has run good placings in his other three starts this campaign and draws gate one if the emergency fails to gain a start, GIVE FRED A CLAP (7) did plenty wrong at Shepparton last time but still got up to win and is a factor despite the wide gate, while TED BEAR (3) closed off nicely from back in the field to win an easier race at Ballarat last week and heads a few others that could prevail without completely surprising such as OUR BELLA LUCIA (5), ALL THINGS SPICY (6) and LENARD ESS (8). 

BACK: BLAZIN BY (4) – 1 unit (win) 

OVERVIEW: This is the sole heat of the Need For Speed Princess series for three-year-old trotting fillies, which leads to a Group 1 final at Melton on October 10. HALLEBESOFINE (2) draws to find the front and based off her recent efforts, she looks the one to beat. She worked to the top and boxed on bravely for second in the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series final last time out, beating home five rivals that reoppose here. Before that, she won a heat in dominant fashion and has been in great form this entire campaign. JILLIBY AURA (4) led and won another heat of that Vicbred series in good style and then raced in the breeze when fifth in the final behind Queen Of Sees. There’s a chance she launches to the fence early and would be a genuine threat from there. HARPERSEVEN (5) finished second to JILLIBY AURA (4) in the qualifier and ran well from back in the field in the final, as did MAJESTIC YANKEE (6), who is only an outside winning hope but one to consider for trifectas and First 4s along with ALDEBARAN ADA (8), IJUSTCANTSEEIT (1), last-start Vicbred Silver winner ZOOLU (3) and even MEVIA (10). 

BACK: HALLEBESOFINE (2) – 4 units 

OVERVIEW: TIVOLI (8) reached the final of the Vicbred Super Series for four-year-old mares, and while she was ultimately well held there, she ran okay in a heat when fifth behind Let Her Roll at Kilmore. Her effort prior at Melton in a stronger race than this was very good when she came from last to finish third to Scooter Lou, and this looks a suitable grade for her. She draws to trail fast beginner FROSTY DROP (1), who has led a couple of times in recent starts over the longer trip and only been run down late. She can hold the top here and the drop back to 1720m might be telling. TRYX VIXEN (3) was a bit plain despite a good draw in the Vicbred Silver final last time out but can improve back into this grade, while BLACKINDEED (7) might be next best and heads here for a first-up assignment following a runner-up placing at the Melton trials behind smart two-year-old Comeandsee. 

BACK: TIVOLI (8) – 3 units (win) 

OVERVIEW: First heat of the Need For Speed Prince for the three-year-old trotting boys which leads to a Group 1 final on October 10 and UNCLAD (2) gets the marginal nod from the good gate. He was the clear standout of the four horses that clashed in the Vicbred Super Series final on September 12, bursting clear from four back the fence approaching the turn and rattling into second behind Howdy Mate. He should get to the pegs, and from in front or behind the leader he will be very hard to hold out. MUNNY THE MUNSTER (3) was caught parked in that Vicbred decider but ran a good race to only be beaten 14.9m, and would be tough to chase down if he got the top. MISTER DEVEREAUX (8) is a top trotter on the rise, and while he didn’t have much chance from a horror draw in that Vicbred final, he cut ground off Pastor Dunbar when second in his heat in what was a much better run than UNCLAD (2) on his back. THE PREACHER (6) is the other key winning hope, but unless he can cross to the fence, it might be too hard from gate six. 

OVERVIEW: Second heat of the Need For Speed Prince and here we see the return of KYVALLEY RAY (7) to Victorian racing. He has proven a star in New Zealand by winning three Group 1 races and steps out for his first start since May. To be honest, I’d like to have seen a bit more from him in three trials at Melton, but he goes on top based on what he’s done so far in his career. Do I want to take likely short odds about him? Probably not, but he’s the one to beat. TIMMY WHIZ (2) has the gate speed to lead and gripped on to finish third in the Group 1 Vicbred final behind Howdy Mate last time out, REVERAND BOB (3) went rough when seemingly in a striking position last week at Ballarat but has been very competitive in most of his starts this campaign, while ITZ CLASSIC GOLD (1) got the perfect run to beat MUSCLE VALLEY (8) at the same meeting and draws for a lovely trip on the fence. PASS THE SALT (5), who was a good second in the Vicbred Silver at Bray Raceway, and HAMMER (6), who trailed okay behind Pastor Dunbar at Shepparton ahead of this first-up run, are the other outside hopes. 

OVERVIEW: JUSTLIKEDAVE (6) rattled home from an impossible position for an eye-catching runner-up placing at Ballarat on August 26, and then worked to the front and bolted in by 18.6m in decent time at Cranbourne latest. He’s the horse in form and I’m very happy his way. BACKBEACH PETER (8) heads across the border from South Australia on the back of a trial win at Mount Gambier, and while he hasn’t beaten a horse home in his last three outings, he has ability and warrants respect, CINQUANTA (3) had every chance last time when leading at Kilmore but is working towards a victory, while ROSBERG (7) won a similar race to this at Melton back on August 7 and has been a bit outclassed in his subsequent assignments. He certainly wouldn’t shock. 

BACK: JUSTLIKEDAVE (6) – 3 units (win) 

OVERVIEW: ELLEEGANT LANE (7) absolutely bolted in at Melton two starts ago on September 9 and was caught in the breeze before fading late into third last time out at Shepparton. All her recent form is solid and she goes on top despite the wide front row gate. PRECIOUS BELLE (8) chased gallantly for second to the in-form Blue Miki recently at Melton and has good closing speed in this grade, THE BLAZINBOOTS (5) has run two very good second placings at Terang and Stawell leading into this and looks ready to break through with the right trip, while MIDNIGHT MOJO (4) is a consistent type who is a chance like most of these with some luck in transit. 

OVERVIEW: ITSAWOMANSWORLD (5) was fancied on debut at Cranbourne on the back of some good trials, but was caught parked and ultimately galloped out of contention in the last lap. That race was won by the smart Twigstar, who she had previously beaten at the trials. In a wide-open clash, she looks likely to run well. CAPTAIN HANK (3) heads here on debut for Joe Pace and won a Melton trial on September 8 before a sound third placing last time out, the Jess Tubbs-trained SANDELTON (1) is another stepping out at the races for the first time on the back of some solid trial efforts, while SWEET FLORABEL (7) has done plenty wrong in her races to date but has good ability and a flawless display could see her winning a race like this.