There was more than a little chill early but the brilliance on the track soon cut through in the Alabar Farms Vicbred Super Series semi-finals at Tabcorp Park Melton tonight.

Lochinvar Art, Maajida, Major Moth and Ladies In Red all reaffirmed their dominance in their classes with outstanding performances, but the night also threw up its surprises with Kate Hargreaves' Beat City and Steven Duffy's Janjuc among those to salute at big odds.

It was also another showcase night for Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin, with the pair combining for seven of the 12 semi-finals' winners and qualifying 16 for the finals on New Year's Eve.

Here's how the night unfolded:

RACE 1: ROCK N ROLL HEAVEN 3YO FILLIES 1ST SEMI-FINAL

The first 100 metres of semi-finals night was decisive as Amelia Rose hustled from the gate to find the front and from there she was in a class of her own.

It was a fitting way to kick off a major night's racing, with the victor's trainer (Emma Stewart) and reinswoman (Kate Gath) appearing to be runaway winners of the respective Victorian metropolitan titles.

A 27.5-second third quarter opened the field and Amelia Rose followed up with a 28-second rip home to win by nine metres, with Shes A Hovercraft boxing on well to finish ahead of Its Ebonynivory.

Alice Kay, favourite The Pantheist and She Will Wantano also booked places in the December 31 final, but well fancied Techys Angel disappointed after galloping in the score up and failing to play a part in the race.

RACE 2: ART MAJOR 4YO MARES 1ST SEMI-FINAL

Our Princess Tiffany returned to something like her powerful best with an eye-catching victory, overpowering Miss McGonagall to register her first win since October 17.

The brilliant mare, a winner of more than $870,000 in stakes, settled in the running line before Chris Alford attacked into the last bend, with leader Miss McGonagall having had it all to herself up to that point.

The pair cleared out from all others, but it was the Dean Braun-trained four-year-old Art Major mare who proved most impressive, with Our Princess Tiffany winning by three metres and, draw pending, claiming likely favourtism for the New Year's Eve Group 1 final.

"It worked out well, we got in not too bad a position early from the draw and she always travelled well," Alford said. "When I peeled her out she was ready to go and really hit the line."

Two Times Bettor, Goodtime Grace, Millah Joy and Lunar Delight also booked finals places.

RACE 3: THE STORM INSIDE 2YO COLTS & GELDINGS 1ST SEMI-FINAL

Idyllic marked himself a contender in the two-year-olds' class, with a convincing win in the boys' first semi-final, saluting for trainer Clayton Tonkin and reinsman Chris Alford.

The latter produced a race-to-race double, having emerged from the running line to sit outside Soho Bollinger and then prove too strong in the closing stages.

A blistering 26.9-second final quarter confirmed the victory, with Viva La Rock and Spring In His Step filling out the placings while Sumomentsomewhere, Soho Bollinger and Ifitstobeitsuptome also advancing to New Year's Eve.

"It's going to come down to the draw, he's about due for a good one," Alford told Trots Vision. "Clayton's always had a really good opinion of him, even since before he had his first trial. He thought he was one of his best ones, it's just taken him a while to wake up."

RACE 4: A ROCKNROLL DANCE 2YO FILLIES 1ST SEMI-FINAL

Reinswoman Jackie Barker booked herself a spot in the Group 1 final and did so in fine fashion, piloting Emma Stewart's two-year-old filly Joanna to victory.

From a tricky draw, Barker worked into the running line from gate eight and then tailed Momentslikethese to move into the breeze, where her Somebeachsomewhere filly sat outside leader Soho Broadway for much of the race.

She then got home in 56.6 seconds, holding off a late challenge from Momentslikethese to salute by a neck.

"I was fairly confident coming around the turn I still had a bit of horse left," Barker told Trots Vision. "Any Group 1 race is a huge thrill. She's a definite chance in it, she just needs a bit of luck. I'm so grateful to sit behind these lovely horses."

