It's one of the great nights on the Victorian racing calendar: the Alabar Farms Vicbred Super Series semi-finals and we'll ride every Tabcorp Park Melton bump with thetrots.com.au rolling blog.

Not only will competitors be battling for a prestigious semi-finals victory and places in the July 6 finals, but tonight will also feature the finals' barrier draws, which will be streamed live as part of the live and free extended coverage on TrotsVision.

Mignight: The Wrap

The Alabar Farms Vicbred Super Series is tantalisingly poised after tonight's semi-finals at Tabcorp Park Melton, with some separating from the pack and other pictures becoming murkier and revealing new contenders for the coveted crowns.

The headlines no doubt belong to Emma Stewart's stable again, having produced an extraordinary seven winners - only one less than last year.

It's a historic feat that deserves to be marvelled: Tonight was the fourth time Stewart has produced seven or more winners on one night, a training feat only she has achieved more than once in Australia's rich harness racing history.

In addition to the quality was the quantity, with Stewart and Clayton Tonkin's Ballarat stable qualifying 23 of their 28 starters for next Saturday's final at Tabcorp Park Melton.

And the winning will likely continue, with Hurricane Harley (3YO colts and geldings), Kualoa (3YO fillies) and Pistol Abbey (4YO mares) all looming large in their categories. Stewart stablemates Pandering and Mirragon look each other's biggest threats in the 2YO colts and geldings, and similarly stablemates Jemstone and Maajida the standouts of the 2YO fillies.

That has the stable with five likely front runners on finals night, with Rackemup Tigerpie (Michael Stanley) and Three Summas (Russell Jack/Kerryn Manning) both having strong claims in the four-year-old entires and geldings.

But amid the Stewart domination there were also significant success for others, including Forever Yin's impressive win for Ellen Bartley and Blake Jones and KerryAnn Morris's Bronski Belle notching up a result for the New South Wales raiders.

And great credit is also deserved to all those drivers, trainers, owners and breeders who entered Victoria's great grassroots series with fingers and toes crossed and have emerged with finals qualification and a crack at next week's $130,000 titles.

10.50pm: Kualoa wins the Vincent Vicbred Super Series three-year-old fillies' second semi-final

The three-year-old fillies has long looked in Kualoa's keeping and that was only reinforced with a super impressive victory in tonight's second semi-final.

Emma Stewart's stable collected an outstanding seventh victory for the night as Kualoa strolled to the front and controlled proceedings to comfortably score for reinsman Chris Alford and owner-breeders Bruce and Vicki Edward, who bred their Hawiian Hottie mare with stallion Art Major to produce the star three-year-old.

"She was really good tonight," Alford told TrotsVision. "She got to the front nice and comfortable, just bowled along and it was nice that she had an easy one, because she had a pretty solid run in her heat. It was good to be able to save up a bit for next week."

10.40pm: Barrier draws for Alabar Farms pacing finals:

10.20pm: Vena May wins the Vincent Vicbred Super Series three-year-old fillies' first semi-final

It all fell into place for Laura Crossland and David Moran's Vena May and she was good enough to take advantage and win her Vicbred semi-final.

Favourite Two Times Bettor had to work hard to claw her way to the front, following a 43.3-second lead time - the fastest of all the night's heats - with a 29.9-second first quarter, which meant the Emma Stewart-trained leader would be vulnerable.

That would prove the case as Vena May and Looking Fabulous swooped late to fill the first two placings, with Two Times Bettor boxing on well to finish third.

"She was really good tonight," Moran told TrotsVision regarding Vena May. "They put it on early for her, the fast lead time, and that helped a fair bit. She hit the line good tonight. She's had a tendency lately to hit the front and not continue on with it, but tonight she did. That was positive signs. She's the sort of horse if she gets that run in the final and she's close enough she will be thereabouts. Take Kualoa out of it and the rest are pretty even really."

It was a great result for the Benstud Standardbreds' bred Art Major filly, who had a big group of owners on track to soak up the success.

Joining the first three in advancing to the big dance were Soundslikeart, Enchanted Stride and Larajay Macray.

9.45pm: Bronski Belle wins the Ultimate Machete Vicbred Super Series four-year-old mares' second semi-final

There's a spanner in the works in the mares Vicbred Super Series, with the apparent predictability blown open after New South Wales trained Bronski Belle tipped out her short-priced rival.

Many had thought this race to be Soho Burning Love's plaything, particularly after her dominant heat win, but the $1.04 favourite found the going tough late and Bronski Belle and Nostra Villa ran on boldly to finish first and second.

