OVERVIEW: This final is basically a repeat of the clash at Bendigo on May 20 which saw QUEEN OF SEES (6) charge clear of her rivals first-up from a break to score. While she’s drawn a little wider this time, she was a dominant winner against seven rivals that reoppose and it’s nearly impossible to tip against her. JILLIBY RADIANCE (2) was a winner on debut at this track and then led up the aforementioned heat, but was easily run down by QUEEN OF SEES (6). There was a clear margin back to third and she looks the obvious quinella play. MORNING DOVE (1) was in the market for the qualifier, but made a mistake and galloped out of play. A faultless trotting display from the pole certainly makes her a player, particularly based off a good win the start prior. SPIRITED GIGI (5) ran really well in the heat after being interfered with at a crucial stage, trotting home strongly to grab fifth.

OVERVIEW: ORLANDO VEYRON (1) is a smart two-year-old from the Tyrone Abela yard who has a win and two runner-up placings to his name in three career starts. He appears a safe trotter and draws to lead this juvenile assignment. Based on what we’ve seen so far from this lot, I think he’s the one to beat. CALLINAN (8) ran a great race for third behind ORLANDO VEYRON (1) last time out at Maryborough when he was off the fence and only beaten 8.6m. He draws for a nice trail here and looms as a danger. ZIPPIN PAST (6) is a winner of two races from four career starts and was only run down late when leading ORLANDO VEYRON (1) in her most recent effort at Bendigo, while MY LADY MAC (3) looked to be travelling okay last time when she was knocked out of play by a galloping rival and her debut run prior was sound.

OVERVIEW: James Herbertson has a great record with FREMARKS PEGGY (7), who is favoured in this mares’ trot despite the wide front row draw. The state’s leading reinsman has had 12 drives of the Nick Youngson-trained squaregaiter for four wins and a number of placings. He partnered her to victory at Horsham on Monday and you’d think a faultless display will either see her winning or going very close in this contest. JESSICAS STORY (3) is in good form for Donald Cross with a win at Bendigo two starts ago wedged amongst a number of close-up efforts, ALABAMA MAY (8) came from well back to beat home JESSICAS STORY (3) when runner-up to Allwatfunjingles at Bendigo on May 20 and looms as a key chance here, while LOUIEVILLE LASS (4) is a winner of 10 career races and might be next best.

OVERVIEW: EL TORNADO (3) has not been seen at the races in over two years, but makes a long-awaited comeback here. His three career starts as a two-year-old produced two good wins and he trialled up nicely with a dominant win at this track for new trainer Damian Burns. In a race where many of these are well exposed, he looks quite progressive and I’m happy in his corner. WITH APLOMB (8) can be hit-and-miss with her manners, but when she trots she is very good. Last time out at Maryborough on May 20, she came from a mile back with great closing sectionals to run fourth. She has a big finishing burst and a faultless display will see her right in this. WATCH AND ACT (5) has been running consistently of late and has the gate speed to put himself in the thick of the action, while TWEEDLEDEE (7) ran well at Bendigo on Wednesday night and is slowly working back into a winnable grade.

BACK: EL TORNADO (3) – 3 units (win)

OVERVIEW: COMEANDSEE (5) looks an incredibly talented pacer from the Emma Stewart barn, who won in sensational fashion as a short-priced elect in a heat of this series on debut at Bendigo on May 20. She led, absorbed pressure, carved out slick times and powered clear for a huge 27.9m win. She thrashed the very talented KINGS GALLERY (6) there and looks close to a good thing in the final. KINGS GALLERY (6) just keeps running into one better but is very smart himself, STAUNTON (9) won the other heat of this series at Maryborough on May 11 and looks above average, while LA CANTATRICE (4) broke her maiden with a good front-running success in weaker company at Melton on May 15 and should be included for the minor end of the First 4 prize.