Also advancing were Momentslikethese, Soho Broadway, Celestialfragrance, Cashflow Cassie and Le Belle Bijoux.

RACE 5: VINCENT 3YO COLTS AND GELDINGS 1ST SEMI-FINAL

The three-year-old boys class was turned on its head with a stunning victory by Beat City, while fellow long shots Imnopumpkin and Forever Yin filled the placings.

Plenty of money had poured in to support Honolua Bay and favourite Tinder Surprise, and it looked on the mark when they settled as leader and leader's back respectively.

But Honolua Bay struggled at the final turn and instead it was the swoopers who crunched the line, with Beat City tracking up Sahara Sirocco three-wide and then pouncing late to win by a half-neck, while David Jack's fast-finishing Imnopumpkin again blazed late to finish second.

"I'm sure the whole team will be pretty excited," said winning reinswoman Ellen Tormey. "I know (trainer) Kate (Hargreaves), Alex (Ashwood), Gary (Colllinson) and Kim (Collinson), they want to aim for races like this.

"It's hard to get horses good enough to even compete in these races let alone win, so everyone will be rapt."

Forever Yin, Send It, Sahara Sirocco and Cant Top This filled out the top six to also earn finals qualification.

RACE SIX: ULTIMATE MACHETE 4YO ENTIRES & GELDINGS 1ST SEMI

Out To Play reaffirmed his class with a tough victory from the breeze, overpowering Malcolms Rhythm to score by 2.4 metres.

While this class is headlined by Lochinvar Art and Hurricane Harley, who clash in tonight's eighth heat, Out To Play proved himself a danger lying in wait when scored for trainer Clayton Tonkin and reinswoman Kate Gath.

"It's no surprise he did that tonight, he's been racing more seasoned horses and winning," Gath told Trots Vision.

Reactor Now led initially for Josh Aiken before handing up to stablemate Malcolms Rhythm, and the race looked well in hand as the latter paced a 32-second second quarter.

However, Out To Play was up for the fight and finished the better of the lead pair in a 54.8-second last half.

Malcolms Rhythm, Western Sonador and Reactor Now all finished within 10 metres of the winner, while Brevity and Torrid Saint all finished top six to earn tickets to the December 31 finals.

RACE SEVEN: VINCENT 3YO COLTS & GELDINGS 2ND SEMI

The script was again torn up in the early stages but once the dust settled it was largely plain sailing for trainer Andy Gath and reinswoman Kate Gath, with their colt Pacifico Dream gliding to victory. 

Soextra loomed as the favourite's biggest danger, but he was crossed in the initial stages by Kowalski Analysis and Sofia Arvidsson, who then handed up to Pacifico Dream.

That parked Soextra three back on the pegs, while Pacifico Dream rolled around in a 32-second second quarter.

It would come down to a sprint to the line and, while Kowalski Analysis threatened, Pacifico Dream had the answers to score by two metres.

"He's probably better off rolling a bit more, but it was only the semis so I was happy to get that cheap second quarter," Gath told Trots Vision. "Hopefully for the final he's raring to go."

Joining Pacifico Dream in the final were Kowalski Analysis and Sanday, who filled the placings, while Silent Major, Mirragon and Major Jodi also advanced.

Soextra finished an unlucky seventh, falling outside of qualification despite being only 6.6 metres shy of the winner. 

RACE EIGHT: ULTIMATE MACHETE 4YO ENTIRES & GELDINGS 2ND SEMI-FINAL

It was the long-awaited re-match between Lochinvar Art and Hurricane Harley, and it was David Moran's brilliant four-year-old who's again proven himself with few, if any, peers.

With both stars drawn on the back row, Kate Gath hustled early on Hurricane Harley to have the Emma Stewart trained entrant in the lead and keep Lochinvar Art on her outside.

Upon finding the front, Hurricane Harley was then given no time to find his breath with Moran emerging on his outside soon after and they opened up in a 27-second third quarter.

