OVERVIEW: Third heat of the Bacchus Marsh Pacing Cup here following two qualifiers at Melton last Friday as horses progress towards a $10,000 final back at HQ on November 20. Stacks of winning hopes, but ROBLEN RANGER (1) might be the best of them given his good gate speed, pole-marking draw and strong recent form. He led and hung on to win narrowly at Ballarat on October 29 in a slick enough last half of 56.9, which followed two handy runner-up placings at Cranbourne and Melton. He should run well. MONSIEUR FLAMEL (5) and ARE WESLEY (2) are the two Stephen Clarke-trained runners in the race, with the former heading here after a gutsy death-seat win at Kilmore and third placing in a previous heat of this series at Melton last time out. ARE WESLEY (2) has won his last two in slightly easier grade and must be respected, while KITSUNE (10) is perhaps a good runner at a price after a good first-up effort at long odds when fourth behind Cool Story in the first of the Bacchus Marsh Pacing Cup qualifiers last week. JUSJOHN (9), who gains a start as emergency, is an interesting runner and one I’ll be including in the Early Quaddie based off some nice enough efforts last campaign.

OVERVIEW: This is the second heat of the Bacchus Marsh Trotters Cup and it looks a difficult race to sort out. LEANNE LEEANN (8) hasn’t won since all the way back in December of last year, but is knocking on the door for success. She draws for a pegs-line run, and from leader’s back or three back the fence, she’s a winning hope. Bob Kuchenmeister’s mare has been good her last four starts, including last time out at Maryborough when second to the handy Little Miss Valley while beating home three rivals here that reoppose. Happy to play her on the each-way if the price allows. NIGHT FLIGHT (7) is the speed influence from out wide on the front line and is probably the likely leader. He’s not overly strong late, but can certainly give them something to catch if he’s able to find the top. FLOATING MOUNTAIN (9) hasn’t been too far away of late but has had peg runs in those efforts and that might not eventuate here, while LOVE WHO (1) draws to lead or be leader’s back and can improve sharply on his latest effort when caught parked in the first heat of this series last Friday which saw JAKARTA (10) finish second and emergency APRIL SUN (4) place third.

BACK: LEANNE LEEANN (8) – 1.5 units (each-way)

OVERVIEW: HAPPILY (3) is a get-back, run-on type who needs luck in her races but is a very gifted pacer who often storms home and did just that when winning from last at Ballarat on October 29. It was a great effort and followed a close-up third placing to Jilliby Sniper – that horse has won twice since – when held up on the fence at Terang. I like her and she should be going close with even tempo and luck. RIVER STORM (4) had no chance from last in a fast last half at Melton in the IRT Graduate latest, but before that won well at Cranbourne and also did well when third to Cardigan Dan in a heat of the Vicbred Super Series back in August. Classy and a key danger. SECRET SERVICE AGENT (7) has a difficult gate to contend with but was a dominant winner two back before leading them up, absorbing pressure and boxing on okay into fifth in that hot IRT Graduate, while HOUSE PARTY (2) has been beaten as a short-priced favourite her last two in easier races than this, and while she is probably one I’m happy to overlook again, she must be regarded as a chance from the state’s powerhouse stable. ANGELS WATCHING (1) is the other key contender from the good gate and following a close-up second last time out at Kilmore.

BACK: HAPPILY (3) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: SNACK LOVER (8) returns from a break in this 0-49 grade assignment following two trials at Terang. While thrashed by Golden Tribe on Tuesday night, he did a good job to finish in a bunch alongside Madrigal (14 wins) and Crime Writer (20 wins), which reads really well for a race like this. His maiden win was good at Ballarat back in April and he looks a progressive type in a contest where most are fairly well exposed. BLUE MIKI (7) slides back slightly in grade and was a winner of back-to-back races recently at Melton and Kilmore, FLIGHT LOUTENANT (5) did some nice work late despite being well beaten last Friday at Melton and is a contender, while ALPHA CRUCIS (2) and stablemates DOT BALL (3) and TEX GOES BANG (4) look the other winning hopes.

BACK: SNACK LOVER (8) – 4 units (win)

OVERVIEW: SOMEONE SPECIAL (8) is a well-bred first starter by Always B Miki out of The Good Times, who has produced top pacers Very Pretty ($299,190) and Major Times ($314,755). She hails from the powerhouse Emma Stewart stable and heads to Geelong on the back of two solid trials at Melton and Terang. This isn’t a strong maiden, and she will be very short in the market. SEW HOPEFUL (7) is a 23-start maiden but has trialled up nicely at Melton following a couple of close-up efforts at Kilmore and Charlton, SONOFPLATINUM (5) just missed in a photo here at Geelong on October 16 and looks set to run a forward race in this company, while JILLIBY UTAH (4) has been thereabouts in recent efforts for Rory Coverdale and might be best of the rest.

OVERVIEW: JILLIBY CLASSIC (5) hails from the state’s premier trotting barn of Marg and Paddy Lee and has shown some good promise in a few recent trials on the home track at Terang. He won one and wasn’t beaten far in the others, and looks to have some nice ability. Will lean his way. WHERDASUNDONTSHINE (2) is knocking on the door for a maiden success after back-to-back runner-up placings at Geelong and Maryborough and looks to have the best of the exposed form, quick beginner DANCE WITH ROXY (7) made a mistake when favourite last time out but did run two-straight runner-up placings in early October, while SYNTAX ERROR (1) draws well and has been running some honest races for Eddie Conroy of late.

OVERVIEW: JILLIBY CONNECTION (7) made a mistake on debut when favourite in the $75,000 Yabby Dam Farms 2YO Fillies Final and then made amends with a faultless display on Redwood Day at Maryborough when leading and charging clear in a nice last half to win by more than 20m. She looks above average and is the one to beat here in this clash for two-year-old trotters. ORLANDO VEYRON (5) settled three fence in the Redwood Classic and galloped late, but he ran okay before that for third behind megastar Verbici and did win a nice race early in the season, THE WOOL BROKER (4) broke through for his maiden triumph here at Geelong two starts ago before being outclassed in the Redwood, while PASTOR JAY JAY (1) draws well and did hit the line nicely late when third on debut at Kilmore on November 5.

10-UNIT GAME PLAN

R2 #8 LEANNE LEEANN – 1.5 units (each-way)

R3 #3 HAPPILY – 3 units (win)

R4 #8 SNACK LOVER – 4 units (win)

EARLY QUADDIE

1,2,5,7,9,10/1,7,8,9/3,4,7/5,7,8

QUADDIE

5,7,8/8/2,5,7/7