OVERVIEW: The big, bustling FIGHTER COMMAND (3) was arrogant when beating six rivals that reoppose here at Melton on August 22, and he’s the deserved favourite as he works towards a tilt at the Victoria Cup. He was first-up from a Queensland campaign that netted an Inter Dominion heat win and overcame a wide back row draw to win drawing away by 9.1m. It was a decisive triumph at free-for-all grade and he looks to be right at the top of his game. Good luck holding him out. BULLETPROOF BOY (10) was very good from the tail of the field in that same race but was then beaten as a short-priced favourite last time out when he found the front. He was a touch disappointing there, but he did fight back to run second despite looking in big strife at the corner. He’s an established star and will be rattling late over his favourite trip. MY ULTIMATE BARNEY (11) smoked home from three back the fence when a first-up third behind BULLETPROOF BOY (10) and long-odds winner TRIPLE EIGHT (6) there and should get a nice trail into this, while SMOKEN ACE (1) is favoured over a host of others for fourth spot given his good barrier draw.

BACK: FIGHTER COMMAND (3) – 4 units (win)

OVERVIEW: An open final to start the night of Group 1 action where powerhouse trainer Emma Stewart has six runners in the race, including favourite ENJOY LIFE (2). He suffered the first defeat of his career at start nine in the semi-final last weekend, but was trapped parked and did a great job to run third. If he works to the top as expected, he’s the one to beat. That said, plenty can win including semi-final victors MOST EXCITING (1) and LE CARDINAL (3). MOST EXCITING (1) had this draw and sprint-laned past MAJOR BLITZ (8) to victory there, while LE CARDINAL (3) relished the hot tempo and unleashed his customary finishing burst to run over Luke McCarthy’s top-liner THE NITESHIFT (9), who was very good in defeat from the chair and won his heat at Kilmore prior from the front. CARDIGAN DAN (4) is another that can figure. He was an eye-catcher from near last with some incredible closing splits last weekend behind MOST EXCITING (1). Great race!

OVERVIEW: LAKE COMO (2) signalled his potential with a big finale to win on debut at Maryborough in early August and is yet to put in a bad run in four career starts. He heads into this Group 1 assignment on the back of a brilliant semi-final triumph where he rounded up his rivals from towards the back of the field to score. He’s exciting, progressive and from gate two – where he should land handy in the running line – I fancy he’s the one to beat. The scratching of semi-final winner CARDIGAN SNIPER (13) is significant, but his stablemate SOME HIGH (10) looks a key threat. He went past CARDIGAN SNIPER (13) last weekend before that rival fought back near the post to score. There was a huge gap back to third, which is always telling. SOHO BELLAGIO (4) was perhaps a shade disappointing when finding the top last weekend but might get the front again and can run well from there, while AUSTON (1) is drawn for a good trip on the fence and hasn’t been far behind LAKE COMO (2) his past two.

BACK: LAKE COMO (2) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: Speed aplenty off the front row here and a host of winning chances, with QUEEN OF SEES (1) my fancy from the good draw. Was happily against her in the heat last week, but she led, handed up and then sprint-landed to a soft victory over Aldebaran Ada and Gladiatrix, who did a huge job to run third after breaking at the start. Does she have the toe to hold a prominent spot? I think so – particularly after watching the way she rocketed out of the gate during a Vicbred heat in 2025 – but the level of early burn will be telling. HALLEBESOFINE (3) won the quickest of the three heats by a big margin and looks awfully hard to beat if she leads, and while JILLIBY AURA (10) won the other qualifier, the back row gate makes it hard for her. As mentioned, Group 1 winner GLADIATRIX (13) bombed the start in the heat, tacked on and went to the chair before only being beaten 6m into third. If the speed is on, she can win. Fellow Group 1 winner ADELAIDE RED (4) has great gate speed and looks the other key hope if she can get across to the fence.