For winning trainer-driver KerryAnn Morris, who prepares the Major Bronski mare for owner-breeder Geoff Dodd, it was a case of an inconsistent mare getting it right on the night.

"She's always had bit of ability, just some days getting it out of her is a bit difficult, but she went really well tonight," Morris told Trots Vision.

"Last week she probably overraced a little bit and she's used to the mile racing at Menangle, but she settled really good tonight and she got the job done. We had a lot better week this week, where last week she didn't eat up everything for a couple of days, but this week's a lot better."

Soho Burning Love will get a chance to make amends in the final, where she'll also be joined by fellow qualifiers Caitlyn Clarke, Marjorie Jean and Passions Delight, who advanced along with the top two placegetters.

9.30pm: Barrier draw for the Art Major two-year-old pacing fillies final

9.20pm: Pandering wins the Always B Miki Vicbred Super Series two-year-old colts and geldings' second semi-final

That was an absolutely painless demolition job by reinswoman Kima Frenning and the Emma Stewart-trained Pandering, the Courage Under Fire colt who dominated his semi-final with an all-the-way win.

Home in a brisk 56.6 seconds for the last half, Frenning said there was still plenty left in the tank for next Saturday's final.

"He's such a cool dude," she told TrotsVision. "He knocks off when he doesn't have something to race, but he just feels sharper and sharper every time I drive him. I didn't have to pull the plugs and he did it very easy.

"He's got really good gate speed, so that will really help him going forward. You can zip him off the gate and then he relaxes, he feels like driving a seasoned racehorse."

Pandering won by 10.9 metres from Ozzie Battler, who advances to the final along with Nevada Yankee, Night Spirit, Withoutthetuh and Yejele Hammer.

9pm: Barrier draws for the Aldebaran Park four-year-old trotting finals

8.50pm: Rackemup Tigerpie wins the Rock N Roll Heaven Vicbred Super Series 4YO entires and geldings second semi-final

There were no favours given but none needed for Michael Stanley's top-level four-year-old, with Rackemup Tigerpie having to do plenty of grunt work and still having enough in supply to see off every challenge.

The Rock N Roll Heaven gelding out of Victoria Street, bred and owned by Ian Stanley, moved into the breeze early in the piece outside favourite Major Times and boxed on well amid a series of sub 30-second quarters.

The final 400 saw a bold challenge by Major Times' stablemate Liftntorque, but Stanley's Ballarat Cup placegetter had all the answers.

"It was a great win," Stanley told TrotsVision. "He had to do it the tough way again but, even though it wasn't a great margin, he did what he had to at the top of the straight and then floated the last 50. It should top him off well for next week.

"Ballarat Cup and then the Chariots Of Fire campaign now to here, so he's had a freshen up in between, tonight was only his third run (back), so hopefully he should strip a little bit fitter for next week. Fingers crossed he should be right in it."

Joining the aforementioned trio in qualifying for the final were the winner's stablemate American Zest, Kasbah Kid and Idealsomemagic.

8.30pm: Barrier draws for the Aldebaran Park Vicbred Super Series three-year-old trotting finals:

 

8.20pm: Out To Play wins the Betterthancheddar Vicbred Super Series 3YO colts and geldings' second semi-final:

A Gavin Lang special served up a $62 roughie in an enthralling second semi-final for the three-year-old boys, when Out To Play emerged from the pegs to blaze through the scrum and pick off the tiring front runners.

The Emma Stewart-trained Art Major colt was having only its eighth start but showed a great late burst to mow down favourite Demon Delight by a neck, with the latter having had a bruising battle with fourth-placed Im Sir Blake in a quickly run race.

"It's tougher again next week, but this guy, he hasn't had many runs but he keeps on getting better," Lang told TrotsVision. "He's got a few stablemates that have a better record at this stage, but the way he's heading he's heading in the right direction. You drive them for a little bit of luck and you know that they are well prepared and if they do get it they are good enough to get the job done."

Demon Delight lost none of his hard-earned reputation in running second, while Malcolms Rhythm and Im Sir Blake advanced to the finals and will be live chances along with Fourbigmen and Crime Writer.

8pm: Barrier draws for the Aldebaran Park Vicbred Super Series two-year-old trotting finals:

 

7.50pm: Hurricane Harley wins the Betterthancheddar Vicbred Super Series 3YO colts and geldings' first semi-final

The prince of pace looks to have reclaimed his lightning dash with Hurricane Harley an eye-catcher in dominating his three-year-old boys' heat for trainer Emma Stewart and reinsman David Moran.

