OVERVIEW: Apart from ORATOR (1), the entire field are backing up quickly from their effort at Mildura on Friday night. RONZEL MICKY (8) has been racing very consistently and she possesses high speed so she should prove hard to beat. She led throughout at a Mildura victory on December 03. APOLOGY ACCEPTED (9) has been racing in good form and finished off hard to win at Mildura three starts ago. This race is no harder and he is one of the leading chances again. OUR MASTER PLAY (10) was driven very aggressively mid-race and found the lead at the 900m when he scored at Swan Hill on December 16. If he can repeat that performance, he will take tossing. CALF PEN (7) is awkwardly drawn on the inside of the second line but he should be finding the line strongly once he gains a clear passage.

EARLY SPEED: 5 (possible leader), 1,4

RATINGS: 8/ 9,10/ 7/ 4,5

OVERVIEW: MIKI MARK (4) strikes a suitable assignment for his Mildura debut and should run a good race. He was held up for a run at a vital stage and finished well for fourth at Kilmore last outing. PUNTO CALIENTE (3) is usually competitive against this class and is drawn to receive every chance. He recorded a mile rate of 1.58.9 when he scored at Mildura on September 05 and he has won nine races on the track. KEAYANG CRIPPA (6) is widely drawn but is racing well enough to figure in the finish. He endured a tough run and battled on well when third behind Calf Pen at Mildura on December 03. ROBERT CROCKA (9) is a speedy pacer and has regained his peak form recently with several Mildura victories to his credit. He is worth an investment despite the poor draw.

EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely leader), 4,5

RATINGS: 4/ 3,6/ 9/ 2,7/ 1

OVERVIEW: POPPY LANE (2) raced during the Super Series at her opening three attempts and will find this race to be much easier. She commenced from the outside of the second line and couldn’t work into the race when ninth in the Super Series Silver event last outing. SWEET MARION (3) was performing well at the trials prior to a first up second at Charlton. She settled in the second of the field from a poor draw and was never a factor last time out but she appears to be much better suited in this event. HEAVENLY NIKKY (1) is yet to be placed in fourteen starts but she is perfectly drawn for her Mildura debut and is a possible improver. BOLT OF COBARGO (8) has been safely held in two starts since coming from Tasmania but will find this assignment to be easier and he follows out behind one of the main chances so he must be considered in multiple combinations.

EARLY SPEED: 2 (possible leader), 1,3

RATINGS: 2,3/ 1/ 8/ 6,9

OVERVIEW: HOT DEAL (10) produced a big performance to win at Mildura last outing and looms as the horse to beat again. He has the exceptional record of ten wins from just eighteen starts on the track. LITTLE LOUIE (8) finished off strongly when a game third in the Horsham Cup last outing. He has had several chances since his latest victory but he is a smart horse and his last run was encouraging. ALL DA RAGE (9) showed very good gate speed to lead from the outside of the front line and tried to repel the challenge of HOT DEAL (10) when a narrow second at Mildura last outing. That was his best effort in three starts since returning from a spell and he is getting closer to a win. CURYO GENTLEMAN (7) is very awkwardly drawn but he produced a strong performance to win at Melton two starts ago and most of his recent efforts have been at Metropolitan level so he is not without a chance. TOUGH AINT ENOUGH (5) is a consistent performer and will be reaching his peak form after three starts since a break so he rates as a value chance.

EARLY SPEED: 4 (possible leader), 1,2,3,5

RATINGS: 10/ 8,9/ 7/ 5/ 11

OVERVIEW: ALWAYS ON SAFARI (5) broke through for a deserved victory at Maryborough on December 15 and his overall form has been strong. He is a fast beginner and should make his presence felt. COLMAN SIGN (1) worked forward to find the lead and set up a hectic tempo when a brave second in a mile rate of 1.55.1 at Swan Hill on December 16. He is ideally drawn and should give another forward showing. STORMY MADEM (4) was making her debut for trainer Ryan Hryhorec when she finished off strongly to score at Globe Derby last outing. That was clearly a career best effort and a repeat performance will see her being competitive again. RONZEL RAFA (6) has only missed a place once in eight starts to date and should run his usual honest race. He came from last and ran into third at Swan Hill last outing.

EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely leader), 5

RATINGS: 5/ 1/ 4,6/ 8,9

OVERVIEW: THEBUCKSONYOU (3) has only recently returned from a spell and he is a smart horse when racing at his best form. His effort when second behind Louieville at his first run since August was very good and he should be competitive against this line up. ROCKNROLL LENNY (1) didn’t have much luck at his first couple of attempts since coming from South Australia and is ideally drawn to run a big race here. He was able to lead throughout at a Globe Derby on November 05. MISS OUT (5) is a South Australian trained pacer, which has been placed at her past four starts (2 wins) and endured a wide trip at her latest third. She comes into this race fresh whereas most of her rivals are backing up from Mildura on Friday night so she must be respected. AMIRA MARIE (7) has been racing in fine form in South Australia and has the perfect trailing draw behind ROCKNROLL LENNY (1) so she looms as one of the leading chances.

EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely leader), 2,3

RATINGS: 3/ 1,5/ 7/ 8

OVERVIEW: It is an open race with many winning chances. RED HOT MIKI (9) competed against stronger opposition during his last preparation and he will be fitter after his first up effort on Friday night so he is worth a ticket each way. BEEJAYS STAR (1) is an interesting runner. She failed to fire in Tasmania but returns to trainer Michael Coulter and she boasts a very good strike rate at Mildura so she is not to be left out of calculations. STARVIN MARVIN (2) is never far away at Mildura and was able to win against similar opposition on November 21. He is nicely drawn and rates as a value chance. CHEERS POVERTY (3), DALLAS MIKI (4) and HOOKLINEANDSINKER (5) all boast early speed so there might be a genuine tempo in the early stages of the event.

EARLY SPEED: 3 (likely leader), 1,4,5

RATINGS: 1,9/ 2,3,5/ 4,6/ FIELD

OVERVIEW: TORQUE INTHEUSA (3) competed in the Southern Cross series at Globe Derby and performed creditably with a heat third and a distant fourth behind the Emma Stewart trained filly Brighton in the Final. She recorded a mile rate of 1.58.1 when she won at Globe Derby on November 24 and will find this race to be easier so she must be rated highly. THE NAKED ART (2) is racing better than her form reads and is a winning chance, particularly if she can find the lead. She raced without cover throughout when fourth in a sizzling mile rate of 1.53.2 at Bendigo last outing. EASTBRO JESSE (1) has been placed in three of his past four starts and will appreciate his best draw for a very long time so he warrants consideration. MIDNIGHT PIRATE (7) is resuming since August but he was in fine form during his last preparation and has performed well at the trials so he cannot be discarded.

EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely leader), 3,5

RATINGS: 3/ 1,2/ 7/ 8/ 5