BACK: QUEEN OF SEES (1) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: Another wide-open Group 1 final where you can make a case for quite a few. In saying that, I’m keen on PASTOR DUNBAR (10) who has proven himself as the top seed of his three-year-old crop with a Group 1 NSW Trotters Derby triumph among six wins from seven starts in 2026. He was a little unflattering winning his heat, but the arrogant Holmfield triumph from the death seat against six rivals that reoppose here made me a real believer. He can make his own luck and is the one to beat. Fellow heat victor HOWDY MATE (6) looks a key threat and there’s a chance he might be able to work to the top. He’s grown into himself in recent starts and I really like the way he’s going. Last season’s star two-year-old KEAYANG BAZLENKA (9) led up the running line and made good ground from a mile back for fourth in his heat behind HOWDY MATE (6). He strips fitter here and a different race shape brings him into play. MUNNY THE MUNSTER (7) was the other heat winner and is a nice type but the gate is awkward, while MISTER DEVEREAUX (13) led, handed up  and took ground off PASTOR DUNBAR (10) last Friday and is really progressing nicely for Team Brosnan. One to consider at odds.

BACK: PASTOR DUNBAR (10) – 2 units (win)

OVERVIEW: VERBICI (9) is an unbeaten star two-year-old trotter who extended his record to six wins from six starts with an easy front-running victory in a qualifier at Melton last weekend and is the clear horse to beat. He’s professional and has the point-to-point speed to round up his rivals from the back row draw. He really should be winning barring any bad luck given the key scratching of PHOENIX REX (1), who looked his key danger. REGAL GALA (7) chased him home for second last week and just keeps improving as the season wears on. He has the gate speed to cross and race up top. PHOENIX REX (1) was beaten for the first time in his career when run down in the other heat by INSULATOR (5), who galloped down the back straight but incredibly picked himself up to score. He’s always shaped as a nice horse, but manners are the worry with him. That’s quite possibly your top three with KYVALLEY DIABLO (8) maybe the pick for fourth, but nothing would surprise for that position.

OVERVIEW: Looks a genuine match race here between heat and semi-final winners KAHULA (5) and IDEAL FRANKIE (12). Both have claimed big feature races already this season and are looking for Group 1 glory to cap their outstanding two-year-old campaigns. The barrier draw was crucial, and given the front row advantage to KAHULA (5), she’s likely to work forward and find the front. She’s narrowly favoured, but don’t be surprised if IDEAL FRANKIE (12) is good enough to run her down. They look the quinella. Outside those, LA CANTATRICE (9) has been a whole lot of fun for the Ballarat & District Trotting Club Standardbred Group this campaign with three wins and a good closing second to KAHULA (5) in the semi-final, while DECOUPAGE (2) showed electric gate speed in the heat and might be able to find the top and hand up to KAHULA (5). Another at odds worth considering on a place line is HEAVENLY GEM (10), who was trapped parked and did a massive job to still run second behind IDEAL FRANKIE (12) last weekend.

OVERVIEW: BUMPER CROP (2) is unbeaten in four career starts and looks the testing material in this final for two-year-old trotting girls. She sat parked for the last lap in her heat and won effortlessly over KYVALLEY DIXON (13), and the barrier two draw means she will likely work forward and control things at the top. Hard to beat and the deserved favourite. MAJARO GIRL (12) has improved sharply since joining the Andy Gath barn and a brilliant Kate Gath drive managed to get her home in the other qualifier over LOLLY (10), who has run two good runner-up placings this campaign and is an exciting trotter for trainer Bill Milner. MISS MUSCLE (11) has been very consistent in five career outings and will run well, while fast starter ZIPPIN PAST (4) might be another to add to those names for trifectas and First 4s.

OVERVIEW: BETTOR BEACH (1) looks to have a mortgage on this Vicbred final for three-year-old fillies after two dynamic heat and semi-final victories. She led and darted clear to score by a big space at Kilmore before landing in the one-one and dashing away to prevail by a similar space at Melton last weekend. Would be shocked if she was beaten. The in-form SWEET IRISH LOCH (5) won the other qualifier over RACHELS LEGACY (4), who was held up and unlucky there. They’re leading dangers, particularly RACHELS LEGACY (4) if she can spear across to the pegs early. PRE EMINANT (9) finished second in the two-year-old Vicbred final last season and has been good in both the heats and semi-finals of this series, but it’s hard to see her overturning the result on her stablemate in this Group 1 showdown.

10-UNIT GAME PLAN

R1 #3 FIGHTER COMMAND – 4 units (win)

R3 #2 LAKE COMO – 2 units (win)

R4 #1 QUEEN OF SEES – 2 units (win)

R5 #10 PASTOR DUNBAR – 2 units (win)

EARLY QUADDIE

3,10,11/1,2,3,4,9/1,2,4,10/1,3,4,10,13

QUADDIE

6,9,10/9/5/2