A second victory on the night for owner-breeders Lauriston Bloodstock's Bill and Anne Anderson, Hurricane Harley made a mid-race move to the lead to quicken the pace and while Moran admitted it might not have been Plan A, the Bettors Delight filly was in complete control in winning by 10.1 metres.

"He was good," Moran told TrotsVision. "He just seems to be getting a little bit better with each run. He's a chunky little fella, so he seems to take a fair bit out of his feed. He's stripping fitter at the right time.

"Probably what he did tonight wasn't ideal, but there wasn't a lot of speed in the race and sometimes you have to do those things. Sat up in a decently run race he's electric. He waited for them a little bit, but I'm sure if we had have pulled (the plugs) or one came at him he would have got going again. He rails that quick around the bends and he gets away on most of his rivals."

Stablemate Brevity ran into second, with Cee Cee In America, Perfect Major, Catch A Moment and Nancys Boy also advancing to the final.

7.15pm: Three Summas wins the Rock N Roll Heaven Vicbred Super Series 4YO entires and geldings' first semi-final

I doubt any speed maps had highly-fancied Tam Major advancing through the pack and finding favourite Three Summas back, but it set up a mouth-watering sprint down the straight in the first of the four-year-old entires and geldings' semi-finals.

Tam Major's reinsman Chris Alford's masterclass almost paid off but fellow superstar driver Kerryn Manning had the answers in the final steps, with Three Summas holding on from the lead to narrowly win for trainer Russell Jack.

The four-year-old Somebeach Somewhere entire out of Summa Of Dreams, who was bred and is owned by Todd and Wendy Rivett, got home in a brisk final 200m to take the honours.

"He's a lovely horse. I've driven him a handful of times, he's always shown that he's got a bit of ability," Manning told TrotsVision. "He can overrace a little bit, but tonight in front he relaxed beautifully, almost to the point where I wasn't sure how good he was going, but when they came at him he found plenty.

"He found the line strong. The other horse is a nice horse and got on my back and I was on the right side of the photo, luckily. He's a lovely looking horse, his coat's beautiful and (Russell's) turned him out a treat. He's in the right form at the right time for the final, it's going to be a lot harder for him, but he's going to be right in it with a bit of luck."

Joining Three Summas and Tam Major in the final are Brackenreid, Jimmy Locke, Bullys Delight and Be Major Threat.

6.50pm: Pistol Abbey wins the Ultimate Machete Vicbred Super Series 4YO mares' first semi-final

Pistol Abbey's ascent to the top of her class continued with an impressive 6.5-metre win in the first of the mares' semi-finals, having launched off stablemate and leader Frankincense's back as they produced a one-two for trainer Emma Stewart, who enjoyed her third victory of the night.

Reinsman David Moran said the four-year-old Western Terror filly, who was bred by Matthew Sandblom and is owned by Lauriston Bloodstock's Bill and Anne Anderson, just keeps going from strength-to-strength.

"She's sort of just gone to another level, just the last three or four starts," Moran told TrotsVision. "She's toughened up a bit and she's getting out of the gate a lot better and she's equipping herself to be a really nice race mare. Her speed's just really, really good. Going into next week, without bad luck, she will be one of the main players."

Heading into next week with her and second-placed Frankincense were fellow qualifiers Nostra Beach, Major Occasion, Trinity Dreaming and Western Debt. 

6.20pm: Jemstone wins the Art Major Vicbred Super Series 2YO fillies' second semi-final

The script was thrown out late in the Art Major two-year-old fillies' second semi-final, with Emma Stewart's favoured trio dominant in brisk first and second quarters before fading.

That was with the exception of eventual winner Jemstone, who boxed on superbly while the going proved too tough for stablemates Artemede and favourite Treasure, whose eighth and ninth placings saw them surprisingly fall short of finals qualification.

Jemstone won by a half-head for a big group of rapt owners and reinsman Chris Alford, who held off fast-finishing outsider The Pantheist to secure the filly's fifth win in her nine starts.

"She's done a really good job this year," Alford told TrotsVision. "She's run in all the good races and seems to be getting better. That race was run pretty much upside down, she just got a little bit lost in the straight when she was out on her own. Thankfully she dug in when the other one came late.

"She can do a bit of work when you need too, like we did tonight, or she can sit, but we've never really been able to drive her that way. The draw (for the final's) going to play a big part, but I don't think you would have seen a better run tonight in a semi than what she did."

Progressing to the final along with Jemstone and The Pantheist were third-placed Power Of Faith, Kezzamac (fourth), Elita (fifth) and Cuzin Lyndal (sixth).