By the final straight Lochinvar Art was clearing away and while Stewart runners Always Fast and Fourbigmen boxed on brilliantly, the Victoria Cup winner cruised to his five-metre victory amid a 27.9-second last quarter.

"He was good, I think he will take a bit more out of tonight's run," Moran said of the winner. "We haven't done a hell of a lot with him at home, we've kept him pretty close to the mark, but nothing beats race fitness. He'll be a bit better next week hopefully."

Joining Lochinvar Art in booking finals' places were Always Fast, Fourbigmen, Arden Roanoke, Hurricane Harley and Major Delico.

RACE NINE: ROCK N ROLL HEAVEN 3YO FILLIES 2ND SEMI

Maajida had to live up to every bit of her brilliant reputation, surviving an early slugfest and bravely hold off all late challengers to win for reinsman Greg Sugars and trainer Emma Stewart.

Early heat from Diamond Party forced Maajida to run a 43.0 lead time to defend the front and there was little respite in the run, with Its Beaujolais soon looming on her outside to keep the pressure on.

But the brilliant filly, who won both the Breeders Crown and Vicbred Super Series last season, battled all the way to the line, getting home in a 28.9-second final quarter to win.

"I'd be lying if i said I wasn't a little bit concerned with how fast that lead time was," Sugars said. "To her credit she just dug deep when she had to and she's just a terrific filly."

Starsbythebeach hit the line well to finish second, just 2.4 metres in arrears, while Its Beaujolais, Rockingwithsierra, Dancing With Flo and Diamond Party also advanced.

RACE 10: ART MAJOR 4YO MARES 2ND SEMI-FINAL

With zip early and late, lightly raced Janjuc produced the richest win of her short career for trainer Steven Duffy and reinsman Ryan Duffy.

They would have pleased a big group of owners after their Somebeachsomewhere mare whipped out of the gate to lead before handing up to favourite Enchanted Stride.

The latter was kept honest in a 28.6-second first quarter, with Mona Mia overracing on her outside, and despite getting a 32.5-second breather in the second quarter, Enchanted Stride was mown down by Janjuc in the closing stages.

"When the breeze horse came around and put a heaps of pressure on that first quarter, it probably set the race up for her and gave her a chance to relax and she finished the job off like I thought that she would," Ryan Duffy said.

Joining the winner in booking New Year's Eve finals berths were Enchanted Stride, Itzamajorsurprise, Error, Ajay Breezy Rose and Heavens Showgirl. 

RACE 11: THE STORM INSIDE 2YO COLTS AND GELDINGS 2ND SEMI

Major Moth again reminded that he is one of the most exciting young pacers in the sport with a dominant victory in his semi-final.

A back row draw was no hindrance for Clayton Tonkin's Breeders Crown winner, with Major Moth crusing to the breeze mid-race and when it came time to let down he was in a class of his own.

He replicated a 28.2-second third quarter with the same time in the final quarter to win by 12 metres.

"He just controlled the race," reinsman Damien Wilson said. "He's a dominant horse, he's so powerful and fast and strong. I can drive him anyway I want to drive him. He just looked like he hadn't had a run yet."

Blitzern finished in blazing style to claim second and advance to the finals along with Vintage Blu, Kimble, Stylish Jo and Harryhoo.

RACE 12: A ROCKNROLL DANCE 2YO FILLIES 2ND SEMI

What an extraordinary way to cap a great night's racing with brilliant filly Ladies In Red recording her ninth win from as many starts.

Emma Stewart completed a clean sweep of the division, following the earlier semi-final win of Joanna by filling the first four places in the second semi-final, with Tough Tilly, Rogue Wave and Beach Music also running on well.

But the headline was reserved for the winner, with Ladies In Red gliding home in 54.9 seconds to win by seven metres for reinsman David Moran. 

"It's pretty scary really, just how she does it within herself," Moran told Trots Vision. "She's a lazy little girl, she's just a perfect tradesman really, she only does what she has to do.

"She's a phenomenal little filly, I'm not quite sure we've seen one this good for a fair while."