OVERVIEW: LE CARDINAL (1) shaped as a really promising horse for the Matthew Craven stable through his two-year-old season and he’s come back in sensational form with last-to-first victories in both runs at three. While they have been against much easier opposition than what he meets here, the turn of foot he’s shown is explosive and I fancy he’s destined for much better grade than this. Being crossed and buried away early is some concern, but if he can do enough to be leader or leader’s back then he can make it three wins to start the campaign. MEDINA (8) chased home free-for-aller Ultimate Vinnie for second last week at Bendigo and draws to trail the top pick, ALL BLAZING GUNS (10) backed up his $101 win on May 9 with a long-odds runner-up placing last weekend and is sure to start much shorter in the market this time around, while OZZIE CORKA (6) closed hard for fourth behind Gunforhire last weekend and ran another goo race at Melton a fortnight earlier.

BACK: LE CARDINAL (1) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: Eight of these horses clashed at Melton on May 16 and it was LOVEMETO (9) who sat parked and raced clear to score a dominant victory. Based on that, it’s really hard to tip against him here and he’s likely to start a short-priced favourite. The step back in distance from 2240m to 1720m does change things a bit, but he’s in great form and is the one to beat. Stablemate REMUS PHOENIX (5) charged home from back in the field from a bad draw to run second there and is a logical danger, PINNIE (1) led and won over this trip in late March and can improve sharpy from the good draw and by being on-speed, while IM BOBBY (8) disappointed when leading in that aforementioned race but was first-up without a trial and his best can win this.

BACK: PINNIE (1) – 3 units (place)

OVERVIEW: KAMARAN (4) has been a great addition to the Peter Manning stable with four wins this year since arriving at Great Western. He led up the handy Sister Molly last time at Terang and was only run down late, with a good margin back to third. His wins at Ballarat in April were very good and he looks a great chance of working to the top. Hard to beat. BUSLIN BRODY (3) has long been a favourite of mine, but you have to take him on trust as his manners often let him down. While no match for KAMARAN (4) when they met in late April, he looks in the zone after two good second placings at Kilmore and Bendigo. DISTANT SUN (8) should get a good run on the pegs behind fast beginner BOUTIKA (1), while DESERT ASSASSIN (10) was a powerful winner at Cranbourne on May 17 and is another of the leading contenders along with JOHNS BOY (11), MOJITO MADNESS (6) and CENTURION DREAM (9).

BACK: KAMARAN (4) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: INSIDER TRADING (1) had been running really well against tough opposition such as Keayang Renegade and Sanchez before finding a very suitable race and scoring a dominant win as a short-priced favourite at Melton on May 1. He has good gate speed, and while there is some early toe to his outside, he should be able to lead if Ryan Sanderson desires. From there, or even leader’s back, he’d be awfully hard to beat. THE GOLDEN HOOK (8) came from well back to run third behind KING SAINT (4) last time at Kilmore and looks to get a great run in behind the pole-marker, ANOTHER WOODS (9) backed up a good run of form to win well from the front at Geelong last week, while YA BOTTOM DOLLAR (5) scored a deserved success when sprinting too fast from behind KING SAINT (4) at Shepparton on May 12 and is a chance despite the difficult barrier.

BACK: INSIDER TRADING (1) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: SWEET IDEAL (8) and SOAP AND BUBBLES (2) ran the quinella in a good race at Melton two Saturdays ago, and I fancy they’re the horses to beat here. SWEET IDEAL (8) was able to work around to the lead, run hot sectionals in front and hold off early leader SOAP AND BUBBLES (2) to score in a 1.51.9 mile rate for the 1720m. It was a great effort, and while she’s unlikely to find the front as the sole back row runner this time around, she possesses devastating closing speed and can charge over the top in the small field. SOAP AND BUBBLES (2) might dictate from the front and is ready to win, KEAYANG WASABI (4) finished third but was relegated to sixth in another good performance behind Some American last week, with DAY TWO (5) hitting the line hard for second in the same event.

OVERVIEW: You can make a case for every single one of the eight runners, but I’ll side with the in-form CLYMENUS (3). While he’s a bit of an opportunist and often needs things to go his way to win, he looks ready to score in this grade. Two starts ago he chased hard and ran a great second to Keayang Wasabi, and last week looked a huge chance from three back the fence but raced in restricted room and locked wheels when beaten 5m by Tooram Magic. The small field suits and I’d be surprised if he wasn’t in the finish. The grey FRUGAL FARE (2) looks likely to find the lead and would be a good chance if that was the case. He hit the front last start and was nailed in the shadows of the post by ZENARIO (6), who has been in great form all campaign and got a deserved victory. SPRINGFIELD AFFAIR (1) is hardly banging the door down for a win, but does draw nicely and should be positioned to run well.

OVERVIEW: SEASIDE BOY (1) is a talented colt from the Emma Stewart stable who looks to have found a suitable race to make it three-straight wins to start the campaign. He led and scored at Maryborough and Geelong during April, and will likely run a short-priced elect in the final event of the night. FEARLESS WRITER (2) has good early speed, but might be best served tucking in behind SEASIDE BOY (1) at the start. She has runner-up placings to Cardigan Dan and The Art Of Success to her name this preparation and can run well here. ROCKNROLL WILLOW (5) is a handy filly who has won three of her four runs this season and sat parked to score at Ouyen last time, while ISOLATION (6) didn’t get much room in the straight when beaten 5.5m by Perun on May 16 and has been racing competitively at Melton for some time now.