5.50pm: Forever Yin wins the Always B Miki Vicbred Super Series 2YO colts and geldings first semi-final

An unforgettable second heat of the night when Mirragon almost produced a Houdini act with an extraordinary recovery from an initial gallop, nabbing all challengers except Forever Yin who boxed on for a memorable win.

It was a great result for trainer Ellen Bartley and reinsman Blake Jones, who was very proud when he spoke to TrotsVision post-race.

"He's got a heart of gold, he keeps on trying," Jones said. "He's not real big, but he doesn't know that. He will try and run over the top of you. He think he's a lot bigger than what he is.

"Mirragon was unreal. I had a bit of a look around a bit after that first corner and saw how far he was behind, so for him to keep going was massive. I think he will be pretty hard to beat in the final after that run."

Forever Yin is owned and was bred by Janet Painting, with the Western Terror gelding by Aqua Luvvy having overcome a difficult beginning.

"(Forever Yin) was the first foal out of a mare. Unfortunately the mare died when she was a foal, so he had a bit of a tough start to life but he doesn't know that and he just keeps trying his heart out. He keep doing his best."

Advancing through to the final were Forever Yin, Mirragon, Beale Street, Focus Stride, The Tiger Army and Monsieur Delacour.

5.20pm: Greg Sugars on the track conditions

Winning reinsman of race one, Greg Sugars, gave TrotsVision viewers some valuable insights as to the Tabcorp Park Melton's track conditions amid some wet and windy weather that's sweeping through Victoria.

“I’m pretty impressed with the way the tracks come up," Sugars said. "We had a lot of rain and feared the worst, but the track staff have done a fantastic job. The track looks like it should play pretty fair tonight. The wind is a bit of a concern, it’s a bit blustery out the back, so we will have to contend with that.”

5.10pm: Maajida wins the Art Major Vicbred Super Series two-year-old fillies' first semi-final:

Emma Stewart's dominant stable has 28 qualifiers for tonight's semi-finals and the first of them, Maajida, has done her job with a comfortable victory in the opener for reinsman Greg Sugars.

"She was pretty casual throughout the event," Sugars told TrotsVision post-race. "She's had limited starts (and) limited experience racing out front. She was pretty casual but most importantly when she was asked to go she found what she needed too."

The $1.30 favourite, a Somebeachsomewhere filly out of Arterial Way who is bred and owned by the Johnson family, won from Alice Kay, the West Australian Askmeilltellya, Final Peace, Amelia Rose and Starsbythebeach, who will advance to the finals.

4.20pm: Plan your Vicbred Super Series semi-finals night

The July 5 and 6 Vicbred Super Series finals draws will be a big part of tonight's excitement from Tabcorp Park Melton, with barriers to be drawn not only for the pacing finals in the minutes after their semi-finals are run, but also for the trotting finals after a great week of heat racing.

Be sure to stay tuned to TrotsVision (see above) for all the big moments. Here are the barrier draw times:

7.30pm (after Race 6): 

Aldebaran Park 2YO Trotting Colts and Geldings Vicbred Super Series Final

Aldebaran Park 2YO Trotting Fillies Vicbred Super Series Final

8pm (after Race 7):

Aldebaran Park 3YO Trotting Colts and Geldings Vicbred Super Series Final

Aldebaran Park 3YO Trotting Fillies Vicbred Super Series Final

8.30pm (after Race 8):

Aldebaran Park 4YO Trotting Entires and Geldings Vicbred Super Series Final

Aldebaran Park 4YO Trotting Mares Vicbred Super Series Final

9pm (after Race 9):

Alabar 2YO Pacing Fillies Vicbred Super Series Final

Alabar 3YO Pacing Colts and Geldings Vicbred Super Series Final

9.30pm (after Race 10):

Alabar 2YO Pacing Colts and Geldings Vicbred Super Series Final

Alabar 4YO Entires and Geldings Vicbred Super Series Final

10.02pm (after Race 11):

Alabar 4YO Pacing Mares Vicbred Super Series Final

10.30pm (after Race 12):

Alabar 3YO Pacing Fillies Vicbred Super Series Final  

4pm: Your GoodForm punting toolkit awaits

The GoodForm team has been working overtime to create an expanded Punters' Paradise, with race-by-race guides including commentated speed maps, video previews and expert tips just some of the offerings.

The team has also accumulated every Vicbred Super Series heat, with runner-by-runner analysis of all of tonight's qualifiers, plus trainer and driver stats and Jason Bonnington's GoodForm Game Plan.

In addition, Bonnington and Blake Redden served up a special edition of their Grand Circuit podcast, featuring exclusive insights from Emma Stewart and Michael Stanley: