A preview to tonight’s rich Nutrien Equine Classic series finals at Melton Entertainment Park.

RACE 2, 6.33pm

NUTRIEN CLASSIC THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLIES PACING FINAL, 2240m

$125k

LAST YEAR’S WINNER: Lux Aeterna (Rickie Alchin)

THE LOCALS: Emma Stewart won both heats of the series last Friday, with Ivseenheavenslight scoring in a slower mile rate but with a quicker last half than the unbeaten Beach Diamond, who worked hard to find the front and won impressively by a big margin.

Hard to split the two runs, but Ivseenheavenslight did win the Vicbred Super Series final last season and looks to have drawn for a better trip in nine over Beach Diamond in 12.

Stablemate Ill Be Gone draws to use her good gate speed in barrier three and was brave behind Ivseenheavenslight last time. She looks the next best winning chance.

THE RAIDERS: Peace Out appears the clear top pick of the four New South Wales fillies after her dominant heat win at Menangle and runner-up effort in the Gold Bracelet Final at Bathurst late last month, while Queenslander Ruby Rules was the first filly home in the mixed sex qualifier at Albion Park. She has a good barrier draw, but would need to improve on current form to threaten here.

SUGGESTED BET: Ivseenheavenslight win

RACE 3, 7.03pm

NUTRIEN CLASSIC THREE-YEAR-OLD COLTS AND GELDINGS PACING FINAL, 2240m

$125k

LAST YEAR’S WINNER: Bay Of Biscay (Emma Stewart/Mark Pitt)

THE LOCALS: Like all of the Victorian heats, Emma Stewart dominated with victory in both qualifiers at Melton.

She won the first with Cigano, who found an easy lead and held off stablemate Apollostorm in the run to the line, and the other with The Highlight Reel, who was crossed early, worked to the front and powered home to beat fellow Stewart runner Storms Collide.

Outside those, New Shuffle closed off nicely from last behind The Highlight Reel and Its Confidential brings good form to the table and can run well from a nice back row draw.

THE RAIDERS: Path To Greatness is a very handy customer from the Grant Dixon stable, who finished second to stablemate Fate Awaits (scratched from final) in the Albion Park heat last weekend. He has a good draw and charged past race favourite The Highlight Reel to run second to Always Hot in the NSW Derby late last month. He looks a key chance from Quensland.

New South Wales is represented by four runners - including Menangle heat winner Sinaloa - but all are long odds in the market from difficult starting positions.

SUGGESTED BET: Path To Greatness win and Apollostorm small each-way

RACE 5, 8.03pm

NUTRIEN CLASSIC TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLIES PACING FINAL, 2240m

$200k

LAST YEAR’S WINNER: Miss Australiana (Clayton Tonkin/Mark Pitt)

THE LOCALS: Just the one heat was run at Melton last week, and it was won by first-starter Frolicnearthesea.

She looked under pressure when pacing roughly at the corner, but levelled out and ran past $1.07 favourite Willows Girl, who led easily and faded into third.

Second in the event was bargain buy Delizioso, who travelled well behind the leader and hit the line fairly on debut.

The eye-catcher was Jess Tubbs’ Fiction File, who produced great sectionals home from last to be beaten just 4.6m into fourth and looked to have plenty left on the line.

THE RAIDERS: Lucky Luda is the sole Queenslander in the race, and she debuted with a third placing in the heat at Albion Park on Saturday night. It was a fair effort, but hardly one that would have you desperate to back her here.

No New South Wales heat was conducted due to a lack of acceptors, but four fillies from across the border will make the trip for the final, including first-starter Seaside Drive.

Conciliate looks the key chance from NSW given her two wins at Menangle and Newcastle, and good barrier one draw.

SUGGESTED BET: Fiction File each-way

RACE 6, 8.33pm

NUTRIEN CLASSIC TWO-YEAR-OLD COLTS AND GELDINGS PACING FINAL, 2240m

$200k

LAST YEAR’S WINNER: The Highlight Reel (Clayton Tonkin/Mark Pitt)

THE LOCALS: Owners Danny Zavitsanos, Warren Viney and Warren Stewart won the Victorian heats with Knight Fury Dan and Cardigan Dan, who both found the front and zipped home in fast fractions to score.

Who was more impressive? It’s very hard to say, but Cardigan Dan did run much slicker time than his stablemate with a mile rate of 1:54.8 and last half of 54.7.

Outside of those, You Gotta Believe boxed on well despite a hard run in the Cardigan Dan heat, fighting back in the straight to run third. He might be the best of the rest.

THE RAIDERS: Four runners will make the trip from New South Wales, with Nocturnal the pick of those after his heat win at Menangle over Lochinvar Leader, Pure Grunt and Smooth Buckaroo, and the fact he has drawn barrier two.

SUGGSTED BET: Cardigan Dan win

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