OVERVIEW: ALL OVER IT (1) looks a serios horse for Keith Cotchin and has started his career in perfect fashion with three impressive wins from three starts. In a heat of this series at Maryborough on May 11, he sat parked throughout and put his rivals away with a brilliant last half to win in fast time. He has never drawn the front so his gate speed is some question, but he looks awfully hard to beat from the good draw. ROCKNROLL WISH (4) sprinted powerfully first-up from a break to win the other heat at Bendigo on May 20, beating most of these including a galloping MIDNIGHT MOTH (5) and SECRET SERVICE AGENT (2) in the process. He looks a very smart horse for Craig Demmler and shapes as the key danger along with those other two rivals.

BACK: ALL OVER IT (1) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: ARTIGAS (10) is an untrustworthy trotter at this stage of his career, but his best appears pretty good. He was an eye-catching second to Paris Jamilla at Bendigo recently when he came from well back in the field with a slick last half to be beaten 2.2m. With only 10 starts to his name, he still looks progressive and might have a little class edge here if he can trot the whole way. POPPY POPSTAR (2) is clearly one of the horses to beat. She is currently in the midst of a great run of form and looks a good chance of finding the front in her bid to make it three victories in succession. This is a slight step-up in grade from her past two, but she’s flying. MOREEP (1) hit the line well for third behind a couple of handy rivals at Cranbourne last weekend and gets the number one alley, DEEP LOVE (6) closed off nicely for third at Kilmore on May 21 when a well-fancied favourite and looms as a key player here, while BLACKRANGE GLORY (11) is also a winning chance.

BACK: ARTIGAS (10) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: Sensational edition of the Maryborough Pacing Cup where WAR DAN BUDDY (1) looks to hold the aces from the pole-marking draw. He’s a horse in great form, with his last appearance at the races being a last-to-first win over HES FROM HEAVEN (5) and BAY OF BISCAY (10) in the City Of Melton Plate when he ripped out a sizzling last quarter to score. Before that, he was probably going to win the Riverina Championships Final but locked wheels at a crucial stage. He looks the leader and it will take a big effort to beat him on current form. CALEXICO (8) is drawn to trail WAR DAN BUDDY (1) and from there he can be dangerous. He was a good winner first-up at Bendigo from the same position and then endured a tough run in the breeze when sixth at Menangle last time. I have huge respect for BAY OF BISCAY (10) but he has just not had a suitable draw in free-for-all grade this preparation, while JILLIBY NITRO (2) is back from a NSW campaign and thrives over the longer trip which has seen him win the Geelong, Terang and Mildura features in recent months.

OVERVIEW: PRETTYBOY HARRY (3) has been going great guns since joining the Ashley Manton stable and looks like proving hard to catch if he can find the front here. He led and won second-up for the stable at Kilmore on May 7 and gave a good kick from the front last time at Melton but was run down at the end of 2240m by winner Muskee and KYVALLEY MICHAEL (10), who flashed late to grade second. The step back in distance might be telling here, particularly if he works to the lead as expected. KYVALLEY MICHAEL (10) is very ready to win a race and just needs the right tempo to be running home over the top, ALDEBARAN ABEL (1) won well first-up at Kilmore and gets a lovely draw, while the handy SAM NIEN (5) resumed with a really good third to Group 1 winner Pastor Dunbar at Melton last weekend and is a huge chance with a bit of luck from a sticky gate.

OVERVIEW: CONNIES PRESIDENT (12) burned hard for the front and only tired late when beaten 12.8m into third by Fremarks Peggy at Horsham on Monday, which followed a good front-running win in harder grade than this at Charlton. His recent form is solid and he looks very well placed here despite the difficult barrier. ALLWATFUNJINGLES (10) was a very good winner after doing work in the chair at Bendigo last time out and was down to run again Friday night at Melton, CHAMPAGNES (9) chased home CONNIES PRESIDENT (12) for third in that race at Charlton and heads here on the back of a second to Poppy Popstar at Horsham, while LITTLE TEDEY (7) keeps hitting the line well and just needs some luck from the wide draw to be a factor.

BACK: CONNIES PRESIDENT (12) – 1.5 units (each-way)